To use AV receiver or not to use AV receiver for unconverting.?

Question

This is a newbie home theater config question.

This is what I have:

1. HDTV (1080p) - 2 HDMI (in), 1 HDMI (out)
2. Upconverting DVD player (1080i) - HDMI
3. Comcast HDTV digital DVR cable box .
4. PC with VGA graphic connector.
5. 6 speakers (front, rear, center + subwoofer)
6. Looking to buy a AV receiver (mine just cooked)

I am thinking of connecting DVR, DVD to TV with HDMI, PC to TV with VGA, sound from PC to TV via analog cables, then export the sound to receiver with an optical wire.

Question:
All the new AV receivers has upconverting capabilities, and multiple HDMIs. It seens that it is more 'fashionable' to connect everything to the AV receiver then just single HDMI to your HDTV.

What is the difference between my scenario and the everything to AV receiver then single HDMI to TV?

What are the pros and cons?

Thanks for helping

Answer 1

The difference is cables.
HDMI can carry DD to the AV receiver, but if you connect directly to the TV, you also need to connect separate coax/optical s/pdif from the source to the AV receiver for multi-channel audio.
Some TVs will NOT pass-through DD over HDMI, but some will do. So, check your TVs user guide and specs very carefully.

If you go via the AV receiver even for video, you may have less lip-sync issues.

However, skip the upconversion on the receiver, unless you know it is really good!! Let the TV do the video processing.

Answer 2

It's basically 6 on the one and one half dozen on

the other. Whichever configuration you are most

happy with. Convenience is bliss if the difference

in performance is trivial.
.