I've been trying real hard to get up to speed on all the new audio format terminology. I went through a bunch of threads over on the AVS forum and it's just a confusing mess. Not only are there lots of formats...but how they are cabled is changing...and trying to determine which equipment provides the best sound is almost impossible! I just don't see how an ordinary consumer can make informed choices.

Let's just assume that audio (which is why I'm posting this to all you Outlaw fans) is as important as picture quality in a home theater.

formats:
1.UNCOMPRESSED PCM seems to be the current "best" possible audio output on Blu Ray players. Cabling is via multi channel analog - but will soon go to hdmi 1.3?
2. Both Dolby and DTS will each have "high-def" audio but as I understand it ... this technology is not yet available. Proposed cabling is via hdmi 1.3 (but will there be a multi-channel analog capability?).
3. Of course, the old standby Dolby and DTS currently use optical cabling. Will this fade out of existence?
4. SACD (which I prefer over DVD-A) ordinarily is cabled via analog but in a few rare instances can use iLink. What does the future hold? I've seen some discussion that it is going to eventually use hdmi 1.3.
5. Ordinary CDs played via a DVD player can use optical out and can be "re-processed" by the preamp for multichannel. Some players even "upconvert" ordinary CDs.

Did I get the formats and cabling correct? If yes...then continue...

The advantage to hdmi 1.3 (even after having read Gonk's narrative) are twofold: (1) the most obvious is the elimination of various types of cables (analog, optical, etc). and (2) eliminates the dvd player from any audio responsibilities. The player simply decodes the digital audio and passes it along (in the digital domain via hdmi 1.3) to the preamp. The preamp will do all the work of converting it to analog for the amp.

Now, I like this hdmi concept...because...I can't even begin to try and figure out which format...and which cable...and which configuration will give me the best possible audio signal. By reducing the DVD player's responsibilities to simply becoming a "digital" transport system to the preamp...I've eliminated a bunch of cables for different formats and have eliminated the player from any confugration issues.

Having said all that...I understand Gonk's concerns regarding hdmi. It simply may not work as intended. But, somehow and someway...there has to be a bullet proof method of getting the digital audio information over to the preamp and let the preamp do all the heavy lifting for audio.

thanks for listening...marcus