Hdmi?????

[bassaholic]

I just bought a new or so I thought new Denon 3805. Anyhow, now I go back to the A/V dealer and I see the new 3806. It has HDMI connections. What is this and will I need it for future use? If this is a must have for newer technology let me know soon so I can get the best money for my now used 3805. Thanks.

[billbillw]

HDMI is the current (and near future) standard for digital HD Video connections. It is copy protected digital. It is a nice feature to have because most current TVs only have one HDMI connection. Having HDMI switching will allow you to have more HDMI devices.

[fireshoes]

It does digital video plus digital audio. Better get to sellin'! ;) You pretty much have to upgrade receivers every year now lol.

[bknauss]

It does digital video plus digital audio. Better get to sellin'! ;) You pretty much have to upgrade receivers every year now lol.

The upgradable Integras and Onkyos are looking very nice right now for that very reason. Now I just have to wait for the prices to come down........

[Fallen Kell]

Well, here is my take on HDMI in current recievers/pre-pros. It won't really make a difference yet. The current HDMI v1.1 implementations will not carry multi-channel audio signals. So for use in a reciever/pre-processor, the only important part of it will be the video stream. DVI can and will send that same video stream. With DVI+HDCP, you should be fine for connecting to any current or near future display.

Now when HDMI v 1.3 (might be in v1.2) is available with full 7.1 audio channels, then you will need to possibly worry about not having it in your reciever/pre-pro. But before then, you will still be using a digital SPDIF, firewire, or SDI connection to get a digital audio stream to your reciever/pre-pro, so it makes no difference at all if you have HDMI or not yet in a reciever/pre-pro. Now, if we were talking about a HDTV, I would say, you are screwed if you don't have HDMI or DVI+HDCP, as the next generation HD-DVD/Blue-Ray-DVD will not output above 480p on any connection other then a DVI+HDCP or HDMI connection.

[adam2434]

Having HDMI switching on your receiver would be very convenient if you have or plan to have multiple HDMI video sources (like an upconverting DVD player, HD DVD player, HD cable or sat) and a HD capable display with only one HDMI input.

I currently have this scenario and do not have HDMI switching. I simply swap my HDMI cable back and forth - really no big deal, as my HDMI is only carrying video. You can still use coax or optical for digital audio when using HDMI to just carry video.

Another option, if you need it down the road, could be to buy a HDMI switcher like the one available at av123.com for $200.

[Toxis]

The upgradable Integras and Onkyos are looking very nice right now for that very reason. Now I just have to wait for the prices to come down........

to bad they're really not upgradable slot wise how they were describing it. Say if you want to get rid of the composite/s-video video slot and put in another component video (still analog video!) for more input capability, it cannot be done. You can only replace a video card with what is already there. So it's not upgradable, it's repairable. I went round and round with the Onkyo sales trainer and the only way I can see it being an "upgrade" is if they upgrade the hardware for HDMI to a new version of HDMI. That's it.

[r.camacho1]

Thats interesting, becuase they told me that they are going to release a new modual that supports XM, and HD radio that will cost around $300. It's designed to upgrade to newer types of connections that could come out in the future. It also has software and firmware upgrades for things like newer DD and DTS decoders.

[Fallen Kell]

to bad they're really not upgradable slot wise how they were describing it. Say if you want to get rid of the composite/s-video video slot and put in another component video (still analog video!) for more input capability, it cannot be done. You can only replace a video card with what is already there. So it's not upgradable, it's repairable. I went round and round with the Onkyo sales trainer and the only way I can see it being an "upgrade" is if they upgrade the hardware for HDMI to a new version of HDMI. That's it.

You are somewhat correct, but in all mostly wrong. Yes, with the current implementation of the video connections on the system, you need the base analog video module (composite/s-video). They placed most of the circuitry onto this main board, which in hind-sight was not the best idea to do. But all of that can be fixed if/when they release new versions of the video connection boards, which they have not done so yet. To be honest, it isn't that big a mistake for the average consumer who will most likely still have at least 1 s-video/composite connection for VCR's or game consoles (many people still have VCR's around because they have not been able to replace their VCR collection with DVD's, since many titles are simply not availible still to this day).

However, the audio side of the unit truely is pretty much fully upgradible. Yes, certain slots require certain board types, but that is no different then a PC. You can't expect to put in a PCI card into a PCI-Express slot or an AGP card into a PCI slot. It just won't happen. Same goes with this unit, there are a few different card slot types, which limit you to certain number of cards with that type for use in the unit. Aside from that, it is upgradible to any card of that card type.

[Toxis]

from what I was told by Onkyo, the only thing you can upgrade is the connector plates... not a single thing internally. I'll have to reconfirm this.

[Danny Tse]

Well, here is my take on HDMI in current recievers/pre-pros. It won't really make a difference yet. The current HDMI v1.1 implementations will not carry multi-channel audio signals. So for use in a reciever/pre-processor, the only important part of it will be the video stream. DVI can and will send that same video stream. With DVI+HDCP, you should be fine for connecting to any current or near future display.

Now when HDMI v 1.3 (might be in v1.2) is available with full 7.1 audio channels, then you will need to possibly worry about not having it in your reciever/pre-pro. But before then, you will still be using a digital SPDIF, firewire, or SDI connection to get a digital audio stream to your reciever/pre-pro, so it makes no difference at all if you have HDMI or not yet in a reciever/pre-pro. Now, if we were talking about a HDTV, I would say, you are screwed if you don't have HDMI or DVI+HDCP, as the next generation HD-DVD/Blue-Ray-DVD will not output above 480p on any connection other then a DVI+HDCP or HDMI connection.

I believe HDMI v1.1 can do multi-channel audio. Panasonic's SA-XR70 (street price $300.00) can do DVD-A using one HDMI cable to a compatible DVD-A player, such as Panasonic's own DVD-S97. HDMI v1.2 has just been approved as a multi-channel digital connection for SACD.

[reeltrouble1]

You are correct Danny.

RT1

[Danny Tse]

Here's the article on the new HDMI v1.2 interface. I don't think there's any product sporting this connection yet, but I am thinking it will show up on Sony's PlayStation 3.

Note that this particular website, superaudio-cd.com, is run by Sony Europe and it's an alternative to sa-cd.net for info on SACDs.