Panasonic S52 / Pioneer DV-696 + HDMI & audio?

[Ruude]

I'm really confused now. I just read the manuals of bot players and it seems that when you connect a TV to the HDMI, there is no digital out anymore through coaxial or optical for the receiver/amp. Or am I missing something? Haven't bought any until this is resolved.
I want to send video and audio of max quality through HDMI for TV and connect the receiver on coaxial for DD and DTS.

[Krispy Kritter]

I don't know what you were reading. But the setup instructions for the Panasonic S52 specifically state that you can use an optical or coxial cable for hi def audio, in addition to the HDMI cable to the TV for hi def video.

[Ruude]

Yes, i know. Read more attentivly and you 'll see that digital sound has to be set to 'off' in HDMI if you connect to a receiver with digital optical or coax.

[Krispy Kritter]

OK....so what you are wanting is a DVD player that sends audio through HDMI AND optical/coaxial? I don't think you will find any, they all treat audio in this fashion.

Your alternative, is to get a receiver that supports HDMI switching.

[Ruude]

What I want is: send video through HDMI to TV for best possible picture (1080i) without having to turn the receiver on to get sound as well. But the receiver has to be connected to the player to get DD and DTS. I think I have to run extra stereo cinch cables from DVD to TV, but I don't know if this will work. I don't need HDMI switching.

[Krispy Kritter]

I understand that you don't need switching, but when the receiver isn't on, it acts as a bypass (like connecting cable to your TV through a VCR).

The DVD player may or may not output audio on the stereo (RCA left/right) jacks when digital is connected. I've never tried, so it would be a matter hooking it up and trying it.

[Ruude]

Well, at the moment I've got a Panasonic S42 and it does simultaniously send out digital and stereo. But the point is, if picture is transmitted through HDMI (say input 4 on the TV) and sound has to come from somewhere else, will the TV be so smart as to link the sound from cinch ( say input 2, which also has component) to the picture or will I hear nothing?

[Krispy Kritter]

I'm not sure what you mean. But if you are connected via HDMI for video, then you also have audio from HDMI. There is no need for a seperate audio input into the TV.

The only seperate audio link you would need, if the digital input into your receiver for surround sound.

[Ruude]

Maybe you better read again from the beginning: if you send digital audio through HDMI, then there is no digital audio for coax or optical.

[Krispy Kritter]

You're right. I was actually misreading your previous post which led to my confusion and hence the statement "I'm not sure what your mean...".

Anyway, the bottom line is you will need a AVR that supports HDMI input/switching/output OR always use your surround sound for DVD playback, which is what the manufacturers assume you will be doing anyway. A third option would be to use the HDMI audio on/off toggle in the DVD player setup menu (with it ON, the TV receives audio, OFF and the AVR receives audio).

As a side note, a little research seems to indicate many TV's that support HDMI input, appear to have digital (optical and/or coxial) output for use with external receivers. So basically, the TV passes along the digital audio from the HDMI to your AVR, no other components necessary. Just take a look at your TV and/or user manual.