I'm about to do a complete overhaul my 10+ year old home theater system, which is based around a Knox S-Video 8x8 matrix switch (the "hub").

 

The new system will have an LED HDTV (probably a 60"+ Samsung smart TV) and an AV receiver (likely a Sony STR-DN1040).

 

I'll continue to need to allow my non-HDMI-capable legacy devices to act as sources: a CD changer, a Hi8 VCR and even a S-VHS VCR.  As an experiment, I bought an S-Video to HDMI converter, and the conversion quality is not bad, considering the relatively low resolution of the legacy device itself. So it appears with a converter for each legacy source, I'll be able to standardize on an HDMI hub.

 

So here's my question: should the HDTV act as the hub, or should the AV receiver?

 

I'm leaning towards using the AV receiver as the hub, as it has more HDMI inputs than the HDTV (the Sony receiver has 8).

 

But what are the pros and cons of using the HDTV as the hub?

 

Thanks!

 

DadCat

 

 

 

 

Biggest drawback of using your TV as the source switching point for your system is that you will be missing out on the improved audio available through HDMI on any new HD devices you may be adding. Your TV won't pass the original lossless digital audio track to your receiver. At best you'll get Dolby 5.1 using the digital audio out of your TV. (It won't have an HDMI out).
Too bad you didn't upgrade your receiver a couple of years ago (unless you are worried about 3D) Upconversion of legacy video formats to HDMI used to be a common feature on many receivers, simply to consolidate cabling to your display.

AVR. They are designed to be the "hub".