Hey all,
Haven't posted in quite a while, just so darn busy. I have been the happy owner of the 990/7700 combo for a few years now and have been waiting for the new pre/pro to come out. Well, here it is and I am very upset that it only has 4 HDMI in and 1 out. Am I the only one that thinks this is too little? I thought at the very least 2 out. 4 of my devices now are HDMI and I run a 50 inch and a projector, so I will need 2 outputs. Again I will have to buy a switcher. I know that it seems like no big deal and they are not expensive, but.....What the heck.
Just wondering others thoughts on this? Thanks.

I wouldn't mind more, but 4 inputs seems to be a common point. As for the two outs, that's a source of much debate lately. The issue is that our dear friend HDCP makes it a less than simple issue (and thus a cost issue).

Agreed Gonk, but...I can't be the only one who drives a front projector for movies and uses a TV of some sort for Video gaming, kids watching cartoons, etc. Right now I have 4 devices that use HDMI. Xbox, PS3, Cable Box and Blue Ray. I'm not as concerned with the 4 in although this doews not leave a single extra input for me, but 2 out would seem the norm these days.

You are not the only one, but two outputs are still not the norm yet - and when they are available, they aren't necessarily user-friendly (having both active at once is tricky at best, and in many cases you have to go into a menu or use some other method to toggle between them).

I'm all for keeping the cost down. If they made a device that did every thing that everyone could want the cost would be way to high. I was hoping for 5 inputs and 2 outputs would have been nice but for the price I'll buy a switcher if I need it.

Two HDMI outs would be nice. On the other hand, I watch most regular TV on my Sony HD WITHOUT using my HT audio system. So, some kind of switcher in advance of the pre/pro is always going to be needed in my setup, unless I want to use the pre/pro 100 percent of the time when I'm viewing (which I don't).

This is another of those can't-be-everything-to-everybody features, similar IMO to the presence of a phono input (discussed in another 997 thread). Some will need it, others won't, so the circumspect decision is probably to omit it from the base unit (along with the associated increase in price) and let those who need it find their own solutions (as I have for HDMI AND for phono input).

They do make a switchers whcih sense automatic which to whichever device is on I believe, or..I think Keydigital makes one that outputs 1 or both at the same time if you wish. This will make it very user friendly. No worries about having to hit an extra button.

vp8000 is quite right. My 4x2 switcher from Monoprice automatically senses the active inputs.

bobliins wrote:

My 4x2 switcher from Monoprice automatically senses the active inputs.

I bought a Monoprice 4x2 switcher and had to send it back because it didn't work. Now this was maybe one year ago...and before HDMI 1.3. Monoprice told me the problem was likely due to HDCP issues.

What I wanted was a true 4 x 2 matrix so I could send material from perhaps input #1 to output #1. Then from input #3 to output #2...and simultaneously.

So I ask does yours do this? and...when did you buy it.
Thanks in advance.

PS I agree with whoever wanted more coax inputs.

nfaguys:

I purchased my switcher within the past 60 days. The first one I received didn't work, either. I returned it (at Monoprice's expense. Their CS is as good as the Outlaw's) and the second one works beautifully.

Yes, I can route different inputs to each output, or even route the same input to both outputs (which I've often heard is an HDCP no-no.)

Of course, IMO, HDCP is one of the flakiest, most convoluted pieces of horse droppings in the history of consumer electronics, so everyone's mileage may vary depending on the combination of hardware in play. (I realize I may be insulting horses here. And their droppings.)

Thanks bobliinds.
Since the 997 has x 1 output, and since I would favor the outlaw, not only because of Trinnov, the Integra's 4 x 2 is, therefore, of less importance because of your experience with Monoprice's 4 x 2.

as far as a work around this is the best solution I've seen so far -

OCTAVA 1 x 2 HDMI Splitter Distribution Amplifier with Toslink Audio Output approx $200

"Are you a Home Theater enthusiast with 2 HD Displays? The 1x2 HDMI Distribution Amplifier will duplicate your HD source and display the same HD source on2 HD displays! Perfect for systems with dual displays such as high end home theaters."

http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20distribution%20amp_splitter%202%20port.html

Any opinions regarding this solution would be appreciated.

I've found the budget 4x2 switcher like the one at monoprice to be very problematic, I returned two of them.

When you create something to meet a certain price point you will always have to make sacrifices in what is put into that product. In this case I think it was rightly decided to have 4 inputs and 1 output as that is what most of the market needs. There are other higher end options in pre pro's that will give you more inputs and outputs at a price increase I am sure. I would imagine no more than 20% of the people who purchase the 997 will have more than one display. It seems like a bad financial decision to make everyone pay more for something only 20% of the market will use.

Very true, rmilewsk. I'd guess that it would be lower than 20%, actually - although it's certainly higher than would have been the case two or three years ago, when they were probably determining the hardware feature set...

I really like the looks of the Octavainc 1 X 2. I have a huge run from my rack to my projector, 60 feet. I like the idea of an amp on it. Never heard of them as I have alwasy used Keydigital. Anyone else on this???
Thanks!!!!!!

Agree with your post mostly, but I wouldn't consider the Onkyo pro to be particularly higher end than the 997, and its pricing (street) is pretty similar to what I think the 997 will be.

On the 20% of users, you are probably right. I can't even do much of an informal count, as the only 3 people I know who even have pre/pros are 1) My dad with a 950 on my recommendation, 2) my friend who has the same Onkyo, and 3) my brother in law who has my old 950. None of them have two displays connected.