Rotel and HDMI

[Nolan B]

I am waiting until the new version of the 1068 becuase of the in hopes that it will not only have HDMI switching, but it will acutally process the new HD Audio Format. I realize this may or may not happen, but does anyone know if HDMI will be the ONLY way to transer the Audio protion of the new format? Does this mean that the video must go through the processor?

[spkerguy]

From what I am reading from posts on AVSforum, it looks like the only way to get the lossless transmission of the new audio formats will be with HDMI version 1.3. HDMI version 1.2a was just finalized and I can't think of any receivers/prepros that it is in. HDMI v1.3 specifications have not even been agreed upon yet and once they finnally are (maybe towards the end of the year), it will be a good 6mo to a year before we start to see them in electronics. My Processor just lost the center/sub inputs and I'm in the market now for a new one. I wish I could wait a year or more but I'm probably going to go for the 1068 or one resembling it.


Ken

[Nolan B]

From what I am reading from posts on AVSforum, it looks like the only way to get the lossless transmission of the new audio formats will be with HDMI version 1.3. HDMI version 1.2a was just finalized and I can't think of any receivers/prepros that it is in. HDMI v1.3 specifications have not even been agreed upon yet and once they finnally are (maybe towards the end of the year), it will be a good 6mo to a year before we start to see them in electronics. My Processor just lost the center/sub inputs and I'm in the market now for a new one. I wish I could wait a year or more but I'm probably going to go for the 1068 or one resembling it.


Ken

did you read if that means people with current HDMI inputs on their TVs wont be able to review HD sources because we dont have version 1.3?

[Sim reality]

I believe the changes to HDMI 1.2 and above are just to do with the transmission of audio.

[Clepto]

From all the info I have, regarding Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD (The two lossless formats), in order for the PROCESSOR to handle a digital signal, you'll need HDMI v1.3

However, if the player has the requisite decoders, then it can send the decoded multi channel LPCM over HDMI 1.1 to the processor... There's also analog output, but there's a chance they may decide to limit lossless output to the digital connections... nothing concrete on that front yet.

[aud19]

That's my understanding as well Clepto

[rockbobmel]

Clepto,

My RSP-1098 does not have HDMI. Will the signal work over toslink?

[Shane Martin]

My RSP-1098 does not have HDMI. Will the signal work over toslink?

Toslink doesn't have the bandwidth for DTS HD and Dolby True HD.

[aud19]

Toslink doesn't have the bandwidth for DTS HD and Dolby True HD.

Though apparently you can get a downsampled version of the new formats over SPDIF

[Shane Martin]

Actually it's just Dolby 5.1 and DTS. Both future formats are backwards compatible.

The only 2 ways to hear the new formats are:

Analog outs using the players decoder and HDMI.

[aud19]

That's why I said downsampled Shane The player downsamples the HD sound formats to vanilla DD/DTS to transmit over SPDIF.

[spkerguy]

did you read if that means people with current HDMI inputs on their TVs wont be able to review HD sources because we don't have version 1.3?

From what I have read there is a difference between the video and audio for HDMI. Even the first HDMI specs are capable of transmitting HD video (720p and 1080p) however not all electronic manufactures decided to integrate the 1080p format into their TVs. Here is a good link for more info on HDMI: http://www.hdmi.org/consumer/faq.asp Now for audio it is completely different. You need HDMI version 1.3 to take full advantage of Dolby True HD. From what some insiders have told me it is going to be at LEAST a year before we start seeing them come out. This is why I ordered the 1068 a couple of days ago and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Hope this helps,

Ken

[aud19]

Yup, 1.3 is primarily about audio formats, even HDMI 1.1 is capable of 1080p (even if the display is not)

[Clepto]

I believe HDMI 1.1 was 1080p 'optional', so it's more a factor of the HDMI chip/board than anything else. Some HDMI 1.1 ports weren't designed to pass 1080p for whatever reason (probably cost).