HDMI - video and sound

mr_bill · « **on:** 11 Jun 2006, 03:45 pm »

Hi,
DOes the HDMI link from a DVD player to a HT Receiver carry both the video and the audio signal and does it also transmit the 2 channel CD sound when playing a CD?

Thanks,
Bill

Biggalo · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Jan 2007, 11:45 pm »

Quote from: mr_bill on 11 Jun 2006, 03:45 pm

Hi,
DOes the HDMI link from a DVD player to a HT Receiver carry both the video and the audio signal and does it also transmit the 2 channel CD sound when playing a CD?

Thanks,
Bill

The answer is yes to both questions......HDMI is all that, lol.

DonnieW · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Feb 2007, 12:14 pm »

DVD-A as well, if player supports it.

Ears · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Feb 2007, 02:53 pm »

My Ps3 does the highest possible output pure dsd SA-CD audio in 5.1 or 2.0, pure 192/24 uncompressed PCM audio up to 7.1 channels, Dolby Tru-HD up to 7.1 channels and with a firmware upgrade in March... do DTS Master audio up to 7.1 channels.
And of course it will do all of this over one hdmi cable with up to 1080p video output.

It will even work with the upcoming receivers/pre/pros that have built in DTS-MA and DD THD....because it is the only player with hdmi 1.3

rbrb · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Feb 2007, 04:35 pm »

Yes but also no sometimes. It depends on the receiver. Some receivers are nothing more than HDMI switchers and do not capture the audio signal from the HDMI signal.

Ears · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Feb 2007, 09:02 pm »

You can buy a receiver for under 400.00 that will pass 1080p and multi channled 192/24 audio on one hdmi cable.

Kishore · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Feb 2007, 09:31 pm »

Just ensure that HDMI is v1.1+, and supports multichannel audio/linear PCM (besides video). There are older products with HDMI which just supports video & 2 ch audio nothing more.

Cheers,
Kishore

Don_S · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Feb 2007, 09:46 pm »

Is the new 1.3 standard a hardware (box) thing and a wire thing? I understand that new hardware will adopt the new standard but my question is will existing interconnects (Analysis Plus HDMI X Factor Video Cable specifically) meet the standard or will they have to be replaced?

Thank you,

klh · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Feb 2007, 09:47 pm »

Kishore nailed it!

My understanding is that HDMI cables with greater girth are more able to carry a 1080p signal without degradation. I assume that also is true for more sound info but don't know for sure.

Ears · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Feb 2007, 11:03 pm »

Quote from: Don_S on 20 Feb 2007, 09:46 pm

Is the new 1.3 standard a hardware (box) thing and a wire thing? I understand that new hardware will adopt the new standard but my question is will existing interconnects (Analysis Plus HDMI X Factor Video Cable specifically) meet the standard or will they have to be replaced?

Thank you,

1.3 will be used for passing the HD audio stream to a capable receiver/pre/pro with built in DTS-MA and DD THD audio.
However....there is no need to wait for hdmi 1.3 receivers/pre/pros
All you need is hdmi 1.1 receiver and an el cheapo 10.00 hdmi cable ....and you can get DD-THD and DTS-MA +1080P via a receiver such as the Onkyo 504.
The player of course needs to have the DD THD and DTS-MA decoders built in....and it all comes out as hi res PCM in the end.

Of course you have to do a bit of research on which receiver to buy....but there are many under 1k...and at least one under 400.00 that fit the bill.

Kishore · « **Reply #10 on:** 21 Feb 2007, 02:06 am »

Quote from: Don_S on 20 Feb 2007, 09:46 pm

Is the new 1.3 standard a hardware (box) thing and a wire thing?

Not a box/wire thing but hardware upgrade within device using HDMI. Basically different tx/rx chips to accomodate data flow.

Quote

I understand that new hardware will adopt the new standard but my question is will existing interconnects (Analysis Plus HDMI X Factor Video Cable specifically) meet the standard or will they have to be replaced?

Cables need not be replaced if you upgrade from older HDMI box to a newer one. There is backward compatibility of connectors so your investment is not a waste..

As Ears mentioned you donot need to wait for v1.3 to enjoy hi-def audio & video you can use v1.1+ capable devices.

Cheers,
Kishore

jqp · « **Reply #11 on:** 21 Feb 2007, 02:36 am »

These boys did a "review" of HDMI cables

http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2007/2/19/7116

Should we go teach them a lesson?

(be sure to read the comments)

kfr01 · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 Feb 2007, 03:09 am »

Most of the comments are spot-on, in my opinion.

If fact, I think what Best Buy is doing with these cables ($60 for a 3 foot length of Acoustic Research HDMI - the least expensive HDMI cable they stock) to the uninformed Joe Shmoe looking to buy an HDTV is getting darn close to highway robbery.

Monoprice and bluejeanscable for me.

Don_S · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 Feb 2007, 04:16 pm »

Thanks for the responses. You have managed to confuse me even more about what to purchase.

My brain is 99+% audio and <1% video.

