I have a fairly simple setup: HTPC with HDMI connected to the "Media Player" port of my Denon 2113ci AV receiver which in turn is connected via HDMI to the HDMI2/ARC port of my Samsung 65ES8000 TV. My HTPC has an infinitv cablecard tuner and a nVidia 650ti graphics card. I'm using Shark007 codecs configured to bitstream audio formats directly to the Denon. I have a Logitech Harmony remote. A vast majority of the content I watch/listen comes from my HTPC, however, I do use the Samsung apps and occasionally Pandora/Spotify/etc on the Denon. Since I do use the Samsung apps for HBO GO, etc, I would like to use the ARC functionality to return audio to the receiver from the TV when I use the various Samsung apps - therefore, in the Samsung settings under System, I have Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) set to ON and the Receiver sub-setting turned to ON. For the most part, this works pretty well. When I watch cable/movies or listen to music from my HTPC, the Denon source is "Media Player". If I decide to use the Samsung apps, the Samsung automatically sends a signal to the Denon to change the source to "TV Audio" and I'm able to listen to the apps with audio through my speaker system. When I exit the apps and go back to the HTPC content, the source is once again automatically switched back to "Media Player". Beautiful.
My only problem/complaint I haven't been able to work around is on startup of the components. I startup my system from the Harmony with a Watch TV command (same as "use HTPC" since that's where I receive my cable tv). This sends a Power On signal to both the Samsung TV and the Denon receiver as well as a set source to "Media Player" to the Denon since this is what my HTPC is connected to. It works well and then after about 15-20 seconds after the system is on, the Samsung sends a signal to the Denon to change source to "TV Audio". I then have to manually send a change back source to "Media Player" to the Denon. This is certainly possible with my Harmony, but it really makes for an awfully ugly startup. I really don't know why the Samsung has to send that initial change source to "TV Audio" signal and why it's not configurable. Or is it and I'm just missing it? Is there a workaround I can't see? After this ugly startup, everything works well as previously described. And with the HDMI-CEC functionality, I get the onscreen volume control as an extra benefit.
Thanks for any help or comments.
My only problem/complaint I haven't been able to work around is on startup of the components. I startup my system from the Harmony with a Watch TV command (same as "use HTPC" since that's where I receive my cable tv). This sends a Power On signal to both the Samsung TV and the Denon receiver as well as a set source to "Media Player" to the Denon since this is what my HTPC is connected to. It works well and then after about 15-20 seconds after the system is on, the Samsung sends a signal to the Denon to change source to "TV Audio". I then have to manually send a change back source to "Media Player" to the Denon. This is certainly possible with my Harmony, but it really makes for an awfully ugly startup. I really don't know why the Samsung has to send that initial change source to "TV Audio" signal and why it's not configurable. Or is it and I'm just missing it? Is there a workaround I can't see? After this ugly startup, everything works well as previously described. And with the HDMI-CEC functionality, I get the onscreen volume control as an extra benefit.
Thanks for any help or comments.
