hdmi pass-through?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

onkyo HT-SR800 says hdmi is pass-through only.

i assumed that meant it just passes the signal through to the other end without "processing" it (upscaling, encode/decode, etc.).
apparently this meant it will only pass through video and i still need coax or toslink to get audio?
doesn't that basically defeat the purpose of HDMI, which one of the features is to put audio and video on the same cable to reduce clutter?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
onkyo HT-SR800 says hdmi is pass-through only.

i assumed that meant it just passes the signal through to the other end without "processing" it (upscaling, encode/decode, etc.).
apparently this meant it will only pass through video and i still need coax or toslink to get audio?
doesn't that basically defeat the purpose of HDMI, which one of the features is to put audio and video on the same cable to reduce clutter?

Yup you still need an optical cable...and it makes running the HDMI cable through the receiver fairly pointless unless you need video switching.

 

[FP]

Hmm. Not sure about the HT-SR800 but my 705 receiver says "Pass-through" for 1080p signals however the receiver *does* process the incoming audio on the HDMI link and outputs it as expected.

I really wish manuf. would be more explicit in their product descriptions. Pass-through can mean many things...

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: binister
Hmm. Not sure about the HT-SR800 but my 705 receiver says "Pass-through" for 1080p signals however the receiver *does* process the incoming audio on the HDMI link and outputs it as expected.

I really with manuf. would be more explicit in their product descriptions. Pass-through can mean many things...

The HT-SR800 is a HTiB. IT is one of their lowest models and definitely does not include HDMI AV processing. It's just a switch.

 

[erwos]

I _believe_ that pass-through, in some contexts, can also mean "does not upscale or do OSD" - eg, the video is getting passed-through untouched, but the audio will get re-routed as appropriate.

Only way to know for sure is to read the receiver's manual and/or ask their technical support. You'll sometimes uncover weird gotchas this way (like how the current Denon line can't send 1080p component inputs over the HDMI output, even though there wouldn't be any upscaling involved).

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: erwos
I _believe_ that pass-through, in some contexts, can also mean "does not upscale or do OSD" - eg, the video is getting passed-through untouched, but the audio will get re-routed as appropriate.

Only way to know for sure is to read the receiver's manual and/or ask their technical support. You'll sometimes uncover weird gotchas this way (like how the current Denon line can't send 1080p component inputs over the HDMI output, even though there wouldn't be any upscaling involved).

I can guarantee you with Onkyo Passthrough = no audio off HDMI.

In fact, I have yet to see any company use the terminology differently than this.

 

[Slick5150]

Pass-through has been a term that's been misinterpreted for awhile now. Technically it does mean that the audio and video is simply routed on to the TV without the receiver doing anything (meaning your TV speakers would pick up the audio over HDMI, but the receiver would not strip the audio out and route it to your HT Speakers).

It has, however, been used at times to mean that it is passing the video on without touching it but still pulling the audio stream out, but companies seem to have figured out that's wrong now.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Pass-through has been a term that's been misinterpreted for awhile now. Technically it does mean that the audio and video is simply routed on to the TV without the receiver doing anything (meaning your TV speakers would pick up the audio over HDMI, but the receiver would not strip the audio out and route it to your HT Speakers).

oh ok, so will i still get audio/video if i don't turn the receiver on (on standby only)?
i don't have the receiver yet.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos
I _believe_ that pass-through, in some contexts, can also mean "does not upscale or do OSD" - eg, the video is getting passed-through untouched, but the audio will get re-routed as appropriate.

Only way to know for sure is to read the receiver's manual and/or ask their technical support. You'll sometimes uncover weird gotchas this way (like how the current Denon line can't send 1080p component inputs over the HDMI output, even though there wouldn't be any upscaling involved).

I can guarantee you with Onkyo Passthrough = no audio off HDMI.

In fact, I have yet to see any company use the terminology differently than this.

I have a 605 and I'm pretty sure you can pass the audio if you want to. It's turned off by default but I remember seeing the option in the menu system. I have not tried it though.

