Is HDMI worth the upgrade?

Some factors affecting pricing of aV processors & receivers is the truncated time frame from one itteration to another. Annually and sometimes less than annually, newer models come onto the HT scene… from about every manufacturer.

As for the latest receiver iterations in past years they’ve almost completely done away with standard transformered power supplies by moving into class D amps. Thus lightening the overall weight and size of the multi ch units while allowing for as good power output or more. then networking was/is being added. Now the onset of another iteration of HDMI.

Hardware always supercedes software. Plenty of 1080P displays were in the stores well before there were many 1080{P disc choices. Now with 3D displays it’s the same thing again. With multi ch controllers

Then there’s the ongoing tech aimed at the video and audio chips. New ones or new themes on older ones are coming along pretty quickly.

That said, HDMI 1.3a encompasses a ton of audio codecs and does an exemplary job with video. There’s not a diff in the connectors from the orig 19 pin sorts, but the tech inside the components has been elevated to allow for greater bandwidths to be passed along the cable. The $$$ savings from needing only the one cable is quite attractive. All by itself

I like HDMI a lot. For what it is it’s a tuff feature to better without significantly greater outlays of cash. One wire for mere pennies brings all the digital realm to your beck and call. True color. DSD audio. HD Dolby. Etcup conversion of the video format, lip sync is easier than ever. etc.

Many processors & receivers are notoriously poor investments given their less than stellar reps for resale. Albeit, the good ones last very long and offer loads of bang for buck going in. I think they change almost as fast as personal confusers. Most often however the procs usually offer either better performance or greater flexibility, or both, albeit again, for a greater premium initially.

I’d opt for current tech in the area I could afford over a previous killer proc that has no such existing tech built into it. Given the advances in video chips and HDMI 1.3a or greater, alone.

I think with all the digital tech that seems to be whizzing by us these days, one just has to figure out what they want to do and find those pieces that’ll be compatible and required and get in where one fits in.

I’m quite happy staying a step or two behind bleeding edge technology. It’s less costly that way. That and the fact I’m not keen on keeping one eye on my HT display and the other on the changing electronic resale market.

The upgrade to HDMI in the TV is well worth it, one would be hard pressed to buy a TV without it. As long as the various source components has both HDMI and other digital and analog outputs to go into the A/v processor you have the best of both worlds, current state of the art into video monitor, the added bonus of ease of use for the entire family, not having to turn on entire system just to watch a simple work out video or such. I think not having the HDMI has driven prices down in non equipped units allowing the savvy to buy a really good processor for far less. I would much rather have a great sounding unit then one with the latest video hook up.

The low prices for the older non-HDMI units obviously directly reflects their desirablility for a good reason.

Pass through of video upconverting, digital switching and a multitude of other features make them worth having.

Yes, you can go with an older unit with 5.1 analog pass through (how much will that cost in extra cabling?), but you won't get HDMI 1.3, or the new 1.4 for 3D if that's important to you.

I was in the same position a while ago, and went with the top-end unit of the last generation of Integra. For about $1-1.5k you can get (almost) state of the art that won't be completely outdated soon.

Short answer - is it worth it? - without doubt

Thanks to all for the info.

I agree with Blindjim that "happy staying a step or two behind" which has led me to the position of replacing three
components at one time: dvd(am planning to buy oppo, again)
av processor and a TV so the budget is stretched.

I also agree with Glenfihi that "would rather have a great sounding unit..."

With those facts any specific recomendations for the processor at about 1k?

The ones that interest me are the Integra models. In the Integra - onkyo line up music sense is not replaced by non sense.

The Integra 9 series and more recently their 40 series (SE only.... 80 = xlr), are well received by the press and aren't to hard to come by in the used market.

it'll take a pretty good bit more to improve upon what they bring to the table. That said, I'm pretty happy using my Onkyo TX SR 805 as a processsor only now. So If you think about things that way, using a rec as a proc, the budget gets a shot in the arm and more money for other concerns can be freed up.

I'm digging my Panic sonic TCP 50C2 as well. I'd have preffered a 60 though, more than likely. But for the Bedroom, it'll do.

One other thing here... if you want a very nice Blue Ray effect, do make sure the display does 24fps & 1080p. The 3:2 pull down tech is a compromise of sorts for displaying BR. It's not a bad one, but I feel a more dedicated & direct route might be better.

Good luck.