Illustration: How HDMI simplifies home theater surround sound

[JohnnyB]

Here is the back panel of an AV preamp/processor from 2006, when you needed 3 jacks for each video source and one digital or two analog inputs for the sound.

And here is the back panel of the just-released Nuforce AVP-18 AV surround pre/pro where one HDMI input handles higher resolution video plus 8 channels of lossless surround sound code:

Both units are about 18" wide, making the upper one nearly 7.5" tall and the lower one just over 3" including feet. Which would you rather hook up? It also costs less than half of what the first processor cost when new and it comes from a higher-end Silicon Valley-based company.

[Feynman]

That looks great. Do they offer one with one or two analog inputs as well? I know I could Google it, but I'm being lazy and you may have it on the top of your head...

[JohnnyB]

That looks great. Do they offer one with one or two analog inputs as well? I know I could Google it, but I'm being lazy and you may have it on the top of your head...

Nuforce doesn't; this is all digital to keep things simple and make a true high end component more affordable. For analog inputs (including 7.1) in a low profile component, try the Emotiva UMC-200 at $599 shipped.

[Toadroller]

But there's no great big volume knob! Digitial volume knobs have been around for 15-20 years. How ca you crank something if there's nothing to crank?

Point taken on the simplification via HDMI

[django49]

Yeah! How can you crank it to "11" with no volume knob?

[JohnnyB]

But there's no great big volume knob! Digitial volume knobs have been around for 15-20 years. How ca you crank something if there's nothing to crank?

Yeah! How can you crank it to "11" with no volume knob?

You won't find the volume knob on the back panel, ya sillies. Here's the front. Two big knobs. Left is Function Selection. Right is VOLUME KNOB.

For the past, oh, 30 years, most functions of any front panel are operated from the remote control.

BTW, if you're going to crank it, you have to have something to crank it into, such as Nuforce's 7-channel class D HT amp: 175w x 7 channels into 8 ohms, 335w x 7 into 4 ohms. Having over 2 KW of amp power on tap can really wake up the media room.

[Toadroller]

Sweet!

[BTMN]

'ello there!

[blackfbiv]

Boom! Shake, shake, shake the room!!!

[JohnnyB]

Boom! Shake, shake, shake the room!!!

I never saw a film in a theater whose sound I couldn't match or beat at home until I saw The Dark Knight at the Boeing IMAX theater in Seattle. I suspect if I ever get around to decoding the lossless codecs on Blue-ray (DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD) I'd come a lot closer.

[JohnnyB]

That looks great. Do they offer one with one or two analog inputs as well? I know I could Google it, but I'm being lazy and you may have it on the top of your head...

Nuforce doesn't; this is all digital to keep things simple and make a true high end component more affordable. For analog inputs (including 7.1) in a low profile component, try the Emotiva UMC-200 at $599 shipped.

Mitch, you do raise a good question for some people who have sources without HDMI outputs that they want to keep in the system. I've been looking over this Emotiva UMC-200 unit, and I realized it posed a problem for my situation: My cable box, PS3 (also Blu-ray player), and two other DVD players all have HDMI outputs, but the Wii does not, and I love the Wii for killing zombies; it outputs composite video and L-R audio. Processors that accommodate multiple HDMIs plus other forms of video input were about three times the price of this Emotiva. Then I found this. This will take care of converting the Wii output to an HDMI input and clears the path for getting the Emotiva unit.

Here's a video demo:

[Feynman]

Those little things are great! I use two of them (one to convert in reverse).

Just be sure if you order one that it supports encoding that matches your options on your device(many don't support certain standards).

[Armitage]

The back of my Integra 80.3 preamp looks like a special effect from a Sci/Fi movie...

[JohnnyB]

The back of my Integra 80.3 preamp looks like a special effect from a Sci/Fi movie...

And here's the one currently in my AV rack:

[HamerHokie]

I had to convert to HDMI when I got two Blu-Rays at Christmas. The big issue for me was the fact I use an HD projector, ceiling mounted, requiring a 25-foot HDMI cable snaked through the ceiling. But prices on the longer cables have dropped, so it didn't hurt too bad.

[JohnnyB]

Well, yesterday when I fired up the Home Theater, my AV pre-pro started flashing "DSP Upgrade" and wouldn't respond to any button pushes other than cutting all power to the unit. I phoned Boston Acoustics' service center. They said they'd get back to me; they did this morning. Turns out this is the message you get when the mother board goes south. This is a 7-year-old unit and long out of production. I can't complains, as I got this $2K unit on closeout for around $650.

Then we found out that my wife just landed a new job that pays a lot better. I decided to celebrate by ordering up an Emotiva UMC-200 AVP to replace (and update) it. Finally, after watching Blu-rays for 5 years I'll be able to hear the lossless hi-def surround schemes (worlds better than Dolby Digital or even std DTS). I guess you could say I'm putting her money where my mouth is.

Compared to my old unit, this one provides 4-to-1 switching for HDMI 1.4, has a configurable 11-band EQ that can be saved in three different shapes, and individual crossover settings for four categories of speakers. Also decodes Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD, and DTS HD Master Audio (the best). It's also significantly smaller and lighter, with a simpler back panel that favors HDMI.

[Toadroller]

So... have you had a week with it and have you enjoyed?