dvi / hdmi / vga can be changed to component with an adaptor or does the hardware have to officially support the conversion?
i understand that you want to use hdmi for video and grab the audio from a different output.
what is wrong with the traditional component video outputs?
needing a DVD player that can get divX files from an external hard drive.. i havent researched dvd player's enough to know if such a thing is possible.
i am not the one you should be talking to because i have no experience or reading about such an option.
i have only looked for things like component video outputs and digital audio output.
i suppose i could help you look though.. because your order is quite specific.
i wouldnt say such needs are rare, because there are probably hundreds or thousands of people that want a dvd player that can read movies from an external hard drive.
i would think the feature is difficult to find as a way to deterr people from copying movies.
i dont think you should be forced to transfer audio with an hdmi cable if you are using hdmi for video.
but i havent heard or seen anything that states hdmi being better than component.
can i ask you to drop the hdmi feature from your request ?
because if i did find a suitable dvd player.. there is no solid guarantee that you will be able to get audio from a different output while using hdmi for video.
i know that lots of the new televisions have hdmi inputs.. but people might not want to use the speakers on the television.
therefore your request isnt out of the ordinary.
what are you planning on plugging the audio into?
**edit**
i started reading and there are DVD players that have a usb input, which allows the ability to connect an external hard drive and/or usb flash drive.
this dvd player plays divX and allows the connection of a hard drive (if formatted to fat32 file system)
but they said the dvd player has a file limitation of 648 files.
http
/www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP5990-1080p-Upscaling-Player/dp/B00158OJ9O/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231967776&sr=8-1
it also has the hdmi output that you requested.
it has analog audio.. coaxial audio.. and the hdmi.
i dont know if you can use the coaxial or analog audio outputs when using hdmi for video.
the dvd player has lots of good reviews.
would be worth downloading a manual to see if you can output the audio with coax or analog while using hdmi.
**edit again**
i just read the manual and it says you can specifically turn on/off the hdmi audio.
and that means you can use hdmi for video and grab the audio from a different output.
good luck..!