2005 HDTV Report, Part 16: Non-Display Equipment with HDMI/D — Community

#1 Oct 25, 2005 at 12:50 pm

This part 16 deals with Non-display Equipment with HDMI/DVI/IEEE1394 Capabilities. Every year I follow the industry regarding this subject because more products are using DVI and HDMI and is becoming a problem trying to connect them all together within an HDTV system. Many consumers have given up and purchased DVI/HDMI switchers (and additional cabling) because their receivers/pre-pros were not capable to do that job due to lack of sufficient digital video inputs, or any inputs at all. Some of those receivers were already top of the line (expensive) relatively new products and suddenly became obsolete. This year a larger number of units implementing DVI and HDMI were released, in addition to the monitors and integrated TVs mentioned on the previous sections of the 2005 Technology report. Although the implementation of HDMI inputs/outputs was seen in more receivers, it was still more often seen on top-of-the–line receivers, which usually are on the $4000-$6000 range; more recent models (arrived after this report) that are capable of HDMI switching, were finally added on lower price ranges. Fortunately, the transformation is moving faster than the first two years, and soon it might not be necessary for me to monitor and report units as exceptions to guide consumers on better purchases. The data included on this part is just an example of some of the new units, not a complete list. In the 2004 report there are more non-display receivers/pre-pros with DVI/HDMI switching that might still be available. Additionally, several manufacturers of switching devices have added new intelligent self-detection models on their product list. However, the problem with routing out to the switcher DVI/HDMI connections is the decentralization of all video and audio, a function the receiver/pre-pro was expected to do. Another problem is backward compatibility on the design of the connectivity of receivers/pre-pros, they have no other choice than to have busy and oversized back panels to suit all the component analog, DVI and HDMI mix and match possibilities a given consumer might need. The price of evolution. An evolution that is inducing consumers to replace equipment of otherwise acceptable performance. Do not miss a future part analyzing digital connectivity, and the claims some have made about HDMI.

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#2 Oct 26, 2005 at 3:24 pm

Hi,

In an attempt to future proof their receivers Denon and others have provided connectivity and decoding for hardware and (more importntly software) not yet in existance.

To date most people do not use the V in A/V receiver preferring a direct line from dvd players and HD set top boxes to their display device.

From an audio perspective the most advanced (or discrete) format available is still DTS-ES Discrete which is 6.1.

I have an upgraded Denon 5800 and have recently spoken to them regarding audio decoding for the new HIREZ video formats which will supposedly hit the market in 2006. When my 5800 was upgraded to 5803 audio status an extra coax and opt input was installed which was marked (for future audio formats).
I asked Denon if these would be the connections used for either HD-DVD or Blue-ray. Their answer was "it depends on what the player manufacurers do"
Due to the fact that many people will not have the proper digital audio connectivity the dvd hardware makers will have to put 8ch analog outs on these units. Your Denon has 2 sets of 8ch analogs so even if we do nothing regarding those digital inputs you will be covered for any discrete 7.1 software offered.

Regarding the new Denon 5805, amoung it's bells and whistles is a feature that would encourage people to use it as a video switcher.

Unlike the 5800 upgraded or not the video section was not touched. The 5803 however allowed for the upconverting of composite or s/vid (both 480i video to component at 480i which allowed for all vcrs and lds to be input and then sent out component (still at 480i) to a display with that input.
The new 5805 goes a step further with the addition of a Faroudja scaling chip allowing all those inputs to be scaled to HD rezes from the component out. Since component is still analog (supposedly) it does not have to comply with HDCP. I'm not sure but I think it would be necessary to switch a Progressive dvd player to interlaced or 480i instead of 480p for this to work.

If this scaling capability does a good job and you consider that a DVDO or other scaler costs $2000 it makes the price of a 5805 a little easier to swallow.

From a practical side if dual zone is what someone envisages when considering the 10.2 5805, it would be cheaper and cut down on long and expensive cable runs if 2 5803s were used. This is assuming that digital video switching from the receiver is not a priority.

I think from an audio quality perspective they both use the same High Quality DACs.

There are still significant bugs in HDMI (some that have fried dvd players)and when you consider that essentially it is a DVI cable with a coax audio cable in one unit (cable quality all over the map), and you probably already own the latter. You might want to consider using them until someone in the know sounds the "all clear"

Peter M.