It works by a looping system (as I found out on some threads online). So the hdmi output from the video card will go into the hdmi input on the sound card. The audio will be added to the stream in the sound card, then BOTH audio and video will pass from the output of the sound card to your TV or AV receiver.

Now, all I want is to know if the card will decode any hdmi stream into analog 7.1 audio. For instance, I now have a ps3 and a $1,000 Marantz Pre/Pro + Amp setup that lacks HDMI input. Will the Xonar be able to take the ps3 truehd or DTS-MA and decode it for me? It would be awesome if it could (not to mention save me $1000 on a receiver or $600 on a BD player).

Now only if the PS3 had analog audio output, then it would be the ultimate blu-ray player. I don't want to shell out another grand for the updated version of my Marantz with hdmi support. Oh well, guess we all can't win.

As a Comcast HD subscriber with a good tv (Sony 40W3000), I can tell you the picture quality on comcast is as truly bad as those screencaps show. I have seen it on several other tvs: 40" Sharp Aquos 1080p, Samsung 4061 1080P, Panasonic 32" 720P, and Sony 60" projection HDTV, all in different locations in NJ and PA. They ALL look extremely blotchy and pixelated. Color definition is worse than the DIVX movies that came out 8 years ago. Now, I have a friend with a cheap Olevia from up north who happenes to have FIOS. The picture quality was absolutely amazing. Pixels were well defined, no smearing effects or any signs of MPEG compression. I stood literally 1 foot from the screen and the picture was superb. Comcast has some balls to call this HD. Upscaled DVDs blow it away in picture quality, especially in terms of color.

BTW, all those tvs were set up with HDMI, with both Motorola and Scientific Atlanta boxes, and all calibrated to the proper settings for resolution. I know it's not a limitation of the TVs, since I have seen BluRay on 4 of them, as well as connected computers to all of them. They all showed beautiful pictures when used with good sources, not Comcast.

I am dying for FIOS to come to Toms River, NJ but as far as I know, it won't happen until the end of this year. Yea Comcast may be promising more HD channels at the end of this month, but who cares if they look this bad.

I certainly understand that Verizon can definitely offer horrible to service to their clients. I have read many stories from both sides of customers and only hope I get the good service. I had a friend whose cheap 720p Olevia HDTV with FIOS service looked many times better than my 1080p Sony Bravia W3000 simply because of the excellent cable/fiber quality. However, if i'm lucky enough to receive a good connection, I know I'll be charged an arm and a leg for it. Nothing is cheap anymore.

It is sad that no provider can provide excellent quality and consistencny across it's customer base. You can go to people who live two houses away from each other and realize one of theirs is horrible because their cable connection is inhibited on the pole somewhere. Shouldn't they check these things routinely and have a standard to measure the signal levels and other things? I don't know the technical aspect, but no home should ever experience packet loss with internet, blockiness with tv, and sound cutouts. That is a clear sign of poor company practices and clearly not caring about the consumer. /end rant

About time we get some more HD channels. But, knowing Comcast these will be some overcompressed, blocky, saturated channels that are hardly worth watching (if there is even any HD content on them). Please God, let FIOS come to this area soon.