I just bought an open box Bose 18 Lifestyle series II that I'm returning after reading all posts on how Bose is overhyped and not worth the extra cost (like monster cables.) Now I've decided to get a <$500 HTIB(not sure what brand yet) with HDMI connectivity. Would the HDMI cable be the only thing I would need to connect to my HDTV from the HTIB? No optical cables? Nothing else? And if you could recommend a few HTIBs I'll appreciate that too. I'm about to order a few cables from monoprice and your answers could help me a lot. Thank you.

Hi there!

I've also been researching this issue and auditioning various systems. At first I was very attracted by HDMI-enabled systems due to the simplicy of the cabling. However, it has been my experience that the HDMI is really only used to transmit digital video signal from the receiver to the display. In typical HTIB setups, the receiver also serves the purposes of DVD player, tuner, and amplifier. Audio signal through HDMI to the display is usually moot as the meat of your sound should be coming from the speakers, which are connected via standard (or in some cases proprietary) audio cables.

The whole situation had me puzzled because clearly not a whole lot is being done with this integrated cable format. You could imagine, for example, connecting an external disc player (say, one of the emerging HD-format players such as BD or HD-DVD) to your HDMI-enabled HTIB receiver where the HD digital audio/video signals are input into the HTIB. The receiver then parses the video siganl through HDMI out to the display and the audio is dispersed to the speakers. HOWEVER, it has been my experience that current HDMI HTIB systems only have one HDMI out and no HDMI inputs. Sooo, the utility of HDMI seems to be rather limited.

Long story short: my initial assessment of HDMI in the current market is that it's used solely as a HD digital video signal carrier. For guys like me still deciding on an audio system, it also conveniently delivers audio to my display as well. :)

-brianDNA

Long story short: my initial assessment of HDMI in the current market is that it's used solely as a HD digital video signal carrier. For guys like me still deciding on an audio system, it also conveniently delivers audio to my display as well. :)

-brianDNA

Thanks Brian, if that's the case then I guess I'll hold off a few more months before buying a system. I've listened to stock TV speakers my whole life, a few more months aren't going to kill me. I wish I knew anything at all about speakers so I could buy components, but I don't and I don't trust anybody at CC or BB.

Thanks Brian, if that's the case then I guess I'll hold off a few more months before buying a system. I've listened to stock TV speakers my whole life, a few more months aren't going to kill me. I wish I knew anything at all about speakers so I could buy components, but I don't and I don't trust anybody at CC or BB.

not only can't you trust them, you can't trust your own ears- it's always so damn noisy w/ a hundred stereos & tv's blaring away, and the inability to place speakers in anything resembling proper positions. the special listening rooms won't have anything < 2 grand.

No problem! My current situation is one of hunting for the right HT setup for my little condo here in San Diego. I was originally going the HTIB route, but my hand was forced when my old DVD player croaked. I'm not ready to commit to a BD/HD-DVD system, and nor was I willing to tie the fate of my audio system to the fate of a DVD player.

My strategy has been to buy a new DVD player with HDMI as a stop gap (I was between a Sony DVP-NS75H and a OPPO 970 -- went with Sony for price). I've been extremely satisfied with the picture quality, which is bounds better than the old-skool unit. Meanwhile, I've been auditioning various 2.1, 1.1, and 3.1 audio setups, using optical out from the DVD to the audio units.

As far as CC/BB goes, couldn't agree more. Those places are always too loud, and the sales reps are just way too eager to make the sale. You can't go wrong with these forums. I've found a TON of information lurking around here. And people are nice, too!

I just bought an open box Bose 18 Lifestyle series II that I'm returning after reading all posts on how Bose is overhyped and not worth the extra cost (like monster cables.) Now I've decided to get a <$500 HTIB(not sure what brand yet) with HDMI connectivity. Would the HDMI cable be the only thing I would need to connect to my HDTV from the HTIB? No optical cables? Nothing else? And if you could recommend a few HTIBs I'll appreciate that too. I'm about to order a few cables from monoprice and your answers could help me a lot. Thank you.


You didn't even give it a listen? That's pretty shocking to buy something and return it without even giving it a quick listen.

No problem! My current situation is one of hunting for the right HT setup for my little condo here in San Diego. I was originally going the HTIB route, but my hand was forced when my old DVD player croaked. I'm not ready to commit to a BD/HD-DVD system, and nor was I willing to tie the fate of my audio system to the fate of a DVD player.

My strategy has been to buy a new DVD player with HDMI as a stop gap (I was between a Sony DVP-NS75H and a OPPO 970 -- went with Sony for price). I've been extremely satisfied with the picture quality, which is bounds better than the old-skool unit. Meanwhile, I've been auditioning various 2.1, 1.1, and 3.1 audio setups, using optical out from the DVD to the audio units.

As far as CC/BB goes, couldn't agree more. Those places are always too loud, and the sales reps are just way too eager to make the sale. You can't go wrong with these forums. I've found a TON of information lurking around here. And people are nice, too!

only the Prices were too loud?