Merry X-mas everyone!

[slayer]

Lex, I assume you will delete this thread since it really does not pertain to Halo gear. I just wanted to spead some chear to the Halo guys whom I rely on for valuble info on our hobby and passion.
I did add a new piece to the system for X-mas. An Xbox 360 is finally in my system. I am going to pick up the HD-DVD unit that works with it as I have read great things about it and it's dirt cheap. Really impressed with the picture and sound on this unit. It's been worth the wait. I held out on getting one as I hate buying when they first come out. Never know what kind of bugs there will be. I will wait on the PS3 as well. I will be getting a Wii for the kids though. They are too much fun not to have one.
Anyone else add anything new for X-mas?

[Vince Helm]

Merry Christmas to you Randy! We added the Wii to our system for the kids and they are having a blast!!! I put the Halo D3 on the wish list but Santa was unable to deliver or thought I was joking. Too bad, I really want one! Have a Great New Year!!!!

Vince

[Chris D]

Eh.... no worries, I'm not a complete Grinch. Merry Christmas to all, Club!

Randy, since you bring it up, I did get a PS3 a few weeks ago. I've got it connected to my Halo C1 via optical cable for audio, and the HDMI goes through the Zhd. Good thing I've got the Zhd, I now have ***4*** sources out of the 5 used. (satellite tuner, Denon DVD player, laptop computer, and Playstation 3) The audio on games and movies is phenomenal, even just over optical digital to the C1.

It REALLY, REALLY makes me want HDMI 1.3 added to Halo processors so I can get high-def audio without having to convert to analog and go multichannel. In addition to the sound degradation, I would have to get a multichannel analog switcher, too.

So... here's hoping Parasound adds HDMI 1.3 to their processors somehow, so we can get full bandwith high def audio on the new HD formats!

[NMyTree]

Merry Christmas everyone!


Question.

Exactly how does HDMI 1.3 (in a seperates system) send the audio to the power amps, if no RCA interconnects are being used? Wouldn't it have to convert the audio signals to analog, in order to send the audio to all the amp channels (and then speaker wire to the speakers)?

For that matter, even in a HT Receiver, how does it send the audio to all the speakers? Does it convert it to analog internally? What power source is used to amplify the HDMI 1.3 audio signals?

[Chris D]

Tony, yes, you're touching on the principle that we do not HEAR digital. Somewhere along the line, you have to go analog for your speakers to move and make sound.

Any receiver or processor that receives ANY type of digital signal, whether it be over HDMI, optical, coax, firewire, or proprietary, will eventually convert it an analog line-level signal to send it out for amplification. The point is, trying to keep it digital for as long as possible to avoid signal degradation, electromagnetic noise, extra cabling, etc.

[NMyTree]

Tony, yes, you're touching on the principle that we do not HEAR digital. Somewhere along the line, you have to go analog for your speakers to move and make sound.

Any receiver or processor that receives ANY type of digital signal, whether it be over HDMI, optical, coax, firewire, or proprietary, will eventually convert it an analog line-level signal to send it out for amplification. The point is, trying to keep it digital for as long as possible to avoid signal degradation, electromagnetic noise, extra cabling, etc.

Okay, I see.

But for us folks with seperates systems there would still be RCA Interconnects required from the Pre-Pro output, to the power amp input.

Are there plans to design seperates amplifiers with a HDMI input, and a converter on board the amp; as to bypass the RCA interconnects and send directly to the amp's speaker outputs? Otherwise I don't see much benefit from HDMI for seperates systems.

[Vince Helm]

Are there plans to design seperates amplifiers with a HDMI input, and a converter on board the amp; as to bypass the RCA interconnects and send directly to the amp's speaker outputs? Otherwise I don't see much benefit from HDMI for seperates systems.

I think Theta is coming out with that set up and companies like Meridian have digital everything including speakers with digital processors and amps on board the speaker. BIG BUCKS if you have them. NHT has the well received Xd systems as well.

Vince

[Peter Nielsen]

Are there plans to design seperates amplifiers with a HDMI input, and a converter on board the amp; as to bypass the RCA interconnects and send directly to the amp's speaker outputs? Otherwise I don't see much benefit from HDMI for seperates systems.

TacT does that. Pure digital all the way to the speaker terminals. The upcoming TCS Mk III will have HDMI input. (The digital connections between the prepro and the amps are AES/EBU or S/PDIF. I don't see how HDMI could be used here).

http://www.tactlabs.com/products2.html

https://www.bozaudio.com

Peter

[Chris D]

Eeeeeeeeeeenteresting...

[Chris D]

... and a Happy New Year, club!