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Can any receiver do simultaneous HDMI audio output?

post #1 of 10
12/20/09 at 8:09am
Thread Starter 
After much agonizing I bought an Onkyo HT-RC160 this Friday and have it hooked up. I like the sound although it's not a HUGE step up from my 3 year old HK AVR-240. But, I might have come across a show stopper.

I can't get HDMI audio to work at both the TV and the amp at the same time. You can get one or the other or get TV to work when the amp is off with passthrough but not both at once. I previously used an HDMI splitter to send the HDMI output to four different TVs. This is a must-have for me. This worked fine for me before but I was using a monoprice HDMI switch + Coax Digital.

To keep it simple the question is this: Is there a combination of settings in the Onkyo that will allow me to send sound to both the amp and tv via HDMI at the same time?

Also, if not is there any HDMI switching receiver that will allow me to do what I want to do?

Thanks everyone.

Jay W
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post #2 of 10
12/20/09 at 8:39am
The problem with HDMI audio to a TV is that the TV then handshakes with the source device to force 2-ch audio. This is why many AVRs do not allow HDMI audio to pass to the TV AND output from the AVR too. Most will have an HDMI setting to allow audio from either AVR or TV. Some will do both, but again you will get only 2-ch audio from the source device.

The newer Yamaha models will allow HDMI audio from both TV and AVR. (again with the limitation of the TV forcing the type of audio.)
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post #3 of 10
12/20/09 at 9:38am
Out of idle curiosity, why would you want simultaneous TV and Receiver audio?
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post #4 of 10
12/20/09 at 12:36pm
Thread Starter 
I actually answered that question in my original query. I have a TiVo that (using a HDMI splitter) goes to 3 flat panels and one projector. If i use the monoprice switch it allows the audio to go to all 4 outputs. I was using toslink from the TiVo HD to my HK receiver. The hope was that the Onkyo that I bought would do the following:
- Serve as the HDMI switcher
- Allow me to enjoy TrueHD
- Give me Audyssey Dynamic EQ/Volume
- Do better job of balancing my speakers

Does all of that with the cost of NO AUDIO to my other TVs. That's too high a price. The runs are all HDMI cables and I don't want to re-do that.

Jay W
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post #5 of 10
12/20/09 at 2:15pm
Perhaps you should have asked the question before purchasing this AVR. As it is, it seems you have three choices: Take it back for a refund/exchange if you can; try a workaround similar to what you had before; live with the problem.
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post #6 of 10
12/20/09 at 2:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jayw View Post

I actually answered that question in my original query. I have a TiVo that (using a HDMI splitter) goes to 3 flat panels and one projector. If i use the monoprice switch it allows the audio to go to all 4 outputs. I was using toslink from the TiVo HD to my HK receiver. The hope was that the Onkyo that I bought would do the following:
- Serve as the HDMI switcher
- Allow me to enjoy TrueHD
- Give me Audyssey Dynamic EQ/Volume
- Do better job of balancing my speakers

Does all of that with the cost of NO AUDIO to my other TVs. That's too high a price. The runs are all HDMI cables and I don't want to re-do that.

Jay W

The new Onkyo 1007, 3007, and 5007 will do what you want....I had the 5007 for a week...Sent it back because of excessive clicking sounds, power cut outs, Directv sync issues. But the dual HDMI out part of the equation worked great!
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post #7 of 10
12/20/09 at 7:02pm
Thread Starter 
Well, Thank you Mr. Bluesky!! You are indeed a ray of sunshine. Since this worked with a cheap-o monoprice hdmi switch it never occurred to me that a fancy-schmancy HDMI switcher receiver would prevent the HDMI audio from being used elsewhere. I researched AVRs to death for months almost getting to "analysis paralysis" before pulling the trigger on this unit.

I bought it at a big warehouse CLUB where you get good PRICEs and stuff. So, they will definitely take it back. No worries there.

Thanks for the tip dogone. Wow. Any receivers UNDER $1000 that can do this?

Thanks,

Jay.
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post #8 of 10
12/20/09 at 8:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jayw View Post

Well, Thank you Mr. Bluesky!! You are indeed a ray of sunshine. Since this worked with a cheap-o monoprice hdmi switch it never occurred to me that a fancy-schmancy HDMI switcher receiver would prevent the HDMI audio from being used elsewhere. I researched AVRs to death for months almost getting to "analysis paralysis" before pulling the trigger on this unit.

You're kinda still missing the point, which is that as long as a TV is connected by HDMI, you will be dealing with 2-ch low-res audio, not multi-channel. No AVR that is HDCP compliant will allow the source device to send multi-channel to the AVR then send 2-ch to the TV. Toslink will still be your only multi-channel option.

As soon as you turn on HDMI audio to the TV, the TV will handshake for 2-ch audio.
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post #9 of 10
12/21/09 at 6:22am
Why don't you just put your old HDMI splitter between your TiVo and your receiver (feeding all but one of your flat panels directly from the splitter)?
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post #10 of 10
12/21/09 at 7:48am
Thread Starter 
I wonder if I'll still get multi-channel sound. I'll try this and report back. Thank you for the idea.

Jay W
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