[studioboss]

I'm hooking up a new HT system and want a simple solution so that my wife doesn't need to turn on the receiver to watch cable. Yes, I could get a Harmony remote but she doesn't want surround sound for some stuff. Don't ask.


Anyway, I was thinking of a few options. Please let me know which one works best and which doesn't:


1. HDMI splitter (switch?). Cable box to splitter, one cable goes to receiver and the other cable to TV. Not sure if this would be automatic or not.


2. Cable box to TV. HDMI from cable box to TV, optical cable back to receiver.


3. Analog cables. HDMI from cable box to receiver. Analog cables from cable box to TV. I don't think this works since it may depend on the receiver being on to send the HDMI (video) signal to the TV.


As always, any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Roger Dressler]

I'd send cable box's HDMI to the AVR, and cable box's component video/stereo audio to the TV. Wife turns on TV and sees component/analog audio, which is superb.


Then, if you feel like having HDMI video feed the TV when using the AVR for BD or cable sources, connect the AVR's HDMI output to the TV's HDMI input. Hopefully the TV can easily access the component inputs and remember it as default.

 

[sold]



Quote:
Originally Posted by studioboss /forum/post/18104866


1. HDMI splitter (switch?). Cable box to splitter, one cable goes to receiver and the other cable to TV. Not sure if this would be automatic or not.

This would be the best IMO. If you get a 1 in 2 out splitter both the TV and the Receiver will receive the same signal and you won't need to do any switching etc.


The main problem with option 2 is that most TVs won't pass-through a 5.1 signal. So any surround coming over the HDMI would be downmixed to 2.0 before being passed over optical.

 

[HDMI Guy]

The splitter arrangement may have the same problem as option 2. Many have reported that when using an HDMI splitter the cable box will find the TV that is not capable of Dolby Digital and will then sent out only 2 channel audio.