Splitting HDMI from Blu Ray Player - Blu-ray Forum

Pinto · 02-23-2008, 06:46 AM

I've got a NOOB home theater question. I have a Samsung BD-P 1200 blu ray player, and upscaling standard DVDs look really great when sent direct to the TV via HDMI - better than if I run the video through my Onkyo receiver and from there to the TV. But if I use the one HDMI output from the player to the TV, I have to use a coax or optical cable to run the audio to the receiver. Dolby Digital EX and some discrete audio formats seem to only travel over HDMI, and 5.1 DD doesn't sound nearly as good as DD EX.

Soooo, I want to run separate HDMI cables to the receiver adn the TV. I bought a cheap hdmi "one into two" splitter from Monoprice but it couldn't get make an hdmi handshake with either the receiver or the TV. Has anyone come up with a solution to splitting the hdmi signal from their player and sending it to both TV and receiver???

Ascended_Saiyan · 02-23-2008, 07:58 AM

Did you get both of your HDMI cables from monoprice (the 22 or 24AWG gold plated ones)? I'm assuming you have at least 3 HDMI cables, if you had a HDMI splitter. If you have lower quality HDMI cable, than the ones I just mentioned, that could be why the picture doesn't look as good (slim chance because it's a digital signal but there is a chance none the less...depending on distance).

Ultimately, your best solution is HDMI from the player to the receiver. Then, HDMI from the receiver to the TV (with just the length you need or a little more). Of course, toslink (optical) is good enough to properly carry a DD EX signal to your receiver as well.

WriteSimply · 02-23-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinto

Soooo, I want to run separate HDMI cables to the receiver adn the TV. I bought a cheap hdmi "one into two" splitter from Monoprice but it couldn't get make an hdmi handshake with either the receiver or the TV. Has anyone come up with a solution to splitting the hdmi signal from their player and sending it to both TV and receiver???

Sometimes the handshaking issue comes when the signal you want to split is not compatible. If you are setting your receiver for 1080p signal and your HDTV can only accept 1080i, that's a handshaking issue. If the HDTV can accept only up to 1080i, the split signal should work since most older receivers can accept only 1080i.

Your Onkyo should not be degrading the video quality of a HDMI signal when the signal is being passed through. If it is, there is something wrong with it. Short HDMI connections is not the culprit either unless you are running a long cable, of which you have to get a really good cable.

If the cheap HDMI splitter from Monoprice does not work, you may want to invest in a powered 1080p HDMI splitter. It is not as cheap but it has four or five outputs. But before you do that, check back with Monoprice about the splitter you have to see if they have any complaints about that model.

fuad

Pinto · 02-24-2008, 04:44 AM

Thanks for both of your responses. I was positive that I wasn't able to get DD EX to my receiver via Toslink but after reading Ascended_Saiyan's post, I re-hooked everything up and played a disc with DD EX and sure enough, I found it as one of the available Onkyo sound modes

. Somehow I just missed it before.

Both of you are sure that the Onkyo is not degrading the video output - I've wondered if it does any processing at all if it gets a 1080P signal input into it. CNET says it is not great as a video processor and I could never be sure if it is just passing the signal to the TV or doing soemthing with it. I could be fooling myself into thinking the pq is better with the hdmi straight to the TV on sd dvds - its easy to get sucked into AV madness once you start down the home theatre road!

P.S. I'd stick with the HDMI-only set-up but I am using a Felston digital audio delay on some BD movies where the lip synch is so horrible that the Onkyo delay (100 ms) won't handle it. The Felston unit only handles toslink and coax. So now that I have DD EX available through that unit, I am set.

ultrablu · 02-24-2008, 04:57 AM

I don't have an Onkyo, however my Yamaha does not give a very good picture while the upconverting is on and my ps3 is also upconverting standard DVD's. Yamahas instruction manual advises to turn the receivers upconversion off if another device is also upconverting. I don't know what model you have or even if your receiver upconverts.

