Gary Eickmeier wrote:
Steven Sullivan wrote:
Denon started with their own link (it uses a RJ45 plug, but I don't
know if it has anything to do with Ethernet), but now has also models
with i.LINK.
But IIRC their digital outs only do DVD-A, but not SACD!
So far Pioneer seems to be the only ones who have players + AVRs that
will do it all (though I'd bet they convert DSD to PCM for any digital
processing).
OK, now I'm royally confused. I just bought this Pioneer VSX 814 because
it has two component inputs, for future High Def switching ability. Then
I meet a salesman going out the door, who tells me that this isn't the
ultimate Hi Def switching or input type. What I want, he goes on, is DMI
or HDMI, a new digital type connection that none of their current
receivers even has. Further, he says, the local cable company's digital
box doesn't have component out, just HDMI (I think).
So what do I not understand about all this? Is component switching
sufficient for at least a few more years, into the hi def era, or not?
What is this i-link you're all talking about?
Gary Eickmeier
The confusion you have is that you are mixing video connections with
audio connections. The component switching is for video switching of
*analog* video signals. DVI or HDMI connections allow *digital* video
signals to be switched by the receiver. Certainly in the future it will
be desirable to switch video in the digital domain, but HD displays and
sources will support component inputs and outputs for a long time. In
some cases there is a noticeable difference between digital and analog
video connections.
The HDMI connection also supports digital audio connections, so there is
a real advantage of being able to connect both digital video and audio
using one cable. IIRC, receivers with HDMI switching are very rare, and
expensive. You might want to wait a while if that's what you really want
to do.
i.Link is a digital audio connection supported by some newer receivers
(such as some Pioneer Elite models starting at above $1K). I am not sure
how widely supported this connection is, the DVD/SACD/DVD-A players with
i.Link outputs are expensive, and there is a chance that HDMI will make
this connection unnecessary. The big advantage of digital audio
connections, of course, is that DSP operations, such as bass management,
can be performed in the digital domain prior to the final D-to-A
conversion. That eliminates a set of conversions in the signal path.
DVI is a digital video connection, and seems to be replaced by HDMI
(which carries both the digital video and audio signals) in the newer HD
displays.
Your Pioneer model is a basic receiver, but will switch component video.
You need about a 50 MHz bandwidth for those signals. It is also
perfectly OK to not depend on the receiver to switch video; most HD
displays have sufficent inputs to not require external switchers.
As I said earlier, it is really nice to have the audio delay feature.
The ability of the receiver to convert all video sources to components
is also desirable, as it simplifies the connection between receiver and
display. It is nice to have i.Link or some other high-rez digital audio
connection, but I would be happy if the receiver can digitize the
multi-channel analog audio signals to perform DSP functions. Good
automatic delay/equalization adjustment is also a great feature IMO. I
don't think HDMI/DVI switching is that important for me, since my HD
display has a built-in HDTV tuner, so I only need one HDMI/DVI
connection for the upconversion DVD player.
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