I'm refinishing my family room and now that it's nearing completion, I'm finally getting to seriously contemplate how I'd like to finish the re-build of my old pro logic HT system into a high def system.

I forsee three (still to be purchased) high def sources: high def tivo/sat receiver, high def dvd, and a high def game machine for the kids. The TV will be a 1080p large screen, to be purchased probably in the fall as 1080p costs come down in the LCD/plasma platforms.

The biggest conumdrum I have is what to do in the processor department.

Where high end audio is concerned, I'm a big believer in getting more for less by taking advantage of audiophile nervosa and turning to the pre-owned world, but I'm wondering if I can get away with it with the processing. BTW, this will be a HT-only system -- I have a completely separate 2-channel system in my living room.

The amplification and speakers are done. I'm using 5 200w B&K monoblocks to drive 5 NHT VS-2s. The VS-2 was my old center channel before I broke my system into two systems (as above) and I liked the VS-2 so much I decided to stick with the VS-2 all the way around in the HT system. I still need to get a sub, but that will be an easier decision -- $1k should get me all the pre-owned sub I need (room needs and personal tastes will determine which).

What worries me in the processing deparment is the HDMI aspect. I take it it'd be a lot cleaner to use a processor/receiver with 3 HDMI inputs and at least one HDMI output. But doing that, at least where a processor is concerned, sounds like big bucks, as it'd have to be a newer (probably new) processor, as opposed to a Lexicon DC-1, say. True? In this scenario, how much of a processor performance hit would I take with a mid-fi receiver-as-processor-only with the amplification farmed out to the B&Ks?

Could I find a sub-$1k outboard processor (used) that would give me my multiple hdmi inputs? That's the rub, I want to stay under $1k in a processor, but of all the components in a HT system, this is the area that changes the most each year.

Put me on the right track

HDMI can pass audio over the wire - in fact with HD-DVD and BD, the only way to get uncompressed mulitchannel digital audio is via a newer HDMI revision.

There aren't too many pre-processors that can do uncompressed HDMI audio (the Anthem D2 can, I believe, but it's quite a bit above your 1K budget.)

So if HDMI video / audio is part of the solution you're looking for, and 1K is your budget, I think you're looking at a receiver for sure. This may change by the end of this year, but I don't know of anything on the horizon.

You may be able to find a Lumagen HDQ for a few hundred above $1000 used (or get a good deal here from AVS) (has 4 DVI inputs). The VP20 might also be an option (has 3 HDMI inputs); Buy It Now's on eBay are just a hair over $1000, so I expect that AVS, or other forum members, might have similarly good or even better deals. And I believe that there is/was a deal from AVS on the VP30, which has 4 HDMI inputs. Between the Lumagen and the DVDO, I'd push you to get the Lumagen. Even though you'd need DVI->HDMI cables, the Lumagen does 1080i deinterlacing at a low low price.

This HDMI path you want with HD multichannel audio may not be worth it right now; if you're player supports HD audio and has the analog outputs (and your receiver has multichannel analog inputs), you'll still be in HD-audio bliss. AND HD video bliss.

Thanks for the direction. Sounds like there's some ways to go, but also some reasons to continue dragging my feet on a pre-pro just a while longer.

Would I need multi-channel inputs with HD audio (instead of coaxial digital)?

Yes. Coax digital is the same as optical, and won't pass the new high resolution audio formats. You can only get those by decoding in the player and outputting to multi-channel analog, or by sending via hdmi to a pre-pro or receiver that supports multi-channel PCM over HDMI.

(previously, I stated that the pre-pro or receiver had to support the specific high resolution codec being used, but that was incorrect).

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/3240/gefen_set_to

Yes. Coax digital is the same as optical, and won't pass the new high resolution audio formats. You can only get those by decoding in the player and outputting to multi-channel analog, or by sending via hdmi to a pre-pro or receiver that supports the codec.

Just to clarify, Most HD players also put out multi-channel PCM over HDMI which does not require the receiver to decode DTS-HD, DD+, DD-TrueHD etc.

- Rich

Hey Rich,

Thanks. I misunderstood that until I read your note and then read more about it. So *any* HDMI receiver that supports multi-channel audio over HDMI will be able to play the high resolution audio from these players. I've edited my statement above to reflect this.

Hey Rich,

Thanks. I misunderstood that until I read your note and then read more about it. So *any* HDMI receiver that supports multi-channel audio over HDMI will be able to play the high resolution audio from these players. I've edited my statement above to reflect this.

Any player that outputs multi-channel linear PCM work fine with any preamp/receiver that can accept it. I believe that HDMI 1.1 should be sufficient.

The only advantage of a Preamp/Receiver doing the decode is that it may do a better job and if you multiple players and you may be able to have less expensive options.

I have often wondered about *new* internet content though. If there were say new commentaries that could be streamed online, I assume that the player would have to decode the HD format, add the new audio, then re-encode it. Or perhaps, in this case, it would make sense to leave it as PCM.

- Rich