Correct on sound over HDMI. If your receiver can do video switching, then you can hook multiple different formats up to it (Component, composite, HDMI) and output just one video cable (HDMI). Ditto with audio switching, and of course the same HDMI cable can carry both the video and audio signal.
Reading through the review of the Onkyo 606 on Cnet, it seems that it has fairly poor video converters onboard. That could be a big deal if you are running a lot of non-720p sources through it (the receiver only supports up to 1080i so I would reccomend sticking to 720p). So let's say you are watching a DVD through an older DVD player that doesn't upconvert or have an HDMI output. Then the receiver would be attemping to upconvert the original DVD video (480p) to 720p and pass it out over the HDMI. From the editor's review it sounds like it doesn't do a very good job of that. If you have a newer DVD player that does the upconverting internally then it may not matter to you. Here's the review: http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/onkyo-tx-sr606-black/4505-6466_7-32956253.html?tag=rnav There's also the added complication of whether your TV does any video upconverting. That can be either a problem or a good thing depending on the quality of the chips and software used. From what I have seen, some of the best upconverting chipsets come from a company called Faroudja. Used to be pretty expensive but they've gotten fairly cheap in the last few years. --------------------------- Brian Weeden Technical Consultant Secure World Foundation <http://www.secureworldfoundtion.org> +1 (514) 466-2756 Canada +1 (202) 683-8534 US On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 9:06 PM, Christopher Fisk <chr...@mhonline.net>wrote: > On Fri, 2 Jan 2009, Brian Weeden wrote: > > I've been a big fan on Onkyo for the last 15 years or so. They are one of >> the few low/mid priced receivers that have realistic power amplifier >> ratings >> and current delivery. >> >> Why would you need to replace your speakers? If you have a 5.1 setup, you >> don't need to move to 7.1. You can still run it in 5.1 mode. >> > > Yeah, I went to Circuit City, they have the Onkyo SR606 which is what I > think I'm going to get. It's about $150 more than my budget, but it also > will last through everything I'm eventually planning on getting, and it > supports sound over HDMI instead of just passthrough (Which I believe means > I'd need to use a separate cable for sound?) > > > If the 506 can get it's sound through HDMI I might get that instead, it's > $150 cheaper. > > > And you're right about speakers. The shape of the speaker connector threw > me off. There is no need to replace my current speakers. In fact, I could > take my 5.1 system and convert the back speakers into front speakers and use > a wireless rear set in the future. > > > Any of this not make sense? > > > Christopher Fisk > -- > Mal: "Use of a swhat?" > --Episode #4, "Shindig" > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > >
