Does your amplifier accept HDMI inputs?

[yoda313]

So do you have an HDMI receiver yet? With Bluray the winner in the high def battles are you looking to upgrade to high def dolby and dts?

I only have a 5.1 receiver but it has multi channel inputs for individual signals. It can do 96khz but it is not perfect in my initial tests off my pc.

How about you?

[jman98]

What really makes me angry about the whole HDMI receiver thing is that when I bought my receiver about 2.5 years ago, I knew about HDMI and I could not find any receivers at any price that had HDMI connections. Now my receiver, which otherwise is perfectly fine, is a dinosaur.

[aedipuss]

i'm in jman's boat with him - a really nice 7.1 surround setup but no hdmi for HD.

[FulciLives]

I find surround sound in the home to be gimmicky. It can be interesting in a movie theater but even then it is still kinda gimmicky.

I'm happy with a two speaker standard stereo set-up just so long as the speakers and receiver are of good quality. I admit a subwoofer might be nice but that's about it.

I did once have a gf that lived with me and we used her 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound receiver (at her insistence) and rarely if ever did a "surround sound effect" WOW me at all.

I'm back to my stereo set-up now 8)

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
I have a Sony PS3 and play games and Blu-Ray and it is connected to my HDTV via HDMI but I'm just using the standard RCA stereo red/white jacks from the PS3 to my stereo only receiver.

[John]

I will never get a surround system, again, bit of an audiophile. I have got 2 sets of speakers on every corner, but find stereo. enough for my needs. Have tried it but wasnt for me, then again it wasnt an expensive one.
But to answer the question, the new amp i got last year doesnt have hdmi.

[Constant Gardener]

Maybe someday. Problem is, the TV is in the basement and the good sound system is upstairs, so we use the TV's built-in speakers, which seem to miss an octave or two. C'est la vie.

[rcguy1]

Don't need or want a HDMI receiver. I'm not spending another $1000.00 for another Yamaha receiver just to get a HDMI inputs. It will not change the quality of the sound I now have. My son bought the same system with HDMI and I challenge you to tell me which one sounds better? I have a PS3 player and use a optical cables to connect to my amp.
The PS3 HDMI goes to the HDTV.

[pstedman]

I'm with jman98 and rcguy1. I love my current receiver which I bought about 3.5 years ago - at the time there were no HDMI receivers to be found - at least not in my budget. I like the idea of HDMI in concept, but the conflicting versions plus the cost will keep me from buying a new one for quite a bit.

[yoda313]

They have hdmi receivers under 500.00 USD nowadays. Would those be decent quality?

[jman98]

They have hdmi receivers under 500.00 USD nowadays. Would those be decent quality?

Pioneer and Yamaha both make receivers in this price range that have HDMI and I would have no problem to go with either. My Pioneer receiver without HDMI is a darn fine one (I paid a little over $500 for it when I bought it) and I can't at this time justify paying for a new one just to get HDMI. I had to set my HD DVD player to downconvert the audio to AC3 or DTS for output (it's an option in the player setup) and assuming a similar option is available on BluRay when I eventually go that route, I'll just do the same there.

[edDV]

They have hdmi receivers under 500.00 USD nowadays. Would those be decent quality?

Pioneer and Yamaha both make receivers in this price range that have HDMI and I would have no problem to go with either. My Pioneer receiver without HDMI is a darn fine one (I paid a little over $500 for it when I bought it) and I can't at this time justify paying for a new one just to get HDMI. I had to set my HD DVD player to downconvert the audio to AC3 or DTS for output (it's an option in the player setup) and assuming a similar option is available on BluRay when I eventually go that route, I'll just do the same there.

Big issue for HDMI audio receiver processing is proper HDCP handshaking. Few models do this correctly so may be rejected when BluRay discs turn on HDCP (video and audio enabled separately). The receiver must correctly respond to HDCP or the audio can't be extracted.

This isn't an issue usually from upscale to HDMI DVD players and current BluRay discs but when BluRay HDCP is turned on at the disc level, problems will be revealed. This may also apply to TV broadcast when the broadcast flag is passed (likely next year). TV programs will be able to enable video or audio HDCP on a program by program basis. The program owner can cause the 5.1 to be downgraded to stereo if a proper HDCP handshake is lacking.

[dun4cheap]

I have a pioneer amp which has svideo/Component and Analog video. This suffices for now, I may add a hdmi switch box but I am not ready to move to HDMI on the AMP.

As for surround sound, I love surround sound, AC3 is fine but DTS is even better. If your room is setup correctly and you have a good movie on, Transformers/LOTR DTS/Gladiator etc it is great. Not to mention a really good subwoofer that kicks in every so often in a suspnsefull moment. Most of the newer amps like my Pioneer even calibrate themselves. Alot of the times the systems are just not setup right. (Most of the time.).

I imagine this is true for theaters as well. I think one easy way to see the difference is to go to a standard theater, then an IMAX theater. Transformers in IMAX, the audio just kicked ass.

While my amp is 7.1 I have it configured in a 5.1 environment.

