Video Asylum

Posted by peter_964rs on November 08, 2007 at 22:24:52

HDMI driving me up the wall. I need help....

I have a nice 2-ch system and have "integrated" a 5-ch Sony 5200ES amp and Fujitsu 50" plasma into the setup so I can watch DVDs and play games and still listen to high-quality 2ch music with the panel switched off.

I bought the 5200ES because it will upsample video sources and output via the HDMI output, into which I have plugged an HDMI to DVI converter and then run a long DVI cable through the ceiling cavity to the panel. I've had the Fujitsu for a couple of years and it doesn't have a DVI input, and I'm disinclined to go and buy one and run a long HDMI cable where there is a DVI one already since I'm not expecting the panel to output any sound, just video.

Video sources are: Wii, Xbox 360 (also as DVD), Humax Satellite decoder, Apple TV

Audio sources are: the above plus Lindemann SACD, vinyl (Sondek), using Tron valve preamp and Tron-modified Quad II valve power amps into Avantgarde Duo Omega speakers.

Video sources all plug into the Sony and I take the pre-out into an input of the Tron preamp; the Sony drives rear and centre channels, the Tron/Quad's drive front left and right during games/movies/TV. With level-matching on the volume control this is a Heath Robinson way of getting sound.

Here's the problem; both the Apple TV and the Humax have HDMI output and I can get sound from neither. I therefore have to connect them with component or composite (as I have run out of component inputs).

I have even fiddled the system as a test, to see what happens, by setting the Sony up to run everything, but I can't get any HDMI-equipped device to output sound.

There is a setting in the audio menu "AMP" versus "AMP/TV" which, according to the manual, allows audio pass-through to the HDMI output and whatever is connected to it, but I've tried both options and I get sound from neither. In any case, I have an HDMI to DVI converter plug connected as I'm just attaching a panel, no downstream audio device.

So, the 3 HDMI inputs the Sony boasts are useless to me. Any ideas why?