Thanks to Magnolia's President's Day Door Buster specials, I replaced my 15 year old CRT (with lines across the top) with a 46" Sharp Aquos LCD. I already had a Panasonic digital video recorder. I am using a borrowed (Better Cables) HDMI between the two.

I need to purchase a 2M Toslink and a 2M HDMI. The Toslink is to hook to my TacT preamp. I know the HDMI will transmit audio between the Panny and Sharp.

The dilemma--I do not want to spend a fortune on video cables but I do want to get good performance. My audio experience tells me all cables are not created equal. It also tells me that the most expensive is not always the best but super cheap cables have never performed well in my system. I have also experienced some very expensive cables that were not compatible with my system.

I am not worried about compatibility on the HDMI and Toslink but I am concerned about performance and price. I had been considering getting the cables from Better Cables (HDMI $100 and Toslink $50) or Analysis Plus ($100 and $40). Now I am confused. Are they rip off prices? Should I just go cheap at Monoprice?

My reason for the 1.3 compatibility question was primarily for the future. I wanted to get good cables now that would not be added to my trash pile (like all my VCR cables) too soon.

Thanks for any help. Don

jqp · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 Feb 2007, 05:56 pm »

HDMI is probably not an audiophile type of cable architecture, no?

So you are really looking at the video quality of a particular HDMI cable, and probably not too many can comment on that here. Remembering that HDMI is a cabling standard designed to usher in copy protection into the whole video chain, from source to display, and not designed for good Picture Quality (or audio quality)...

Now I do not believe that "they are all the same", but maybe most HDMI are in the "very good" category of picture quality, who knows?

Why not temporarily buy a few different HDMI cables? Amazon has a good price on Monster 2M. Then compare to a "cheap" cable, and something maybe more expensive. A 46" Sharp Aquos LCD deserves a little effort!

Then do a little comparison and let us know!

You then return the cables that you do not want, making sure to KEEP the cheap one no matter which you want, for testing/emergencies. Nothing underhanded here, just normal customer activity.

ctviggen · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Feb 2007, 06:17 pm »

Sometimes I think the price of more expensive cables is justified in the connectors alone. Good connectors make it much easier to connect and with a much more solid connection (thus my preference for balanced interconnects over unbalanced). However, I have no HDMI equipment, so I'm not sure that this applies to HDMI connectors.

mjosef · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 Feb 2007, 10:07 pm »

I got the Belkin PureAV Silver series HDMI cable (8') for a great price at provantage, less than 50$. I think Buy.com has a good price on it too. Funny thing is that the 4' length of the same series seem to cost more, which seem backwards with the norm.

kfr01 · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Feb 2007, 03:20 am »

Quote from: ctviggen on 21 Feb 2007, 06:17 pm

Sometimes I think the price of more expensive cables is justified in the connectors alone. Good connectors make it much easier to connect and with a much more solid connection (thus my preference for balanced interconnects over unbalanced). However, I have no HDMI equipment, so I'm not sure that this applies to HDMI connectors.

As far as I can tell, the physical connection on my $15 Bluejeanscable 3' length and the $60 length they were selling at Best Buy are the same damn thing. The BJC is cable very solid and the connections fit very snug.

kfr01 · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Feb 2007, 03:27 am »

Quote from: jqp on 21 Feb 2007, 05:56 pm

HDMI is probably not an audiophile type of cable architecture, no?

So you are really looking at the video quality of a particular HDMI cable, and probably not too many can comment on that here. Remembering that HDMI is a cabling standard designed to usher in copy protection into the whole video chain, from source to display, and not designed for good Picture Quality (or audio quality)...

Now I do not believe that "they are all the same", but maybe most HDMI are in the "very good" category of picture quality, who knows?

Why not temporarily buy a few different HDMI cables? Amazon has a good price on Monster 2M. Then compare to a "cheap" cable, and something maybe more expensive. A 46" Sharp Aquos LCD deserves a little effort!

Then do a little comparison and let us know!

You then return the cables that you do not want, making sure to KEEP the cheap one no matter which you want, for testing/emergencies. Nothing underhanded here, just normal customer activity.

Or, buy the BJC or Monoprice cable. If you think you're "missing out," or something, then buy the more expensive length.

If you're running any length under 15', it is my opinion that all HDMI cables "are the same" for all practical human purposes. What's even the opposing theory? Jitter? Noise?

Ears · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Feb 2007, 04:04 pm »

I see better cables has won The Perfect Visions award for top hdmi cable 3 years in a row...and its now an improved 1.3 version pure copper silver coated, ect model.
It runs around 100.00 for 6.5 ft....and with the 30 day satisfaction gaurantee... would probably be the one I would compare to a cheap hdmi cable.

I also see brands like Acoustic Zen, Analysis Plus ect ect all have there versions of hdmi cables.

I am not saying these cables could not possibly offer any improvement over a 10.00 cable....just that the free cables I have got buying standard dvd players....don't seem to degrade the P/Q while going through my receiver for picture as well as multi channel PCM audio for Blu Ray ....so I am not going to bother with the exotic versions just yet.

Maybe when I get bored some day