I am leaning towards a receiver which does not have HDMI input. However, if my DVD player and the TV have HDMI inputs, will it make a difference? Will I still be able to achieve the full 1080p resolution?

Any input is appreciated.

Thank you

Word to the wise, don't buy a receiver just because it has HDMI built in. Look for the quality of the receiver and if it has HDMI - bonus. I'd rather have a solid, sonically supeior receiver than one that has all the whistles and bells.

I've got a B&K AVR 307 that I love because it is a quality unit. It doesn't have HDMI. However, you can easily get an HDMI switch from Monoprice.

Will I still be able to achieve the full 1080p resolution?Yes, you will get 1080p. Your TV might already have 2 - 3 HDMI inputs. But there are two potential problems:
- synchronized switching of TV and receiver, which is easily resolved with universal remote, which you would need any way;
- new hi-def audio delivered on HD DVD or Blu-ray, you will lose it forever with a receiver without HDMI input.

- new hi-def audio delivered on HD DVD or Blu-ray, you will lose it forever with a receiver without HDMI input.


Thank you for this information. I Kind of had an idea that this would happen.

new hi-def audio delivered on HD DVD or Blu-ray, you will lose it forever with a receiver without HDMI input.Isn't that a bit misleading? One only gets the benefit of hi-def audio if the receiver also has the ability to decode hi-def audio, True HD, etc. Even high quality receivers may only support 5.1 audio via HDMI. Some cheap receivers put HDMI in just to say that they have HDMI and don't pass any audio via the HDMI port at all.

It's not such a simple answer.

Isn't that a bit misleading?No, it's not.
One only gets the benefit of hi-def audio if the receiver also has the ability to decode hi-def audio, True HD, etc. Not true: if HD DVD or Blu-ray player (and that's all on the market today) can decode itself and output PCM streams, that's all that needed. Please check audio forums for reference.
Some cheap receivers put HDMI in just to say that they have HDMI
and don't pass any audio via the HDMI port at all.Never heard about that, example please.
How does it matter that receiver does not pass audio anywhere? And regardless what happens on HDMI output what matters is HDMI input. :rolleyes:

It's not such a simple answer.It's extremely simple, see above.

I Kind of had an idea that this would happen.Well, one could use analog inputs actually.

No, it's not.
Not true: if HD DVD or Blu-ray player (and that's all on the market today) can decode itself and output PCM streams, that's all that needed. Please check audio forums for reference.That seems contrary to what I have read. To decode these bitstreams, the A/V decoder will need to support the updated data protocols, as well as incorporate these new decoding algorithms. link (http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/2006/04/multi-channel_a.php)
Never heard about that, example please.I stopped into J&R Music World this evening and the salesman confirms that this is true for many inexpensive receivers. Here is but one example of a $2,500 receiver that doesn't. The Arcam AVR350 does not support audio over HDMI link (http://www.hometheaterblog.com/hometheater/2006/06/arcam_avr350_71.html)
Some cheap receivers put HDMI in just to say that they have HDMI and don't pass any audio via the HDMI port at all. How does it matter that receiver does not pass audio anywhere? And regardless what happens on HDMI output what matters is HDMI input. You're just being obtuse. It's clear that the meaning was that many receivers don't accept audio over HDMI.

The purpose of this was to refute the thesis that one always should buy a receiver that has HDMI inputs. As we see, a receiver that doesn't have active audio in the HDMI input is no better than using an HDMI switch. Likewise, merely having HDMI inputs does not guarantee the ability to play all modern audio formats. The buyer should do their homework and research the particulars about any receiver that they are considering to assure that it provides the desired flexibility.

That seems contrary to what I have read.I'm glad you can learn something.

I stopped into J&R Music World this evening and the salesman confirms that this is true for many inexpensive receivers. Here is but one example of a $2,500 receiver that doesn't.
Whatever sales said divide by 1425, subtract 19345725, multiply by 0.0002639 and a final result has only a grain of truth. :eek:
Who said anything about decoding by receiver, not me. Player sends already DECODED signal (PCM), no decoding needed by receiver.
Wrong example: AVR350 does ACCEPT audio over HDMI, but it LITERALLY does not pass digital signal out; manual p.E-7, paragraph DIGITAL OUT:
"When an analogue source is selected, the digital output will be muted. These outputs are also muted
if a source is selected where the only connection for that source is HDMI. The digital audio from the
HDMI link (if any) is not routed to these outputs."

