Sync problems with HDMI not going through receiver

[latrosicarius]

Hi, to save a bit of money, I was wondering if it would be feasible to plug the HDDVD / BlueRay player into the HDTV directly with an HDMI cable. Then, instead of buying an A/V receiver, I just buy a regular audio receiver for the surround sound speakers.

Would there be any quality problems or video/sound sync problems doing it this way, rather than sending both the video and sound through an A/V receiver with HDMI? What are the benefits from doing it this way vs all through an A/V receiver?

And also, how exactly would you hook it up to the cable box and DVD player? Would you use 1 Toslink cable from the player to the receiver, and then 6 Toslinks from the receiver to the 5 surround speakers + subwoofer?

Thanks!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi, to save a bit of money, I was wondering if it would be feasible to plug the HDDVD / BlueRay player into the HDTV directly with an HDMI cable. Then, instead of buying an A/V receiver, I just buy a regular audio receiver for the surround sound speakers.

I see no one braved a response
I read this a few times to see what you are after. You have a Blue ray DVD player?

Not a problem plugging the DVD direct to the TV with that connection, Unless you are planning to use the TV speaker as the center speaker having sound processed in the TV and the surround and other speakers by the receiver.
Or, the same issues if you plan on running the front speakers from the TV processing as I am not sure what you are driving with that receiver without the video feature.



Would there be any quality problems or video/sound sync problems doing it this way, rather than sending both the video and sound through an A/V receiver with HDMI?

No issues unless as stated above when you mix which component is processing what audio signals.

What are the benefits from doing it this way vs all through an A/V receiver?

Benefits are switching multiple video sources with one component, receiver. Receiver, some, will do video signal processing, up-conversion?

And also, how exactly would you hook it up to the cable box and DVD player? Would you use 1 Toslink cable from the player to the receiver, and then 6 Toslinks from the receiver to the 5 surround speakers + subwoofer?

Toslink cable is for digital audio signal only that has to be processed and routed to the right speakers. From the receiver, you use speaker cables, wire pairs of around 14ga-12ga.
You may be misunderstanding cable functions?

You would send the HDMI to the TV and a toslink to the receiver for the 5.1 processing.

 

[latrosicarius]

Thank you much, mtrycrafts. I guess it's probably just simpler to do it all through the receiver. Plus, yes -- the receiver I have in mind has upconversion of component to HDMI, etc.

Just one question though... I've never seen a 7.1 receiver with more than 4 optical outputs. Many only have 1 optical out. How am I supposed to connect all 7+1 speakers with TOSLINK cable from only 1 output?

Thanks!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thank you much, mtrycrafts. I guess it's probably just simpler to do it all through the receiver. Plus, yes -- the receiver I have in mind has upconversion of component to HDMI, etc.

Just one question though... I've never seen a 7.1 receiver with more than 4 optical outputs. Many only have 1 optical out. How am I supposed to connect all 7+1 speakers with TOSLINK cable from only 1 output?

Thanks!

No problem. The optical out, not sure why there are so many, is a digital audio output, doesn't go to your speakers
There are bulky red and black terminals on the back, better check the manual, and they are for your speaker connection with 2 conductor wire. Depending on distance, 16ga to 12 ga is what you will need with long distances, 50ft, needing the 12 ga, maybe and shorter ones up to 10ft or so can use 14/16ga. Smaller ga is easier to manage.

 

[latrosicarius]

Oh ok thanks for the info

 

[jcPanny]

HDMI on receivers

HDMI is a feature found on the newest high end receivers. These receivers only offer 2 HDMI 1.1 inputs. If you decide to go with a receiver without HDMI, you have a few options:

1. Make a single HDMI connection directly from device ( i.e. DVD player ) to HDTV. Make the rest of the video connections through the receiver using component video. You will have 1 HDMI cable and 1 component video cable connected to the HDTV. The receiver will still provide the audio sync function.

2. Now, or down the road, buy an external HDMI switch box for $2-400 to allow you to input multiple HDMI devices and output a single HDMI cable to the TV. You can program a Harmany remote to change the HDMI switch at the same time that you change sources on the receiver.

 

[latrosicarius]

Thanks, that sounds like a good alternative to buying an expensive receiver, but I think I'll just splurge and get the whole thing.