Home Theater Receiver Help/Advice... details inside!

[Zeste]

Scenario:

My brother has:

- HD Satellite w/ HDMI and/or Optical + Component
- PS3 w/ HDMI and or optical + component
- Xbox 360 with optical + component


He recently bought a new TV, a 52" LCD Sharp AQUOS. He also wanted 5.1 Dolby Digital, so we got him a receiver. Here is what we got:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...917-K%7CS.Kuro


The problem:

The receiver has 2 HDMI inputs, 3 component, and 2 Optical inputs that can be assigned to any video input. It also has a HDMI output of course, and component.

So we think "perfect! the Satellite and PS3 can use the HDMI for video/audio and then connect it to the HDMI on the TV, using the reciever as the input selector. Then the 360 can use a component and 1 of the optical audios! we'll have them all hooked in!"

Long, irritating story short: The Receiver does NOT pick up the audio through the HDMI. It passes it through to the TV, but if you want the audio from your devices, the optical cable (or analog) must be connected also!!! I thought I read that wrong, but that's exaclty what the manual to the receiver says.

So, we connect the Optical from the PS3 and Satellite to Opt1/2 on the receiver, and it all works great. EXCEPT now the 360 dones't have an optical input available.


So, after much frustration, we aren't sure what to do. And before you say anything, yes I am 100% positive that the receiver doesn't play the audio from the HDMI connected devices (the manual specifically says "to hear the audio from a device connected through HDMI, make the appropriate analog or optical connection).

So, are there any receivers that
1. Will use HDMI as both audio and video?
2. Have 3 or more Optical inputs paired with HDMI or Component inputs?

Also - his budget is under $500.

[Lyenae]

What brand is the receiver? Do you have any digital coaxial inputs?

[Elurin]

The wife and I bought an HDDVD player, and the HDMI doesn't do audio on it either. Maybe companies aren't quite 100% sure with HD yet?

[Zeste]

The receiver is Pioneer: Pioneer USA - Pioneer A/V Receivers




It has 2 Coaxial Audio inputs, but none of our devices have the same output.

Really, if HDMI doesn't transfer sound through this or whatever, I need a receiver that has 3 optical inputs paired with 2 HDMI and at least 1 component.


Though...I thought HDMI was the "all in one" cable that was supposed to save us all. I can see on the Pioneer website now it says "HDMI® Input - 2 Video."

The annoying thing is that with the HDMI's plugged into the receiver, and then an HDMI plugged into the TV, the tv has sound, so it is passing the sound through the receiver and to the TV. I am wondering if I can use the TV's optical out to re-patch it back down to the receiver...?

[Lyenae]

You can buy a TOSLINK to Coax converter adapter at monoprice.com

For only $9.80 each when QTY 50+ purchased - Optical Toslink to Coaxial (RCA) Digital Audio Converter | Toslink Switch / Converter

[Zignor 2]

If you must stay under $500, take a look at the Onkyo TX-SR605. It should do everything you need.

[eekeekscurry]

i love onkyo. I used to sell home/car audio. I have found lots of receivers dont use the hdmi for audio. I dont know why. I seriously go optical. I know they are a bit expensive but that extra few dollars can be the difference between Excellent sound and good sound you know? The picture is only as good as the cables. I will look more into ur equiptment and get back to you after work...

[Zippygoose]

That's lame Zeste-I'd be pissed, sorry man

When I bought my receiver it was about 5 years ago (damn that's a long time) and have no idea how they work with HDMI, but I would have assumed that any receiver would let you pump out the HDMI audio by default. I mean, isn't that the whole point of the reciever (other than acting as an input switch of course)? To let your surround sound speakers handle the audio rather than the 2 TV speakers??

Edit: When I got my Aquos all I did was buy an HDMI switch box off of monoprice for about $18.00. So now I have my 360 and MCPC hooked up to the switch which goes to 1 HDMI port on the TV. The 360 is using my optical port and the MCPC is just using stereo. My upscaling DVD player uses the other HDMI port on the TV and the coax for 5.1/DTS surround. Slightly ghetto but cheaper than buying a brand new receiver Sounds like you need more digital audio ports though.

Edit 2: Looks like you have 5 digital audio inputs on the receiver, so you could go my route and buy a switch for the HDMI, running all of your audio through either coax or optical.

This is the switch I bought:

For only $15.00 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 2X1 Manual HDMI Switch - Push Button Type | Manual HDMI Switch

But still, you dropped a good chunk of change on something that requires a duct-tape solution, I'd take it back and go with a different receiver.

[Frax]

Originally Posted by Zignor 2

If you must stay under $500, take a look at the Onkyo TX-SR605. It should do everything you need.

This is what I bought, I've been very happy with mine. It's not that expensive, and does everything I wanted it to do. Considering I was replacing a 1989 vintage Kenwood receiver I bought at the PX in Germany, it was a pretty massive upgrade.

My old receiver wasn't 2.1 or 5.1 or or 7.1.. it just said "Dolby NR"

[CnCGOD]

I to would also favor that onkyo, I got mine as part of the Onkyo 908B HTIB and am VERY happy with how it handles video/audio switching as well as sound quality.

[Dennadyne]

Originally Posted by Zeste

The receiver is Pioneer: Pioneer USA - Pioneer A/V Receivers




It has 2 Coaxial Audio inputs, but none of our devices have the same output.

Really, if HDMI doesn't transfer sound through this or whatever, I need a receiver that has 3 optical inputs paired with 2 HDMI and at least 1 component.


Though...I thought HDMI was the "all in one" cable that was supposed to save us all. I can see on the Pioneer website now it says "HDMI® Input - 2 Video."

The annoying thing is that with the HDMI's plugged into the receiver, and then an HDMI plugged into the TV, the tv has sound, so it is passing the sound through the receiver and to the TV. I am wondering if I can use the TV's optical out to re-patch it back down to the receiver...?

You would get sound degradation by passing it back to the receiver like that and defeating the purpose really (but it should work). I don't think you will find a receiver under $500 that will process HDMI audio yet. Onkyo is probably your cheapest solution, there might be one out there for $500 or so. Kinda busy at work right now so I don't have time to search for you (or to be typing this message, honestly ) but maybe after work I can.