hdmi inputs on receivers

Knucklehead

ok...ive read many posts on hdmi inputs that actually do nothing for audio. what is the main purpose of the hdmi input?

MADGSF

To allow 1080P video signals a path. The HDMI interface is the only leaglly licensed connector that can be used for 1080P signals that I know of. I think there is a bandwidth issue there to as the HD audio signals need the high bandwidth available with HDMI. It also cuts down on the number of cables you have to use for a connection which is always a plus.

Bass_Pedal

The HD audio formats can also be sent to your receiver via analogue cables if your BD player has on board decoding for the HD formats.

Knucklehead

thanks for the input, but what im actually talking about is the hdmi input on the back of the receivers, ive read that this just passes hd audio through the receiver and out to the t.v rather than to the speakers, if that is in fact true, whats the point of these inputs on receivers?

Disc Jockey

Those are there simply so you can use your avr as an HDMI switcher. Most newer AVR's have the ability to pull the audio off the HDMI, if you choose to do so, and send it to the speakers but some of the older/cheaper ones do not. If you are buying a used piece of equipment, this is good info to have. A buddy of mine recently bought a used Onkyo receiver and got it all hooked up only to find out that it would only do HDMI switching/pass-through and could not pull off the audio. He's still trying to explain that purchase to his wife.

Fongolio

Some, but certainly not all, receivers only pass video through their hdmi input. My Yamaha 6160 (identical to the 663) does pass audio through the hdmi input and in fact also decodes Dolby HD and DTS Master HD signals as well. The receivers that only pass video on the hdmi input don't even send a signal to the TV speakers. On those receivers you also need an optical or coaxial connecter from the source to the receiver. On my Yammy HDMI handles all audio and video signals on one cable.

Erik Tracy

Knucklehead wrote: »

thanks for the input, but what im actually talking about is the hdmi input on the back of the receivers, ive read that this just passes hd audio through the receiver and out to the t.v rather than to the speakers, if that is in fact true, whats the point of these inputs on receivers?

HDMI source input, which includes video and audio, would be received by the avr and then the audio portion IS sent to the locally connected speakers of the avr.

The HDMI audio content is then processed internally by the avr (or not), amplified and passed on to the speakers connected to it.

Whoever told you that HDMI audio only gets passed thru an avr does not understand the 'data flow' thru an avr or its purpose.

Erik

Disc Jockey

Erik Tracy wrote: »

HDMI source input, which includes video and audio, would be received by the avr and then the audio portion IS sent to the locally connected speakers of the avr.
Erik

This is not necessarily true. If the hdmi inputs on the avr are pass through only, the avr perform just like any other hdmi switcher and an additional cable will need to be run for audio to the avr. If the hdmi inputs are set up as repeaters, this allows the avr to process the audio portion as well as providing the switching functionality.

Knucklehead

thanks for clearing that up for me...so...im assuming that a seperate hdmi switcher will do the same thing as a pass thru AVR..i think im catching on...after all i am a knucklehead!;)