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output to HDMI cable from non-HDMI receiver?

As a slowly recovering audiophile and neophyte about video, I'm putting together a new home theater ... but want natural, musical sound. Therefore, I like the idea of used B&K instead of mass brands. However, no HDMI capability with the B&K. Questions:

1. Is it possible to run video sources into the B&K receiver, then output to a switching device that in turn outputs to HDMI cable, sending the video signal to my TV? (audio signal will come through speaker wire from receiver).
2. Will I lose any sonic quality of digital sources by using RCA's vs HDMI cable for audio?

Thanks!
Stuart
stuartm
kennyt
1,226 posts
 
FWIW B&K were just showing an HDMI equipped receiver and pre/pro @ CEDIA.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,672 posts
 
If all you are using is a cable-box, this will be OK but, if you are planning to use a BluRay source now or in the future, it will not be sufficient.

Without HDMI input to the receiver, you will have to send the video from the source to the display directly and connect to the processor via multiple analog audio cables as the hi-def lossless audio codecs (Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio) cannot be transmitted by optical or coax.

This also means that (unless the receiver can re-digitize those analog signal and that may not be optimal anyway) you will have to do any necessary bass-management/balance/delay processing in the source.

Kal
mjcmt's avatar
mjcmt
710 posts
 
HDMI outputs audio and video in digital format. If you output video and audio as an analogue signal to your receiver and then convert it to HDMI for your TV you are defeating the value of staying in the digital domain all the way through.

You may consider HDMI for video straight to your TV and analogue audio to your receiver. This keeps the signal as pure as possible and is what I do.
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