Blu-ray HD audio - which players?

[HD Library]

Multi-channel Audio for HD
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/20 ... nnel_a.php

[Richard]

To get the highest audio bit rate out of a Blu-ray player the player must support either Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio or both.

Not exactly... This is a confusing point that needs to be cleared up. In order of quality

#4 No matter what Blu-ray player you buy you will get sound and it will be better than DVD even when using SD digital audio connections.

#3 If your Blu-ray player has analog multi-channel outputs check your specs and manual to make sure that the higher codecs like DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD are actually supported rather than down converted. Even then, analog is not the best but better than down conversion to SD digital audio.

#2 PCM multi-channel digital audio via HDMI. By passes all the nasty stuff when using analog and requires a PCM HDMI compatible receiver. Many of these also down convert DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. CHECK YOUR SPECS for player and receiver! An ISF client just bought a new model receiver with HDMI but it had no digital audio HDMI support, at all.

#1 bit stream digital audio via HDMI and requires an HDMI receiver loaded with all the new HD audio codecs. No catch 22's I know of... yet...

The PS3 is formidable! It is the only piece of equipment I have owned that improved over time in my 26 years; for everthing else I owned the original features, benefits and performance envelope remained as is. All PS3's were equipped with HDMI 1.3 connections so it is a matter of choice for Sony and product capability to get the machine to support everything.

Seems bit stream HD audio is all that's left!

[stevekaden]

The PS3 definitely is a powerhouse. The processor may be tough to learn by the game industry, but Sony's engineers are really proving what muti-core can do - and it does seem like about anything they want. And they have been giving that to the customers in a reasonable clip.

It be nice if some aftermarket company (if not Sony) could build a fanned shell and solve the astetic issue that seems to bother so many people. (and toss in a remote IR to RF converter).

[allargon]

To get the highest audio bit rate out of a Blu-ray player the player must support either Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio or both.

Not exactly... This is a confusing point that needs to be cleared up. In order of quality

#4 No matter what Blu-ray player you buy you will get sound and it will be better than DVD even when using SD digital audio connections.

#3 If your Blu-ray player has analog multi-channel outputs check your specs and manual to make sure that the higher codecs like DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD are actually supported rather than down converted. Even then, analog is not the best but better than down conversion to SD digital audio.

#2 PCM multi-channel digital audio via HDMI. By passes all the nasty stuff when using analog and requires a PCM HDMI compatible receiver. Many of these also down convert DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. CHECK YOUR SPECS for player and receiver! An ISF client just bought a new model receiver with HDMI but it had no digital audio HDMI support, at all.

#1 bit stream digital audio via HDMI and requires an HDMI receiver loaded with all the new HD audio codecs. No catch 22's I know of... yet...

The PS3 is formidable! It is the only piece of equipment I have owned that improved over time in my 26 years; for everthing else I owned the original features, benefits and performance envelope remained as is. All PS3's were equipped with HDMI 1.3 connections so it is a matter of choice for Sony and product capability to get the machine to support everything.

Seems bit stream HD audio is all that's left!

Nah... Bitstream is only necessary for DTS-MA tracks. I can't believe no one mentioned PCM on the disc for lossless audio like Lionsgate, Disney and some Sony movies use instead of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA. All Blu-Ray (and HD DVD) players support PCM. Most current Blu-Ray standalones except the Sony BDP-S300 will internally decode Dolby TrueHD to PCM over HDMI or play it out of its analog ports. BTW, currently all Blu-Ray standalones have 5.1 analog outs (until the Denon surfaces).

DTS-MA is an issue with Fox movies, a few indy titles as well as European imports. Without the bitstream option, currently most players are limited to hearing only the 1.5 Mbps (still very nice) DTS core.

HDMI audio receivers? Oy... Even $1500 Cambridge Audio receivers only do HDMI pass-through. On that note, I say research before purchasing. Onkyo and Sony make it easy. Any model that starts with a 5, e.g. the Sony STR-DG510 or the Onkyo TX-SR505 only do (video) pass through whereas the higher end models (e.g., STR-DG610 and TX-SR605) accept PCM audio over HDMI.

Catch-22 with bitstream? PiP audio doesn't quite work as well. I don't own a Panny BD-30. however, I'm told it can internally down mix the audio to Dolby Digital or DTS to listen to the dialog of PiP. However, that doesn't give you lossless audio. I'm not sure how it works with the LG BH200 which is currently the only other standalone capable of profile 1.1.

[Richard]

Thanks for the additional input and the bit stream PIP catch 22, forgot that. Denon makes receivers with full HDMI support.