I've recently moved from using a 4in/2out HDMI matrix switch box with a non-HDMI equipped AVR to an HDMI equipped AVR (Yamaha RX-A1000).
In my old setup, HDMI was for video only. I had 2 25 foot HDMI runs into the box and one 30 foot run from the box to my projector. I also had two six foot runs into the box and one six foot run to a small Dell HDMI equipped monitor. I never had any issues with this setup until the HDMI output of the cable box died (now use component with that device).
In my new setup, I have the following:
Sony PS3 (fat model/SACD) with 25 foot run to AVR.
Cambridge Audio DVD99 with six foot run to AVR.
Sony VPL-AW15 PJ display with 30 foot run from AVR.
Toshiba HD A2 with six foot run to AVR.
The other 25 foot run has been replaced by a component video run from my cable box (faulty HDMI output--haven't bothered to replace box--faulty output confirmed as it does not work with short or long cables with any of my three HDMI equipped displays and it happened before the new AVR was purchased).
Since moving to my new setup, I've had the following things happen:
PS3 signal seemed not to lock on with AVR. Tried swapping cable with other long one--did not fix the problem. Plugged the PS3 cable into the switch box, connected box to AVR with short 6 foot run. Solved the problem. Conclusion: Switch box has signal booster that AVR does not (feel free to correct me if that is not a logical conclusion).
DVD99 sometimes sends video with no audio OR with static when playing SACDs/CDs. No audio issues with DVD-A discs, though twice a brief (1 sec. or so, maybe less) total loss of audio/video--like a skip. Swapped the HDMI cable for another one (same length of 6 feet) and, so far, seems to have solved the issue, though I've not used it much since the swap.
No issues with HD A2, but I haven't used it much.
Also had strange occurrence with DVD99. Listened to a MCH DVD-A disc, no problem. Put in a CD (regular CD, not DTS), set the AVR to "STRAIGHT" mode, which should have lit up 3 lights on display (FL, FR, SUB). Instead, it lit up 6 lights (added Centre, SL and SR). Also played audio through all channels--as if matrixing the 2 channel signal. Could not select any other DSP setting on the AVR. Stopping and ejecting the disc did not change this behaviour. Changing inputs to other sources did not change the behaviour (though the other sources worked normally with STRAIGHT setting). Finally, unplugging the DVD99 HDMI cable, cycling it on and off, and replugging the HDMI cable brought things back to normal.
I suspect several things are happening here, but I don't know enough about how HDMI switching, handshaking and HDCP work to do more than guess.
So, here are my questions:
1) Can there be a fundamental incompatibility between my DVD99 and my RX-A1000?
2) Can such incompatibility (if it exists), affect the AVR's HDMI switching/processing so as to cause problems with other input/source connections?
3) Can having 2 different displays turned on at the same time, if each display has a different resolution (the projector is 1280x720 and the Dell monitor is 1600x1050), trip up the ability of the AVR to connect properly with an HDMI source (necessitating unplugging and replugging the HDMI cable at the AVR)?
From other threads I've read on various compatibility issues, it seems that Question 1) could be answered "Yes". If so, that's life. I can live with it for now as it is easy enough to unplug and replug the HDMI cable (I did not pay a lot for the player and will simply update it sometime later).
I hope the answer to number 2) is also "Yes", in the sense that residual problems will go away when I move on from the DVD99. That would be preferable to having to change the AVR or get it repaired.
As for number 3), if the answer is "Yes", that is easily solved by simply not turning on the two displays at the same time (I have no real need to do so, it's just happened that way a few times because I have no remote for the Dell monitor and I've sometimes turned on the PJ before turning off the Dell).
I know there are no definitive "one size fits all" answers to these questions. Moreover, these issues are annoying but hardly major in the grand scheme of things. I'm prepared to work around them until such time as I upgrade gear but I would like to understand why these issues are happening (could make it easier for me to live with them).
Thanks.
