Help - Amps and HD Connectivity

[Tricky100]

Hi guys,

First of all i want to say thanks for all the views on different products ive read here, this is my first post but i have been reading it for months now. Finally decided on what im going to buy, TV wise its the Panasonic TH42px60 and the amp i was thinking a Sony STR-DA1200, but there is one thing that is really confusing me. It regards HD Connectivity and goes like this, i have an xbox 360 and if i plug it in using component cable to the AMP, then have a HDMI cable going from the amp to the TV is the picture on the TV going to be in HD? or will it be just a normal (analogue i guess) signal. What about my SKY HD box, that goes in using HDMI cable then out over HDMI cable, i guess that stays in HD?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Cheers

 

[AndyR]

looking at the sony site, the component signal is not upconverted to the hdmi output. in other words, you would connect your sky hd via hdmi, xbox via component. you two need TWO leads from amp to tv. one hdmi, one component. both transfer HD signals. the component connection will upscale if required. i cant see on the site that the analogue connections are upconverted and output via HDMI. i havent got a 360, but doesnt it have a DVI output? you can convert that to hdmi and then use the amp to switch the two signals. hope that helps a bit.

 

[Tricky100]

Not too sure, ill have a check in a bit. Damn i already plastered up the wall with just one HD cable going up from the stand to where the TV will be. So this is true of all amps??

 

[mcguiganp]

andyr is right i'm afraid. You will need two leads going to your tv at the moment. one hdmi and one component, both coming through the sony receiver. I hear that the xbox will be bringing out an hdmi lead soon, that would solve your problem!

 

[Tricky100]

Really? yes it would big time! suppose until then ill have to have a cable dangling down the wall! now to butter up the wife

 

[lazymatt]

You could just upgrade the amp to either the 3200 or the 5200. I think both upconvert component to HDMI (check before you buy though).

 

[Tricky100]

Oh really, ill have a look then, I thought none of the amps do it. Thanks

 

[sk8]

they won't upgrade the signal but it can be passed out via the HDMI output

 

[AndyR]

A lot of the newer amps will upscale analogue and convert to hdmi, but you do pay for this. I'm still waiting for the "perfect" amp in terms of ease of connectivity - it'll arrive one day...