Is there such thing as passive av processors?

A Pre/Pro is what you're looking for except most of those cost more than a traditional receiver. The cheaper ones are:

Outlaw 975:
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/975.html

Emotiva UMC-200:
http://shop.emotiva.com/products/umc200

There's others which are more expensive like the Marantz AV8003, AV7005, AV7701, and AV8801. Onkyo PR-SC5508 & PR-SC5509. Integra (boutique version of Onkyo) DHC-60.5 & DHC-80.3. There's plenty more...

toffee said:

Apparently, the newer 70"+ flat screen all have multiple HDMIs so I am set on using the TV as my HDMI switch/hub.

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If you care about surround sound you don't want to use the TV has the hub/switch, you'll want to use the Pre/Pro for that. I don't know of any TV's that'll pass surround sound other than through OTA (antenna). An example is if you hook up the Blu-ray via HDMI to the TV and then the sound to the Pre/Pro you'll only get stereo, no DTS-MA or Dolby TrueHD etc. You'll want to have Blu-ray, game consoles, cable/sat box HDMI's to the Pre/Pro then the HDMI output to the TV and the Pre/Pro will have RCA outs to your active speakers for surround sound.

wondering if any newer 65"+ flat screens came with RCA output for each channel?

No.

|Tch0rT| said:

A Pre/Pro is what you're looking for except most of those cost more than a traditional receiver. The cheaper ones are:
Outlaw 975:
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/975.html

Emotiva UMC-200:
http://shop.emotiva.com/products/umc200

There's others which are more expensive like the Marantz AV8003, AV7005, AV7701, and AV8801. Onkyo PR-SC5508 & PR-SC5509. Integra (boutique version of Onkyo) DHC-60.5 & DHC-80.3. There's plenty more...

Click to expand...

Agree. Actually, there are a myriad of HT receivers with all ch preouts that will work also (although, unfortunately, seeming more rare these days). No law against eschewing use of the internal amps, that I am aware of. Prices are usually reasonable too (vs the upper Pre-pros), due to scales of production.

cheers

toffee said:

wondering if any newer 65"+ flat screens came with RCA output for each channel?

Click to expand...

thanks for the awesome information.