HDMI pass-through is just that: it allows the signal carried on the HDMI cable to pass through untouched to the TV; it doesn't do any processing of the sound so no LPCM audio over HDMI (as sent by BR and HD DVD players). You will have to run either an optical or coaxial cable for digital sound. Completely pointless but as evidenced by engadget's report calling them HD-Ready it accomplishes the goal of fooling the unsuspecting consumer who expects to get sound via HDMI. Typical Sony double-speak.
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HDMI pass-through is just that: it allows the signal carried on the HDMI cable to pass through untouched to the TV; it doesn't do any processing of the sound so no LPCM audio over HDMI (as sent by BR and HD DVD players). You will have to run either an optical or coaxial cable for digital sound. Completely pointless but as evidenced by engadget's report calling them HD-Ready it accomplishes the goal of fooling the unsuspecting consumer who expects to get sound via HDMI. Typical Sony double-speak.
HDMI pass through allows the receiver to deal with the audio. It's the whole reason HDMI was developed to begin with.....carry everything on one cord.
a thread at avsforum.com explains it a bit:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=722360