Why run video through receiver?

[Lordoftherings]

You don't? I am flabbergasted

LOL. Another good use of word on this excellent starting Friday.

 

[Hi Ho]

All of my equipment is remotely located in a rack. My receiver takes all sources, analog and digital, and outputs it through a single HDMI. It doesn't make sense to run multiple cables to my TV. I also never use the TV speakers. I don't even know what they sound like as I have never turned them on. I prefer quality sound no matter what I'm watching and boxy sound TV speakers just don't cut it.

 

[Pyrrho]

I don't always want to be forced to use the AVR. I see no need to watch the daily news, sitcoms, and the grandkid's kiddie videos in 5.1.

By running the video and analog audio to the TV, I can play it independently of the rest of the system, excepting the selected source.

Sitcoms are better in 5.1, and so are "kiddy videos". Why wouldn't you want to have the best possible sound at all times?

 

[pzaur]

My xbox 360 outputs 1080p to the receiver, but when the receiver upconverts the components 1080p to HDMI, it is only output as 1080i, and I'm not sure why. The receiver is a RX-V663, this is in my bedroom which the xbox in there doesn't get much use, but since no games are in true 1080p, at least none that I own, I don't really concern myself too much with it only getting 1080i. Now since I have a harmony one remote I could just run the component video directly to the tv and keep the optical cable running to the receiver, but then I have to see another cable running to the tv, and I don't really want to do that. Besides I can't really see a difference between the two anyway.

The chip in the 663 doesn't handle 1080p when upconverting. It only handles 1080p with pass-through (HDMI to HDMI). Check page 19 in the manual. It'll push the signal from component to HDMI only as 1080i.

"The analog component video signals with 1080p of resolution
are only output at the COMPONENT VIDEO MONITOR OUT
jacks."

-pat

 

[Lordoftherings]

At this stage in the game, it just makes great sense to run all your HDMI sources through your receiver.
I firmly believe that.

* If I want the news without turning on my receiver, I simply check on my computer,
or on my extra TV in my other room.

 

[markw]

Actually, it's a preference of mine.

Sitcoms are better in 5.1, and so are "kiddy videos". Why wouldn't you want to have the best possible sound at all times?

I'm more into this stuff for the source material and 5.1 doesn't make "The Big Bang Theory" any funnier.

And, as far as kiddie videos, most times I don't want to hear them at all, but they make great babysitters.

Do you have kids? How many times can you watch and listen to the same stuff over and over?

 

[Adam]

How many times can you watch and listen to the same stuff over and over?

I don't know about Pyrrho, but my personal threshold for repetition is mind-boggling. Well, mind-numbing, anyway.

 

[markw]

I don't know about Pyrrho, but my personal threshold for repetition is mind-boggling. Well, mind-numbing, anyway.

Try it with a steady diet of Disney videos and Sponge Bob. You're brain will to turn to mush.

Another reason I prefer this way is simplicity. Most of the time we're watching cable TV and, since it can control the TV and turn it on and off, all we need most of the time we use the cable remote. the ever-lovely MrsW like that.

Of course, if whatever source we're watching warrants the great sound, all I have to do is turn the TV volume down and it's available through the 5.1 system. We lose nothing here at all.

But, YMMV.

 

[Pyrrho]

I'm more into this stuff for the source material and 5.1 doesn't make "The Big Bang Theory" any funnier.

And, as far as kiddie videos, most times I don't want to hear them at all, but they make great babysitters.

Do you have kids? How many times can you watch and listen to the same stuff over and over?

Before this gets too serious, please allow me to be perfectly clear and say that my comments in this thread are not overly serious.

I think The Big Bang Theory is better with good sound than without it, but if you feel differently, then we may expect your actions may differ from mine.

I don't have children. But I might be able to help you anyway. You might want to pick up a copy of The Court Jester for your children to watch:

http://www.amazon.com/Court-Jester-Danny-Kaye/dp/079215519X/

And Wallace and Gromit:

http://www.amazon.com/Wallace-Gromit-Complete-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B002DR2GJQ/

(You can get some Wallace and Gromit films right away on DVD if you don't want to wait.)

