Where does the analog input come from, then?

Let me get this straight.

On the new AVRs (e.g. Denon 4520, Pioneer SC67/68), which have multizone capability, you can't output to an analog zone if input is digital (HDMI). You cannot even downscale to SD output over composite. So effectively you get one extra zone in a "high-end" AVR. Whoopy f****** doo.

As of a year ago, under FCC ruling, at the request of the industry that owns it, BR players cannot output component.

FIOS brings its TV signal in under HDMI. Presumably cable companies, once they enter the 21st century, will do likewise.

I have just one question.

Once I have ripped all my BDs and removed all the copy protection crap, what options do I have for sending content to a TV?

Yes, my post was primarily about using one of these beasts for multi-zone TV, rather than 17 different audio channels.

As I said, Zone 4 is the extra digital zone.

You have a 3rd HD zone with component, but where do you get the content from?

And if I just want to have a SD signal on a small satellite TV (ran to the kitchen to make a sandwich, for example), the industry tells me I get one chance to do that...and it's got to be HD!

I realize I can buy a HDMI switch and pray that I am not one of those complaining on Amazon that it won't work for me.

I no longer see the point of multi-zone AVRs.

It's like the industry has decided that analog is out, they just haven't got around to telling us yet.

It's too bad that the replacement for analog is such junk technology.

BR players can no longer provide component output, so you're limited to composite.

So you rely on the BR player providing both HDMI and composite/stereo signals in parallel.

How much longer is composite going to be with us?

For a fraction of the price, I can invest in a HDMI switch, which might work depending on the phase of the moon.

Sorry, after spending a lot of time investigating the state of the art, it is disappointing to find out how FUBAR things are.

I have sympathy for those that rip their DVDs and BRs, so they can get out of the inane straitjackets in which the industry is trying to wrap its customers.

Thanks, but the problems is these AVRs produce SD-only output in Zones 2 and 3.....and the SD output cannot be downscaled from HDMI input!

So I guess the solution here is to feed HDMI output from BR player through this to produce SD output? But if I want HD output on main screen, I'll need a HDMI switch between this and the BR player. So again, why do I need a multi-zone AVR?

Thanks. Our last two posts are in complete agreement :-).

There is no component input any more.