Please convince me why I need to get another HDMI Receiver

[hondo164]

I am in the process of boxing up my Yamaha 661 for return to J&R. After 2 weeks of trying everything I can not get any of my devices (Direct TV HR-20 HD DVR, PS3 and Toshiba A2 HD DVD) to consistently pass audio and video to my Toshiba 65HM167 via HDMI when going through the 661. Just when I think it is working, I either lose the picture and have only audio, have no video oe audio or have the audio/video intermttently go on and off. I have to pass everything through the TV with Optical audio going to the receiver.......the sound is great but why the hell do I need a HDMI receiver for.........I have had enough!!!!!

All my devices are HDMI except for the X-box and I have 3 TV HDMI inputs and a 5/1 HDMI switch and I am not looking for any HDMI video enhancement aside from using one cable. I need a new receiver and make the decision quicky I am returning ot on 7/5 and I can probably swing a good deal with J&R on an exchange, otherwise I am getting a refund. So please convince me why I need an HDMI receiver. Any recommendations (HDMI that works or non-HDMI) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Leprkon]

You can probably find a Denon AVR-3805 or Yamaha RX-V2500, both of which are non-HDMI, but have much better power than the 661 for a similar price ($500 ish). They are two years' ago models, but are a great value if you can live without the HDMI.

For a couple hundred less, the Denon AVR 2106 is a solid performer.

http://dakmart.com/itemdetails/28983/173/

http://dakmart.com/itemdetails/30630/173/

I'm sure there are people here who will consider us Amish, but if it's called video it should go to a display. If it's audio, it should go to a sound system.

 

[nick1000000]

Honestly the only benefits of HDMI over component are less cords( 5 compared to 1) and picture quality( thats only if you have a 50'' or bigger TV with 1080p). I have HDMI compatable components and still use coaxial for audio. So it really comes down to picture quality.

 

[Seth=L]

Gosh, I just felt the need let everyone know that this is exactly why I am not getting HDMI until I know there are no more issues with it.

 

[obscbyclouds]

Honestly the only benefits of HDMI over component are less cords( 5 compared to 1) and picture quality( thats only if you have a 50'' or bigger TV with 1080p). I have HDMI compatable components and still use coaxial for audio. So it really comes down to picture quality.

Unfortunately, some audio formats require HDMI (the uncompressed audio from Blu-ray and HD-DVD come to mind, as well as multi-channel DVD-A and SACD, which exceeds the bandwidth of S/PDIF) or good ol' analog RCA cables, which does not allow proper bass management, and other reciever dsp modes. HDMI makes me angry.

 

[nick1000000]

Sorry to hear about your less than satifying experience with HDMI. I actually like it better that component because of the one wire and the better quality of digital information. It may be too late now but when I first got my TV with HDMI I could not get picture or audio from the DVD player either. I just had to reconnect both ends firmly into each component. It could be your cable, have you tried others? Also, if your TV has a HDMI input you could just the receiver for audio only. My receiver has no HDMI it came with an external switch, which I love.

 

[Seth=L]

Sorry to hear about your less than satifying experience with HDMI. I actually like it better that component because of the one wire and the better quality of digital information. It may be too late now but when I first got my TV with HDMI I could not get picture or audio from the DVD player either. I just had to reconnect both ends firmly into each component. It could be your cable, have you tried others? Also, if your TV has a HDMI input you could just the receiver for audio only. My receiver has no HDMI it came with an external switch, which I love.

Very true, HDMI makes a horrible connection with certain HDMI ports and cables.

 

[corey]

Unfortunately, some audio formats require HDMI (the uncompressed audio from Blu-ray and HD-DVD come to mind, as well as multi-channel DVD-A and SACD, which exceeds the bandwidth of S/PDIF) or good ol' analog RCA cables, which does not allow proper bass management, and other reciever dsp modes. HDMI makes me angry.