You might also want to get some of the old cartoons that were shown in movie theaters in the 1930-40s, like Bugs Bunny and etc.

Some shows that are made to work for children are much better than others, and work for adults as well. And these are interesting enough to see repeatedly. My guess is, they will be more beloved by your children, too, depending, perhaps, upon their ages.

Please try them; they are not expensive, and I think you will be much happier than you currently are with what your children are watching. Of course, if I am wrong, well, I offer no guarantees. But do look at the reviews on Amazon for these things; my opinion is not eccentric on these.

 

[markw]

Not a problem.

Kids like what kids like. and they do like the pablum that's on TV.

I haven't seen the Court Jester but will investigate it. We've done Wallace & Grommet but they seem to prefer Veggietales. Not a problem. But, on the whole, it's the Nick and Disney stuff that really floats their boat.

And, I love those old cartoons from the 50's to the 50's but a lot of their references seem to be lost on the kids. And, when did they release these in 5.1 sound?

But, it seems that as their tastes mature out of the "over and over" stage, so do their tastes, albiet slowly. ...not that Hannah Montana and HSM is any better, IMNSHO

 

[gqmagic]

I have been around a while and still looking for good reason to run video through any receiver. Running from source direct to tv simply makes more sense, assuming you have enough HDMI inputs on tv.All things being equal, common sense would dictate you have more chance of degrading a signal by adding a complicated device like a receiver. It is especially curious that "wire freaks" would even consider doing do. They spend tons on cables, then run video through a box with cheap 30 gauage and printed circuit wiring. If one stop control is an issue, a $60 Harmony remote will solve that problem....

I have not seen a reason to want to run video through a receiver either. I have a Pioneer Kuro 151 ( supposedly the best out today), I connect a Pioneer 51fd directly to it with the hdmi, and run analog and optical to the receiver.

I never ran video through component to the receiver either, for the same reasons.

 

[Patrukas777]

I like being able to run all of my components onto one input on my TV.....a lot more convenient, I hate having to switch between tv inputs all the time. I do run my cable box separate to my tv and use an optical from cable box to avr, that way I can use my tv speakers when I'm channel surfing and 5.1 when I want to watch something good on TV (Very Rare These Days ).

It can also be good when it comes to calibration. Not everyone has all 6 inputs of their tv calibrated

 

[Pyrrho]

... I haven't seen the Court Jester but will investigate it. ...

I gave a copy to my niece, and she loves it. I also like it myself, and enjoy watching it every now and then (though not as often as children watch things). It is extremely silly and light; it is cotton candy for the mind, but it is very funny.

And, I love those old cartoons from the 50's to the 50's but a lot of their references seem to be lost on the kids. And, when did they release these in 5.1 sound?
...

You already said you don't care about the sound of the kid's videos! Anyway, the point is that not all shows that are suitable for children are equally dreadful. My advice is to try to find better ones, whether new or old. I think I would kill myself if I were subjected to some of the things some children watch over and over and ...

 

[gqmagic]

I don't have HDMI on my receiver, but I believe that running the HDMI from the source to the receiver is the only way to get the latest higher quality audio from the source. I don't believe you can run audio out from the TV to the receiver and get these new formats, even if the TV had an HDMI output. Whether the new formats are a lot better or not is up to someone else to state their impressions.

I don't have hdmi on my receiver and get Dolby TruHD and DTS MASTER HD through analog from my bluray 51fd to my Marantz SR8500.

Even the manuals say with the 5.1/7.1 analogs you can take advantage of new formats as they're developed

 

[gqmagic]

And as stated above, I forgot about the snake pit of analog connections routed to the receiver to get the new codecs. Also, in doing that, I had to choose which source got the analog ins and which would run through the optical in. That is eliminated with HDMI to Reciever.