[dun4cheap]

I also wanted to mention, that this HD DVD and Blue Ray stuff is more of a FAD. I would start looking more closely at media players. I love my Buffalo Linktheater which does HD Playback with all the Audio bells and whistles but it uses Component video. There are more and more media players coming including nice home amplifiers with them built in. So if Blue Ray does not shape up it just may ship out.

Some of you may also want to look at like the Xbox360 and PS3 as media players and programs like Tversity, Nero Mediahome, even Windows Media Player 11 is a built in media server now.

Other devices that are cool are like the Klegg box for $99
http://shop3.frys.com/product/5393408;jsessionid=qf3qRHXlscQzvOH98kmHSA**.node2?site=s...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Or this little external 2.5" Drive box for $20 that is also an HD media player - http://shop3.frys.com/product/5031395?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

So all I am saying is Surround Audio is cool especially if you have good ears. (If you don't and I am not being mean, then it will do nothing for you.) As for eye candy, Blue Ray may look cool on the screen, but I think the hardware is old news, older than DVD thats for sure, because Hard Drives are cheap and can hold A lot of your DVDs/HD DVDs/BlueRay and Family Videos in HD and not clutter your walls.

[JohnnyMalaria]

My youngest amp is 11 years old. My NAD 3120 is a little over 20! Between them they don't even have 5 channels.

And I have a Marshall...

[John]

well having gone through yamaha dennon kenwood im now on to a rotel ra06. powering not 1 set but 2 sets of wharfdale diamond 9.1's. i have excellent hearing, thats why surround does nothing for me. i have all the sound i need out of two channels, and bass if needed. for those scary moments

[motors4fun]

I bought the Denon 3808. Single greatest piece of home theater equipment I have ever bought. It can be had for just over a grand and it is well worth it!!!! Plenty of power, 4 HDMI inputs. Old connections up converted to 1080p. 2nd zone video output and third zone for audio. On screen GUI is the nicest out there. I would reccommend this to anyone looking to upgrade

[ricoman]

i'm in jman's boat with him - a really nice 7.1 surround setup but no hdmi for HD.

Ditto here. I don't even have the 2 rear speakers hooked up because I can't figure where to mount them.

Fulci: I'm surprised you say that. I watch all movies, even HBO, in 5.1 surround and love it. True some movies don't expand the sound very much, but I've watched a bunch that made me say "Wow, that sounds pretty damned cool". Particularly movies with ricocheting bullets, distant bombs and speedy cars or just great music. Even some sporting events are cool with the roaring crowds etc. like Yankees/Red Sox games or football playoffs. You feel like you're there with a nice 50" HD display and surround. I love it.

[paulw]

My HT amp is about 12 months old and has two HDMI in but unfortunatly they are only switched, no audio pick off. Wish I'd known alittle more about these things before I bought it.

[yoda313]

Even if you don't care for rear surround effects how can you argue the crispness of a good center channel speaker? That alone is worth getting a 5.1 system for. Having clear dialogue makes all the difference.

Not to mention the dedicated .1 bass lfe channel. Even if you aren't an action buff having the bass frequency shunted to the subwoofer makes your sattellite (or full range) speakers that much crisper. It always amazes me whenever I pop in an older movie on dvd that only has pro logic surround on it. The lack of a defined center channel and constant bass just detracts from the clarity of the movie itself. That is the beauty of the 5.1. Even if it was just 3.1 with front, left, center and bass that helps balance the dialogue and bass with enough power and precision to give a much better home listening experience.

Another nice thing about 5.1 is in tv shows on dvd these days. For instance Stargate SG1. I have all 10 seasons on dvd. The nice thing is having the music in higher quality with it dispersed over the multiple channels. It isn't jammed in with the dialogue. It is very crisp and helps lift the episode.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Yes! That was one of the main selling points, as my TV only has 1 HDMI input.
The reveiver has 3 inputs so it makes a nice HDMI switch and it was time to upgrade from 5.1 to 7.1 anyway. Now I just need to find a good center channel speaker...

However, I do not use HDMI for audio. My PS3 and HTPC are currently connected to the receiver via HDMI, but only for video.
The PS3 audio is through optical and the HTPC audio is connected via a digital coax.
I was not impressed with the audio quality over HDMI...

[edDV]

I was not impressed with the audio quality over HDMI...

From which source? Expalin more.

Why didn't it sound right? It should be equal to S/PDIF.

Was HDCP causing 5.1 to play mixed down to stereo? Did you hear surround?

[FulciLives]

I'll accept multi-channel audio as a benefit when they create hologram video where you can actually be INSIDE of the action ... even 3D doesn't do that.

Then having sound "all around me" might make sense.

Otherwise TV is FLAT and in front of me ... I don't need sound from that BEHIND me.

*shrugs*

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[cracula]

i'm in jman's boat with him - a really nice 7.1 surround setup but no hdmi for HD.

Ditto here. I don't even have the 2 rear speakers hooked up because I can't figure where to mount them.

