I'm new to HD-DVD & HDMI, I have a question

[boss429]

I got in on the Toshiba A3 deal and already had a 42" Samsung DLP with HDMI inputs. So I purchase a new H/K receiver with HDMI in/outputs, two HDMI cables from Monoprice.com, and hooked everything up. I then read the owner's manual for the H/K to set it up and it informs me that... "since the AVR 146 is not capable of processing either the audio or video signal transmitted via the HDMI connection, you will need to connect the source's digital audio output to the digital audio input on the AVR 146"... WTF!

I thought that HDMI was both video and audio all in one cable... maybe I was just misinformed? Sure enough, when I booted everything up, only the video came through (after about a two minute wait) and when I accessed the receiver's on screen menu it prompted me to choose between digital or optical for audio.

My question is... is this just because of this certain receiver's incapabilities, and if not and this is true of all receivers with HDMI, what's the point in having HDMI on the receiver and passing it through it at all? Will I lose any A/V quality if I just run HDMI from my HD-DVD player to my display, and optical from my player to my receiver?

Like I said, I'm a noob to this and I'm getting quite pissed because I was content with my old setup but I just had to get in on that A3 deal. Somebody please help me.

[Sdallnct]

1. No not all receivers can process the audio over HDMI. This is a somewhat "new" feature. HT receivers that process audio over HDMI mainly start in a companies mid level receivers. If you look at the H/K site you should be able to tell which modes will process the audio over HDMI and which will not. This is not unique to H/K. I "think" the 247 is the lowest in the H/K line that will process audio over HDMI.

2. There is a debate as to if sending your video thru the receiver first will degrade the signal. IMHO, I would not send the video thru the receiver (or any switcher) unless you have a need to do. Why would you have a need? Say you have several HDMI components but your TV only has one HDMI input. Then you need some sort of a switcher which might be your receiver or other external HDMI switcher. Or maybe you only want to run one wire to your TV. Or you just like to control everything via your receiver. You would not lose video quality if you run direct from your DVD to your display. Some may debate it, but this should be the cleanest possible signal. What you do lose is the ability to play the newest, latest and "greatest" audio formats that are now on my HD and Blu-Ray discs' (unless by chance your DVD player has analog outputs and I don't think that model does). However, depending on your audio set up (receiver/speakers/woofer), not sure many folks can appreciate the newer formats anyway. In my basic set up, I doubt I would.

3. I have an HK, but an older model. Still love it. It has no HDMI and my projector only has one input. So I use a monoprice HDMI switcher for video control of my PS3, upconverting DVD player and OTA HD tuner. The audio for each goes to the receiver via optical or coaxial.

4. Personally, I'm not sure why you are getting pissed. If your only HDMI source is the A3, then we are really only talking ONE extra wire, optical or coaxial. I think if you ran the HDMI for video directly to your TV and coaxial to your receiver you will be quite happy. Will your TV process the audio over HDMI? This might give you the benefit of watching a DVD without turning on the surround receiver if you wanted. Course you may have to chose the audio output in the DVD setup and you may only be able to chose one.

[boss429]

Thanks for your info Sdallnct. Like I said I'm a noob to this stuff. After I asked this question here I looked at Best Buy's customer reviews on this unit and sure enough, people stated the lack off HDMI audio in their comments... should have looked there first. I hooked the A3 up the way I mentioned above and I'm happy with it.