New receiver 7.1 HDMI question.

[Ray_Rogers2019]

Looking for an HDMI 7.1 receiver with LPCM, DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby True HD with two outs and six/eight inputs. One of the inputs will be from the 6950 2GB unlocked to 6970 over HDMI to the receiver and then to an HDMI monitor as HDMI out 2. Now for desktop speakers, can I set them up as speaker B for the PC audio over HDMI? Used in the connectors and not the 7.1 speakers. Output #1 will be an eventual 1080p display. Six or eight ins due to the Oppo 971H DVI to HDMI for video but still digital optical for audio, PS3 through HDMI, DVR through HDMI, 360 through HDMI and some ports free. Wii will be through component anyway.
For a future purchase. All HDMI cables will be the latest specification purchased from Monoprice.
Yes I'm more of a HT enthusiast compared to computers.

EDIT: Do I need to draw a diagram?

 

[A5]

To set up 2 separate speaker sets, you're going to want to look for a feature like "Powered Zone 2" or similar. To get that feature and the # of HDMI inputs you want, you're looking at an Onkyo 608 or 609. I'm not as familiar with other brands in that area, but I assume that similar priced Yamaha, Pioneer, and Denon receivers would have a similar feature.

 

[Ross Ridge]

To set up 2 separate speaker sets, you're going to want to look for a feature like "Powered Zone 2" or similar. To get that feature and the # of HDMI inputs you want, you're looking at an Onkyo 608 or 609. I'm not as familiar with other brands in that area, but I assume that similar priced Yamaha, Pioneer, and Denon receivers would have a similar feature.

The problem with any Zone 2 solution is that with just about any AV receiver it will only work with analogue sources. The receiver won't send an HDMI or digital optical input to zone 2, powered or not. There is an exception, however, and it may apply to the original poster. Some Yamaha receivers, maybe others, have a special "party" mode where the same source signal is output to both the main zone and zone 2. In that case it will output the (same) HDMI or digital optical input to both the main speakers and the zone 2 speakers. You can mute the main speakers if you don't want to use them.

I believe the Yamaha RX-A1000 has all he wants, 2 HDMI outs, 7 in, powered zone 2, party mode, but it's not particularily cheap ($1000). There might be something cheaper, but I don't know off hand.

 

[Ray_Rogers2019]

Thanks. Just attempting to figure out to have seperate speakers or I could just have the video from the GPU go to the receiver and have the speakers still be wired from the tower. Or have both video/audio go from the HDMI on the GPU to the receiver but not have it go through the HT speakers but to the desktop ones.
I should look it up more to see if I can have the surround be set-up two ways. A being the HT surround and B being the PC speaker set-up.

 

[Ross Ridge]

I should look it up more to see if I can have the surround be set-up two ways. A being the HT surround and B being the PC speaker set-up.

AV receivers with "B" speaker terminals aren't that common these days. Only the low end Onkyo's have them, the higher end ones have powered zone 2 instead. Yamaha receivers don't seem to have them at all, while most Pioneer recievers have the flexibility of having terminals that can be used for speaker B or zone 2. I haven't look at the other receiver makers, but there doesn't seem to be a lot options if you want both two HDMI out, 6+ HDMI in and speaker B terminals. Of the manufactures I mentioned only the Pioneer VSX-33 (or better) has all that, though as I said before I think Yamaha RX-A1000 can do what you want as well.

 

[Railgun]

What's your price limit?

 

[Ray_Rogers2019]

AV receivers with "B" speaker terminals aren't that common these days. Only the low end Onkyo's have them, the higher end ones have powered zone 2 instead. Yamaha receivers don't seem to have them at all, while most Pioneer recievers have the flexibility of having terminals that can be used for speaker B or zone 2. I haven't look at the other receiver makers, but there doesn't seem to be a lot options if you want both two HDMI out, 6+ HDMI in and speaker B terminals. Of the manufactures I mentioned only the Pioneer VSX-33 (or better) has all that, though as I said before I think Yamaha RX-A1000 can do what you want as well.

Alright cool thanks.

What's your price limit?

Was planning on saving for $600-$800. Right now I'm just using the Sony STR-DE598 which is damn old.

 

[alcoholbob]

7 HDMI inputs is pretty insane on the A1000.

How many can you have?

TV, 360, PS3, Wii, HTPC, BD Player? thats six...seems like you really have to dig to find a need for more HDMI inputs.

 

[Ross Ridge]

7 HDMI inputs is pretty insane on the A1000.

It's pretty standard on AV receivers in that price range, and can be found on cheaper ones as well. I get the impression that having a lot of HDMI inputs is actually pretty inexpensive for the manufacturer. The problem for the original poster is that having more than one HDMI output seems to drive the price up significantly.

TV, 360, PS3, Wii, HTPC, BD Player? thats six...seems like you really have to dig to find a need for more HDMI inputs.

