I apologize if this has already been covered, but I didn’t see a thread for it.

I’m not quite ready to give up my old receiver for a new HDMI one, so I have to use analog connections for HD DVD and Blu-ray sound formats. This means that when I want to watch an HD DVD, I have to disconnect from the BD player and vice versa.

Would it hinder the audio quality to use a splitter so I could keep both players connected at all times?

Thanks for any info. :)

You mean "merging" 5.1 analogs.

This HAS been covered in a couple of fairly recently active threads, but I realize that "hitting" upon them is difficult without the correct search term(s). Read through a few pages of this sub-forum as well as the surround music sub-forum and you'll find the threads.

Basically, yes, people have reported decent results in doing this (merging with Y-splitters), but it is generally not a good idea.

The most common solution is an A/V switcher with the use of both the video inputs/outputs and audio inputs/outputs as audio inputs/outputs. Some (Zektor) are relatively expensive. Others (Phillips) are not. There is a Phillips A/V switcher that many have reported provides very good results. This A/V switcher has the following inputs/outputs that can be used:

3 component video inputs/outputs
2 R/L analog audio outputs
1 composite video input/output
= 6 total analog inputs/outputs

The Phillips switcher is available at Target and WalMart.

"Phillips switcher" may be a useful search term to get you started finding the threads regarding your particular need.

Wouldn’t using a splitter like that not allow all 6 inputs to be active at once?

Wouldn’t using a splitter like that not allow all 6 inputs to be active at once?Why? For any particular input device that is chosen (# 1, 2, 3, or 4) all the audio and video inputs are apparently active as well as all of the unit's audio and video outputs.

Philips USA PH-61550 is the unit in question, BTW. I saw it at WalMart for $19.99.

http://www.buy.com/prod/philips-usa-ph61150-4-way-av-switcher-with-s-video-and-component/q/loc/111/206710106.html

You still MUST calibrate each player's multichannel analog outputs properly provided they DO offer individual channel level trims.

Thanks. I'll give that a shot. :)

Before I spend the $20 on the Philips switcher, I decided to test something. I bought some Y analog cables (two analogs into one) and split the center channel to both the HD DVD and Blu-ray player. I honestly couldn't hear any difference with these cables in place.

Is doing this dangerous in some way (i.e., bad for the receiver)?

Is doing this dangerous in some way (i.e., bad for the receiver)?
Here's a recent discussion about this issue:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=834927