Newbie question ... HDMI on an AMP what for?

[hitman21]

Hi All,
I'm new to all this so hope you guys can have patience and help me.
What i can't get my head around is, why do some amps have a HDMI connection.
How might this be used and can examples been given?

I am in the process of setting up my audio system and this is basically how its going to be connected.

Panasonic LCD TV connected to the PS3 via HDMI lead
Sony DG520 Amp connected to PS3 via Optical cable
5 speakers connected to the AMP

Now this particular amp has HDMI In/Out: 2/1
How and when might you use this?

 

[andy1249]

The best way for you to connect is to use HDMI from the PS3 to the amp , then HDMI from the amp to the TV.

No need for the optical , HDMI handles both picture and sound and also handles all formats including the new HD surround sound formats like DTS MA HD and Dolby Tru HD.

Most amps these days take HDMI , its high quality , convenient , and cuts down on cables.

 

[dwhite]

Unfortunately the OP has a STR-DG520, which doesn't handle audio over HDMI, Andy's advice normally applies to Amps which can handle at least LPCM over HDMI. For the 520, if you use the HDMI inputs, you still have to make a seperate audio connection.

In the op's case, unless your running out of HDMI inputs on your TV, there is nothing wrong with you running a HDMI cable straight to the TV and optical to the amp for audio.

 

[sp_harris]

1, HDMI connections allow HD sound formats from Blu-ray to the amp (I don't think your Sony 520 does this)
2, Having HDMI on the amp can make switching sources easier as you just change the input on the amp and it changes the sound and video at the same time (your amp should allow this)
3, HDMI on the amp combined with other features (up-conversion) can allow an older TV with only 1 HDMI input such as mine to have many connections to the amp including multiple HDMI, component and composite to all come out of 1 HDMI to the TV. (I don't think the Sony 520 allow this)

 

[Mark.Yudkin]

Many current A/V amps support extraction of the audio from the HDMI stream. This allows access to the best quality audio from a bluray source.

Your DG520 doesn't have this functionality and you can therefore ignore the bundled 2:1 HDMI switch. Your proposed connection is the optimal setup for your case.

 

[andy1249]

Unfortunately the OP has a STR-DG520, which doesn't handle audio over HDMI

I did not know this , I would have thought that amps which dont do audio over HDMI were as rare as hens teeth !!

 

[hitman21]

Thanks for all your responses.
This has been a great help and given me a better understanding.

I haven;t actually bought the Sony AMp yet and i want one so that in the future i can expand my home cinema set up.

I don't want anything top of the range truth be told i want something cheap and cheerfull that is half decent and something that support audio over hdmi.

The home cinema will mainly be used for playing the PS3 and watching Blue Ray films.
I have some half decent speakers for the 5.1 surround sound setup.

What AMp do you guys recommend then?
pref in black to go with the setup.
Your thoughts?

 

[Robsk1]

Sony 820?
Onkyo 576?

I'm guessing these are the cheapest. £230 and £195 respectively.

 

[hitman21]

I'm liking the Onkyo 576 in black and under £200 it is within my budget.
This receiver seems to be 7.1 silly question but if i was to only hook up a 5.1 would this be ok?

 

[Robsk1]

I'm liking the Onkyo 576 in black and under £200 it is within my budget.
This receiver seems to be 7.1 silly question but if i was to only hook up a 5.1 would this be ok?

Yep. Most amps these days are 7.1 but you do not need to have a 7.1 speaker set. You can change the set up within the Amp for several configurations.

 

[hitman21]

Think the 576 it is then ...

Just to confirm my set yup ...

PS3 via HDMI to the AMP
TV via HDMI to the AMP

If i wanted to add a standard sky box (NOT HD) into that equation how could i have it so that when i watch the sky channels i can have the sound through the surround sound speakers?

Apologies for my basic questions, just wanna make sure i know what i'm doing.

 

[Robsk1]

I don't have sky myself but (I'm guessing) it would be either component or scart to TV and optical to amp for the sound.

Someone else may correct me.

 

[dwhite]

Sky+ has a optical output. If its normal sky then you would use stereo rca to your amp. In both cases, just send the video via scart to your TV. No AV Receiver has a scart input, so easier to go straight to the tv.