6 HDMI Components and my Denon AVR-3802 :(

currently, only a bluray player / disc offer lossless 7.1 mixes so potentially, that's the only unit that you would need an hdmi to receiver connection for the appropriate decoder....BUT wait... :-) you don't even need that connection as you can get a bluray player with analog outs (to plug into external ins on your receiver... hopefully, it has those). I ran with a similar setup using a denon 3805 for a few years. Worked fine. In fact, I probably wouldn't have changed if I didn't a find a "cheap" 4308 locally. One of the advantages of a external hdmi switcher is that they are getting cheaper, can be replaced easily as technology improves along with improvements of the protocol itself. On the downside, you need to switch two things (or more) when you need to select a source so "wife factor" (ie. complexity) is an issue. Related to that though, is you can have video playing independent of your audio source... some find that useful and usually not available if you go with an HDMI connected receiver / display setup.

So basically, all your existing connections via optical, coax, or otherwise are ok and for lossless bluray plays, you could get a player that has analog outs and you are good to go.

A couple of things to watch-out for - while you can use the 7.1-channel inputs that actually would work better with some of the higher-end Denons of that era. The reason is because the analog audio inputs are not sent through bass management on the AVR-3802. What this would mean for you is that your Blu-Ray player (or anything else hooked up to Ext. In) would have to perform bass management. While that is do-able, I've never been able to get the same results with bass management in a player as I can with the AVR.

Also your need for 6 HDMI inputs is going to be expensive with a matrix switcher. Not as expensive as a new AVR but you may be surprised at how expensive 8 input (I don't think you can find a 6 input) matrix switcher will be. Even a standard switcher (8x1) will not be cheap but would be cheaper than a matrix splitter.

Finally, while I can tune one of the Denon's of this era for a loud level (something like 80dB in the standard listening position), as soon as the volume level changes it won't sound as good as a modern Audyssey system. As I said, the tuning and settings can be done without Audyssey but Audyssey also corrects for room response and variability as volume levels change. It really is remarkable how much the sound is the same as levels go up and down.

The bass management thing is the most important since that could cause you to hear multichannel music in a way that was never intended by the producer/mixer and it certainly doesn't sound as good that way.

So, just something to consider as you weigh your options. You're system will only sound as good as your speakers but the next thing it will only sound as good as is your AVR.