Whats the difference between HDMI Switching and Repeating? (If there is any) bottom line, I want my audio and video to go through my HDMI cable into and out of my receiver, what should I be looked for in terms of HDMI specs?
You would think that to be the case based on the term "repeating", but with HDMI it isn't the case. The problem lies with DRM and the need for a wobbly handshake between the source and the display. Because of the fear of piracy of HDMI content among the powers that be in Hollywood, Digital Rights Management Corp, LLP was formed and produce what is known as repeating architecture for HDMI. Simply put, six digital keys were incorporated into HDMI signal to protect copyrighted material.
There needs to be a handshake between the source and the display in order for an image to be displayed. A source can be connected directly to a display with one digital key certification (handshake). Connecting multiple sources to a receiver requires that the digital keys between the sources and the receiver be constantly repeated in order to get an image on the display. Hence the term "repeating".
So with reference to HDMI, "repeating" means:
Simple switching (in HDMI terms) does not do this. Simple switching only selects a video from one of the inputs and passes it on (video only) to the TV. Early "switching" units (pre-DRM) did not repeat and will not function with DRM encrypted content. Nor did they extract audio.
Receivers and switching devices produced since DRM are technically referred to as being "switching with repeating architecture" or simply as repeaters. The confusion come about because many manufacturers simply refer to HDMI switching for the sake of simplification, when they actually mean a device is switching with repeating architecture.
I don't mean to hammer on this but it is important to get it right. Especially if one is in the market for used equipment.
The OP needs an HDMI switching receiver with repeating architecture. Audio pass-through notwithstanding, all newer units do this or they wouldn't work with DRM. Not all older units do, and they will produce a blank screen with DRM encrypted content.
Repeating - means that your HDMI signal is not touched by the receiver. I also believe that if you have 3 HDMI cables in / the repeating receiver will have 3 HDMI out. One for each channel.
Switching - Means that your receiver can process or handle the HDMI signal. Up-conversion as well as 3 in and 1 out.
I think all gear sold these days is HDMI 1.3 and backwards compatible. But if you aren't buying new - find one that gets you to HDMI 1.3. And a Switching receiver is the way to go.
Current Gear: Sammy DLP Sony DVD [pre-HDMI] Sony STR-DE 995 Sony speakers
I think you've got it backwards.
Switching is a simple pass-through and repeating allows post-processing/extraction by the receiver.
The OP needs a switching receiver with repeater function (I think most newer receivers do this).
Some older receivers only did switching, so a digital coax or toslink connection was required to provide audio from the HDMI source to the receiver. Early receivers that were "switching only" also caused handshake problems.
HDMI is a dreadful interface and the specifications are vague and poorly written, but it supports DRM so we are probably stuck with it.
Let me see if I can clear this up a bit.
Most of today's receivers will do HDMI switiching to some degree. The trick here is to make sure that when you hook up your products to the receiver you have a receiver that will accept both audio and vido through the HDMI inputs. For instance there are receivers that will "switch" between sources but you have to have audio cables run in conjunction with the HDMI cables.
A good example of this difference is in the Denon AVR1609 vs. the Denon AVR1610. The 1609 has two HDMI inputs and can switch between them as long as you have the audio cables and HDMI cables both. That means if you hook up a Blu-Ray player to the unit, you will need an HDMI and optical cable BOTH. With the 1610, this is not the case. You would simply connect the Blu-Ray to the receiver with an HDMI cable only.
The confusion here lies with the term "repeater", I think. Basically when you repeat a signal you receive the signal from point A and then pass it on to point B. That's all a repeater does. In this case, it sounds like the OP will need an HDMI switching receiver, but will need to read the details to make sure that it is not a "pass-through" only HDMI switching receiver like the 1609 is. The literature on our site will specify this difference. If you look under the "Connections" section of the receivers, it will tell you if the HDMI inputs will swithc and if they are "pass-through" only.
I hope this helps out with what is an understandably very confusing topic.