HD-A2 question

AsSiMiLaTeD

Does anyone know if the Toshiba HD-A2 player has a DTS decoder built in? So if I have a movie with only a DTS audio track (like a Superbit), will I get audio if I'm playing on a receiver that doesn't have DTS or DD decoding, say a stereo receiver?

This is of course assuming that I'm using the analog output of the DVD player, as I wouldn't have a device to plug the digital output to anyway.

I have the setup at home and can test this for myself, but I'm trying to do some research and planning while I'm at work today, and was hoping someone would know.

MikeC78

Yes. Click on "detailed specs".

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvr/product.asp?model=HD-A2

AsSiMiLaTeD

I did see that, but wasn't sure if that meant it would work on a receiver that didn't have DTS. However, I've seen that DTS logo on one of my Denon dvd players before, but it's not worked on a receiver without DTS.

fumoffu

Yes it "should"

I have not tested this myself but is should work. But as you know you will only get stereo out. The A2 should beable to decode DD, DD+ DTrueHD, DTS, and DTS-HD HR.

MikeC78

Yes, the A2 has the DTS decoder in the player itself. Just make sure you are sending the information via PCM and not bitstream.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Ah, scratch that, I just realized that it probably hadn't worked before because I was using the digital output to the receiver, so the dvd player was feeding the receiver the raw signal, but the receiver couldn't process it without DTS decoding.

It's just like cd players I guess, optical output bypasses all the decoding in the DVD, analog output uses the decoding in the dvd player, so I should be good.

Thanks

AndyGwis

You should be good, but it only has stereo analog outs, so your stereo receiver is getting 2.0 channel passed to it. Not sure 2.0 DTS is any better than 2.0 DD or 2.0 anything.

That's what I have set up in my bedroom. A2 to HK3480 via analog. 2.0 is 2.0 in my mind, whether it's DTS or DD or whatever.

I just noticed you had Rainmakers and Lsi7s, both running on the same MH gear. What are your impressions of the two? They are two of my top choices for my bedroom setup, my current Kefs sound great but look terrible.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I know I'll only get 2 channels of material, I'm okay with that. I agree on the negligable difference between DTS and DD when only using 2 speakers, but wanted the ability to play movies that I have which are DTS only, quite a few actually.

It's really a touch call for me between the LSi7 and Rainmakers, I honestly don't know which I like better. The LSi have a bit of a warmer sound to me, but they're both fantastic and I'm not getting rid of either one anytime soon.

That being said, I am going to be putting one of the Music Hall up for sale in the very near future, going a different route on the LSi7 rig

AndyGwis

Going tubes on the 7s?

Maybe I'll hold out for some Lsi7s if they are pretty close to the Rainmakers. I know you have to hear both yourself to make a decision, but I think I'll just save myself the $200 difference by getting LSi7s and forgetting the Rainmakers for now.