You're just being obtuse.Leave my poor persona alone, it's not subject of this discussion. :p
It's clear that the meaning was that many receivers don't accept audio over HDMI.No example given, null argument. :rolleyes: Who's obtuse now? :D

The purpose of this was to refute the thesis that one always should buy a receiver that has HDMI inputs. As we see, a receiver that doesn't have active audio in the HDMI input is no better than using an HDMI switch. Likewise, merely having HDMI inputs does not guarantee the ability to play all modern audio formats. The buyer should do their homework and research the particulars about any receiver that they are considering to assure that it provides the desired flexibility.Who said "always", not me, just expressed consideration.

You can still enjoy a great experience with an AV receiver that does not HDMI. SPDIF still carries the tried & true Dolby Digital & DTS formats that is available on the vast majority of content. I have seen a number of consumers who continue to use their high end (non HDMI) AV receivers by cabling HDMI directly to the TV, and SPDIF to the AVR.

From an audio performance perspective, the difference in using a non-HDMI vs. HDMI AVR include:
- single cable vs. multiple cables (big deal to some, not a big deal to others)

- ability to support the latest lossless surround sound formats digitally. These are formats that are part of the HD-DVD and Blu-ray standards, and are not available on standard DVD. So if you have no plans to upgrade to these high def disc devices, this is not so much a big deal for you. The non-HDMI alternative for enjoying Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA is to use 6 or 8 separate analog cables for each audio channel (more cables, lower quality, inability to do things like bass management in your AVR because most AVR send the analog audio inputs directly to the amp, bypassing all the audio processing features)

- ability to have the AVR automatically perform the audio delay to put the audio in perfect lip sync with the TV. The non-HDMI alternative is to have the user manually set the audio delay in the AVR, which tends to be a bit hard, less precise, and requires constant re-configuration when the video resolution changes (for example, the amount of audio latency in the TV will vary if the video is interlaced vs progressive).

Ok I have read and reviewed all the HDMI Posts and am considering this set up: (my receiver is the HK 7300; non HDMI).

tv to HDMI box

STB to HDMI box

HD DVD to HDMI box

Where I am still confused is the audio portion of all this; right now my HK powers everything including regular tv watching. I have seen HDMI boxes for as much as $300 and as low as $50. It appears the main difference is the audio connections; the $300 units have toslink, and digital optical connections. Am I missing something or is that the main difference? $300 is hard to take for a switch box! This techonolgy is rather confusing to me. Any help/comments appreciated.

Ok I have read and reviewed all the HDMI Posts and am considering this set up: (my receiver is the HK 7300; non HDMI).

tv to HDMI box

STB to HDMI box

HD DVD to HDMI box

Where I am still confused is the audio portion of all this; right now my HK powers everything including regular tv watching. I have seen HDMI boxes for as much as $300 and as low as $50. It appears the main difference is the audio connections; the $300 units have toslink, and digital optical connections. Am I missing something or is that the main difference? $300 is hard to take for a switch box! This techonolgy is rather confusing to me. Any help/comments appreciated.

whats an HDMI Box?

- ability to have the AVR automatically perform the audio delay to put the audio in perfect lip sync with the TV. The non-HDMI alternative is to have the user manually set the audio delay in the AVR, which tends to be a bit hard, less precise, and requires constant re-configuration when the video resolution changes (for example, the amount of audio latency in the TV will vary if the video is interlaced vs progressive).

This is precisely the reason I am interested in getting a new receiver capable of video processing and audio lip synching. It is what has stopped me from getting a stand-alone video processor.

Stace

[QUOTE=HDMI_Org]- ability to support the latest lossless surround sound formats digitally. These are formats that are part of the HD-DVD and Blu-ray standards, and are not available on standard DVD. So if you have no plans to upgrade to these high def disc devices, this is not so much a big deal for you. The non-HDMI alternative for enjoying Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA is to use 6 or 8 separate analog cables for each audio channel (more cables, lower quality, inability to do things like bass management in your AVR because most AVR send the analog audio inputs directly to the amp, bypassing all the audio processing features)

Does anybody know how much "lower quality" you would get from using analog cables? For example, would Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA over analog sound better or worse than regular Dolby or DTS over SPDIF?