HDMI query

[admin_exported]

I have just bought a Panasonic DMR-BW500 (Australian model BluRay player/recorder with HD tv tuners & 500GB HD). I am currently using with a CRT which will be upgraded to a Pioneer PDP-LX509 when they are available in Australia. I currently also have a Denon AVR-4306 which I think has HDMI1.2. So, my question is - assuming I'll be connecting the BluRay player to the 4306 by HDMI then on to the plasma via HDMI - will the amp pass through the signals permitting 24P and deep colour or not? Otherwise is there any other way (short of upgrading my amp to one with HDMI1.3 and the new HD audio decoding - planned but down the track) of connecting the kit. The BluRay player has one HDMI (1.3) output which I need to get sound to the amp but this also has to carry the picture on to the tv, right… Or should I connect the HDMI directly to the tv and use the optical / coaxial between the player and amp? In this instance, I'm not going to get LPCM - catch 22?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Damien Buckley:I have just bought a Panasonic DMR-BW500 (Australian model BluRay player/recorder with HD tv tuners & 500GB HD). I am currently using with a CRT which will be upgraded to a Pioneer PDP-LX509 when they are available in Australia. I currently also have a Denon AVR-4306 which I think has HDMI1.2. So, my question is - assuming I'll be connecting the BluRay player to the 4306 by HDMI then on to the plasma via HDMI - will the amp pass through the signals permitting 24P and deep colour or not? Otherwise is there any other way (short of upgrading my amp to one with HDMI1.3 and the new HD audio decoding - planned but down the track) of connecting the kit. The BluRay player has one HDMI (1.3) output which I need to get sound to the amp but this also has to carry the picture on to the tv, right. Or should I connect the HDMI directly to the tv and use the optical / coaxial between the player and amp? In this instance, I'm not going to get LPCM - catch 22?

No, you will not get deep colour etc going through your Denon. One alternative would be to connect your plasma directly to the BD player and then (if your player can do the decoding) use analogue cables in the multi channel out from your BD player to the Denon. Neither optical or coaxial will give you HD audio.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks mate - I thought that would be the case. The player decodes to either LPCM or transcodes to DD/DTS but doesn't have a full set of analogue outputs and to be honest, for the cost of 5 x decent cables, I may as well hang onto the cash and advance the upgrade of my amp. When I get the new tv I'll plug in either the optical or coaxial connections from the player to the amp and see what I get - probably DD5.1 will suffice until I get the new amp. On another note - would the Pioneer PDP-LX509 have an HDMI out? and if so - hypothetically speaking here (stretching I know), if I go from player to TV, then tv to amp, will I get the LPCM carried to the amp via the tv?
UPDATED: Just checked the manual and it says "When this unit is connected to an amplifier with an optical digital audio cable or coaxial cable and connected to a television with an HDMI cable you can enjoy the highest quality of audio from the disc by setting 'HDMI Audio Output' to 'off'. Guess I'll just have to connect the optical and see what the amp recieves.