Pinto · 02-24-2008, 06:09 AM

After hitting the manual again (it is really dog-eared after 3 months), because the video inputting into the receiver is digital (HDMI) and everything coming in is 1080P already, the receiver is not doing any upconverting at all. So there's no option to turn it on or off.

I think its time to chill and just watch some movies!

Lord_Phan · 02-24-2008, 06:48 AM

Do you not have multichannel inputs on that onkyo? You can get the same quality sound from Multichannel Analog as HDMI.

Pinto · 02-25-2008, 05:42 AM

It probably does. The back of that sucker looks like an airliner control panel. I just never got into learning that route because I originally thought I was headed in the direction of Dolby Tru HD, all HDMI, etc.

I'll have to hit the books on multi-channel analog now.

WriteSimply · 02-25-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinto

I'll have to hit the books on multi-channel analog now.

And there will be a pop quiz!

fuad

RacerX · 02-25-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinto

I'll have to hit the books on multi-channel analog now.

Actually, the subject has been well covered. I learned quite a bit from this thread:https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=17648

It's easy to read and understand. I think you'll be as happy with it as I am.

Pinto · 02-26-2008, 05:59 AM

Thanks RacerX - just finished plowing through the thread. Fantastic info! Looks like I can go 7.1 lossless audio with my Onkyo 605. Also found great data on the speaker settings of small/large and how that manages the bass. Or if I decide to run my video through my receiver via HDMI, I now understand how to manage the audio settings while using that set-up.

RacerX · 02-26-2008, 03:26 PM

You're very welcome. I think that's one of the best threads on this forum. Besides, we're all here to help each other.

odyssey12305 · 02-27-2008, 04:03 PM

Is there a difference between 24AWG and 28AWG besides the price?

WriteSimply · 02-27-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odyssey12305

Is there a difference between 24AWG and 28AWG besides the price?

Besides the thickness?

For short cable runs, not much.

fuad

sean10mm · 02-27-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinto

Thanks RacerX - just finished plowing through the thread. Fantastic info! Looks like I can go 7.1 lossless audio with my Onkyo 605. Also found great data on the speaker settings of small/large and how that manages the bass. Or if I decide to run my video through my receiver via HDMI, I now understand how to manage the audio settings while using that set-up.

The whole point of the 605 is kind of wasted if you don't do your audio over HDMI.

Blu-ray player--HDMI--605--HDMI--TV is how it should be set up.

Pinto · 02-28-2008, 02:21 AM

I agree... Once I admitted to myself that the pq was no different running from player to TV as compared to player to receiver to TV, it was pretty much a no-brainer

. I did keep a second audio set-up in place, optical cable to Felston Digital Audio delay, then optical to receiver, for those movies where the lip synch is horrendously bad.

So now I don't have to research 97 different hdmi splitters, most of which won't be compatible, and I can let this thread die a peaceful death. Thanks to all who helped me out.

02-23-2008, 06:46 AM	#1
Pinto Active Member Member since:Feb 2008	Splitting HDMI from Blu Ray Player I've got a NOOB home theater question. I have a Samsung BD-P 1200 blu ray player, and upscaling standard DVDs look really great when sent direct to the TV via HDMI - better than if I run the video through my Onkyo receiver and from there to the TV. But if I use the one HDMI output from the player to the TV, I have to use a coax or optical cable to run the audio to the receiver. Dolby Digital EX and some discrete audio formats seem to only travel over HDMI, and 5.1 DD doesn't sound nearly as good as DD EX. Soooo, I want to run separate HDMI cables to the receiver adn the TV. I bought a cheap hdmi "one into two" splitter from Monoprice but it couldn't get make an hdmi handshake with either the receiver or the TV. Has anyone come up with a solution to splitting the hdmi signal from their player and sending it to both TV and receiver???

