Audio and HDMI questions.

[KeithTalent]

Hey there, need some help/advice. I have ended up with too many devices and need to figure out how to handle them all.

I have this receiver (2 HDMI in one out and 1 optical out): http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/htr/htr-6230_black__u/?mode=model

This Blu-ray Player: http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMP-BDT220

And we now have an Xbox 360 Kinect set-up for the wife, which is causing the issue.

Questions:

1. Since I only have two HDMI inputs on the receiver, is there an easy way to either route the HDMI of one device through one of the others or two quickly switch between them?
2. I was under the impression that HDMI can do both audio and video at the same time, but I can't seem to get any sound unless I use the optical cord. This means I can only have one of these two devices plugged in at a time, which is a huge hassle because it's far more annoying to blindly switch an optical cord than an HDMI cord. Am I doing something wrong here, or am I misunderstanding how this works?

Hopefully that's all that is needed.

Thanks!

KT

 

[vshah]

your system should be connected like this
xbox360 -> hdmi cable -> hdmi input 1 (DTV/CBL) on the receiver
blu-ray player -> hdmi cable -> hdmi input 2 (DVD) on the receiver

receiver hdmi output -> hdmi cable -> tv hdmi input

there shouldn't be a need for the optical cable at all (unless you use your tv's built in tuner. in that case, connect the optical OUT of you tv to the "CD" optical input on your receiver.)


can you confirm that this is how things are connected?

 

[Phanuel]

1. Nope, the solution for multiple devices to one HDMI input is an HDMI switch. Mono price will have these.

2. Welcome to the joys of the HDMI spec and manufacture clarity. Yes, the HDMI standard carries both audio and video. But if you receiver is a 'switch' it cannot properly strip the audio from the video and decode it, it just moves the signal around. You receiver is a switch. From the website you linked, the last bullet point under "High Sound Quality" is "Separate audio cable required when using HDMI cable for video".

As a consumer, we have to read specifications really carefully on receivers to find out of they're simple HDMI switches or if they're actually HDMI repeaters (means they can separate the signal and do processing on it before sending it).

Your receiver - HDMI (In/Out) (2 / 1) audio pass-thru
The next one up, HTR-6240 HDMI (In/Out) (4 / 1)

Important part is the audio pass-thru note denoting that it's inferior.

 

[Phanuel]

your system should be connected like this
xbox360 -> hdmi cable -> hdmi input 1 (DTV/CBL) on the receiver
blu-ray player -> hdmi cable -> hdmi input 2 (DVD) on the receiver

receiver hdmi output -> hdmi cable -> tv hdmi input

there shouldn't be a need for the optical cable at all (unless you use your tv's built in tuner. in that case, connect the optical OUT of you tv to the "CD" optical input on your receiver.)


can you confirm that this is how things are connected?

He will need an optical cable for 5.1 from the Xbox or anything HDMI connected. I would also recommend NOT going from the TV back to the receiver as that will result in a 2 channel signal most likely.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

The HDMI switch won't work if he still needs to run optical to get audio though.

 

[KeithTalent]

1. Nope, the solution for multiple devices to one HDMI input is an HDMI switch. Mono price will have these.

2. Welcome to the joys of the HDMI spec and manufacture clarity. Yes, the HDMI standard carries both audio and video. But if you receiver is a 'switch' it cannot properly strip the audio from the video and decode it, it just moves the signal around. You receiver is a switch. From the website you linked, the last bullet point under "High Sound Quality" is "Separate audio cable required when using HDMI cable for video".

As a consumer, we have to read specifications really carefully on receivers to find out of they're simple HDMI switches or if they're actually HDMI repeaters (means they can separate the signal and do processing on it before sending it).

Your receiver - HDMI (In/Out) (2 / 1) audio pass-thru
The next one up, HTR-6240 HDMI (In/Out) (4 / 1)

Important part is the audio pass-thru note denoting that it's inferior.

Ahh, this is extremely helpful, thank you; explains a lot. I had no idea when I bought it. :\


So then, to get audio out of both devices, I will need to switch the optical cable every time? That is not really an acceptable solution. Is the only other option to buy a new receiver?

KT


Edit: What about my cable box? As far as I can remember (will check when I get home) it is only using the HDMI out to my receiver, yet I get surround sound from my TV when I watch TV with the box. :hmm:

 

[KeithTalent]

The HDMI switch won't work if he still needs to run optical to get audio though.

Yeah, that is what I thinking from reading his post.

KT

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Really, it sounds like you'll need to get a new receiver. I haven't heard of an HDMI switch that includes an optical out for sound passthrough, so you're stuck with two options: One, change the optical cable every time you want to change sources, or Two, run the HDMI cables through your TV and connect your TV to your receiver with optical cables to output sound to external speakers (which only gives you two-channel audio). Neither solution is ideal, so you're probably stuck with having to buy a new receiver.