Well, the TV is connected to the HDMI output and the Wii doesn't have HDMI, so that's only four. A cable or satellite box brings that back up to five. Stretching you could add a second satellite box, HD-DVD, media streaming device (eg. Apple TV), or a DVD-Audio/SACD player. There's also a number of different devices you could potentially hook up to the 8th HDMI input at the front, like a digital camera or camcoder, laptop, smart phone or MP3/video player.

 

[alcoholbob]

It's pretty standard on AV receivers in that price range, and can be found on cheaper ones as well. I get the impression that having a lot of HDMI inputs is actually pretty inexpensive for the manufacturer. The problem for the original poster is that having more than one HDMI output seems to drive the price up significantly.

Not true. Only the Onkyo does in that price class, and they aren't ideal because it lacks direct bass management. Denon has 5 and HK has 4.

Also I'm mad coz my receiver only has 5 and costs as much as four of these receivers xD

Well, the TV is connected to the HDMI output and the Wii doesn't have HDMI, so that's only four. A cable or satellite box brings that back up to five. Stretching you could add a second satellite box, HD-DVD, media streaming device (eg. Apple TV), or a DVD-Audio/SACD player. There's also a number of different devices you could potentially hook up to the 8th HDMI input at the front, like a digital camera or camcoder, laptop, smart phone or MP3/video player.

MP3 players have HDMI inputs now?

 

[alcoholbob]

Double post

 

[Ross Ridge]

MP3 players have HDMI inputs now?

Some of the video capable ones have HDMI outpus available. For example, there's an adapater for the iPad 2 and the latest iPod Touch that provides an HDMI out.

 

[Ray_Rogers2019]

Okay going to use a DVI to HDMI cable for video on my multi-region Oppo 971H DVD player but fiber optic for audio. Going to sell my stand-alone Blu-ray disc player when I get the PS3 60GB launch (emotion chip for hardware compatibility with PS2 titles) so that'd be another HDMI. DVR is going to be another HDMI and same for XBOX 360. HTPC/Gaming/Multi-regional Blu-ray with AnyDVD HD will be another HDMI. Wii would still be component though. But I don't own the PS3 or Wii yet so I'm future-proofing for those two.
Perhaps a couple extra. What I'm wanting to do for now after or before I buy the receiver is to buy a new LED monitor with high contrast ratio with HDMI 1.4/a support. No clue what I'll be doing for my CRT TV which is 480i but calibrated nicely. It's flatscreen with component. Was considering using the computer monitor for video for all sources in the meantime. Two ins for HDMI would be first should be the computer monitor and secnond should be the eventual HDTV.
When I buy the PS3 I could sell the Blu-ray disc player on Craigslist along with the old receiver. For my CRT monitor, damn I'm a slow buyer for newer tech, I could sell it locally.
Only problem? Room is damn small. Would be best to wall mount the HDTV when I eventually get one along with properly calibrating it. But for the LED 1920x1080/1200 monitor it'll replace my CRT one.
HTPC/Gaming/etc. PC will be used mainly for other region Blu-ray disc titles but video and audio to the HDTV and receiver speakers. Would it be good idea to play 360/PS3 titles with video output to the LED monitor but still audio through the receiver? Would have seperate speaker set-up so it's why I'm considering A would be the HT surround and B would be the PC surround.
Last but not least I'm a stickler for choosing original theatrical audio over remixes but either Dolby Pro Logic II or the DTS counterpart.

EDIT: I'm not interested in any Apple/Mac products. But for music I directly rip the CDs bit-for-bit lossless wav and use WinAmp to play them. Also use FLAC and never really got into DVD-Audio nor SACD.

 

[alcoholbob]

Damn did you post this all from your phone? The formatting is messed up lol.

If you run video to the monitor and audio through toslink you won't get HD audio, only DD or DTS (if that's a problem...).

You could of course run video and audio through hdmi but you would need to make sure to get a receiver with 2 hdmi outputs since you need one for the TV and the other for your monitor.

 

[Ray_Rogers2019]

Damn did you post this all from your phone? The formatting is messed up lol.

If you run video to the monitor and audio through toslink you won't get HD audio, only DD or DTS (if that's a problem...).

You could of course run video and audio through hdmi but you would need to make sure to get a receiver with 2 hdmi outputs since you need one for the TV and the other for your monitor.

The only phone I own is a cordless, no cell or smart and certainly not an iphone.
The multi-region Oppo 971H is only DVD format, not HD DVD or Blu-ray disc so it's no problem. All others will be HDMI. Excluding the Oppo and eventual Wii. I don't even own a PS3 yet. All this is future planning in my head. The HDMI cables will be the newest specification purchased from Monoprice.

 

[alcoholbob]

How eventual is the Wii. Because Wii2 is coming out in 2012. Lol.

 

[Ray_Rogers2019]

How eventual is the Wii. Because Wii2 is coming out in 2012. LOL.

Okay I'll just use Dolphin in the meantime.