PC to video projector and receiver

[FatherH]

I'm in the finishing stages of building a new home theater. My main connection (for video), will be from my PC. I plan to connect the PC to the system via HDMI cable. My question is:
1) should the HDMI cable go to a receiver and then from the receiver to the video projector
OR
2) should the HDMI cable go directly to the video projector with a second HDMI line going to the receiver (using a HDMI splitter from/at the PC)??

 

[dexxterlab97]

Why not connect from PC to both projector and receiver?

 

[FatherH]

Why not connect from PC to both projector and receiver?

That was part (2) of my question - - i.e., would it be best to run independent lines from the PC to both the receiver and the projector - - OR - - would the end result (quality of the 7.1 audio and video signals), be just as good by running a single line to the receiver from the PC and then put another HDMI line from the receiver to the projector.

 

[dexxterlab97]

Oh sorry didn't read that. I mean for the best solution go with the second one. Does your PC has a audio out where u can plug it to the receiver instead of another HDMI?

 

[FatherH]

Oh sorry didn't read that. I mean for the best solution go with the second one. Does your PC has a audio out where u can plug it to the receiver instead of another HDMI?

Yes - I was going to run a SPDIF line using coax from the PC to the receiver, however, my research tells me that coax won't carry 7.1 audio, whereas HDMI does (and HCMI will also carry a 3D signal - which I'll make use of from time to time).

What I'm confused about is:
will running 2 individual lines (40 feet and 30 feet) be over-kill if one long run, to the receiver (30 feet), then a short line (15 feet), from the receiver to the projector, would produce the same results??

 

[dexxterlab97]

What is your projector? I would see if projector is capable.

 

[FatherH]

What is your projector? I would see if projector is capable.

Panasonic PT-AE8000U - - and it has all the connections.

 

[robert600]

my set-up sounds similar to yours. I run 1 hdmi from computer to receiver and then another from receiver to projector. It works very well and carries 7.1 audio with no issues at all. Of course, to get a video signal to the projector, the receiver must be turned on whether you are using audio or not.

 

[FatherH]

my set-up sounds similar to yours. I run 1 hdmi from computer to receiver and then another from receiver to projector. It works very well and carries 7.1 audio with no issues at all. Of course, to get a video signal to the projector, the receiver must be turned on whether you are using audio or not.

Thanks Robert. This sounds, to me, to be the most effective and efficient way to go, however, I was told by an apparent home theater "expert" that the very best video would only come with a direct line to the projector - he seemed to think that going to the receiver first would cause a loss in signal quality, which is why your experience is so important to me.

Have you ever attempted, as a test, to see if the video's any better going directly to the projector from the PC instead of initially going to the receiver??.

 

[robert600]

Yes, my old receiver had no hdmi input/outputs so i used take hdmi video directly to the projector and spdif from the computer to the receiver. I can detect no loss of video quality whatsoever routing hdmi to the receiver and then to the projector. I've also heard that 'loss of quality' when talking about hdmi is a bit of a myth - apparently it either works or it doesn't - it doesn't degrade - I have no idea if that is true or not but like I said - i can discern no difference between a direct connection and connecting through the receiver. Having said all that - if you're sending 4k video - you'll want the newer standard of hdmi cables.
The difference in audio is considerable - as you pointed out spdif couldn't carry 7.1 audio.

 

[FatherH]

Yes, my old receiver had no hdmi input/outputs so i used take hdmi video directly to the projector and spdif from the computer to the receiver. I can detect no loss of video quality whatsoever routing hdmi to the receiver and then to the projector. I've also heard that 'loss of quality' when talking about hdmi is a bit of a myth - apparently it either works or it doesn't - it doesn't degrade - I have no idea if that is true or not but like I said - i can discern no difference between a direct connection and connecting through the receiver. Having said all that - if you're sending 4k video - you'll want the newer standard of hdmi cables.
The difference in audio is considerable - as you pointed out spdif couldn't carry 7.1 audio.

Thanks again, Robert.
FYI, my connection will require using a HDMI 1x2 splitter, and the run from the PC to the Receiver will be about 35 ft. Researching this has been most enlightening. The "myth" of HDMI only being good, without amplification, for about 30 feet, has been one issue of concern - but this was resolved by the suggestion that a HDMI extender, with cat7 running between both ends is the ultimate way to go to overcome this apparent shortfall (until I discovered that the audio must be loosy and not compressed, otherwise the best 7.2 audio will be reduced to 2.0 stereo 😱(

Bottom line: I'll be following the path you took, along with your suggestions and going with the HDMI from the PC to the Receiver, using a HDMI splitter.

Thanks again for your help.