Hdmi + Digital Audio Coax/optical At The Same Time

[paveet]

Hi there

I current have a receiver that does not take HDMI in (Marantz SR7500, it was bought back in 2003-2004). If I get a new DVD player with HDMI out, would I be able to plug the HDMI out into my TV (then mute the TV) and plug the Digital Audio Out (either Coaxial or Optical) into the receiver?

Would the DVD player output signals as Digital Audio Out (Coax or Optical) as well as HDMI?

Thanks!

Pavee

[solo siam]

Yes, The DVD player should have a mute HDMI slection in the menu's, it's quite common for people not to use HDMi for audio (like for example projectors).

The SR7500 upscales and upconverts to component, so there won't be that much difference in quality between the HDMI and Component.

[paveet]

Thanks! At least I wouldn't have the buy a new receiver should I want to move to HDMI!

The motive for me to move to HDMI was that it was digital (and digital means no noise for the pictures) and that I've long been a fan of DVI-D on the computer (and HDMI is just DVI-D + Digital Audio Coax Out).

The SR7500 upscales and upconverts to component, so there won't be that much difference in quality between the HDMI and Component.

What do you mean here? I am currently using component cables plugged into the SR7500 and another set of component cables between SR7500 and the TV.

How much difference in quality would I see between HDMI and Component when watching a DVD? I am using the Sony Bravia 26" V-Series LCD TV (KLV-V26A10). The TV itself is WXGA 1366 x 768, how would this be converted into the xxx-p notation, e.g. 1080p or 720p?

Edit: Sorry I just realised the xxx-p is the number of vertical lines, like 1366x768 would be 768p.

Edit 2: hmm and I just found out that DVD's are either 480p or 576p, but what's the maximum xxx-p can component show?

Thanks!

[solo siam]

Component can show up to 1080p, the Sr7500 will upscale the image to I believe 720p or 1080i - upconverted DVD images look significantly better than normal DVD images - Although it may also upscale over HDMI.

The HDMI picture should be better and 80% of the time it is, however I have seen cases where the HDMI picture looks worse than component.

[LivinLOS]

All depends on the scaler / upconverter at each end..

Some people have a DVD that upscales better than thier TV.. Some people have a TV that upscales better than thier DVD..

At least with digital connections the signal is passed fully either way..

[solo siam]

I find that the component cable can also help with macroblocking type issues in some cases, because it's softer I guess it makes the edges of the pixels less harsh, less noticable, also I have witnessed what I would call jitter rarely on HDMI connections.

[LivinLOS]

I can see what your saying but for the purist macroblocking is the signal so by softening that your also softening detail..

Kinda like that discussion we had on DLP smoothing out some of the artifacting also but at what cost...