Is HDMI worth waiting for in a high end processor

[Dave999]

Is it worth waiting for high end home theater processors to accept HMDI 1.3 as opposed to having them accept uncompressed PCM over their analog inputs?

[wildfire99]

Depends on your sources. If they will decode the advanced audio formats (TrueHD and DTS-HD-MA-WTF-BBQ) then you're golden with any HDMI revision. However it doesn't look like that's going to happen in the mainstream, at least not with current players. You're probably set for 5.1 TrueHD with most players but the DTS support isn't yet there. Getting 1.3 in the receiver/processor at least means you don't have to worry about what player you're dealing with**.

(**Except for times when audio mixing has to happen within the player, such as for extras and commentary and such. Then you're probably up the creek until player manufacturers get their acts together.)

Overall there's no easy answer. At this time, with 1.3 capable processors coming along this year (hopefully) it may be worth it to wait. Or you can just consign yourself to having to update your HD disc players later, just like we did with DVD and DTS. No matter what, you at least still have the old DVD audio codec standbys, which aren't slouches.

[ogduncan]

We need more info. What kinda of equipment are you using. What source are you using. Getting a 1.3 hdmi if your hddvd player only supports 1.2 would make no sense. Also hdmi would be useless if all you plan on using is dvd.

[Dave999]

I was looking at a Meridian G68 which does not have HDMI inputs, but has 6 channel analogue inputs. I have a PS3 source, and a Meridian G98 DVD/CD player, with Classe amps and B & W 800Ds, with other B & W speakers for the rest of the home theater.

[Burke Strickland]

Depends on what you mean by "worth waiting". In the long run, HDMI 1.3 has the potential to provide a lot of benefits. However I think it will be a while (a year or more) before HDMI 1.3 is readily available on both source playback units and pre/pros, receivers, et al. In the meantime a lot of existing and new pre/pros, etcetera, still offer great sound through the connections already available. If the decision is not about saving up for the purchase (the funds are already in hand), then the main consderation is whether or not a new unit -- sans HDMI 1.3 -- will take your system's performance to a new, higher level, or is needed to keep the system operational (in the case of a failed unit).

So if you are in the market for a new pre/pro, like really needing one to get full enjoyment of your music and movies, (existing one inadequate in terms of coordinating with othr components in your system or is failing) then the answer is "don't wait -- but get a unit that the manufacturer plans to upgrade to HDMI 1.3". No need to put up with crappy sound just because a new technology is around the corner, especially if the unit you have or will buy is going to be upgraded to include it when that new technology is ready for prime time.

If you are basically satisfied with the pre/pro you have, in that it gives you superlative sound and you are really "just looking" at what is available as opposed to chomping at the bit to replace an inadequate or failing unit, then, yes, the wait could be "worth it". On the other hand, if the unit you are considering is significantly better than what you are replacing, then in effect it renders the existing unit "inadequate" and the decision logic reverts to "don't wait".

In addition to the Meridian G68, an example of a recent-model pre/pro which provides exceptional sound in both the analog and digital domains, 2 channel and surround, and which does not currently have HDMI (of any flavor) but is slated to get it down the road, is the Bryston SP2. It has all the major audio bells and whistles for HT and and is definitely high end in its audio performance in bypass mode. Should a prospective buyer wait for the forthcoming HDMI implementation? I didn't. :>) (See rationale stated above.)

Good luck and enjoy!
Burke

[Dave999]

Thanks for your input Burke.

[LEVESQUE]

Is it worth waiting for high end home theater processors to accept HMDI 1.3 as opposed to having them accept uncompressed PCM over their analog inputs?

No. There is already some high-end pre/pros with HDMI 1.1 working fine already with LPCM multi-channel tracks, with both HD DVD and Blu-ray players.

My Anthem D2 is working fine with those new HD formats since the first day they came out 1 year ago. I know alot of D2 owners (gigantic thread on another internet forum) who made the switch form the Parasound C1/C2 and Lexicon MC12B over analog for exemple and couldn't believe how much better those new Blu-ray and HD DVD players are when using HDMI and the decoded multi-channel LPCM tracks instead of the analog connection.

No need to wait. If the HD players are performing the decoding internally and sending a multi-channel LPCM signal out over HDMI 1.1, then the end result is EXACTLY the same if compared with a full HDMi 1.3 chain (source, pre/pro and display).

But since 99% of the HD DVD out there are already encoded in "Advanced Content" and CAN'T send any bitstream out, people are waiting for HDMI 1.3 for absolutely NO reason. Those HD players won't be able to output the bitstream over HDMI 1.3 since internal decoding in the HD players is mandatory with Advanced Content disks.