I have a customer with a Denon AVR 3806 with HDMI upconversion, he wants a Pioneer 50" plasma and I was thinking of the PDP 505 CMX and not getting the video card and just using the DVI input that comes standard on it, I just read that the Pioneer DVI-D connection is HDCP-compatible only with optional video card installed. So will it work or not? Does the Denon need a handshake to show a picture if all the inputs to the Denon will be Component that will be upconverted to HDMI?

Nope... it will work just fine

Ok thanks, BUT....., what if instead of using component out of the DVD player, I use a DVD play with upconversion and HDMI and run that through the 3806 then to the plasma's DVI. Will the DVD player require a handshake back in order to give a picture?

yes it will

any source equipment using hdmi out will have the HDCP protocol and will require a "handshake"....its up to the recievers...(repeaters ) to be able to get the handshake from the source component to the display....STAY AWAY FROM Scientific atlanta cable boxes....they WILL NOT "handshake"....i have had good experience with the denon 3806 and higher models with reguards to the whole Handshaking deal...if you run to a problem you can always add a fiber or digi coax to the reciever and the hdmi directly to the tv...works like a charm...Somtimes clients just HAVE to have that HDMI connection!!

did a denon avr2807 and hdmi worked perfect for the 1st time.. direct hd and samsung upconv dvd .. pany plasma. I was impressed that the upconversion of composite video went to the hdmi... Everytime i try hdmi through onkyo receivers, it only works on dvd. Never cable or dss.... I hate hdmi....

yeah, HDMI sucks and I use it as little as possible, just trying to help my father in law get a good bang for the buck plasma and the pioneer 50" commercial seems like just the ticket, but im trying to avoid buying a video card for it since it does have a DVI input and he already has the awesome AVR 3806 I sold him. Does anyone have any experience with the PDP 505CMX ? My distributor told me he didnt think the DVI input was active unless you put a video card in it, but I find this hard to believe.