Mercury&Solace

Hey all, I am looking to get a new reveiver for my HD setup and I want to make sure I am going in the right direction here.

I have the Toshiba HD-A1 player a Hitachi TV with DVI (that will soon be gone and upgrading to a Samsung 46" 1080P with duel HDMI)...but I need a new receiver.

I need to get the right reveiver, so everything can bee hooked up via HDMI, and I have the correct audio/video going on.

I found this one that I like at Onkyo, and the price is right:

http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=i

That one says that:

Moreover, this 7.1-channel home theater receiver is ready for the high-definition revolution with High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) effortlessly transporting sublime video and audio, as well as 7.1-multichannel inputs accepting the most advanced surround sound formats available.

The Onkyo description says it transports HD sound and video via HDMI.

It also says under the video features that there is no HDMI video upconversion, is this something I should be worried about?

http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...class=Receiver



But the CC write up only says the HDMI works for the video only.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ..._keycode=60468

Controlled connections: Advanced digital audio switching lets you hook up two high-resolution video components via HDMI, which is great for maintaining the best possible picture quality. This receiver’s component video conversion was designed so that you can easily connect analog video sources en route to your TV.

Am I reading that correctly or am I reading into this to much?

I am also looking at this one:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pione...oductDetail.do

But CNET says:

The bad: HDMI switching is for video only, which means you'll have to hook up audio cables as well. Additionally, the receiver won't convert composite, S-Video or component-video sources to HDMI output, and the onscreen menu display doesn't work via HDMI.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_VSX_...-32026748.html

I don't understand what the switching means via HDMI, can somebody explain?

It also sounds like to me that the HDMI only does video on the Pioneer receiver, and you need seperate audio cables?? Whats the point then? Isn't the point of HDMI to a)provide audio AND video quality in 1 wire and not use HDMI and seperate cables, and b)to eliminate a mess of cables behind your TV, I don't get it.

All I want is the best sound & picture for my money.


Any and all help is appreciated!!

Qui Gon Jim

Whatever you get make sure it has HDMI 1.3.

Mercury&Solace

Why is that? Please explain

Does the Onkyo I posted above a 1.3?

speedyray

No reciever that I know of currently has HDMI 1.3. They should start hitting the market next year. If I am misinformed, someone in the know can correct me on that. I plan on toughing it out for a year or so before upgrading my Pioneer Elite to a newer model with HDMI switching.

Novasonic

lol "Reveiver"

Qui Gon Jim

I think speedray is right, but I was not 100% certain so I didn't want to put my neck out there. I would wait a year to see how things shake out with receivers.

BravesMG

There's a thread going that I couldn't find about receiver selection that was helpful to me. I just purchased a Denon AVR-887 and I'm thrilled with it. It's HDMI 1.1, but it's got HDMI upconversion and sounds amazing. I think I picked it up for around $650, couldn't be happier with it.

sage

If going to buy it Circuitcity.com has it in their outlet for $322.99 shipped.


link

Mercury&Solace

Can you explain the whole HDMI Upconversion thing? I am stil a little unclear.
Does the Onkyo I posted above do the upconversion thing?

BravesMG

I just reread your above post and missed that you linked to the latest Pioneer receiver as well. I actually bought that and returned it after finding that it only did HDMI video and not audio. I'd highly recommend against that if you've got more than a couple inputs to run through the receiver, it used up 2 additional audio inputs because it wouldn't accept audio through HDMI.

I'm a relative novice around here with this stuff compared to some of the pros, but I'll let you know what I learned before my purchase. With HDMI upconversion, every input into the receiver, whether it's digital or analog, is output through the one HDMI output. This is incredibly helpful to me for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, it's the highest video output, so no matter what the input it's being passed through HDMI. Admittedly, it's not going to do a lot for 480i (regular cable), but for just about everything above that level (DVD, Xbox 360, HD-DVD...) I've seen a slight but noticeable difference. And second, it REALLY cut down on the mess of wires behind my entertainment unit. The last receiver I had was from about 7 years ago, so I had outputs from every source going into the receiver and out to the TV. It's a big space saver for me.

But if the receiver has an HDMI output but does not upconvert, it's most likely just a passthrough. So the receiver is acting as a switchbox for the HDMI signal, and the HDMI output is only outputting the input for the HDMI input in use. So unless it upconverts the rest of the inputs through component, which a lot of them do, you'll have to run an HDMI output, component output, S-Video output, and composite output if you have all of those inputs to the receiver.

If it's in your price range I would highly recommend an upconverting receiver, it's been a great help both with convenience and quality. Here's the link to the other thread that will probably help explain this a little more: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread....t=denon+avr887.

Good luck!

edit: Sorry, I forgot about your second question. It does not seem like the Onkyo you posted has HDMI upconvert, but it did say it had component video upconverting.

mather

This is funny, I was just checking receivers out myself last night. I was looking to see what my choices were in a low cost receiver that does HDMI audio and video. It's brief but here's what I've found, someone correct me if I am wrong on these.

Pioneer VSX-1016TXV - $375 does video only?, no audio through receiver, page 41-42 in manual, HDMI 2in, 1out.

Panasonic SAXR57 - $280, does audio and video for receiver, page 5 in manual, only 1 HDMI input.

Onkyo TXSR604 - $322, based on 1.1, does audio and video, page 31-32 in manual, HDMI 2in, 1out.

Sony STR-DG800 - $280, I believe it only does video?, HDMI 2in, 1out.

