Here is my current situation:
Older nonHDMI AVR
Xbox 360
SA8300 DVR
HD-DVD
Mits HDTV(No HDMI, but DVI and of course component)
Epson 6500 projector

I am realizing this is more complicated than I first thought.

What I want to do is have the flexibility to view the 360, HD-DVD or DVR on either the TV or the projector. I would also like the flexibility to be able to play the 360 on one of the outputs at the same time as the DVR is on the other.

I know I need to add a few things to the setup to make it work properly, but am not sure what (New AVR, HDMI switch, HDMI splitter, Component splitter, etc.)

One of the first problems I am noticed is that the DVR can not have the projector connected by HDMI and TV connected by component at the same time or it will not output to the TV.

Here is one potential solution. I would like input as to whether this should work ok.

1. Connect the 360 to a simple component splitter. This would send the component signal to both TV and projector. Audio would go through a composite connection for the TV and optical to the AVR for use with the projector.
2. Get a new fairly entry level AVR with HDMI. Connect the HD-DVD and DVR to the AVR HDMI inputs and then send the HDMI output to an HDMI splitter to send it to both the projector and the TV (although I would need a HDMI to DVI adaptor for the TV - any problems with using the adaptor?). Audio would be through the AVR in this case.

Should that solution work? Any potential problems you see or better ideas. I was not thinking I would need all of the splitters and a new AVR, but I think maybe I do.

The second potential option I guess would be to get a 4x2 HDMI switch like Monoprice has and keep the current AVR. I am not quite sure if this would meet all my needs or not.

Sorry for the long post, but I would appreciate thoughts. Thanks.

1. A component splitter should work. Are you going to split component for the HD-DVR and DVR also?

2. HDMI is generally preferred for signal distribution since it is digital, and it's the only way to get the lossless audio formats from Blu-ray. But there are occasional problems (handshake protocol) with using splitters, and unfortunately there's no way to know in advance whether it will work or not. The same can happen with a matrix switch such as the 4x2 from Monoprice.

If you do buy an entry level AVR with HDMI make sure it extracts the audio from the HDMI signal. A number of entry level AVRs don't (you sometimes have to look in their operator's manual to determine whether they do or not). If the description just says it has an HDMI "switch", that can be an indication that it doesn't extract the audio.

I guess I could also do a component video splitter for the DVR as well instead of the HDMI, but I was thinking HDMI would be easier and save a few cables.

I already have 2 25' in wall rated component cables that I could use. I thought if I was going to need to spend additional dollars that I might be better suited to spend it on an HDMI solution/new AVR rather then getting a multitude of $20 component cables. Of course if I end up spending the money on HDMI and it doesn't work and I have to spend it on the component anyway then I would not be at all happy.

Can I assume that an HDMI coming out of a receiver (ie the DVR, or HD-DVD) can be split just as easy as an HDMI directly from the source (ie DVR directly) or does the "switching" that takes place inside the receiver create another potential problem for the handshake?

Can I assume that an HDMI coming out of a receiver (ie the DVR, or HD-DVD) can be split just as easy as an HDMI directly from the source (ie DVR directly) or does the "switching" that takes place inside the receiver create another potential problem for the handshake?I have read of problems with splitting at the output of an Onkyo receiver that didn't occur when the split was before the receiver, unfortunately. You might do some forum searches for this problem with particular receivers as others may have that problem also.

There are some receivers with two HDMI outputs, but they tend to be the high-end units, naturally.