BluRay question

MrNightly

Ok...

I finally got my new Samsung HDTV, so I am hooking up the BluRay player and started my first BluRay movie. Apocolypto.

It has two sound options: 5.1 uncompressed, and 5.1 DD. When I run it in 5.1 uncompressed, the Denon 3805 shows DTS neo 6 or something. Do I not have a AVR that can handle BluRay sound? Or just not show it is handling it?

I thought the BluRay had Mayan 5.1 sound (Or True HD audio or something or another..) Does the PS3 not decode those? Or is the missing link the Denon 3805?

On a positive note, the Video for the HD tv is stunning! BluRay looks AMAZING on it!

Cheers!

Disc Jockey

You can not send HD audio over optical, which is the only way you can hook up the Denon to the PS3. You get a higher bitrate DD, which the Denon interprets as DTS. You should notice an improvement in sound, but it won't be the full uncompressed audio You will need HDMI hookup for that from the PS3, or you can use a BDP with 5.1 analog outs.

MrNightly

So the denon is the weak link? I have hdmi from the ps3 to TV, but you are right, I only have fiber optic from the ps3 to the denon. The denon doesn't support hdmi I fear.

So I can not truly get hd audio from bluray yet? Do I need a new avr? Or is the ps3 the actual issue?

Thanks!

Conradicles

You can get a new AVR or BR player that sends the new HD sound formats via analog 7.1 outs.

Or just enjoy good ol' DD and DTS via the optical.

Disc Jockey

MrNightly wrote: »

Do I need a new avr? Or is the ps3 the actual issue?

Thanks!

Depends on how you look at it, but you will need a new AVR or BDP as conradicles said.

Sherardp

If you're ok with PIoneer Elite, the SC-05 would be excellent bang for buck or Onkyo. If you like the Denon sound, 3808 should last you a long time. Sadly all this HDMI stuff requires you to upgrade to really enjoy it.

MrNightly

Sherardp wrote: »

If you're ok with PIoneer Elite, the SC-05 would be excellent bang for buck or Onkyo. If you like the Denon sound, 3808 should last you a long time. Sadly all this HDMI stuff requires you to upgrade to really enjoy it.

Oh great. More upgrades in the future I see!

I do like my Denon. However, I am hardly utilizing it to it's fullest potential, as I only run Audio thru it. Wouldn't a pre-pro do just the same? Are there are pre-pro's that have the afore mentioned BluRay technology?

Here I thought I was close to being set with gear too. Oh well. I know the 3805 will have great resale value so I'm not worried.

danger boy

your Denon should have analog inputs, right? so all you need then is a blu ray player with analog outputs. and not a new AVR. it would be less expensive that way.

that's what I did.. instead of buying a new AVR and in my case an new TV too only to get HDMI, I instead went with a BD player with analog outs. problemo solved.

and yeah sorry to say.. uncompressed audio sounds as good as your TV looks. amazing.

DTS Master audio rocks!

MrNightly

danger boy wrote: »

your Denon should have analog inputs, right? so all you need then is a blu ray player with analog outputs. and not a new AVR. it would be less expensive that way.

that's what I did.. instead of buying a new AVR and in my case an new TV too only to get HDMI, I instead went with a BD player with analog outs. problemo solved

Yes it does have analog inputs I believe. PCM?

I obviously am not educated on the new bluray technology as I always thought Digital sound was the way to go.

What bluray do you recommend? and what analog cable is recommended?

danger boy

a very popular blu ray player is the Sony S-550 it has the analog outputs to your Denon. I think the Sony goes for about $300 give or take depending on the deal you can find.

that way the blu ray player is doing the decoding of all the audio formats and your AVR just has to sit there and be happy.

i'm not sure about the digital to analog conversion, but BD players with analog outs were designed for bozo's like me who don't like to upgrade every other year every time a new audio format comes out.

As for analog cables.. just three pairs (6 cables) of your favorite brand from the player to your Denon and you'll be set. that will give you 5.1 uncompressed sound as well as the other more established formats of DD and DTS core channels.

