Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD?

Early B.

I have a Toshiba HD-A2 arriving tomorrow. Did some research and noticed that in order to get HD sound, i.e., Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD, I need to have an AV receiver with HDMI connections. Is this correct?

How much better sounding is TrueHD & DTS-HD over regular DD & DTS?

The reason I'm asking is because a new receiver with HDMI connections would be a major upgrade for me from a cost standpoint. I'm happy with my Pioneer Elite 52TX, but it doesn't have HDMI connections. Is a new receiver worth purchasing just for the new HD sound formats?

Any other ideas or suggestions are appreciated. (Sure, I'd rather do separates, but it ain't in the budget right now.)

Thanks.

jakelm

Early, good question, thats why I went with the XA1 (for 5.1 analog out), I am in the same situation as you.

I feel your pain brotha.

We are always missing something.....darnett...

AndyGwis

Yeah, I went with the XA1 as well so I would be able to take advantage of 5.1 analog output to get the newer audio formats with my current 635.

Lot of good HDMI AVR starting to pop up, though. Good luck if that's the route you go! I don't notice a huge difference in audio quality and typically still run digital out from XA1 to my 635 cuz I prefer my HK's bass management.

PSOVLSK

I'd like opinions on this also. I have an A2, but don't want to upgrade unless the difference is significant.

ViperZ

I am a big skeptic when it comes to people saying that changing cables makes the sound better, etc.... but... when I switch from DD-Plus to Dolby TrueHD, I can hear the difference. The biggest improvement is in the bass (subwoofer channel) and rear surrounds. It's much more clear, bass is tighter.

And yes, that's exactly the reason why I picked XA1 over A2 (analog audio outputs - to listed to Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD).

PFKMan23

That's pretty interesting. I've been looking to upgrade one of the TV set ups in the house and it's interesting to know that there's an audio expansion along with HD.

Early B.

Wow. The XA2 costs about $300 more than the A2.

The better option for me would probably be to sell my AVR and put the proceeds plus $300 towards a new or used AV receiver. That is, of course, if the sound quality is going to be significantly better.

malikarshad

I'm in the same boat with my A2 and PS3.
I've researched little bit but not extensive. Currently there are receiver from Onkyo and Denon that will decode HD audio tracks.
I have Denon AVR-3803 with Outlaw 770 amp so I'm planning to upgrade to a preamp/processor rather than dumping money on a receiver if i get all the features i need
Integra DTC-9.8 has excellent feature for $1600 with Reon upscaling chip. But you can only order it throught the dealer.
http://integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?m=DTC-9.8&class=Separates&p=i
http://www.onkyopro.com/model.cfm?m=PR-SC885P&p=f&class=Preamplifier

I'm still undecided. I still want to wait and see what other comes out with especially Outlaw. They are planning an HDMI preamp around summer 2008.
But the wait seems long.
I'm planning to start a separate thread if its not already done so.

Early B.

malikarshad wrote: »

I've researched little bit but not extensive. Currently there are receiver from Onkyo and Denon that will decode HD audio tracks.

If all HD-DVD players include HD audio decoders, is it necessary to buy a receiver that also decodes HD audio tracks? They're more expensive. I'm thinking as long as an AVR has HDMI capability, it should be OK. Is that correct?

BIZILL

AFAIK, so long as it has hdmi, it'll recieve the toshiba's signal as pcm, effectivelly giving you the same thing as trueHD.

millerman 3732

Its good to see that HD DVD and Blu-ray are really catching on around here.

AndyGwis

My comments above were regarding DD+, not Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD. I need to figure out which discs are TrueHD and play those. DD+ sound like DTS to me; slightly better than DD, but not a big difference.

jakelm

I will test mine tomorrow. With Transformers, which I believe has DDTrueHD. DDTrueHD through 5.1 analog compared to DD+ through coax digital.

Early B.

Due to the low price, I may consider purchasing one of these in the next few months to deal with the HDMI issue:

http://www.emotiva.com/lmc1.html


I wonder if this thing will sound better than my current AVR.

AndyGwis

I will test mine tomorrow. With Transformers, which I believe has DDTrueHD. DDTrueHD through 5.1 analog compared to DD+ through coax digital.

Transformers audio is awesome, but it's DD+, not TrueHD.

An unfortunate casualty of all the extras on this two disc set was a high-res audio track -- a strike against HD DVD's 30GB capacity -- although the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround mix that is present got the all-important "reference material" nod from several outlets.

jakelm

AndyGwis wrote: »

Transformers audio is awesome, but it's DD+, not TrueHD.

An unfortunate casualty of all the extras on this two disc set was a high-res audio track -- a strike against HD DVD's 30GB capacity -- although the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround mix that is present got the all-important "reference material" nod from several outlets.