Fulci: I'm surprised you say that. I watch all movies, even HBO, in 5.1 surround and love it. True some movies don't expand the sound very much, but I've watched a bunch that made me say "Wow, that sounds pretty damned cool". Particularly movies with ricocheting bullets, distant bombs and speedy cars or just great music. Even some sporting events are cool with the roaring crowds etc. like Yankees/Red Sox games or football playoffs. You feel like you're there with a nice 50" HD display and surround. I love it.

True. A good sound system is half of the movie experience. Watch the beginning of "saving private ryan" or any of "the matrix" movies in 5.1 or better and you will never want to go back. HD without the sound is like watching VHS on an HDTV. And for the record i use the optical out to my stereo and use hdmi connected to my tv. The sound is not perfect, but it's damn good.

[FulciLives]

And for the record i use the optical out to my stereo and use hdmi connected to my tv. The sound is not perfect, but it's damn good.

Are you freakin' serious with this comment?

It must be you young people ... I remember the days of audio cassette "hiss" and LP "static" and "pop" and the "tiny" sound of a console television's built-in "speaker".

Now in 2008 an optical audio connection is "damn good" but "not perfect".

*** rolls his eyes ***

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[cracula]

And for the record i use the optical out to my stereo and use hdmi connected to my tv. The sound is not perfect, but it's damn good.

Are you freakin' serious with this comment?

It must be you young people ... I remember the days of audio cassette "hiss" and LP "static" and "pop" and the "tiny" sound of a console television's built-in "speaker".

Now in 2008 an optical audio connection is "damn good" but "not perfect".

*** rolls his eyes ***

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

It's ears and common sense, not age. I remember the days of 8track and 78 rpm records so there is a good chance i'm older than you. So don't assume something from a few words in a post. And while signal from the connection might be "perfect" the system and the speakers are not fully calibrated so i avoid saying perfect(even then would it still be?). Hopefully you can understand that or do you need me to spell it out for you? Is everything perfect on your HDTV with its digital connection?

[FulciLives]

I was merely implying that people seem to either not know or forget "how good they got it" because to say that an optical digital audio connection is "damn good" but "not perfect" is about as ridicules as it comes.

If I somehow offended you THEN you need to rethink what you type in the future.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[cracula]

I was merely implying that people seem to either not know or forget "how good they got it" because to say that an optical digital audio connection is "damn good" but "not perfect" is about as ridicules as it comes.

Are you serious? With that logic laserdiscs were perfect when compared to VHS. MP3s are perfect when compared to tape. They are better, not perfect

If I somehow offended you THEN you need to rethink what you type in the future.
Ditto!
- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[ricoman]

Now, now guys, I don't think anyone was trying to insult anybody. I get Cracula's point, perfect means perfect - it can't be improved upon. However, being 57 yrs. old I understand Fulci too. I use the optical link to my receiver and HDMI to the the TV as Crac does and DD sounds great, I didn't think it could be better until I put in a DTS disc and it was like turning off a filter, just awesome. Now of course they have HD DTS and DD sound (which I haven't experienced yet) and reports are there is a noticeable improvement. I can't imagine it. My point, and I think Crac's as well, is that nothing is perfect. But it optical link sure is great, I am 100% satisfied.

[cracula]

Now, now guys, I don't think anyone was trying to insult anybody. I get Cracula's point, perfect means perfect - it can't be improved upon. However, being 57 yrs. old I understand Fulci too. I use the optical link to my receiver and HDMI to the the TV as Crac does and DD sounds great, I didn't think it could be better until I put in a DTS disc and it was like turning off a filter, just awesome. Now of course they have HD DTS and DD sound (which I haven't experienced yet) and reports are there is a noticeable improvement. I can't imagine it. My point, and I think Crac's as well, is that nothing is perfect. But it optical link sure is great, I am 100% satisfied.

Nicely said. I agree 100%

[dadrab]

I don't know everything there is to know about audio, but I can relay what I see.

I have an NAD pre-amp that's premium vintage (20 years) and an NAD power amp that's about 12 years old. I run modified Bose 301 series III speakers in the front and a set of smaller Infinitys in the rear and set it all off with a 12" Polk Audio sub.

5.1 surround sound? No.
7.1 surround sound? No.
Damn fine sounding stereo? Yes.

Why is it that when my son's friends all get together to watch a movie, they come to our house? Hell, I don't even have an HDTV yet.

They come for the sound.

Some of his friends' parents have fine systems costing thousands and excellent viewing areas; yet, they all end up at our house because, "Dude, your system sounds awesome."

How can that be?

I think it's because, over the years, I've built a well balanced system - excellent highs, plenty of midrange and tooth-filling rattling bottom end.

I find that the thing lacking from most of the modern systems is midrange. Now, some of you older guys out there back me up (or not) but one simply cannot get good midrange out of 3 or 5 two inch drivers and a subwoofer - can't happen. In the old days, speakers only had midrange. You had to work real hard to get good highs and lows out of a system.

The tables have now turned to a point where most systems provide great highs, good lows and poor midrange.

So, I guess I'm stuck with my old stereo system and damn house full of teenagers most Friday and Saturday nights because, "Dude, your system sounds awesome."