The "Dark" Side of Going All HDMI

[rlpiii]

Originally Posted by kennyt

. . .I wonder if the splitter cables you describe won't cause more HDCP issues.

I am thinking they will, which is why I asked if he would let us know how they work out.

[wag4513]

Well, my reason is that quite often I don’t use the surround on DVDs. I watch old movies that don’t have surround available, some weren’t even stereo. Even new movies that are dialog driven surround doesn’t add much to the experience.

So far as turning the receiver down and using the TV speakers, the receiver would always have to be on since both video and audio signals are passing through it. If the splitters work I would only need to turn on the receiver when I am going to use it.

There is the possibility that some issue will come up with the splitters not actually working as advertised and then I will have to rethink what I can do. I may well be making this more complicated then it needs to be. I sometimes do that.

Thanks for the input, I’ll let you know how it works out.

Jim

[rlpiii]

Originally Posted by wag4513

Well, my reason is that quite often I don’t use the surround on DVDs. I watch old movies that don’t have surround available, some weren’t even stereo. Even new movies that are dialog driven surround doesn’t add much to the experience.

So far as turning the receiver down and using the TV speakers, the receiver would always have to be on since both video and audio signals are passing through it. If the splitters work I would only need to turn on the receiver when I am going to use it.

There is the possibility that some issue will come up with the splitters not actually working as advertised and then I will have to rethink what I can do. I may well be making this more complicated then it needs to be. I sometimes do that.

Thanks for the input, I’ll let you know how it works out.

Jim

My Halcro can be turned off and still keep the HDMI connections working, but you have to turn it on first, get everything going, and then turn it off.

Also, I would think even mono through your receiver w/o any DSP would still sound better than TV speakers. TV speakers are just for testing, or for very last resort for me.

[Celt16]

I agree with sentiment about TV speakers - mine are shut off. In fact, I don't run video through my SSP - there's no point in it to me, given my set-up. Why not run HDMI straight to TV, and loop in the SSP for audio using digital audio coax? It won't harm your mono movies, you can use the SSP to switch to the audio processing format you like best for mono, stereo, multi-channel, and (I suspect, but don't know for sure) you don't lose much (if any) audio by using a good quality digital coax.

Of course, my comments reflect the fact that my Classe SSP doesn't have HDMI in ... but still, unless the SSP video processor will substantially improve your video signal, why use all the extra cabling? Odds are your SSP doesn't handle the new sound formats for Blue-ray yet (pure speculation), and a good universal remote will switch all your audio processing options for you with the click of a button.

[kennyt]

Originally Posted by Celt16

Odds are your SSP doesn't handle the new sound formats for Blue-ray yet (pure speculation)

He has the new Denon 2308, it does all the new audio codecs but I understand your sentiment. I had my Meridian 861 connected via coaxial digital to all my sources and then ran video separately. It's a good work around, but once the new pre/pro's come out with the advanced audio codecs, it will be outdated.

[Celt16]

Originally Posted by kennyt

He has the new Denon 2308, it does all the new audio codecs but I understand your sentiment. I had my Meridian 861 connected via coaxial digital to all my sources and then ran video separately. It's a good work around, but once the new pre/pro's come out with the advanced audio codecs, it will be outdated.

Ahh, I missed the fact that he has the new Denon. Still, rather than split, I'd run HDMI into the Denon, and step down the audio format (assuming Denon can) to stereo or mono for those DVDs where he wants "legacy" sound formats - it would still be much cleaner than splitters.

The other (rhetorical) question I'd pose is - do the new codecs provide such a compelling step up in audio processing (and they may) that it is worth risking (potential) video degradation by complicated wiring and use of splitters?