“Live and learn” or learning from experience and mistakes is certainly true.
As set out in recent previous posts, I upgraded my TV to a 4K HDR model and in turn this has opened up a whole learning experience particularly in regard to my existing Home Theatre equipment.
The first thing I discovered was that my AV Receiver – a Denon AVRX2000- would not pass through a HDR signal even though it handled 4K. Most probably a software update would fix this issue. However, the AVR X2000 is not only a “low end” model but is also now a few years old, so no updates are available.
Initially I got around this by connecting my PS4 Pro and my Xbox One S (both of which output 4K HDR) directly to 2 of the HDMI inputs on the TV. I used the ARC for the PS4 and a Digital Optical cable for X Box One S to get the sound to the Denon AV receiver. (I could not get ARC to work with the X Box One S.)
Then I discovered that only 2 of the 4 HDMI inputs on the TV would handle the full 4K HDR signal. With one of those inputs needed for ARC and the PS4 Pro connected to the other, that left the X Box One S connected to an input that would not handle HDR.
I then got “a bee in my bonnet” about the whole thing and subsequently discovered that both ARC and Digital Optical have limitations as well. By what I can gather from the internet and from observation of what the AV receiver was getting, both ARC and Digital Optical have bandwidth limitations that limit output to 5.1. The AV receiver then takes that signal and artificially upgrades it to deliver sound to the 7.1 speakers. When both gaming consoles are connected to the AV receiver via HDMI the full 7.1 signal is available but at the cost of HDR not being passed through to the TV.
AND YES I upgraded all of the HDMI cables to the latest 2.1 spec.
Therefore with only 2 X 4K HDR HDMI inputs on the TV and limitations with the AV receiver as well as with ARC and Optical Digital cable, I had to choose between a compromise with HDR or 7.1 sound.
I went to an electronics store and bought a HDMI splitter that said it was HDMI 2.1 and HDCP 2.2 compliant thinking that I would output the vision to the TV and sound to the AV receiver. But it wouldn’t work, just as the staff at the store warned me it wouldn’t.
So having more money than sense and with my obsession over-riding common sense, I bought a new AV receiver.
It is a Denon AVR-X1400-H. Everything now works as it should and I have forced to the back of mind that the money I saved with the EB Games special offer for the TV has been largely used up with this purchase – and various HDMI cables / HDMI splitters and time wasted etc..
Ah well , you can’t take it with you and I know someone who will appreciate getting my old AV receiver.