 

[KeithTalent]

Boy, I was not expecting that. What a pain in the ass. I wish the stupid Xbox just had a Blu-ray player in it.

KT

 

[Phanuel]

Receivers are a disposable electronics component these days with all the integrated standards that are constantly changing.

If you're getting surround sound from the cable box, uh, from the TV speakers? Or from the receiver? Is the TV plugged back into the receiver? If so, it's 2.0 and your receiver is set to 'fake' a 5.1 from it.

 

[KeithTalent]

Receivers are a disposable electronics component these days with all the integrated standards that are constantly changing.

If you're getting surround sound from the cable box, uh, from the TV speakers? Or from the receiver? Is the TV plugged back into the receiver? If so, it's 2.0 and your receiver is set to 'fake' a 5.1 from it.

I'll double check that. I barely ever look at my cable box since it just works fine and I never need to do anything with it. It's all the other crap that gets annoying and needs to be fiddled with. There may be two optical inputs on my receiver, so that may be what's doing it.

Would this one work for me? http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/prod...spx?path=f334cda2b376cb8ab41205e994fdb89een02

KT

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Yeah, that one has onboard audio decoding, so you wouldn't need to hook up optical cables to get audio. It's only 5.1 though, so if you think you might upgrade to 6.1 or 7.1 in the near future, you'll want to step up to something that supports those audio formats. What sort of speaker setup do you have now?

 

[KeithTalent]

Yeah, that one has onboard audio decoding, so you wouldn't need to hook up optical cables to get audio. It's only 5.1 though, so if you think you might upgrade to 6.1 or 7.1 in the near future, you'll want to step up to something that supports those audio formats. What sort of speaker setup do you have now?

I use this: http://www.klipsch.com/high-definition-theater-300-home-theater-system however I do not have the rear speakers set up right now; I need to drill some holes to hang them on the wall behind us (I have a wireless thing for them, so they can hang on the wall with the cord in behind, then they will transmit to the receiver). Eventually I will get that done, just have not had a chance to do it yet.

KT

 

[Atomic Playboy]

If you don't care about upgrading to a 6 or 7 channel surround setup in the future, that receiver should work fine then.

 

[KeithTalent]

If you don't care about upgrading to a 6 or 7 channel surround setup in the future, that receiver should work fine then.

I doubt it since I have no idea where those extra speakers would even go!

Thanks for the help guys, I guess I'll go ahead and do that. I guess at least going with that I won't need a switcher.

KT

 

[Phanuel]

Yeah, that receiver looks good to go for what you need. Also, since there's not a whole lot of 7.1+ content actually out there, I wouldn't worry about planning for that now. Again, you'll upgrade receivers in the future (they're disposable :/) and you'll know by then if you're going to spring for 7.1 or not. I'd probably be looking at a more powerful 5.1 system before as an upgrade rather than 7.1. Not that there's anything wrong with your system as is.

 

[KeithTalent]

Thanks again guys, very helpful and informative.

Yeah, most of the Blus I have are 5.1 at best, aside from a couple of 7.1 discs (can't even remember which ones); not sure I've ever seen a 6.1 disc :hmm:. Eventually I will upgrade the whole thing, but for now I am cool with just a $250 holdover until that time comes.

KT

 

[Paul98]

So what all would you like to connect at once, may be able to find a way around your problem.

 

[KeithTalent]

So what all would you like to connect at once, may be able to find a way around your problem.

The Blu-ray player linked above, the XBOX 360, and the cable box/DVR.

KT

Edit: actually, I also have a region-free Blu-ray player that I will want to hook-up to the receiver if possible. I have left it unhooked since my receiver did not have enough inputs, so if I get this new one, I should be able to to hook it up. Assuming there is enough room in the cabinet of course.

 

[Number1]

How about using two devices trough the receiver, connect the receiver to the TV input 1. Connect number 3 device to TV input 2. Feed the optical audio out from the TV to the receiver et voila?

 

[sdifox]

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=5557&seq=1&format=2

 

[Childs]

You have two optical inputs on your receiver, so you should be fine. This is assuming that you can bond the optical port (CD) to one of the HDMI inputs. Just use the receiver as a switcher for both devices. You shouldnt need optical out to anything. The sound will be outputed by the receiver via speakers, so you just need the HDMI output to the TV.

 

[Paul98]

Connect one with component video and coaxial audio, the other two with HDMI for audio/video.

 

[Paul98]

If your receiver doesn't do HDMI audio, then you have 2 optical audio inputs, 1 coaxial and 1 multi channel analog audio input on your receiver. So you need to see what options you have for outputs from your different devices and see what you can do. So like xbox, blu-ray player with optical audio and cable box using coaxial audio.

 

[Phanuel]

Connect one with component video and coaxial audio, the other two with HDMI for audio/video.

If his receiver doesn't do HDMI repeating, it won't do upconverting from analog to digital. He would need to run an additional set of component video cables to the TV and have to switch receiver outputs to play video off of whatever device he plugged in as component.