Qui Gon Jim

Again, none of these are HDMI 1.3, and you will need that to pass the new audio codecs. Smart buyer waits.

gimmepilotwings

I need to wait, but the few year old Panny receiver that I have does not produce enough watts. It has to shut itself off for a second or two at a time while I am watching a movie if the volume it turned up even a bit. Turning down or off the sub does not help.

I really want to wait for 1.3, but my situation is becoming dire.

Mr. Cinema

Is 1.3 really necessary though? The A1 will decode the advanced sound. If the receiver accepts sound through HDMI, it doesn't matter does it? Isn't the A1 using HDMI 1.2?

mather

I'm under the impression one doesn't need 1.3, in fact if the OP has a receiver already, why replace just for hdmi? Unless his new display doesn't have any component inputs. The A1 has analog RCA for 5.1 and he can just plug into his old receiver to take advantage of the newer HD sound. There was a very good article regarding the versions of HDMI, I have to find it again.

Mercury&Solace

This is helpful thanks for the detials explination, much appreciated!!!

So basically I want a receiver that upconverts via HDMI. Because I would rather spend a few bucks now to get the upconverting capabilities. I would like to have as few wires as possible behind my TV too, if that requires spending a little more money thats cool.

I am not going to wait for 1.3, eventually yes, but for now I am not going to wait.

Link?

This price range will be fine, and if it has upconverting capabilities too thats perfect.

BravesMG

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Searc...rchSection=All

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-887-...871771-2789718


That's the receiver I was talking about. I own it and couldn't be happier, I understand that if they ever roll 1.3 out it may take some advantage of codecs, but I can't imagine it being fully utilized in the very near future.

It's not on sale at Circuit City or Amazon right now, I think the website says $699, but they do go on sale now and then if it's worth it to you to wait. I got mine from a local retailer on a holiday sale, you might want to see if there are any CC coupons floating around now. It is fully a/v compatible through HDMI and does upconvert. The only hiccup I've had so far is that it wasn't compatible with my Motorola cable box and I had to send that out through component, given the compression that Cable One uses here, I don't think I lost much.

B.A.

http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=33549

You might want to do a bit more research on the JVC RX-D412, but it advertises dual-HDMI inputs w/ a single output that does perform video upconversion. And it's on sale. Of course, check JVC's website.

Mercury&Solace

So with this receiver I can go HDMI from the Toshiba DVD player to the receiver, receiver to the Comcast box, and then Comcast box to the TV? and I won't need any other wires? Is this correct?

Thanks BA great looking out!!! Its much cheaper than the Denon too!

Mercury&Solace

FYI to anybody looking for a HDMI upconverting receiver, Crutchfield has an Onkyo for $574.99 free standard shipping. On sale.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8GMgGQF...0&I=580TXS674B

Onkyo.com confirms upconversion through HDMI

http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=...class=Receiver


I will be picking this up.

Lt Ripley

How soon are you replacing your TV? Since you are looking at only a 46" TV, my advice would be to purchase a 1080i with duel HDMI display instead of 1080P (At that small of a screen size, the difference will be very minimal), take the money that you save and buy a higher end Denon or Pioneer Elite receiver (Or your brand of choice). That will make the biggest difference. The difference in sound quality between the Pioneer vsx1016 and a Pioneer Elite vsx82txsi or vsx84txsi is beyond night and day. I know that those 2 Elites pass audio through HDMI as well as upconversion, and more than likely the higher end Denons, Yamahas, Onkyos, etc do as well.

Just offering friendly advise to get the most bang for your buck. It looked like you were kind of budgeting yourself (To get the TV maybe?) with the price range of recievers you were looking at. If I assumed wrong, I apologise in advance.

PornoStar

Sony just released thier top of the line reciever, the DA5200ES. It has HDMI 1.3 and is around 1300 bucks. I read the write up in Sound and Vision and it sounds like a damn nice reciever. If your looking for HDMI 1.3 right now then I would say get it.

PS..

johnglad

I continue to be amazed by the number of "HDMI 1.3 disciples". My brother is one of these as well. Its like they somehow got brainwashed into thinking hdmi 1.3 is the only thing that is any good at all. That 1080p is the only high definition worth watching.

All total crap.
1080i vs 1080p in most cases makes little difference. No receivers with 1080p hdmi 1.3 with advanced audio decoding have been yet released. When they are released, they will probably start the first cycle at over $2000 if not $3000. It will be a year later before many of use can even begin to jump in. Then for the whole chain to work you need a 1080p hdmi 1.3 accepting TV. None of this should be of any concern. The HDTVs available now are great, have great prices and great features. If you have an HD signal you will love it. If you play movies you will like it.
1080i is great. 1080p would be great too. HDMI 1.3 doesn't matter that much, and when can I afford it?

viking99

OP - I've been doing quite a bit of research on this topic and am close to buying the Onkyo 674. This is similar to the 604 you cited, but adds upconversion and a bit more power. I believe you mentioned a Comcast DVR. There is a firmware issue with those, whereby earlier versions do not support HDMI output to a display via a repeater (an HDMI switching receiver acts as a repeater). My cable provider hasn't yet upgraded the firmware to the desired level, so if/when I buy the HDMI switching receiver the DVR may have to be connected via component with the receiver upconverting to the HDMI output. I think I can still preserve the 720p/1080i cable signals this way.

bdhart

I just picked up the Onkyo 604 black version at Circuit City yesterday for $359. I didn't need the 674 for upconversion because I am running an HD DVD player and a Blu ray player through the HDMI's.

Works and sounds great, the sound is fantastic.