I am thinking about making the break from my normal 2 channel stereo and tv setup to a simple home theatre 5.1 system with just an AV receiver, Blu Ray player and 5.1 speaker system.

My initial question is in terms of hook-up - it seems the easiest way to hook things up is to use all HDMI. One HDMI from the cable box into the receiver, another HDMI from the Blu-Ray into the receiver, and a thrid HDMI from the reciever into the plasma TV? But this would not allow me to switch from the home theatre sound to just the normal TV sound speakers? I know it seems silly, but the television is used a great deal by the kids/wife to watch cartoons and other content that we really wouldnt want to waste the extra power consumption of the AV reciever, etc on.

I'd like to be able to switch between the television speakers and the home theatre system easily. Unfortunately, I think our Atlanta Scientific cable box does not have more that one HDMI out - otherwise that may have taken care of this? So what is the best way to do this? Preferably still using all HDMI to keep the number of cables down to a minimum?

Thanks.

Some receivers have HDMI passthrough that may work. Otherwise, try one of these.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10113&cs_id=1011301&p_id=5068&seq=1&format=2

Some receivers have HDMI passthrough that may work. Otherwise, try one of these.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10113&cs_id=1011301&p_id=5068&seq=1&format=2

Thanks. I was wondering if there might be HDMI splitters out there. But I was afraid it might degrade the source. Sounds like it shouldnt, but I'm not sure if what they write is true.

As far as the HDMI passthrough - I'm pretty new to all of this - one of the receivers I was leaning towards is Pioneer VSX-1019AH. I dont see anything that sounds quite like that in the specs here:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/AV-Receivers/PioneerReceivers/ci.VSX-1019AH-K.Kuro

But I may not know exactly what to be looking for.

If that one doesnt have it, maybe someone could point one out that does that could help me know what to look for?

Thanks. I was wondering if there might be HDMI splitters out there. But I was afraid it might degrade the source. Sounds like it shouldnt, but I'm not sure if what they write is true.

As far as the HDMI passthrough - I'm pretty new to all of this - one of the receivers I was leaning towards is Pioneer VSX-1019AH. I dont see anything that sounds quite like that in the specs here:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/HomeEntertainment/AV-Receivers/PioneerReceivers/ci.VSX-1019AH-K.Kuro

But I may not know exactly what to be looking for.

If that one doesnt have it, maybe someone could point one out that does that could help me know what to look for?

I know the new Denon receivers will do it, but apart from them I am not sure. A question for the receiver section perhaps?

As far as degrading the signal, unless you have long runs of cable you should be fine. Based on the reviews it seems that some may have had trouble when it first came out, but lately they seem to be doing just fine.

Thanks again. I'm thinking the splitter might be a reasonable solution to the problem.

I was also thinking about the cable boxes - maybe I should check with my cable company to see if they have boxes that have more than one HDMI output? Or I suppose I might be able to use HDMI out to the receiver and then use component cables out to the TV for viewing when not using the surround sound?

Maybe someone here know more about this cable box aspect??

Thanks again. I'm thinking the splitter might be a reasonable solution to the problem.

I was also thinking about the cable boxes - maybe I should check with my cable company to see if they have boxes that have more than one HDMI output? Or I suppose I might be able to use HDMI out to the receiver and then use component cables out to the TV for viewing when not using the surround sound?

Maybe someone here know more about this cable box aspect??

If your Scientific Atlanta box is anything like ours you won't want to use the HDMI out anyway. They have had problems. Most folks agree that component out of the SA box is the way to go. In this case you could just use RCA splitters (for video) right at the box and use the stereo RCA out to the TV for audio and then the coax or optical digital out to your receiver.

Check out the cable section of the forum for more info on the SA boxes.

Hmm. I've been using the HDMI out of the SA box to the plasma TV already for a couple years now. I havent noticed any real problems. What sort of issues are people having?

A couple other questions (I'm new to this as you can tell):

In this case you could just use RCA splitters (for video) right at the box

Are you meaning to split the 3-color components out of the SA box? To send one set to the TV and the other set to the receiver?

and use the stereo RCA out to the TV for audio and then the coax or optical digital out to your receiver.

Is the coax or optical digital out you are referring to coming from the cable box then or from the TV?

Answers in blue.

