[Jeremy:::]

I have on order an Onkyo TX-SR702 receiver and a Denon DVD-2910 DVD Player. The receiver won't accept the HDMI input from the DVD player, so should I run the DVD's HDMI directy into the TV? What am I sacrificing if I do this?

This seems like a tricky time to buy a receiver.

Thanks,

Jeremy

[ChrisWiggles]

Running video directly to the display is always preferred. Running it through any kind of switcher is a compromise for convenience, all you are losing is convenience. In most cases, using a switcher won't cause any visible harm to the picture, but it will never do any good, and as such it's best to run straight to the display unless convenience issues come into play.

[JeremyErwin]

The HDMI output can carry multiple channels of digital audio-- so if you had a receiver that supported hdmi, you might be able to avoid a digital to analogue conversion. But the Denon can not send SACD or even CPPM protected DVD-Audio through HDMI. (see manual for details). Isn't copy protection fun?

So, you won't be missing much (except perhaps switching) if you run a hdmi cable directly between your player and the tv.

[ChrisWiggles]

you make a good point, I always think video stuff first, I kinda forgot that HDMI can do audio first, in which case that could be a benefit, but he'd still need to get a whole new receiver, and there wouldn't be any sonic benefit over SPDIF.

[Jeremy:::]

It seems like a pain in the butt to have to get up and jack around with cables in order to switch between dvd and dish. I may just have to upgrade my receiver in a couple of years when reasonably priced models have 2-3 HDMI inputs.

Jeremy

[Pat Frank]

If HDMI is digital, why would it be degraded by switching? Bits are bits....

[JeremyErwin]

After reading the manuals of various high-end dvd players, I've come to the conclusion that if you wanted a high resolution digital output for SACD/DVD-Audio, your only option is IEEE 1394/iLink/Firewire. And even then, you'd have to be especially careful to select compatible dvd players and receivers/prepros.

HDMI does, in theory, support high resolution audio (up to eight 192 KHz streams, iirc). I don't know if it supports Direct Stream Digital. But, at present, dts, ac3, and 48Khz stereo are pretty much the only audio formats carried by hdmi.

[ChrisWiggles]

Quote:

If HDMI is digital, why would it be degraded by switching? Bits are bits....

It's also a lot of bits, and if they are all getting there, then you're good to go. When it comes to video, there are definitely limits on length and quality for DVI/HDMI that are visible as reported by quite a few pros. As long as all the bits are getting there you are right, but unfortunately this isn't always the case. In any case, there will never be an *improvement* in quality by using a switcher. The best you can hope for is the equivalent quality, and this is hard to achieve in the analog world. With digital, yes it's easier, but again, if there is any effects that will happen by using a switcher, they will be negative.

[JeremyErwin]

Does anyone know if HDCP DVI-D and HDMI use the same key exchange algorithm?

[ChrisWiggles]

I believe they do, they are really kinda the same thing, except HDMI has more capability for YCbCr in addition to RGB, and audio.

[JeremyErwin]

It has been claimed, in reputable academic journals, that the master key for hdcp can be recovered, assuming one has access to on the order of 40 hdcp displays and some computational power. This is because the key exchange protocol used in hdcp is fundamentally flawed. The master keys themselves have not been published, yet. (iirc)

HDMI might introduce enough complications to make the cryptoanalyst's task more difficult, while retaining some backwards compatibility with DVI. The added feature (high definition digital audio) might just be a marketing promise, designed to sell yet another connector.

[AaronMan]

What happened to IEEE 1394 firewire? I thought everything was heading that direction. I guess its used mostly with computers.