Using a DVI adapter to strip audio

[tpedone]

I've just bought my first HDTV and am considering getting a Tivo HD to go with it (currently have an S2). My HDTV won't output Dolby Digital from the Digital audio out so in order to get Dolby Digital sound, I'll have to run audio from the Tivo to my A/V Receiver. So far, so good. The rub is that I currently use the TV speakers as my "Center" channel by running the "Center" out from the receiver to the analog audio in on the TV. If I want to use HDMI, it's my understanding that the TV will take the audio from the HDMI connector and not the analog audio in. So, I've considered getting two cables with HDMI and DVI and hooking them together to "strip" the audio off the HDMI input. Will this work?

Yes, I could stick with Component out but I want to ensure I get the best video quality so I'd like to use HDMI if possible.

Thanks,

Tim

[Runch Machine]

I tried that and it didn't work. I had an HDMI to DVI cable and a DVI to HDMI cable. I connected them together and both sound and picture got from the DVR to the TV. It isn't the cable that prevents the sound from getting from the source to the TV. TVs with DVI inputs just don't take the sound from the DVI input, even if it's there because it came from an HDMI output.

[tpedone]

Thanks for the info. Guess I'll have to get a real center speaker then. Bummer.

[Stephen Tu]

Why not just run phantom center? Configure your receiver, tell it you don't have a center channel and let it route the center to your mains.

Running TV speakers as a center isn't that great an idea because they won't sonically match your left/right speakers, and also TV speakers are usually rather lousy since there are constraints on driver size, placement, & enclosure volume in order to fit on the TV in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Phantom center works great as long as you sit near the sweet spot. A lot of home theater enthusiasts actually prefer it to a center channel, because center channel speakers also often have to be compromised for placement issues.

[bizzy]

Just buy a speaker. I can't believe you can afford a Tivo and a TV that accepts HDMI, and not a single extra speaker. Especially if you can experiment with two HDMI to DVI cables that would have cost more than a decent center channel speaker.

[Stephen Tu]

Especially if you can experiment with two HDMI to DVI cables that would have cost more than a decent center channel speaker.

Huh? HDMI->DVI adapters/cables can be found easily for < $10 or so. I don't think you can possibly get a center channel for $20-40 that's actually worth bothering with, except at a garage sale or maybe on ebay. New in store probably have to spend at least ~$100, and preferably one that matches the mains.

Phantom will sound better unless getting a good matching center, plus it's free :) Unless you have people sitting off-axis who are bothered by dialog not being anchored to the middle of the screen.

[sfhub]

The audio is embedded with the video. That is why converting from HDMI to DVI has no effect. The same data lines are connected either way, only the form factor of the connector has changed.

[rucka]

The HD picture via component (with FIOS) appears identical to me and my husband's eyes. This totally surprised us, but a side by side comparisons (on both a LCD and DLP TVs) proved it to us. No one was more suprised than us.

[rainwater]

The HD picture via component (with FIOS) appears identical to me and my husband's eyes. This totally surprised us, but a side by side comparisons (on both a LCD and DLP TVs) proved it to us. No one was more suprised than us.

You shouldn't be surprised. Component can carry a 1080p video signal. However, you still need to use to digital audio if you want high quality sound.

[old64mb]

If I want to use HDMI, it's my understanding that the TV will take the audio from the HDMI connector and not the analog audio in

I'd double check that assumption before getting too excited.

I recently helped a date with her third generation Sharp and was pleasantly surprised to discover that even though they've taken away a lot of flexibility since sfhub and I bought our first generation versions, there's still a setup option on the HDMI video input source that lets you choose between HDMI audio and analog audio. (I figured this out the "gosh, I really am stupid" way since I couldn't figure out why she wasn't getting any sound and then looked at the Comcast box and saw that her HDMI in was a DVI out. Oops.) Got me if this is the case with other brands, but worth a look.

I'd agree, though, that it's probably not something you want to do. I lasted for all of about 10 minutes listening to center channel through my TV speaker before I couldn't take it any more. Yuck.

And since I know someone will ask, yes, she's buying a THD, and yes, she was, um, appreciative of my efforts. :D

[tpedone]

Thanks for all the input. I've experimented with this setup using Component video and found it doesn't work very well with HDTV because the audio/video is slightly delayed out of the TV which causes an echo effect between the front speakers and the TV speaker.

Tim

[jhimmel]

Just buy a speaker. I can't believe you can afford a Tivo and a TV that accepts HDMI, and not a single extra speaker. Especially if you can experiment with two HDMI to DVI cables that would have cost more than a decent center channel speaker.

Wow. Either you are spending way too much for your cables, or you have access to some incredible deals on "decent" speakers!

However, as someone else pointed out, a matched center is a much better way to go. Audio panning with miss-matched speakers is certainly not desirable.