However, why pass the audio anyway? Aren't your speakers connected to the receiver? Why buy a receiver if you are going to output audio to your TV speakers?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos
I _believe_ that pass-through, in some contexts, can also mean "does not upscale or do OSD" - eg, the video is getting passed-through untouched, but the audio will get re-routed as appropriate.

Only way to know for sure is to read the receiver's manual and/or ask their technical support. You'll sometimes uncover weird gotchas this way (like how the current Denon line can't send 1080p component inputs over the HDMI output, even though there wouldn't be any upscaling involved).

I can guarantee you with Onkyo Passthrough = no audio off HDMI.

In fact, I have yet to see any company use the terminology differently than this.

I have a 605 and I'm pretty sure you can pass the audio if you want to. It's turned off by default but I remember seeing the option in the menu system. I have not tried it though.

However, why pass the audio anyway? Aren't your speakers connected to the receiver? Why buy a receiver if you are going to output audio to your TV speakers?

He has the SR800 HTiB which cannot strip the audio from the HDMI input. However, your 605 is the first receiver in Onkyo's line that can. The 605 is not advertised as having HDMI passthrough because it can handle the audio stream.

There really is no reason for the OP to run an HDMI cable to the receiver unless he likes having visual confirmation that the receiver is on the correct input.

 

[Modelworks]

I really wish the hdmi engineers had put the audio on a seperate data stream.
The way it is now the audio is sent on the same wires that carry video.
So a receiver has to decode the audio from the audio/video stream, just to get the audio.

Its going to cost much more to do this in the hardware than a seperate stream would have.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos
I _believe_ that pass-through, in some contexts, can also mean "does not upscale or do OSD" - eg, the video is getting passed-through untouched, but the audio will get re-routed as appropriate.

Only way to know for sure is to read the receiver's manual and/or ask their technical support. You'll sometimes uncover weird gotchas this way (like how the current Denon line can't send 1080p component inputs over the HDMI output, even though there wouldn't be any upscaling involved).

I can guarantee you with Onkyo Passthrough = no audio off HDMI.

In fact, I have yet to see any company use the terminology differently than this.

I have a 605 and I'm pretty sure you can pass the audio if you want to. It's turned off by default but I remember seeing the option in the menu system. I have not tried it though.

However, why pass the audio anyway? Aren't your speakers connected to the receiver? Why buy a receiver if you are going to output audio to your TV speakers?

i don't need 5 speakers and a sub all the time for casual tv watching.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos
I _believe_ that pass-through, in some contexts, can also mean "does not upscale or do OSD" - eg, the video is getting passed-through untouched, but the audio will get re-routed as appropriate.

Only way to know for sure is to read the receiver's manual and/or ask their technical support. You'll sometimes uncover weird gotchas this way (like how the current Denon line can't send 1080p component inputs over the HDMI output, even though there wouldn't be any upscaling involved).

I can guarantee you with Onkyo Passthrough = no audio off HDMI.

In fact, I have yet to see any company use the terminology differently than this.

I have a 605 and I'm pretty sure you can pass the audio if you want to. It's turned off by default but I remember seeing the option in the menu system. I have not tried it though.

However, why pass the audio anyway? Aren't your speakers connected to the receiver? Why buy a receiver if you are going to output audio to your TV speakers?

i don't need 5 speakers and a sub all the time for casual tv watching.

So change your receiver settings to stereo.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos
I _believe_ that pass-through, in some contexts, can also mean "does not upscale or do OSD" - eg, the video is getting passed-through untouched, but the audio will get re-routed as appropriate.

Only way to know for sure is to read the receiver's manual and/or ask their technical support. You'll sometimes uncover weird gotchas this way (like how the current Denon line can't send 1080p component inputs over the HDMI output, even though there wouldn't be any upscaling involved).

I can guarantee you with Onkyo Passthrough = no audio off HDMI.

In fact, I have yet to see any company use the terminology differently than this.