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02-23-2008, 07:58 AM	#2
Ascended_Saiyan Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Atlanta, Georgia Blu-ray collection:608 Trading Score:1	Did you get both of your HDMI cables from monoprice (the 22 or 24AWG gold plated ones)? I'm assuming you have at least 3 HDMI cables, if you had a HDMI splitter. If you have lower quality HDMI cable, than the ones I just mentioned, that could be why the picture doesn't look as good (slim chance because it's a digital signal but there is a chance none the less...depending on distance). Ultimately, your best solution is HDMI from the player to the receiver. Then, HDMI from the receiver to the TV (with just the length you need or a little more). Of course, toslink (optical) is good enough to properly carry a DD EX signal to your receiver as well.

02-24-2008, 04:44 AM	#4
Pinto Active Member Member since:Feb 2008	Thanks for both of your responses. I was positive that I wasn't able to get DD EX to my receiver via Toslink but after reading Ascended_Saiyan's post, I re-hooked everything up and played a disc with DD EX and sure enough, I found it as one of the available Onkyo sound modes . Somehow I just missed it before. Both of you are sure that the Onkyo is not degrading the video output - I've wondered if it does any processing at all if it gets a 1080P signal input into it. CNET says it is not great as a video processor and I could never be sure if it is just passing the signal to the TV or doing soemthing with it. I could be fooling myself into thinking the pq is better with the hdmi straight to the TV on sd dvds - its easy to get sucked into AV madness once you start down the home theatre road! P.S. I'd stick with the HDMI-only set-up but I am using a Felston digital audio delay on some BD movies where the lip synch is so horrible that the Onkyo delay (100 ms) won't handle it. The Felston unit only handles toslink and coax. So now that I have DD EX available through that unit, I am set.

02-24-2008, 04:57 AM	#5
ultrablu New Member Member since:Feb 2008	I don't have an Onkyo, however my Yamaha does not give a very good picture while the upconverting is on and my ps3 is also upconverting standard DVD's. Yamahas instruction manual advises to turn the receivers upconversion off if another device is also upconverting. I don't know what model you have or even if your receiver upconverts.

02-24-2008, 06:09 AM	#6
Pinto Active Member Member since:Feb 2008	After hitting the manual again (it is really dog-eared after 3 months), because the video inputting into the receiver is digital (HDMI) and everything coming in is 1080P already, the receiver is not doing any upconverting at all. So there's no option to turn it on or off. I think its time to chill and just watch some movies!

02-24-2008, 06:48 AM	#7
Lord_Phan Active Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Brampton, On	Do you not have multichannel inputs on that onkyo? You can get the same quality sound from Multichannel Analog as HDMI.

02-25-2008, 05:42 AM	#8
Pinto Active Member Member since:Feb 2008	It probably does. The back of that sucker looks like an airliner control panel. I just never got into learning that route because I originally thought I was headed in the direction of Dolby Tru HD, all HDMI, etc. I'll have to hit the books on multi-channel analog now.

02-26-2008, 05:59 AM	#11
Pinto Active Member Member since:Feb 2008	Thanks RacerX - just finished plowing through the thread. Fantastic info! Looks like I can go 7.1 lossless audio with my Onkyo 605. Also found great data on the speaker settings of small/large and how that manages the bass. Or if I decide to run my video through my receiver via HDMI, I now understand how to manage the audio settings while using that set-up.

02-26-2008, 03:26 PM	#12
RacerX Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Leander TX (just north of Austin) Home Theater Gallery:1 Blu-ray collection:116	You're very welcome. I think that's one of the best threads on this forum. Besides, we're all here to help each other.

02-27-2008, 04:03 PM	#13
odyssey12305 Member Member since:Feb 2008	Is there a difference between 24AWG and 28AWG besides the price?

02-28-2008, 02:21 AM	#16
Pinto Active Member Member since:Feb 2008	I agree... Once I admitted to myself that the pq was no different running from player to TV as compared to player to receiver to TV, it was pretty much a no-brainer . I did keep a second audio set-up in place, optical cable to Felston Digital Audio delay, then optical to receiver, for those movies where the lip synch is horrendously bad. So now I don't have to research 97 different hdmi splitters, most of which won't be compatible, and I can let this thread die a peaceful death. Thanks to all who helped me out.

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