Video upconversion to HDMI in pre/pro - good or bad?

[msfeinstein]

In my search for a new pre/pro (used mainly for HT but also for music), I started to focus on the capability to do video upconversion. After all, it sounds like a good idea to let the pre-pro upconvert everything to HDMI and upscale everything to 1080i for use by my TV (I'll be purchasing one of those as well). That way, I can use just a single connection to the TV and that's it.

During a conversation, someone made the point that I should use component rather than HDMI between the pre/pro and TV since using HDMI utilizes the TVs digital/analog converters whereas the component output utilizes the pre/pro's DA converters (and that the pre/pro would be more likely to have a better DAC). I infer from that comment that the HDMI signal is digital while the component signal is analog. Is that a correct assumption?

To add to my confusion, don't source components (DVD players, et al) *also* do upconversion and/or scaling?

If that is the case, the other question begging for an answer is which DAC is (generally) better - the source component, the pre/pro or the TV? I understand that "it depends on which pre/pro, component and TV" is the most likely answer, but how can I determine if this is the case (are there certain brands that have good/bad DACs)? Does it make more sense to invest much more in a high-end pre/pro and utilize it's video circuitry or do it at the source or do it at the TV?

Hopefully, I've framed the questions well enough to start a discussion where I can learn something (I'm not necessarily looking for specific component recommendations, but I'm always willing to listen).

Perhaps it's all a moot point since I probably can't tell the difference anyway, but I am curious. I figure that even if I can't tell the difference now, some source material will come along in the future and make it glaringly obvious.

Thanks.

 

[jcPanny]

Receivers w/ HDMI

If you must have upconversion and upscalling to 1080i and HDMI then that gives you a short list of receivers, the Yamaha RX-V2600 is the only receiver with both these features. There are a few other models out there that include upconversion and HDMI switching, but not scalling.

Here is some info on new receivers with HDMI:

The newest receivers support HDMI 1.1. Version 1.2 is already out, and version 1.3 will be required to output Dolby-HD and DTS-HD over HDMI.

The new models with HDMI switching come at a premium over older models with similar power and features (Yamaha 2600 = $1200, 2500 = $7-800).

Many models have upconversion, changing formats from s-video, composite, or component to component video or HDMI. Only the Yamaha 2600 and some new DVD players include upscalling to 720p or 1080i.

Due to HDCP, the Yamaha cannot upscale an HDMI signal, only component video.

In the next year, Blue-ray and HD DVD players will come out and receivers will start to include the DPS modes for the higher resolution audio formats that they will offer.

Also note, most of the new 1080P HDTVs that just came out cannot accept a 1080p signal, only 1080i

My suggestions is that you buy a receiver with the features you need now. With the rate at which electronics are changing, they will never be future proof.