Anyone here use HDMI and optical digital cables?

[Spud]

Maybe, but the majority of HD content has dolby digital audio, and your TV won't play that (will downmix to 2ch).

Also, some of the newer HDMI switching receivers have a pass through mode, that allows the HDMI signal to pass through to the TV without processing in the receiver, or the receiver even being on.

My points are directed to someone building a new system, they need to look at the latest stuff available, not what was best 2 +years ago.

[ZOA NOM]

Originally posted by Spud
Hey Rick, which DLP do you have? I just recently got the 67" Samsung, love it.

Oh, I broke the bank, and slapped a 70" JVC DLP into a full wall unit. Actually, the wife picked the 70 over the 62 in a side-by side comparison. Gotta love her!

I don't know what I'd do without TiVo, tho.

[masraum]

Is your room 40' long? 70" d@mn.

[ZOA NOM]

Originally posted by Spud
Maybe, but the majority of HD content has dolby digital audio, and your TV won't play that (will downmix to 2ch).

Also, some of the newer HDMI switching receivers have a pass through mode, that allows the HDMI signal to pass through to the TV without processing in the receiver, or the receiver even being on.

My points are directed to someone building a new system, they need to look at the latest stuff available, not what was best 2 +years ago.

Good point. I simply kept my cheapo Yamaha 5.1 surround system I got at BB, and it gives pretty decent sound through the optical input. For sure, the nicest setup is to get the right receiver for the HD setup.

[ZOA NOM]

Originally posted by masraum
Is your room 40' long? 70" d@mn.

No, but I don't subscribe to the math that says I have to sit 100' away. If that was the case, why even buy a huge TV? The 70" is like sitting in a full size theater in my living room (15'x20'), especially with the lights off at night for a good scary movie.

[Spud]

LOL I did the same thing, built a wall unit to house the TV and equipment, have not got it painted yet..

[Spud]

Its a bit of a hi-jack but I'm with ya on the TiVo, we've got a couple, including the HD-DirectTV unit. I'm a bit concerned about what I'm going to get from DirectTV to replace my HD-Tivo when they convert to MPEG4 (HDTivo is MPEG2), the new MPEG4 units will have some other DVR built in, not Tivo.. And I'm not thrilled, as I've used others (cable) and they are not Tivo either.

[ZOA NOM]

Yep, I just gave DTV a ration of ***** over the phone about it. They gave me a $20/month break on my package until Jul/Aug when the HD DVR comes out. Right now, I've been given a waiver from Channel 5&7 in the Bay Area for the LA feeds since I can't get them from the Sutro tower. Fox and NBC won't give me the waivers. I can't live without the TiVo, so I'll wait until the MPEG-4 DVR comes out. Anyway, here's the DLP:

Before wall unit


After

[Spud]

I got the same waivers... friggin local channels, so short sighted of them to not allow locals access to their networks HD content from LA. Just means I don't watch shows on their network, and probably won't in the future even when I can get them in HD... dumba$$es.

Unit looks good, is it black or dark green? Wife wants to paint ours white to match the crown and such..

[ZOA NOM]

Actually, it's silver with a black border just around the screen itself.

[Spud]

LOL I meant the wall unit

[ZOA NOM]

LOL, it's BLUE!

I guess it's time for a new digital camera. (or you need a new monitor)

[Spud]

Ok, I can believe its dark blue...

[ZOA NOM]

I'm gonna go for a drive and get some chow while the weather is still nice. Back to original thread topic...

[87coupe]

Originally posted by Spud
Maybe, but the majority of HD content has dolby digital audio, and your TV won't play that (will downmix to 2ch).

Also, some of the newer HDMI switching receivers have a pass through mode, that allows the HDMI signal to pass through to the TV without processing in the receiver, or the receiver even being on.

My points are directed to someone building a new system, they need to look at the latest stuff available, not what was best 2 +years ago.

My point was that it's nice to be able to get audio from the TV without having to run the receiver/amp (with energy prices so high I don't waste the power on 2ch audio signals). Granted a receiver that can do pass through, achieves the same thing, but running the video signal directly from the source to the display, as opposed to through another device, is cleaner and has less chance of signal degradation. Just my $0.02

Cheers,

[Spud]

I understand, but HDMI is a zero loss video signal, no DA or AD conversion is done, its the same video signal going in as coming out.

Prior to DVI/HDMI there was no all digital video cables, they were analog, so yes there was lots of converting going on, and signal degradation was a factor, not so with HDMI.

[masraum]

Originally posted by Spud
LOL I did the same thing, built a wall unit to house the TV and equipment, have not got it painted yet..

Wow, that's great work! If you get bored come on over

[Spud]

Thanks, honestly the hardest part was wresteling the 4x8 sheets of 3/4" MDF around my garage while I was building the sections. That, and the fact that I had to put the race car under a cover in the side yard for about 2 months.

Luckily our house came with the cutouts in the walls already, I just filled them in. Unfortunately I've gotten quotes to spray it ranging from $1700 to $3800, hence it sits in its natural state for a bit longer (maybe till I get the nerve to paint it..)

[ZOA NOM]

Mine was custom built unfinished in 3 pieces. I sprayed it in my garage and installed it. You should have seen me trying to wrestle the center section through the front door!

[Spud]

Yeah I hit up my neighboor, since he saw me working on it nights and weekends (our garages face eachother). Took 3 of us to move the center section in, the other 4 sections were me and the wife