Are HD audio formats worth losing the ability to calibrate each HDMI input individually?

[kalrith]

I might be in the market for a new receiver soon, and I'd like to at least decide between getting an HDMI receiver that can process the new HD audio formats or getting a non-HDMI receiver. I'm not at all interested in HDMI receivers that don't process the new HD audio formats.

The possibly pros to the HDMI receiver are the ability to process the HD sound tracks and the ability to connect one HDMI cable from the receiver to the TV (not all HDMI receivers can do these two things, but I would get one that does).

The main con to the HDMI receiver is the inability to calibrate the TV for each individual input, because all inputs are fed from the receiver to the TV via one HDMI cable.

In my case I have a Pioneer 5080, PS3, and HD DVR. I have HDMI cables running from the devices to the TV with different settings for each device. I would lose this ability with an HDMI receiver, but I would gain better sound. I have the sound delivered to the receiver via digital optical cables, which is the best I can do without HDMI. I currently have a "budget" set of 5.1 Polk speakers. I plan to upgrade these speakers in the future and will still be using the new receiver at that time. For the sake of argument, let's assume that we're dealing with the same 50" plasma but with a $3,500 set of 5.1 speakers.

What is your opinion on this? Is the better sound worth the lack of individual-input calibration? Please chime in with any comments you might have. I'll hopefully use this thread to help decide whether to go HDMI or not with my next receiver.

 

[pennylane]

It wouldn't be the sleekest solution, but only the PS3 is capable of outputting HD audio formats (out of the stuff you have). So you could run the PS3 through your receiver but run the HD-DVR straight to the TV.

That is a good point you bring up and one I haven't thought too much of.

 

[Shawn]

That's why you get a blu-ray player that has 5.1 analog outs and can decode both codecs internally.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: fanerman91
It wouldn't be the sleekest solution, but only the PS3 is capable of outputting HD audio formats (out of the stuff you have). So you could run the PS3 through your receiver but run the HD-DVR straight to the TV.

That is a good point you bring up and one I haven't thought too much of.

I guess I hadn't thought of that option, but I think it's a good one. My TV has 4 HDMI inputs, so I doubt I would run out of those. It would be convenient to have one cable going to the TV and to not have to run separate video and audio cables from the DVR, but neither of those would provide an actual advantage in video or audio quality (other than reducing cable clutter).

I wonder if the HD DVRs will ever support the HD audio formats. There are a lot of HD movies on there, but I guess too much extra bandwidth would be required for the HD audio formats. Mine is the DirecTV HR-21 btw.

 

[krotchy]

The main reason for needing to calibrate all your inputs separately is that typically Analog signals can vary between devices meaning you needed to adjust contrast/brightness/tint and whatnot to fit the input. With HDMI one input calibrated perfectly to a DVE disk or similar should be correct across the board unless the device itself isnt outputting properly. Personally I find the inability to calibrate inputs separately with my HDMI receiver preferential, because I calibrated it with my HTPC initially, and it looks great across all my devices coming in to the port.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: Shawn
That's why you get a blu-ray player that has 5.1 analog outs and can decode both codecs internally.

That would be optimal, but since I already have the PS3, I don't think the extra cost of an additional Blu-Ray player would be worth it.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: krotchy
The main reason for needing to calibrate all your inputs separately is that typically Analog signals can vary between devices meaning you needed to adjust contrast/brightness/tint and whatnot to fit the input. With HDMI one input calibrated perfectly to a DVE disk or similar should be correct across the board unless the device itself isnt outputting properly. Personally I find the inability to calibrate inputs separately with my HDMI receiver preferential, because I calibrated it with my HTPC initially, and it looks great across all my devices coming in to the port.

Having the PS3 calibrated is also more important to me than my other devices, so your method would cover that as well.

BTW, I watched my first Blu-Ray (Spiderman 3) last night from about 9 feet away from the 50" TV. It was incredible to say the least.

 

[Muadib]

I agree with krotchy. That's exactly what I did to my setup. No way would I give up the new HD codecs.

You really don't have to give up anything though. Just set use a toslink or digital coax cable for sound out of your DVR. Dolby digital is all you are going to get from it anyway.

 

[JackBurton]

I highly recommend getting an HDMI receiver. HDMI is the future. It's not only what you have now, but what you may want to add in the future.

And I have three word for you that may be reason enough to switch to a new HDMI receiver, Audyssey?s Dynamic Volume. Denon announced their new HDMI receivers that range from $299-$1199 and they all include this feature. It basically normalizes your audio in real time. You know how when you are watching a show at level 2 and then a freakin' commercial comes in at level 100?! Well this basically normalizes your audio and keeps it at a steady volume. I was planning on getting a Pioneer SC-07 or SC-05 receiver, but this new Denon feature may just sway me back.