Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners hdmi switch necessary

So I am doing a serious upgrade. Purchased a 350 sub, mounting m22s to wall, purchasing a Pioneer Pro-FHD1. I currently have a Sony 975 megachanger. I am going to purchase a Control4 media server for music and dvd control. I currently own a Integra 8.3 receiver in which has done an outstanding job, but it does not have HDMI switching. My thought was to keep the receiver and the plasma has 2 hdmi inputs and the only equipment that will have is Dish receiver and the Sony megachanger. I have talked to a few retail salemen and they are really pushing for a new receiver with HDMI. I am not convinced I need it. I do plan on purchaing the LG HD/DVD/Blu-ray player when it comes out. I am considering purchasing a HDMI switch which is much less money than a new receiver. Any thoughts?

If you decide you need a HDMI switch, monoprice,com is the place to get it.

As far as HDMI is concerned, I'd agree with you. Not sure it is needed. I don't think the cost to upgrade equipment to get there is warranted.

I have to admitt, I dont know some of components you are describing.

I purchased a receiver w/o HDMI switching, but my TV has 2 HDMI inputs. I run one from the upconverting DVD player to the TV and the other from my Motorola Set Top Box to the TV.

For Audio, I run optical from the Moto STB to the Pioneer 1015 receiver and for the DVD player use digital coax to the receiver. Both work fine.

I'm sure HDMI switching might be more convenient, but there have been reviews on different receivers that say the switching is not done well. Personally, I would say go with what you have....you can always add a switch later.

big: I have posted many times that you ought to let your video gear do video things and your audio gear do audio things. I see no need for audio gear to do HDMI switching. Matter of fact, letting audio gear do video switching seems to cause problems for some.

Let your HDTV do the switching and use optical/ TOS link connections for your multichannel audio.

I think that the salesmen are just trying to generate another sale regardless of your actual need.

If you plan on buying a switch just be carefull it is up to the challenge of 1080P some of the switches out there won't do it and you might as well get one that does upscaling for the odd times you won't have 1080 as an input.

Having said that the switch really isn't neseccary(especially with the all in one remotes that make everything switch for you) unless you are looking at having 2 really long HDMI cables, the cost of those could cover the cost of a very nice switch or receiver.

I have the impression that this HDMI made things a little more complicated. I am not sure which option I will choose:

1 - A non-HDMI receiver plus a HDMI switcher.
2 - A receiver with HDMI switch only (HDMI 1.1) just like my favorite Rotel RSX-1057
3 - A future HDMI 3.1 receiver. This means I'd have to wait a few more months.

These is really a dilema. I am reading a lot of confusing pros and cons for the first two. Any recent, direct experience with you guys?

I've been using the Monoprice 5 input HDMI switch for a long time, with no problems whatsoever. If you have a programmable remote, using a macro makes the switching easy.

No, just your standard HD cable box, and 2 DVD players. I'm kinda waiting for the Hi Def DVD format war to settle (and for a miracle to manifest itself in my wallet) before I go that route.

The Harmony should do the job just fine.

That Harmony is one slick device. I really like mine! It does all of my "switching" for me.

If you are looking to get into BR/HD for video improvement only, then an external switch should be all you need to send the HDMI output of the devises to your display.

If you wish to get into HD audio, then that's a whole different ball game. You will need a receiver that not only switches HDMI, but processed it, and does that correctly.

Waiting for 1.3 is an exercise in futility. When 1.3 receivers start hitting the streets, they will be plagued with bugs just as the 1.1 and 1.2 receivers are. Just get one that YOU KNOW works well. The Denon 2807 comes to mind and being one of the very few that does. The new line of Marantz do as well as the RX Yamaha's.

I wouldn't get too excited over that LG dual format player if I was you. It's overpriced and does not support all the new audio codecs.

The HD X2 is quite a machine as well as the PS3. You can pick up both for less than the LG and you will have undoubtably the best up converting DVD player sold as well. The X2 was in a recent shoot out with some stand alone video processors and beat them all in a battery of picture quality tests. This included the Crystalio CII that sells for just under six grand. The PS3, although a game machine supports the BR codecs and will play SACD and DVD-A. With this machine and X2, you'd have ALL audio formats covered for just about $1100.

The Sony megachanger is not supported by Monoprice. I have their HDX501 and like it but it does not work with my megachanger. Also got an email from them stating they don't support it. If anyone has a switch that works with this device I would like to know.