MrNightly

danger boy wrote: »

a very popular blu ray player is the Sony S-550 it has the analog outputs to your Denon. I think the Sony goes for about $300 give or take depending on the deal you can find.

that way the blu ray player is doing the decoding of all the audio formats and your AVR just has to sit there and be happy.

i'm not sure about the digital to analog conversion, but BD players with analog outs were designed for bozo's like me who don't like to upgrade every other year every time a new audio format comes out.

As for analog cables.. just three pairs (6 cables) of your favorite brand from the player to your Denon and you'll be set. that will give you 5.1 uncompressed sound as well as the other more established formats of DD and DTS core channels.

Awesome info. Thank you!

I will keep my eyes open for a sony now... maybe in a few months snag one if the price drops.

Cheers!

danger boy

Sure no problemo.

I think LG and Samsung also have players with analog outs on da cheap.

Panasonic is suppose to release a slew of new generation players next month (April). With each new generation of BD players, the load time is diminished.

cheddar

MrNightly wrote: »

Yes it does have analog inputs I believe. PCM?

I obviously am not educated on the new bluray technology as I always thought Digital sound was the way to go.

What bluray do you recommend? and what analog cable is recommended?

PCM is the main digital 'language' AVRs speak. Uncompressed PCM is just the original PCM master recording without anything stripped out to make it a smaller file.

TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are digital compression 'languages' that reduce the PCM to a smaller file size. These 'languages' need to be 'translated' (decoded) back into the original PCM in order for the AVR to use them.

This translation can either happen in the player or the AVR. The ps3 only has the player translation option. But all of the above happens in the digital domain and is 'lossless', so no information is lost at each of these conversion steps either in the player or the AVR. But you have to have HDMI in order to move the large amount of digital information with digital rights management (DRM copy protection).

For equipment without HDMI, you can have the player do the additional step of analog conversion and dump the results to the analog outs to the AVR. This step is usually the last step in the AVR as all the other processing is done digitally to the PCM. But speakers are analog beasts and wouldn't know what to do with a digital signal. So the last 'translation' step is digital to analog. If additional processing is required, the AVR must convert the analog results from the player back into digital again. But each analog translation step is no longer 'lossless' digital and some interpretation must be done by the DAC chips every time you make the switch. That's why the quality of the DAC chips are especially important to audiophiles as they will impart their own 'sound' to the mix. And unless you have an uber high quality (expensive) player, the DAC chips in your AVR are probably better than the ones in your player. That's why you paid the big bucks for the AVR in the first place ...

Hope this helps get you up to speed.

MrNightly

cheddar wrote: »

PCM is the main digital 'language' AVRs speak. Uncompressed PCM is just the original PCM master recording without anything stripped out to make it a smaller file.

TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are digital compression 'languages' that reduce the PCM to a smaller file size. These 'languages' need to be 'translated' (decoded) back into the original PCM in order for the AVR to use them.

This translation can either happen in the player or the AVR. The ps3 only has the player translation option. But all of the above happens in the digital domain and is 'lossless', so no information is lost at each of these conversion steps either in the player or the AVR. But you have to have HDMI in order to move the large amount of digital information with digital rights management (DRM copy protection).

For equipment without HDMI, you can have the player do the additional step of analog conversion and dump the results to the analog outs to the AVR. This step is usually the last step in the AVR as all the other processing is done digitally to the PCM. But speakers are analog beasts and wouldn't know what to do with a digital signal. So the last 'translation' step is digital to analog. If additional processing is required, the AVR must convert the analog results from the player back into digital again. But each analog translation step is no longer 'lossless' digital and some interpretation must be done by the DAC chips every time you make the switch. That's why the quality of the DAC chips are especially important to audiophiles as they will impart their own 'sound' to the mix. And unless you have an uber high quality (expensive) player, the DAC chips in your AVR are probably better than the ones in your player. That's why you paid the big bucks for the AVR in the first place ...

Hope this helps get you up to speed.

Very informative. Unfortunately it's not in the budget for get a new AVR this year I think.. so a BluRay player will have to do.

BUT... it gives me something to look forward to right?! New AVR!!! Yah!!!