Through the Pioneer receiver or not?

[Paintman]

I have a new Pioneer 1018 receiver and was wondering if I can watch TV without turning on the receiver? It seems that I can not if I connect everything(DirectTV and blue ray player) to the receiver and then send the signal to the TV via HDMI. Thanks!

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum, Paintman!

I'm almost positive that you're right - you can't watch video or hear audio that is being routed through that receiver without having the receiver on. If memory serves, you can run everything through the 1018 and have it pass the audio coming over HDMI on to the TV (you need to select that, and it would not play the audio through the speakers connected to the receiver), so you could watch and listen to your TV like normal - you would just need to have the receiver powered up.

You can also connect the gear straight to the TV to bypass the receiver. Depending on your TV, you could then run a digital audio output from the TV to the receiver. You can't get the latest lossless surround sound formats through optical or coax digital audio connections (you need an HDMI connection), but you could get everything else.

 

[Paintman]

Adam,
Thanks for the quick reply. I was afraid I might hear such advice. Do you know if somebody is making a HDMI switch yet? I'm just trying to make things easy to operate when I'm not around!!!!!!!!!

 

[Adam]

There certainly are HDMI switch boxes. You can even get them with a remote!

Here's one example from Amazon (I'm not recommending it, as I don't know anything about it - just an example).

 

[Paintman]

Adam,
Thanks again.

 

[Seth=L]

I was going to say..."who wouldn't want to use their speakers when watching TV?". Now I understand there are other parties involved, perhaps not so technically inclined as the audio hobbiest. What source will be used most often when it's other users, DirectTV or the Blu-ray player? You could circumvent the whole switch box if you want to by simply using the component and analog audio outputs from each the player and the DirectTV receiver in conjunction with the HDMI being used as well. Of course there will be extra cable cost and the Blu-ray player won't upscaling DVDs over component, but everything else will still be in HD.* Extra component video and stereo RCA cables are inexpensive. Personally I would just go to any major retail store, such as Wal-Mart and pick up some inexpensive RCA or Philips brand component/audio cables.

I do think this will not only be a more cost effective route to take than purchasing an HDMI switcher, but it will render the best possible result in ease of use. No extra remote control is required or purchase of more HDMI cables. You don't have to get off the couch/chair to switch an manual based HDMI switcher. The more switches and cables you use for HDMI the higher the likelyhood of signal degradation or loss through bandwidth limitations. If the HDMI is rigged the exact same way it is now you will get the best performance. Adding component video (direct connect to the TV of course) will simplify things for the family and you'll still have the benefit of HDMI when you decide to watch a movie or your favorite sitcom/sports event/CNN..what have you...

*note: the Blu-ray player will only support up to 1080i over component video for Blu-ray playback and up to 480p for DVDs. Although, if it's just for the kids and wife that clearly aren't interested enough in the sound system to be super involved they wouldn't likely notice a huge difference. Even I don't notice a huge difference that would make or break me watching a movie.