TIVO HD and HDMI on new HTIB

[UDPride]

Gang-

I haven older series 2 Tivo and just bought a second unit Tivo HD for the bedroom. This will be my first hookup with CableCard and Time Warner and my assumption is TW just needs to install one M card into the Tivo and I should be good to go after the coax runs into the Tivo.

My main concern is hooking up the Tivo HD to a pending HTIB. The new Sony HT-7200DH HTIB is about to be released in another week or so and it includes three full HDMI inputs (no passthrough mumbo jumbo). Im just a bit concerned based on a few threads that the AV Receiver wont pass the HDMI signal properly?

The intentions are to hook the Tivo into the SAT/TV HDMI, my DVD into the DVD HDMI, and my XBOX into the Video 1 HDMI, then channel it all through the HDMI output to the Panny plasma. Then handle all audio/video switching on the AV Receiver.

Anyone with experience using the HT-7100DH Sony which is what this unit is replacing? The only real difference is another HDMI input (3 to 2) and the HDMIs are no longer passthrough.

Linky goodness: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665361527

Im hoping this HTIB unit will suffice. I also plan to move my MP3s and photos from PC to Tivo to use as a jukebox through the HTIB.

Help, advice welcomed.

[jrm01]

I haven't found any reviews on this yet, but it seems to be speced well for what you want to use it for. The only reference on AVS Forum is this:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1015679

but it doesn't tell you much. As you have probably surmised from other systems, the biggest unknown with these systems is how they will handle the hdmi-handshake. You probably won't get an answer until you plug it in and try it.

Good luck.

[UDPride]

Yeah I actually saw that thread a little earlier. I guess if it doesnt work Ill have to take the Tivo straight to the TV, but how would I route the audio through the HTIB? Just audio out on the Tivo into an audio in on the HTIB? Maybe optical? Digital coax? I havent looked to see what audio out options are on the Tivo besides just running HDMI.

[ilh]

The TiVo has optical audio in you can use in that case.

[Mars Rocket]

I also plan to move my MP3s and photos from PC to Tivo to use as a jukebox through the HTIB.

Help, advice welcomed.

I don't think you can do that. The TiVo can display/play music and pictures that it finds on other devices on your network, but it doesn't actually store them on itself.

[UDPride]

rats. if the files remain on the other device, I might as well just play them on the other device.

[lastdeadcat]

My AV receiver doesn't do HDMI so I route HDMI from my TiVo HD direct to the TV and send audio only to the AV via optical. This works good. My Harmony remote knows the start up sequence and gets everthing lined up when I press the "Watch TivoHD" button.

I tried sending the audio back to the AV from the TV via optical but the TV didn't pass
5.1 channel audio out its optical out--only 2.1. Only one channel I get does 5.1 but more are coming.

So if your AV receiver doesn't do a good HDMI passthrough from your TiVo. The direct route will work. The only draw back will be with your TV and the number of HDMI inputs it has. Mine has four so it wasn't a problem. If I had another HDMI device I would have another cable, so I guess I might look in to getting an AV receiver that switchs HDMI to reduce the cables going to the TV.

[UDPride]

Ive got two HDMIs on the TV, so worst case I think Im ok doing Tivo direct to one and my A/V to the other which will house the DVD and XBOX.

But Id certainly prefer to route everything to the AV and just use that as my main quarterback.

On your harmony remote, Ive thought about getting one. Worth the price? Does it to everything a Tivo remote can do? How easy are they to program?

I figure Ill have the following remotes/devices to get programmed into one:

- AV Receiver
- DVD player
- XBOX
- Tivo
- HDTV

[RonDawg]

Ive got two HDMIs on the TV, so worst case I think Im ok doing Tivo direct to one and my A/V to the other which will house the DVD and XBOX.

Personally I think this is a simpler and better solution. I am one of those who prefers to NOT turn on my A/V receiver just to watch TV, unless the program is worth it (i.e. music and/or has surround sound content). As already mentioned, your TiVo has an optical digital out for those programs that have surround sound.

To avoid handshaking issues, I don't even bother with HDMI on my TiVoHD anymore, I just use Component connections. My TV's single HDMI input is used solely for the components that require HDMI for full capability, which are my HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players, via a simple and inexpensive two-way HDMI switch from Monoprice.

[UDPride]

Update: I got my Sony HT-7200DH today and hooked it up. Experiencing NO HDMI HANDSHAKING issues. Working like a charm and Im using $5.99 HDMI cables from firefold.com which are producing better pictures than the $50 wastes at Circuit ******* I bought for another app.

I have the Tivo running into HDMI SAT, supplied DVD player into HDMI DVD, and output HDMI to the TVs HDMI input 1. Im going to migrate my xbox from my other home theater to this one next week on the third HDMI input (labled blu-ray).

Speakers/woofer sound very decent. AM/FM tuning very sharp and crisp. Im only running 3.1 setup for now as my bedroom is not 5.1 friendly. Now I just need to read the manual.