I don't think that you are correct about DVD-A & SACD. It's not that they can't use digital coax or optical, but that they chose not to use it (either for copy protection issues, or to make sure that they didn't succeed - maybe both).

 

[hondo164]

I want to clarify this. AS long as I go directly via HDMI through the TV and use optical from the device to the receiver all is fine. The minute I try to send anything through the receiver to the TV via HDMI, all hell breaks loose..

So essentially what I have id a non-HDMI receiver and I am using the inputs on the TV for video because I can't go through the receiver.

 

[obscbyclouds]

I want to clarify this. AS long as I go directly via HDMI through the TV and use optical from the device to the receiver all is fine. The minute I try to send anything through the receiver to the TV via HDMI, all hell breaks loose..

So essentially what I have id a non-HDMI receiver and I am using the inputs on the TV for video because I can't go through the receiver.

This is fine as long as you aren't using the uncompressed formats from HD-DVD and Blu-ray. It will work great for DD and DTS (as well as PCM signals).

 

[nick1000000]

I want to clarify this. AS long as I go directly via HDMI through the TV and use optical from the device to the receiver all is fine. The minute I try to send anything through the receiver to the TV via HDMI, all hell breaks loose..

So essentially what I have id a non-HDMI receiver and I am using the inputs on the TV for video because I can't go through the receiver.

You definitely have a problem with your receiver's HDMI. You said you were going to send it back which is the best thing to do, but I would not use this experience to write off HDMI. If you have between 2 receivers, at the same price and one has HDMI, get that one. It has its benefits.

 

[patnshan]

I want to clarify this. AS long as I go directly via HDMI through the TV and use optical from the device to the receiver all is fine. The minute I try to send anything through the receiver to the TV via HDMI, all hell breaks loose..

So essentially what I have id a non-HDMI receiver and I am using the inputs on the TV for video because I can't go through the receiver.

I am really sorry that you are having these problems with your RXV-661. I have it and absolutely love it! I have my DVD player and cable box running through it and it works perfectly for both audio and video. I wonder if it is just a bad box Can you exchange it for another identical one?

Pat

 

[jake5717]

I am really sorry that you are having these problems with your RXV-661. I have it and absolutely love it! I have my DVD player and cable box running through it and it works perfectly for both audio and video. I wonder if it is just a bad box Can you exchange it for another identical one?

Pat

2nd. I have all my sources (except Wii) running through HDMI and have no issues. I would see if they'll send you a new 661 to try.

 

[Warpdrv]

Thought I would add my worthless 2 pennies here...

I have a Pioneer Elite 81, only does switching, no upscaling.. I didn't want that, with the hit and miss reports on that, and the up and coming change over to newer better processors for upscaling, I was waiting. As well as my Panasonic Pro 50" plasma is only 1080i.

Well anyways I have a Yamaha DVD/Divx, Dish Network HD, and XBOX hooked up to the reciever going out to the Panasonic with absolutely no issues at all.
I am upconverting the xbox to HDMI and that works great too.

Works so nicely I am extremly thrilled that I haven't had any issues at all, just seemless install, and Picture is spectacular for me.

Sorry your having troubles, just thought I would share my equipment list and hookup scenario with you if it helps.

Warp

 

[100r1]

Would the RX-V861 do a better job for you since it will upconvert ?

As far as the 661, I looked at it and decided that since it would not up convert (and at this time I do not have any components that have HDMI output) that the 661 would be a questionable purchase.

If I had HDMI components (Blu-ray etc) then I would have gone for the 861.

I went with the 569 because I don't need HDMI and it's half the cost of a 861. And Looks to be better on the performance side of the audio perofrmance than the 661

Besides, What does "future Proof" really mean ? 6 months, 1 year ?

If I get HDMI components I can run it directly into my Samsung LCD input and run optical to my 569. Ok, so I may be missing out on some audio thats available over HDMI bit not enough for me to loose sleep over.

I have seen very few other people having the same problems you are having with the 661, perhaps you can exchange it for another 661.

