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doing the hdcp dance?

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Posted on December 16, 2016 at 07:26:04

Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23679
Joined: January 4, 2002

I'll be installing a new LG 55" B6 4K oled TV in my largely analog based 5.1 system early in the new year. I bought the Oppo BDP-95 precisely to mate with my older non-HDMI plasma screen using component output, and while everything is working out fine I want the higher quality video, especially with DVDs. I'm not concerned with 4K content, at least until the BDP-205 comes out.

The workaround here is that my Anthem AVM 20 is non-HDMI - for the most part I'll be using analog 5.1 output from the Oppo along with analog bass management from an Outlaw Audio ICBM-1 - so the HDMI connection will be from the Oppo to the LG. In effect my 5.1 music system will be a big soundbar.

I'm not sure, but I'm thinking I shouldn't connect the component video to the LG at all - and should reset my AVM 20 sources not to look for it. This should be fine as I need composite input to view the menu on the old AVM 20 anyway, and the LG can handle only one of either.

Other than the obvious issue that I'll have to switch video source manually on the TV - between the Oppo and Fibe TV - does anyone see any room for hdcp conflict here?

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RE: doing the hdcp dance?

Jeff Starr

18:12:45 12/17/16

RE: doing the hdcp dance?

Jim Pearce

20:29:23 12/17/16

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RE: doing the hdcp dance?

Jeff Starr

18:12:45 12/17/16

RE: doing the hdcp dance?

Jim Pearce

20:29:23 12/17/16

RE: doing the hdcp dance?, posted on December 17, 2016 at 18:12:45

Jeff Starr
Audiophile

Posts: 1574
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Joined: March 4, 2000

I'm kind of confused, does the new LG have only one HDMI input? When you say switch manually, do you mean with the remote or by switching cables?

I have an Oppo 83se and a Samsung HDTV that is about 8 years old, it has 3 HDMI inputs. Before that I had (still have, use in bedroom) a Samsung crt HDTV that had the DVI input. I used a cable with HDMI on one end DVI on the other. I had to run separate analog cables to the preamp or TV.

If you are only going to use the video out on the Anthem for menus, then just run the composite. One cable rather than three.

Another thing you could do is get a HDMI de-embedder, that would give you the option of running a digital output to the Anthem.
If you only have one HDMI input on the LG you could get a HDMI splitter box, 2 or 4 in, 1 out.
I don't think HDCP will be an issue, but synchronizing the audio and video might be depending on how you wire it.

RE: doing the hdcp dance?, posted on December 17, 2016 at 20:29:23

Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23679
Joined: January 4, 2002

Yeah, I just meant that choosing the source on the pre-pro remote won't select video between Fibe TV and the Oppo when selecting a source from the Oppo - although I suspect that the Fibe TV remote will select the right input for TV: it usually does on my Samsung plasma - but then that's the default set on the TV. But I really don't know, maybe this TV can be set to search HDMI inputs for a signal?

Actually the Anthem can only use composite for the menus; but it does display the menu line by line on the front cover so I don't absolutely have to do that. On the other hand, once you select HDMI as the normal mode of operation hdcp will often block or degrade the component video output. Oppo suggests connecting component for backup access to the menu with HDMI as well.

I don't see the practical point of a converter between the Oppo and the Anthem: I could get 1080p video via component, but I have no idea what the LG oled would do with that - and I've already got it through HDMI from the Oppo to the TV. I really think I'll be pulling out the component cables.

Any audio source the Anthem can digitally process can be sent over the coaxial cable (with one exception, see below). Luckily - the specs aren't clear on this - the Anthem can handle a 24/192 signal over coax. I'll set up the DVD source this way. Obviously using the newer HD versions of DTS and Dolby on Blu-ray I'm restricted to the Oppo's analog outputs, but then the Anthem lacks the codecs for them anyway. What I could do though is set up the 5.1 input in the Anthem to re-digitize the analog output from the Oppo (5.1 input on the Anthem) and apply the Anthem's THX post-processing to Dolby-HD and DTS-HD. I haven't tried that yet, but I'm willing to bet that it would improve the sound on some movies. It would mean diving into the Anthem's menu before and after the movie, so it would have to be a pretty special movie.

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