I have a 605 and I'm pretty sure you can pass the audio if you want to. It's turned off by default but I remember seeing the option in the menu system. I have not tried it though.

However, why pass the audio anyway? Aren't your speakers connected to the receiver? Why buy a receiver if you are going to output audio to your TV speakers?

i don't need 5 speakers and a sub all the time for casual tv watching.

So change your receiver settings to stereo.

let me rephrase that.
i don't need 200 watts of sound all the time for casual tv watching.
sometimes i can get by with the 20 watts the tv speakers are pumping out.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos
I _believe_ that pass-through, in some contexts, can also mean "does not upscale or do OSD" - eg, the video is getting passed-through untouched, but the audio will get re-routed as appropriate.

Only way to know for sure is to read the receiver's manual and/or ask their technical support. You'll sometimes uncover weird gotchas this way (like how the current Denon line can't send 1080p component inputs over the HDMI output, even though there wouldn't be any upscaling involved).

I can guarantee you with Onkyo Passthrough = no audio off HDMI.

In fact, I have yet to see any company use the terminology differently than this.

I have a 605 and I'm pretty sure you can pass the audio if you want to. It's turned off by default but I remember seeing the option in the menu system. I have not tried it though.

However, why pass the audio anyway? Aren't your speakers connected to the receiver? Why buy a receiver if you are going to output audio to your TV speakers?

i don't need 5 speakers and a sub all the time for casual tv watching.

So change your receiver settings to stereo.

let me rephrase that.
i don't need 200 watts of sound all the time for casual tv watching.
sometimes i can get by with the 20 watts the tv speakers are pumping out.

You're not constantly using 200W when listening on those speakers.

At the same volume, the Onkyo speakers will sound better. Doesn't mean that they have to be louder just because they are bigger.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

let me rephrase that.
i don't need 200 watts of sound all the time for casual tv watching.
sometimes i can get by with the 20 watts the tv speakers are pumping out.

You're not constantly using 200W when listening on those speakers.

At the same volume, the Onkyo speakers will sound better. Doesn't mean that they have to be louder just because they are bigger.

it was an exaggeration. i'm just saying i don't need all that power if i'm going to turn on the tube to check the weather channel for 2 mintues.

but i am curious and will kill-a-watt it once it arrives. my electricity bill is $20/month and i would like to keep it that way

There really is no reason for the OP to run an HDMI cable to the receiver unless he likes having visual confirmation that the receiver is on the correct input.

what about for switching? or less cables to the tv?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

let me rephrase that.
i don't need 200 watts of sound all the time for casual tv watching.
sometimes i can get by with the 20 watts the tv speakers are pumping out.

You're not constantly using 200W when listening on those speakers.

At the same volume, the Onkyo speakers will sound better. Doesn't mean that they have to be louder just because they are bigger.

it was an exaggeration. i'm just saying i don't need all that power if i'm going to turn on the tube to check the weather channel for 2 mintues.

but i am curious and will kill-a-watt it once it arrives. my electricity bill is $20/month and i would like to keep it that way

There really is no reason for the OP to run an HDMI cable to the receiver unless he likes having visual confirmation that the receiver is on the correct input.

what about for switching? or less cables to the tv?

Assuming your TV has more than one HDMI input there is no need for using the HDMI inputs on the receiver(especially if you have other video format sources going through the receiver)

There will be less cables to the TV but there will be more cables overall...take your pick.

 

[fallenangel99]

so, how do you know if its pass-through or not? does it say somewhere on teh receiver? trying to figure out if my z-5500 has this or not. i want to connect my z-5500s to my dish receiver via digital optical and disable tv speakers

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: fallenangel99
so, how do you know if its pass-through or not? does it say somewhere on teh receiver? trying to figure out if my z-5500 has this or not. i want to connect my z-5500s to my dish receiver via digital optical and disable tv speakers

I'm confused...why do you need to know? Your Z-5500's don't have an HDMI input on them.

