Between the two... which one and why? The Elite has 1 or 2 HDMI connectors where as the NAD does not. What would you use the HDMI on the reciever for? Ex... DVD. I can see using HDMI on the dvd to tv, but would you connect either to the reciever and for what reason or benefit?

Thanks..

HDMI carries picture and sound. It's the only way to get lossless audio (Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio) from Blu-ray Discs.

From a DVD player there's not much reason to go with HDMI over an optical or coax connection, except it does allow you to only use one cable. Plus if there's any delay from the TV in processing the video frames it can be communicated to the receiver so it can delay the audio the same amount for lip synch.

are you saying a better sound is achived by running a dvd into both the tv for vidio and into the receiver for sound rather than just the tv into the receiver?

In most cases, the TV will not pass multi-channel audio back down to the receiver. So the best way to connect things is the source (DVD player, cable box, etc.) to the receiver, and then have the receiver pass the video on to the TV.

With a Blu-ray player, it is the only way to get the best quality audio.

I agree with Chris about connecting the source directly to the receiver for best audio. I experimented this weekend with my cable box (Comcast) going directly to my AVR and then to the TV (Sony EX700) using HDMI vs. my current setup of cable box direct to TV (using HDMI) with TV audio out going to AVR (using optical digital). The TV only outputs two channel audio even though most programming from the cable box has 5.1 audio.

The sound is so much better with the new way!! Because of my experiment I ended up buying an HDMI splitter so my wife can continue to watch TV without the AVR turned on but I can choose better audio when I'm around.

If you ever get an SACD player (e.g. Oppo BDP-83), it can only pass the DSD signal via HDMI (or via vendor proprietary cable) or use analog signals. (It's a copy protection or digital rights issue.) The BDP-83 does not output SACD audio using the coax or optical digital audio connections even for stereo content.

-Dave

Not a whole lot of performance gain with hdmi unless your using blu-ray.

Yes, Ill be hooking up a blueray player. So best way is too run the blueray, satelite box into the reciever, then receiver to tv?????

Yep. Then you select the source on the receiver and leave the TV set to that single HDMI input.

davew.... what is this splitter your talking about? Does monoprice.com sell these? Im looking for the same reason you are as wife will not want all the other stuff on as well.

Not totally correct Chris. I have a Sony BR player that decodes the Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD master onboard and sends the signal out via analogue cables to the multichannel in on my older Rotel pre/pro.

However, you must have a BR player that can do this, and they are difficult to find.

The older original BR players had analog outs and the prices were much higher for them. Now it seems only the upper end/pricey models have analog outs anymore as they expect people to simply use the HDMI out.