In my old setup, HDMI was for video only. I had 2 25 foot HDMI runs into the box and one 30 foot run from the box to my projector. I also had two six foot runs into the box and one six foot run to a small Dell HDMI equipped monitor. I never had any issues with this setup until the HDMI output of the cable box died (now use component with that device).
In my new setup, I have the following:
Sony PS3 (fat model/SACD) with 25 foot run to AVR.
Cambridge Audio DVD99 with six foot run to AVR.
Sony VPL-AW15 PJ display with 30 foot run from AVR.
Toshiba HD A2 with six foot run to AVR.
The other 25 foot run has been replaced by a component video run from my cable box (faulty HDMI output--haven't bothered to replace box--faulty output confirmed as it does not work with short or long cables with any of my three HDMI equipped displays and it happened before the new AVR was purchased).
Since moving to my new setup, I've had the following things happen:
PS3 signal seemed not to lock on with AVR. Tried swapping cable with other long one--did not fix the problem. Plugged the PS3 cable into the switch box, connected box to AVR with short 6 foot run. Solved the problem. Conclusion: Switch box has signal booster that AVR does not (feel free to correct me if that is not a logical conclusion).
DVD99 sometimes sends video with no audio OR with static when playing SACDs/CDs. No audio issues with DVD-A discs, though twice a brief (1 sec. or so, maybe less) total loss of audio/video--like a skip. Swapped the HDMI cable for another one (same length of 6 feet) and, so far, seems to have solved the issue, though I've not used it much since the swap.
No issues with HD A2, but I haven't used it much.
Also had strange occurrence with DVD99. Listened to a MCH DVD-A disc, no problem. Put in a CD (regular CD, not DTS), set the AVR to "STRAIGHT" mode, which should have lit up 3 lights on display (FL, FR, SUB). Instead, it lit up 6 lights (added Centre, SL and SR). Also played audio through all channels--as if matrixing the 2 channel signal. Could not select any other DSP setting on the AVR. Stopping and ejecting the disc did not change this behaviour. Changing inputs to other sources did not change the behaviour (though the other sources worked normally with STRAIGHT setting). Finally, unplugging the DVD99 HDMI cable, cycling it on and off, and replugging the HDMI cable brought things back to normal.
I suspect several things are happening here, but I don't know enough about how HDMI switching, handshaking and HDCP work to do more than guess.
So, here are my questions:
1) Can there be a fundamental incompatibility between my DVD99 and my RX-A1000?
2) Can such incompatibility (if it exists), affect the AVR's HDMI switching/processing so as to cause problems with other input/source connections?
3) Can having 2 different displays turned on at the same time, if each display has a different resolution (the projector is 1280x720 and the Dell monitor is 1600x1050), trip up the ability of the AVR to connect properly with an HDMI source (necessitating unplugging and replugging the HDMI cable at the AVR)?
From other threads I've read on various compatibility issues, it seems that Question 1) could be answered "Yes". If so, that's life. I can live with it for now as it is easy enough to unplug and replug the HDMI cable (I did not pay a lot for the player and will simply update it sometime later).
I hope the answer to number 2) is also "Yes", in the sense that residual problems will go away when I move on from the DVD99. That would be preferable to having to change the AVR or get it repaired.
As for number 3), if the answer is "Yes", that is easily solved by simply not turning on the two displays at the same time (I have no real need to do so, it's just happened that way a few times because I have no remote for the Dell monitor and I've sometimes turned on the PJ before turning off the Dell).
I know there are no definitive "one size fits all" answers to these questions. Moreover, these issues are annoying but hardly major in the grand scheme of things. I'm prepared to work around them until such time as I upgrade gear but I would like to understand why these issues are happening (could make it easier for me to live with them).
Thanks.
world of HDMI interface, state with absolute certainty that all my troubles are related to this HDMI OUT 1 + 2 business, I can state that it appears to have resolved all my troubles. For that I am grateful (actually, I'm grateful for your advice--I'd rather not have the issue in the first place, of course). And I offer my experience as an example that others might follow if they suffer from similar issues.
