HDMI and optical audio at the same time?

Is there a reason (such as distance) that prevents you from hooking the audio from the Blu-Ray and the DirecTV HD-DVR into the AVR and then the HDMI from both into the TV? That would be the more "normal" method of hooking-up the system. Depending upon your Denon model, you could then use the multichannel analog audio outputs from the Blu-Ray player into the Denon and the optical/coax digital audio from the DirecTV box into the Denon. HDMI would provide the picture to the TV.

To answer your first question, some TVs allow it, some do not. Those who allow it sometimes will only allow 2-channel audio while others will be able to provide Dolby Digital through the optical digital audio output. It is very rare that DTS is sent. In all instances, TrueHD and DTS-HD MA is not sent since the optical digital audio cable does not have the bandwidth to support the high resolution audio signals.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "lock me into the HDMI audio signal". The DirecTV box will have all audio ports active in addition to the HDMI audio. The BD player should also have some other audio signals available but which ones will depend upon the Blu-Ray player model. If you still have quesitons please provide models numbers with your questions.

Welcome to the AVSForum. Not bad for a first append. You might also want to check-out the "owners only" sections for the components you own.
Edited by alk3997 - 1/24/13 at 8:46pm

Unfortunately, there are no multichannel analog inputs on the back of an AVR-3805. So, yes, your only way to get high resolution audio into your system would through HDMI with a receiver upgrade.

As far as the lack of a center channel, it will depend upon the source material. If you want to prove this disconnect the left and right channels and just listen to the center channel (this is easier with banana plugs). Make sure any speaker connections and disconnections are done with the power fully off to the receiver. Without a left/right channel, there should be nothing to destructively interfere. If you still don't have a center channel output, then it is just the source material.

Now I'm confused. Is this a picture of your AVR-3805 backpanel?

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/denon-avr-3805/denon_AVR3805_rear_lg.jpg/image&imgrefurl=http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/denon-avr-3805/denon_AVR3805_rear_lg.jpg/image_view_fullscreen&h=617&w=1600&sz=202&tbnid=TSno9i85UnbZkM:&tbnh=47&tbnw=122&prev=/search%3Fq%3Davr-3805%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=avr-3805&usg=__0y5nT5QDxIKOrcaWWmB7aWL5V80=&docid=b0TvALCuWrxrVM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9sUCUaPYHILzygGc14CQAw&ved=0CEEQ9QEwAg&dur=275

Wow - I am "out of it" from this cold. I never looked for the vertical arangement for the external in's. Sorry about that.

I'd use the external inputs for the Blu-Ray player for the same reason you used it for SACDs. The S/PDIFs will be lossy which is fine for DirecTV (they only send out lossy multichannel) but Blu-Rays have LPCM (and equivalent) that should give you the same experience as an SACD.

Of course all that is moot if the center channel has stopped functioning. Have you tried the 3805's built-in test tones? If the center channel produces a test tone then the amp is working.

Actually that seems like a lot less cables to me

One word of advice, while Denon is my first choice for a receiver, stay away from any refurbished Denon equipment. I don't know who Denon's contractor is for refurbishing the equipment, but they have a poor track record for me. So, only purchase new (and then only from an authorized dealer for the warranty). Many dealers will offer discounts but only if you call them.

Hit the same problem a few years ago. Took a while to find a stand that had a big enough space under the TV for the center channel. The B&Ws are even bigger than the Polks (unless Polk has changed recently).

The funny thing is that for an LCD or projector, you really don't need a designed-for center channel speaker. The original intent was that a center channel speaker would have extra shielding to prevent interference with the CRT guns. Almost nobody has a CRT anymore but we still use center channel speakers. Now, the size is really the constraint on the center channel.

Good luck on the quest. We ended up finding a TV stand large enough to hold the center channel at Ashley's Furniture, of all places.

I've heard the lower end sweet spot is the 1913. The upper end isn't as far "up" as it used to be with the top of the line being the 4520. That one has a built-in matrix switcher for HDMI (2 independent - mostly - HDMI outputs). So, it will likely depend upon what capabilities you want. With an AVR-3805 as what you are used to, I'd bet an AVR-3313 would be about right. The only thing that feels cheaper on the new Denons is the volume knob. Just doesn't have the resistance that the old knobs had when turning.

on the 3805 front, I ran a 3805 til a came across a 4308 for $500 (used of course). If that price wouldn't have come across, i would a stayed with the 3805 and continued to use the "ext in" to get the lossless audio portion from blu ray. With the relatively cheap and good matrix hdmi switchers that monoprice sells, its pretty hard to justify spending a $1k or so just to get a "small upgrade"... of course, that depends on your needs. Further, I cabled a serial connector on one side for use to an Onkyo avr (919) that I use as an amp (because it has full 5.0 speaker switching for an A and B system)... that same technique can be readily used on the "ext in side" of things along with a serial switch box to provide more than one "input" for your "ext in" IF that is a problem because of multiple input source requirements. Of course, it is nice to have a "switch one thing" only setup for the "wife factor"... :-) so that is a good requirement also.