Do I need a new receiver for HD DVD audio?

Phasearray

Something about HD DVD being 24bits/96kHZ. Is this something that most receivers with an optical input can deal with or do I need to start looking for a new one?

Using the Panasonic XR57 right now.

Sami

You need analog inputs or HDMI 1.3 for HD audio.

Phasearray

Sami wrote: »

You need analog inputs or HDMI 1.3 for HD audio.

darn, so the Panasonic XR57 which I think is HDMI 1.0 is scrwed?

VR3

You HT guys crack me up....

Hehe

Ferres

I prefer getting 3 stereo pre-amps to plug into the analogs. I like to just go up and dial the volume on which section I want to get louder.

billbillw

Phase Array, you don't HAVE to get a new receiver. Your's will playback the Dolby Digital or DTS track of the HDDVD. The newer recievers are needed only if you want to decode the newer HD audio formats. If you're currently using a Panasonic XR57, then you are probably not critical enough about the sound to make it worthwhile to get a newer receiver anyway. I'm not dissing, just putting things in perspective. Not everyone is super critical about movie sound.

jakelm

An AVR with 7.1 analog in and a HD player with analog out, will do the job...

billbillw

jakelm wrote: »

An AVR with 7.1 analog in and a HD player with analog out, will do the job...

Or, just use the optical or coax digital output from any HDDVD/BluRay and settle for the Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack like I mentioned before. IIRC, Some (or maybe all) of the HDDVD players will convert the HD audio tracks into fullrate DTS (1.5Mbs?) and pass it over coax/optical. Supposedly, this sounds really good.

jakelm

billbillw wrote: »

Or, just use the optical or coax digital output from any HDDVD/BluRay and settle for the Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack like I mentioned before. IIRC, Some (or maybe all) of the HDDVD players will convert the HD audio tracks into fullrate DTS (1.5Mbs?) and pass it over coax/optical. Supposedly, this sounds really good.

DD+ and TrueHD is down converted to a very high rate (via optical/coax) so the AVR sees it as DTS, but at a much higher rate than standard DTS. It does sound much better. But DD+ and TrueHD is still the shiznit... I'm running mine with analog out to AVR and letting the XA1 do the D/A converting.

Phasearray

billbillw wrote: »

Phase Array, you don't HAVE to get a new receiver. Your's will playback the Dolby Digital or DTS track of the HDDVD. The newer recievers are needed only if you want to decode the newer HD audio formats. If you're currently using a Panasonic XR57, then you are probably not critical enough about the sound to make it worthwhile to get a newer receiver anyway. I'm not dissing, just putting things in perspective. Not everyone is super critical about movie sound.

But to get the 8 descreet channels of HD audio, would I need HDMI 1.3?

jakelm

Phasearray wrote: »

But to get the 8 descreet channels of HD audio, would I need HDMI 1.3?

No, as I said earlier. A player with analog out and an AVR with analog in, will do the trick. The player will convert the digital to analog for you.

billbillw

jakelm wrote: »

No, as I said earlier. A player with analog out and an AVR with analog in, will do the trick. The player will convert the digital to analog for you.

Phasearray wrote:

But to get the 8 descreet channels of HD audio, would I need HDMI 1.3?

Well, from what I can see about your Panasonic digital receiver, it only has 5.1 analog inputs.

So, your choices are,
Use the digital coax/optical to decode the DTS from the HDDVD as mentioned above and forget about HD audio;
Use the analog outputs (only on certain HDDVD Players) to connect 5.1 channels of HD audio and lose out on your rear channels (unless there you can map the rear channels to another set of inputs, check your manual);
Buy a newer receiver that 7.1 analog inputs (and do as Jakelm suggested);
or buy one of the newest receivers that has HDMI 1.3 and built in HD audio decoding.

Phasearray

billbillw wrote: »

buy one of the newest receivers that has HDMI 1.3 and built in HD audio decoding.

That sounds like an awesome idea! Thanks!

vlam

That sounds like an awesome idea! Thanks!

Phasearray: You know my Denon 3808ci is for sale.:D

In all seriousness, using DTS is fine. I have my Blu-Ray/HD DVD configured. You are welcome to stop by for an audition. I am more impress with the video quality than the sound.