Advice on home audio & video system project

Hi all,

I'm planing a project based on a DIY Perks you tube video, with a slight twist.

I would like to make a device that will alow me to plug in (or input) 4 x HDMI's and and output 1 HDMI to replace my current AV receiver.

I'd like to be able to use both passive speakers AND active speakers, but obviously not together, just either all passive or all active.

(I'm also going to build my home mini sub woofer later on)

The system would also need to be remote controlled to select which HDMI is active and to control the volume, just like my AV receiver does now.

The problem is hardly any AV Receiver's accept optical for audio speakers, so if I built something from an AMP board, then connect a bank of HDMI's to it and then I can either use the AMP to connect the passive speakers, or bypass it and just use active speakers.

I'm obviously a novice at this sort of thing, maybe not even possible to use both passive and active? but that's why I'm starting right here and asking the experts!

Many thanks in advance for your replies.

Steve