Isn't blu ray the only source that would have to send the new codecs in analog if hdmi isn't present? unless you have multiple blurays?

 

[markw]

I gave a copy to my niece, and she loves it. I also like it myself, and enjoy watching it every now and then (though not as often as children watch things). It is extremely silly and light; it is cotton candy for the mind, but it is very funny.

I'll look into it. There are some movies that can entertain all ages, like most Pixar stuff and, more recently, the movie "Enchanted". These ARE great in full sound mode, at first. Even so, repetition can have mind-numbing effects on adults and after a few viewings, when it's jus tthe kids, the 5.1 goes off. In fact, it usually goes to another TV. Kids really aren't too fussy.

Oh, I do like Jimmy Neutron. I wish I could get them into it. I have to watch that when I'm alone sometimes.

You already said you don't care about the sound of the kid's videos!

Dude, that was a joke!

Anyway, the point is that not all shows that are suitable for children are equally dreadful. My advice is to try to find better ones, whether new or old. I think I would kill myself if I were subjected to some of the things some children watch over and over and ...

True, but kids have different tastes than adults do. While we can appreciate this "old" stuff, they don't always get it. I love the old Warner Brothers stuff but they seem more satisfied with the simple, primitive Korean animation Japanimation.

Heaven forbid I try the original "Little Rascals" and "Three Stooges". But, I must consider that four out of five are girls under ten. Gotta love 'em.

 

[bandphan]

I . Not everyone has all 6 inputs of their tv calibrated

Why not?

 

[Lordoftherings]

I have been around a while and still looking for good reason to run video through any receiver. Running from source direct to tv simply makes more sense, assuming you have enough HDMI inputs on tv.All things being equal, common sense would dictate you have more chance of degrading a signal by adding a complicated device like a receiver. It is especially curious that "wire freaks" would even consider doing do. They spend tons on cables, then run video through a box with cheap 30 gauage and printed circuit wiring. If one stop control is an issue, a $60 Harmony remote will solve that problem....

For the high resolution audio Tom, for the audio man.

 

[Rickster71]

I don't have HDMI yet (still waiting for the Emotiva)
Excuse my ignorance; I'm in a bit of denial as far as HDMI goes, because I disagree with the half-baked HDCP aspect of it.

So how does HDMI pass thru work, does the receiver have to be on? If it works with the receiver 'off,' I'd be interested.
Is pass thru a common to all HDMI receivers?

 

[Lordoftherings]

HDMI and video connections: Pass-Through explained.

I don't have HDMI yet (still waiting for the Emotiva)
Excuse my ignorance; I'm in a bit of denial as far as HDMI goes, because I disagree with the half-baked HDCP aspect of it.

So how does HDMI pass thru work, does the receiver have to be on? If it works with the receiver 'off,' I'd be interested.
Is pass thru a common to all HDMI receivers?

Hi Rick,

Yes, the receiver has to be ON (except for a few new Yamaha Receivers).

Pass-through simply works as it says, it let the video signal pass though from the source (Blu-ray player, for example) to the receiver, then from the receiver to your TV display.
-> Like I said, only a very few Yamaha model receivers (and maybe Onkyo, I'm not sure), are able to let the video signal from the HDMI, flow freely to your TV display directly, without the reciver being turn ON.
--> And YES, most receivers allow to do a pass-though of the video signals from their video connections, which is important to do.

* Most receivers perform this task without altering the video signals (degrading it); but some receivers do alter the video signal in a negative way, by altering BtB and WtW (which are the Black and White color levels).
Also, you can have a certain delay between picture and audio.
Most of all receivers have a Lip Synch feature to remedy this situation, but in certain cases, the delay is the opposite way, so there is no antidote when this type of situation happened. It is a software glitch in the receiver, that needs a firmware update.

** I also agree with you with the HDCP, and CEC aspect problems that we still encounters nowadays. Hopefully, these issues will be resolved soon, very soon.

Have a great day Rick,
Bob