 

[mickman10]

From the SR-800 User Manual (Page 29):

Step 1: Connect your HDMI-compatible TV to the AV receiver?s HDMI OUT jack.
Step 2: Connect your HDMI-compatible player to the AV receiver?s HDMI IN 1 or 2 jack.
Step 3: Connect your HDMI-compatible player to an analog and/or digital audio input on the AV receiver.

* Audio and video signals received via the HDMI IN 1 and 2 jacks are output by the HDMI OUT jack as they are (HDMI pass-through), so even if you only make the connections in steps 1 and 2, your TV will output sound. However, if you want to listen through the speakers connected to the AV receiver, in addition to an HDMI connection, you?ll also need to make a separate analog or digital audio connection.

Step 4: Assign the HDMI IN.
Turn on the AV receiver, and then assign the HDMI IN (see page 40)


I have the same HTIB and an HDTV on the way. I hadn't really thought about the pass-through-only too much since I didn't have an HDMI compatible TV....which is now why I've found my way to this forum.

Now the issue: I have an XBOX 360 with HDMI output. But if I use the HDMI output, I'll have to also send the audio to the receiver via optical. The optical output for the XBOX 360 is on the component connection cable.....so how can I get both optical audio AND HDMI video??

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: mickman10
From the SR-800 User Manual (Page 29):

Step 1: Connect your HDMI-compatible TV to the AV receiver?s HDMI OUT jack.
Step 2: Connect your HDMI-compatible player to the AV receiver?s HDMI IN 1 or 2 jack.
Step 3: Connect your HDMI-compatible player to an analog and/or digital audio input on the AV receiver.

* Audio and video signals received via the HDMI IN 1 and 2 jacks are output by the HDMI OUT jack as they are (HDMI pass-through), so even if you only make the connections in steps 1 and 2, your TV will output sound. However, if you want to listen through the speakers connected to the AV receiver, in addition to an HDMI connection, you?ll also need to make a separate analog or digital audio connection.

Step 4: Assign the HDMI IN.
Turn on the AV receiver, and then assign the HDMI IN (see page 40)


I have the same HTIB and an HDTV on the way. I hadn't really thought about the pass-through-only too much since I didn't have an HDMI compatible TV....which is now why I've found my way to this forum.

Now the issue: I have an XBOX 360 with HDMI output. But if I use the HDMI output, I'll have to also send the audio to the receiver via optical. The optical output for the XBOX 360 is on the component connection cable.....so how can I get both optical audio AND HDMI video??

good question, i don't have a 360 so I don't know.
without knowing anything about the 360, i really don't understand how the optical audio output is on the component cable?
isn't the component just 3 video cables and 2 analog audio (L + R) channels?

 

[mickman10]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

good question, i don't have a 360 so I don't know.
without knowing anything about the 360, i really don't understand how the optical audio output is on the component cable?
isn't the component just 3 video cables and 2 analog audio (L + R) channels?

I think I've figured it out now after doing a little research. The issue is that the xbox consule doesn't actually have an optical audio output. It comes with a cable that at one end has the 3 component video cables and 2 analog audio to be connected to the tv and the other end connects to the xbox. The optical audio output is ON the end that connects to the xbox, therefore, if you connect via HDMI you don't have the optical audio output (the place on the xbox where the HDMI and component cable are connect is so close that you can't have both connected at the same time...)

Sooo, 2 solutions I've found so far:
#1: Use a Dremel to cut out some of the extra plastic caseing on the Component cable so that it will fit along with the HDMI cable in the back of the xbox. or

#2: Sacrafice another 50 bucks to Microsoft to buy thier 'XBOX 360 HDMI AV Cable" which is basically a run of the mill HDMI cable and an audio output dongle (digital and optical audio) that fits into the port the component cable is currently in, but is small enough that the HDMI can also fit at the same time.

I know I'm going to use the HDMI, so I think I'm just going to take my chances with carving out the extra plastic on my component cable. If it works, I save $50, if not, oh well, congratulations microsoft, you've suckered me again!