Duplicate bitstream audio from HTPC using two AVRs

At one time I commented on the hot deals forum about the Yamaha RX-V867:

[quote=RehabMan]

At one time I was thinking of using this receiver and its 2x HDMI out to send audio to my second zone (audio only — outside on porch).  The thought was to send one HDMI output to the TV and the other to a second HD-audio capable receiver which would down mix to 2-channel stereo for my speakers outside.  Right now I am doing something similar with an SPDIF splitter, but of course I lose support for HD-audio formats.

But after reading some of the troubles people were having with this unit’s HDMI implementation with the XBOX 360, I have my doubts it would work.  I mean if you didn’t test with the XBOX, what kind of QA department do you have at Yamaha?  It gives me doubts against using it for any advanced purpose…

Anyone already have this Yamaha or something similar and have evidence to the contrary???

[/quote]

FYI… Decided to give this unit a try.  Ordered one from newegg.com Sunday night.  I received it  today.  Hooked it up as such:

HTPC -> HDMI Detective -> HDMI1-in

HDMI-Out1 -> Samsung Plasma

HDMI-Out2 -> Yamaha HTR-5063 HDMI-In1

At this point, I haven’t tested my other concern with the XBOX 360 as I don’t have enough HDMI cables (time for a trip to monoprice.com).

Then I hooked my outdoor speakers to just front L/R on HTR-5063.  Hooked my 5.1 system speakers in living room to the RX-V867.

After fishing around for some settings, I was able to get my HTPC audio duplicated to both the 5.1 living room speakers, and down-mixed to my outdoor speakers via the HTR-5063.  By default, the RX-V867 doesn’t send audio to the two HDMI outputs, and it doesn’t have stand-by pass-through enabled.  By sending audio to HDMI-Out2 and enabling standby pass-through, I get down-mixed stereo outside even when the main system in the living room is in standby (like when you are outside only and don’t need the music inside the house).

And, of course, all interconnects… audio and video are strictly HDMI.  A bit simpler than having a mix of HDMI/Optical/COAX.

Why do all this?  For simplicity, I’d like whatever is playing in the living room, to be playing down-mix stereo outside (if the outside HTR-5063 amp is on).  And, again for simplicity, I’d like to keep all my 1-for-1 RIPs of bluray and HD-DVD MKVs to bitstream the native audio (TrueHD, DTS-HD, etc.) to the receiver such that no mixing/decoding is done on the PC.  Before this I was using ffdshow (just the audio part) to re-encode everything to DD5.1 and then I used a S/PDIF splitter to send to two DD capable AVRs.  It worked, but I’d like to take ffdshow off the HTPC.  Time will tell… it just might work.

Maybe there is a simpler way other than two AVRs?  I’m open to suggestions.

Now if I can get my Harmony remote to control these two Yamaha receivers independently, I’ll be set (otherwise, I’ll have to sell the HTR-5063 and buy another (low end) HDMI enabled receiver that is a brand other than Yamaha).