Is the audio running though an HDMI cable analog or digital? Please forgive me for this simple question, but I really don't know. I'm guessing digital, but need to be sure.

I've got a Samsung 30" HDTV with HDMI input and optical digital output to my amp. I just got a new Cyberhome DVD player with HDMI output. This player also has it's own optical digital output. I have optical inputs for both the TV and the DVD player on my amp, but to simplify things I'd love to just have the TV audio outputs coming to the amp, and nothing else. All my other sources can send their version of audio and video right to the TV, and the TV can send the audio to the amp. The amp will auto-detect the signal.

I'd like the best audio possible from my DVD player. If the HDMI audio is digital, then there should be no signal loss as it turns around and is sent though the optical cable to my amp. But if it's analog, and the TV is digitizing it before sending it to the amp, then that opens up the possibility of signal degradation with those two steps of conversion (DVD to analog over HDMI, then TV to digital over optical cable).

So, if you know for sure, is the audio on an HDMI cable analog or digital?

Digital.

Thanks, Hoop.

Now all I have to do is completely reprogram my universal remote. :-(

Make sure your devices can actually do this. HDMI audio is a moving target at this point in development.

OK, I tried it. The CyberHome DVD player with HDMI output will pass it's 5.1 digital signal through my TV's optical output. I compared the sound over two routes to the AMP:

Cyberhome DVD via SPDIF optical cable to AMP: blue light on my amp and surround sound from the speakers.

Cyberhome DVD via HDMI to Sanyo HDTV, then
Sanyo HDTV via SPDIF optical cable to AMP: blue light on my amp and same surround sound from the speakers.


Now all I have to do is completely reprogram my universal remote. :-(

Hopefully your remote is pc programable!(saves hours of work when something has changed)

If not, I understand your dilema.

Thanks, pilgram. Yes, I've got both a Pronto and now a new OneForAll 8910 remote. I've been JP1 programming since they first figured out how, although not doing it continuously means I have to relearn a few clever tricks each time I upgrade.

Dave B.

I was not sure what the hdmi audio was. I am concerned at the level of quality a tv's pass thru audio circuit is. Some are affected by the volume control which is cool for some people. Glad you guys checked it out. I like the shorter runs of fiber by going directly to my amp [longest run five feet ] from the player. For me it would entale a twelve foot fiber cord, and a twelve foot hdmi making a twenty four foot "loop" run. As long as it sounds good Cool.......

Those lengths are no big deal for digital audio. Why not just do the optical cord directly from the source to the audio receiver and ignore the audio in the HDMI? Until the audio specs for HDMI are finished (assuming they ever will be) and HDMI is prevalent in receivers, I see little reason to be enamored. Unless you don't have a receiver.