Hmm. I've been using the HDMI out of the SA box to the plasma TV already for a couple years now. I havent noticed any real problems. What sort of issues are people having?
I have known several people to have handshake issues. A friend of mine also had problems with his SA box not remembering the aspect ratio of his TV and always reverting back to a 4:3 output.
A couple other questions (I'm new to this as you can tell):

In this case you could just use RCA splitters (for video) right at the box

Are you meaning to split the 3-color components out of the SA box? To send one set to the TV and the other set to the receiver?
I did, but you actually don't need to do this. If HDMI is working fine for you, then use HDMI from the SA box to the receiver and then use Component out and stereo RCA out from the SA box to your TV. When you want to watch regular TV you switch to the component input and for movies you use HDMI to the receiver (which then goes to the TV from the receiver).
and use the stereo RCA out to the TV for audio and then the coax or optical digital out to your receiver.

Is the coax or optical digital out you are referring to coming from the cable box then or from the TV?

It would be from the SA box, but as mentioned above you might not need to do it this way.

Thanks again. I'll think this through a little more.

What works for me is using a Harmony remote. You could make a sequence called "Watch TV Kids" would not turn on your receiver and the volume would be controlling the TV volume. Then, another sequence called "Watch TV/Movie" would turn on your receiver and control that volume. You can also have the Harmony roll the TV volume to "0" at shut down (as opposed to mute which places an icon on my screen) so as to not have both volumes up when using the last sequence. Anyway, that was my work-around. Hope that helps.

my Denon AVR-790 will do HDMI pass-through when it is off.

Receiver off, HDMI video/audio goes straight to TV through the Denon.

Receiver on, HDMI video only goes to TV, sound is removed from the HDMI signal at the Denon.


my PVR box is a SA8300HD, tv is Panasonic 58V10, worked with a Samsung PN58b650 as well.

my Denon AVR-790 will do HDMI pass-through when it is off.

Receiver off, HDMI video/audio goes straight to TV through the Denon.

Receiver on, HDMI video only goes to TV, sound is removed from the HDMI signal at the Denon.


my PVR box is a SA8300HD, tv is Panasonic 58V10, worked with a Samsung PN58b650 as well.

I tried pass-through with my Pioneer 82TXS/DirectTV HR21/Sammy 58B650. The Pioneer needs to be turned on to get it to work. Do all the newer receivers ( onkyo/denon/pioneer/marantz/yamaha etc) do pass-through without switching on?

I tried pass-through with my Pioneer 82TXS/DirectTV HR21/Sammy 58B650. The Pioneer needs to be turned on to get it to work. Do all the newer receivers ( onkyo/denon/pioneer/marantz/yamaha etc) do pass-through without switching on?


Not too sure. I specifically looked for it when making my decision. the new Pioneer's and the Denon were clearly capable. I chose the Denon for its Audysee and scaling.

Not too sure. I specifically looked for it when making my decision. the new Pioneer's and the Denon were clearly capable. I chose the Denon for its Audysee and scaling.

Since we are talking more about Pioneer now, I thought I'd ask again:

Does anyone know if the Pioneer VSX-1019AH has this pass-thrugh capability?

Or I suppose I might be able to use HDMI out to the receiver and then use component cables out to the TV for viewing when not using the surround sound?

Well it looks like my plan wont work. The cable box I have is a Scientific Atlanta 8300HDC, and it looks like when the HDMI is plugged in, the component outputs wont work.

Can anyone verify if this is true? Or should I be changing some sort of setting to get the box to output both HDMI and component simultaneously?

Anyone have any thoughts?

Since we are talking more about Pioneer now, I thought I'd ask again:

Does anyone know if the Pioneer VSX-1019AH has this pass-thrugh capability?


I believe this one did (2009 model, right?).

Check the owners thread to be sure though, but im 95% sure.

I should correct my own words here. It doesnt pass-through when OFF, but when in STANDBY. My Denon has two "off" settings.

I believe this one did (2009 model, right?).

Check the owners thread to be sure though, but im 95% sure.

I should correct my own words here. It doesnt pass-through when OFF, but when in STANDBY. My Denon has two "off" settings.

Just checked the owner's thread and was told no.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17600869#post17600869

Darn, you sounded pretty sure