Blue Ray / HDMI / Receiver Question

HDMI is the preferred connection, as its the only digital connection that will carry the new audio formats.
Your receiver doesn't necessarily need to be capable of processing these audio formats... but your player then will need to to output them.
From your receiver, all you really do is send video to the TV. No audio is necessary. Some HT enthusiasts argue the component cable produces just as good a picture as HDMI, but at the cost of 3 cables instead of 1. At that point it's up to you.

whats your budget for a receiver? all the new HD audio codecs are being released on the new lines of receivers and at budget prices.

2 to look at are:
Pioneer VSX-1018
Yamaha RX-V663

kevhed72 wrote: »

All-right...I believe I have this figured out via all the good existing threads on this site. If you have a newer receiver with HDMI inputs / outputs, then you can simply route a Blue Ray player to the receiver via an HDMI connection (and any other outputs such as 5.1/7.1 analog on the Blue Ray are not needed). I am assuming the HDMI is the preferred connection, in terms on quality of sound.

When purchasing a Blue Ray and Receiver, you want to ensure the receiver decodes all the different audio "formats" if the HDMI is routed from Player -> Receiver -> TV. Does this make sense? I guess some of the "fun" of this hobby is figuring all this out before purchasing the equipment...

Since you appear to be buying everything new, don't go looking for analog out compatiblity unless you need it for another purpose. You are correct that HDMI is the connection these pieces of equipment are designed to work with best (for example, some equipment omits analog outs entirely or only have 5.1 outs even if they're capable of passing 7.1 via hdmi). The most important thing is not whether the decoding happens in the receiver or the player. You should be looking at other features such as amplification requirements, sound quality of the digitial processing, and video upconversion/hdmi switching on the receiver side and video/upconversion quality and features you want (such as PIP commentary and internet connectivity) on the player side.

Once you decide on a range of players and receivers, then it's a relatively easy task of choosing two pieces that mesh together to access the lossless audio.

1. Decoding in either the receiver or player.
2. HDMI connection between the two that passes decoded PCM from the player if decoding happens there. Also double check that the receiver can accept PCM. Most do.
3. HDMI connection between the two that passes bitstream from the player if decoding happens in the receiver. You'll have a better chance to get this from new blu-ray players recently released.

kevhed72 wrote: »

Schicks18 - My budget is around the 1200.00 range for a receiver, but it could go a bit either way pending on features and ability to run LSi speakers...I am attempting to build an HT system for the long-haul. I started building one about 8 years ago, then got married, dogs, kids, and it never materialized.

Hi Kev (again),

You may want to take a look at an older AVR with HDMI inputs, instead of a "bleeding edge" unit. Most BD players will output (almost all) of the new HD audio formats via PCM through HDMI. You don't need HDMI 1.3 to get this functionality. In fact, most BD players will not bitstream the HD audio sources into a new receiver, even if the AVR WILL decode the new format. Basically, the BD player must either decode the new HD audio format and convert it into PCM (which will pass through HDMI 1.1, 1.2 and/or 1.3), or the player must pass the "raw" data via bitstream to the AVR, which will then decode it, if it has that capability. (Most do not have that capability.) So, what's the best interim solution for BD (IMHO, of course)? Buy a PS3 (20, 40, 60 or 80Gb will do) and a HDMI 1.1 AVR. Put the extra money into the bank and wait until BD comes completely of age, and will decode or bitstream ALL of the new audio codecs, including DTS-Master HD.

Sort of like what HD DVD players did on day one.

There is a great thread on AVSForum entitled "Future proof AVR's" that's worth a read.