I just read...Damn.. Alot of people upset. The benchmark movie with no lossless audio...Sucks :mad::mad::mad:

jakelm

Early B. wrote: »

Due to the low price, I may consider purchasing one of these in the next few months to deal with the HDMI issue:

http://www.emotiva.com/lmc1.html


I wonder if this thing will sound better than my current AVR.

Nice Early..Even has a zone 2 amp..cool

millerman 3732

jakelm wrote: »

I just read...Damn.. Alot of people upset. The benchmark movie with no lossless audio...Sucks :mad::mad::mad:

I guarantee you will not be disappointed with the DD+ soundtrack on TF if you have the analogs set up correctly.

jakelm

millerman 3732 wrote: »

I guarantee you will not be disappointed with the DD+ soundtrack on TF if you have the analogs set up correctly.

But DD+ would be the same on coax digital as it would on analog ..correct?

millerman 3732

NO!!! Your player, XA1 in your case, will DOWN CONVERT a DD+ track to DTS before it sends out via coax so your HK can decode it, it is not the same.

jakelm

millerman 3732 wrote: »

NO!!! Your player will DOWN CONVERT a DD+ track to DTS before it sends out via coax so your HK can decode it, it is not the same.

Ok....

Its a good thing you screamed out the words NO and DOWN CONVERT...I would have missed those words for sure...:p:p


I never though we would be talking about down converting to DTS. When not long ago it was "man I wish there were more DTS tracks on DVD's":p:p

millerman 3732

Just making sure I had your attention.

malikarshad

Early B. wrote: »

Due to the low price, I may consider purchasing one of these in the next few months to deal with the HDMI issue:
http://www.emotiva.com/lmc1.html
I wonder if this thing will sound better than my current AVR.

Why not buy a HDMI switch instead of spending money on this just for HDMI switching. Its does not have decoding of HiRes audio.
You can get a cheap HDMI switch on monoprice.com or any other online stores.

Early B. wrote: »

If all HD-DVD players include HD audio decoders, is it necessary to buy a receiver that also decodes HD audio tracks? They're more expensive. I'm thinking as long as an AVR has HDMI capability, it should be OK. Is that correct?

That depends on if you will only have one source of HiRez format then you'd take analog out to your receiver. But if you have multiple sources then you'd end up using down converted signal for others. Moreover the receivers/processors will be capable of decoding bitstream as well as PCM signals.

THe HD-A2 re-encodes the DD+ to DTS.

gonzalr

If the TV is 1080p I would suggest go with XA2 although with $300 price difference as you say. The XA2 is a an excellent upconverter at the same time it has 5.1 analog which is capable of outputting Dolby True HD, DD+ or DTS HD and also output 1080P that matches with the TV.

Both XA2 and XA1 is the best choice specially if there is no intent to upgrade the receiver just to experience hi-res audio. It will do the trick thru the 5.1 analog output.

Early B.

malikarshad wrote: »

Why not buy a HDMI switch instead of spending money on this just for HDMI switching. Its does not have decoding of HiRes audio.
You can get a cheap HDMI switch on monoprice.com or any other online stores.

Really?

Will this work?

gonzalr

The HDMI switch that was mentioned is only applicable if there 2 source of HDMI (ie Blu-Ray and HD-DVD) and 1 input through the TV. Other than that, there is no other function on it with regards to DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD or DD+ sound.

Early B.

gonzalr wrote: »

The HDMI switch that was mentioned is only applicable if there 2 source of HDMI (ie Blu-Ray and HD-DVD) and 1 input through the TV. Other than that, there is no other function on it with regards to DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD or DD+ sound.

OK, thanks.
Please show me a link to what I should be looking for.

malikarshad

I have not personally used it but if you are lazy like me I would choose the one with remote and built in equalizer.
like this

gonzalr

The only way you will experience DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD or DD+ sound on a receiver that does NOT have HDMI input/output, you need to purchase either XA1, XA2 or A35. Those model of HD-DVD has 5.1 analog output. When you have those model, buy 3 pairs of analog cable and hook the 5.1 analog output from your HD player to the receiver.

The HD-A2 can decode hi-res audio but you NEED a receiver that has HDMI input/output.

Early B.

I think this will work using the HD-A2's toslink connection, but it's cost prohibitive...

http://cgi.ebay.com/GEFEN-COMPONENT-VIDEO-OPTICAL-TO-HDMI-CONVERTER_W0QQitemZ130165202337QQihZ003QQcategoryZ73390QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

jakelm

HDMI switches are just for HDMI AVR's or HDMI TV's. Those switches will not get you HDMI audio for a reciever like yours and mine with no HDMI input.

Until they come out with a HDMI/analog audio converter, there is nothing we can do, except buy a player with analod out.