OK, so I thought I was going to simplify things by buying a TV with 3 HDMI inputs, but it appears it's not to be so. I currently have a (fairly) old Sony HTIB receiver with only 1 coax and one optical input, so I thought I'd hook my Xbox, my Charter HD receiver and my upconverting DVD player (when I get it) to the TV via HDMI and then send all the audio to my receiver via the optical out. Alas, it's not to be, since some idiot decided not to design these HDTV optical outs to pass through the 5.1 audio.

So, I guess I need to buy a new receiver that has HDMI inputs. My question is this: If I buy one with the HDMI inputs, as I stated, will the HDMI carry the audio to the receiver, then the HDMI out to the TV carry the video? (as a secondary question, will it continue to pass the audio through to the TV, if I want to use the TV speakers for something?) I've seen receivers that say something to the effect of 'separate audio connection necessary', and if I buy a receiver, I want to make SURE I won't have to turn around and buy something else, AGAIN. :-)

Thanks in advance. I thought I was relatively knowledgeable about this stuff, but it just can't be *simple*, can it?

Georgii

You're looking for a receiver with "HDMI audio processing." Yes, they pass video out through HDMI. I "think" some can also send audio along as well, but don't quote me. ;) If not, then you might need some analog audio cables going from the source to the TV and mute the TV when you want to use the receiver.

Onkyo's TX-SR606 is one example of an HDMI audio receiver, and Onkyo's cheapest. Yamaha, Denon, and others have them as well, but I don't offhand know the model numbers.

Onkyo's TX-SR506 has HDMI video passthrough, but no HDMI audio. That's the one you want to avoid. Usually they state in the ad copy that they need additional audio cables.

Most HDMI audio receivers have Dolby TrueHD processing, so that symbol might be a clue as well that you have an HDMI audio receiver.

Would the Sony DG820 do what I need? It looks like it, I just want to make I can plug everything into it and have it do all of the sound processing over HDMI.

Thanks,

Georgii