Taken the plunge

[Towy]

Ordered HS60, Pioneer VSXAX2AVS amp, Kef eggs- will attempt to make my own screen, then go and buy one. Hopefully will be fairly future proof as amp has 3x HDMI input/output. With a bit of luck will be up and running by the 15th. Many thanks to those who gave me valuable input on the forum
Only thing I'm not too sure about is the amp, anyone got one or know anything about this model?
This is my first projector set up- looking forward to it

[Hillskill]

Sounds to me like I am in exactly the same situation as you. I have a Phillips 32PF9986 and am looking to buy a HD Ready Projector for use in the same room. I will be using the Pioneer Amp to connect both a HDMI DVD player and SKY HD and then using the output to a switch box so I can use either on my PJ or LCD. The Amp also is 7.1 compatible which is just about as future proof as you can get right now. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether the model you list has Ipod Control/compatibility.
Please let me know how you get on with the amp.

[Towy]

By all accounts it has a high quality I Pod connection, good luck with your projector selection

[BadAss]

Hi Towy, even though your amp will have HDMI connectors does it have True-HD or DTS-HD decoding? My guess is that it doesn't which means HDMI is virtually useless without it.

Welcome to the HS60 club.

[Towy]

Hi Badass
Is there any point in having the HDMI inputs? can the decoding you mention be added as a software update (I don't know if this amp has this already)?
will be happy to become a fully fledged member of the HS60 club when it is all set up (vb permitting!)

[BadAss]

If you are looking to play True-HD or DTS-HD in the future you will need an amp with hardware decoding, no amp will be software upgradable I'm afraid. Every one who has a processor/reciever at the moment is in the same boat, we will either have to upgrade or listen to a slighty better (lossless) version of DD/DTS.

I can't see any point of having HDMI at the moment unless you intend to run the video signal through the amp first to your PJ if you have multiple digital sources like from a HDMI DVD player and HDMI Sky box.

It all depend how important the new sound formats are to you and are you willing to stump up the extra cash to pay for it. Or would you rather spend less now and wait to see how prices of HD decoders fall in the future.

[Towy]

I'm looking to feed my HTPC and possibly Sky HD through the amp, at the moment the sound quality is not my main priority as long as its reasonable

[Knyght_byte]

i wouldnt worry too much on the True HD audio stuff, HD-DVD/BR players are supposedly going to be like the more expensive DVD players were when DVD was still on 1st and 2nd Gen, the player can do the decoding, then just feed via 6 (or i guess 8 now?) channel output connections to the amp (which you switch to 6, or 8, channel ext input) and enjoy......your amp doesnt need to be upgraded......unless you have a fully digital amplifying amp, in which case you are going from digi to analogue to digi.....but if you have a conventional surround amp then tbh its not much different from a digi connection to the amp and then let the amp do the decoding..........i often let my 3910 do the decoding on 5.1 films and use the 3803 as a power amp because the 3910's chips are slightly better than the 3803.......its only when i want 7.1 that i keep the decoding in the amp...

[Towy]

Feeling better already