 

[Leprkon]

You definitely have a problem with your receiver's HDMI. You said you were going to send it back which is the best thing to do, but I would not use this experience to write off HDMI. If you have between 2 receivers, at the same price and one has HDMI, get that one. It has its benefits.

I see that Denon has just released receivers with HDMI 1.3a. So in less than three years, we have had no less than four versions of this technology (if you count 1.2 which wasn't even around long enough to actually generate any hardware), the last three of which seem to be related to the problems with receivers.

No one seems to have any problem plugging in to their TV with its HDMI 1.1, but the receivers just don't seem to want to talk and they keep having to change the spec. What does that tell you ? After all, they have not changed the digital co-ax spec or the Toslink spec. It almost sounds like they are deliberately building HDMI obsolescence into the receivers to make you have to buy another one.

 

[hondo164]

Would the RX-V861 do a better job for you since it will upconvert ?

As far as the 661, I looked at it and decided that since it would not up convert (and at this time I do not have any components that have HDMI output) that the 661 would be a questionable purchase.

If I had HDMI components (Blu-ray etc) then I would have gone for the 861.

I went with the 569 because I don't need HDMI and it's half the cost of a 861. And Looks to be better on the performance side of the audio performance than the 661

Besides, What does "future Proof" really mean ? 6 months, 1 year ?

If I get HDMI components I can run it directly into my Samsung LCD input and run optical to my 569. Ok, so I may be missing out on some audio thats available over HDMI bit not enough for me to loose sleep over.

I have seen very few other people having the same problems you are having with the 661, perhaps you can exchange it for another 661.

They will replace the receiver, the questio I am trying to decide on is w/ what. This is my 2nd Toshiba TV and I even sent multiple different devices through an HDMI switch and had no problems but try an connect it to the receiver....nothing but trouble. It works for a while but when you change inputs or even TV resolution.....poof!!!....no picture w/ video, nothing at all or it goes on and off intermittently. It is just a pain in the rear end.and for all the obvious reasons, I would love to get another HDMI receiver that works but but I after this last experience I am very sensitive to the HDMI receiver issue. I am even contemplating getting a non HDMI RX-v659. All the devices I have will pass at least 1080i, I am not looking for any upconversion of any signal, ALL I WANT THE DAMN THING TO DO IS ACCEPT THE SIGNAL FROM THE DEVICE AND PASS VIDEO SIGNAL TO THE TV JUST LIKE THE SWITCH I HAVE, THATs NOT ASKING FOR MUCH IS IT. Sorry for the rant guys the whole thing is so frustrating

 

[patnshan]

They will replace the receiver, the questio I am trying to decide on is w/ what. This is my 2nd Toshiba TV and I even sent multiple different devices through an HDMI switch and had no problems but try an connect it to the receiver....nothing but trouble. It works for a while but when you change inputs or even TV resolution.....poof!!!....no picture w/ video, nothing at all or it goes on and off intermittently. It is just a pain in the rear end.and for all the obvious reasons, I would love to get another HDMI receiver that works but but I after this last experience I am very sensitive to the HDMI receiver issue. I am even contemplating getting a non HDMI RX-v659. All the devices I have will pass at least 1080i, I am not looking for any upconversion of any signal, ALL I WANT THE DAMN THING TO DO IS ACCEPT THE SIGNAL FROM THE DEVICE AND PASS VIDEO SIGNAL TO THE TV JUST LIKE THE SWITCH I HAVE, THATs NOT ASKING FOR MUCH IS IT. Sorry for the rant guys the whole thing is so frustrating

My 661 does exactly as what you wish. I would recommend trying another one, unless what is supposed to do does not suit your needs.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[hondo164]

My 661 does exactly as what you wish. I would recommend trying another one, unless what is supposed to do does not suit your needs.

Good luck,

Pat

Well I should have my replacement 661 by mid-week i will let you know how it goes.