Which make/model Blu-Ray players have high bit rate audio?
Blu-ray HD audio - which players?
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If you mean output to HDMI. As far as I know - ALL freestanding players and the PS3 do. It's the standard.
To find out particulars, like which output it as PCM vs. raw Bitstream vs. decode internally and output to the 5.1/7.1 audio outputs you will need to do a little research. Company websites and questions to forums like these - but it would help to narrrow it to a brand/model that has caught your eye and fits in your budget.
To find out particulars, like which output it as PCM vs. raw Bitstream vs. decode internally and output to the 5.1/7.1 audio outputs you will need to do a little research. Company websites and questions to forums like these - but it would help to narrrow it to a brand/model that has caught your eye and fits in your budget.
How about Samsung BDP-1400? It's one of few that seem to have good reviews and yet not as expensive as most BD players.
I am not real solid in the BR players. I only potentially own a BR player. I have a used Panasonic D..something..30 on the way. Got it for about half street retail - $300. To really get into each player, you should go to AVSFORUM.COM and go to the HD area, then the BluRay player area and look for a Samsung 1400 thread.
Problem is....there is just a massive amount of letters there. Sometimes, I just go to end, explain I can't read 500 entries, and ask for opinions. Best to state what equipment you are going to mix with. For example, I would not be able to get this Panasonic to output any advanced audio except with a new HDMI receiver that has the new decoders. A few people made that clear for me.
Good luck!
Problem is....there is just a massive amount of letters there. Sometimes, I just go to end, explain I can't read 500 entries, and ask for opinions. Best to state what equipment you are going to mix with. For example, I would not be able to get this Panasonic to output any advanced audio except with a new HDMI receiver that has the new decoders. A few people made that clear for me.
Good luck!
You're probably referring to the Panny DMP-BD30K. Nice unit with just the features I want except,,,,,,,an ethernet connection. I already have the Toshiba A35 hooked to up to my router for updates and I want a BD player that will update just as conveniently. The Samsung unit has the ethernet. Actually I got the answer to my original question from one of my other forums (HTF) and those two BD units seem to be the most popular - or maybe I should say of a reasonable price range. Good price for yours by the way. I found the Samsung for just a little over $300 - both units have good and bad points according to all the reviews I've read but the ethernet feature gets my vote hands down. I just got a new HDMI receiver - that's the very reason I was asking the question.
Thanks anyway
Thanks anyway
Yes...I have a history in HD DVD players, and no doubt the built in in net connection is super convienient.
Off the subject, but even better is DISH Network's receiver's built in power line home network - you just plug the power in to a non filtered socket - and if you have source unit - $30 at Fry's - you're up. And it's self configuring and fast: 85mb. I started using them a lot, stable, fast and no need for cat drops nor wifi adaptors ($$).
I am not technologically challenged, but CD burning can be tedious. I mean, in an era of 64gb thumb drives...plastic seems so ancient.
Oh well - maybe I should have shopped a bit more - it was a real impulse buy, I was still in mourning for HD DVD (and just a little bit regretting my HW/SW, uh, investment).
Off the subject, but even better is DISH Network's receiver's built in power line home network - you just plug the power in to a non filtered socket - and if you have source unit - $30 at Fry's - you're up. And it's self configuring and fast: 85mb. I started using them a lot, stable, fast and no need for cat drops nor wifi adaptors ($$).
I am not technologically challenged, but CD burning can be tedious. I mean, in an era of 64gb thumb drives...plastic seems so ancient.
Oh well - maybe I should have shopped a bit more - it was a real impulse buy, I was still in mourning for HD DVD (and just a little bit regretting my HW/SW, uh, investment).
Why not try a PS3?
I had thought of it, but to get the SACD it would have cost more (80gb system), the remote has to 'built' to use with a typical all-in-one IR remote, you can't stack on it, and some percentage of them are noisy.
"you can't stack on it,"
Yeah, the shape of it wouldn't work at all with my setup. I also read it doesn't quite have have the features as a stand alone. I'm not a gamer anyway,,,,
Yeah, the shape of it wouldn't work at all with my setup. I also read it doesn't quite have have the features as a stand alone. I'm not a gamer anyway,,,,
LOL..."not a gamer"...tell that to the few million people who bought it for BluRay only!!! It's what won the war (IMHO). And that is now drawing the non-gamers into - you guessed it - buying games.
Killer marketing by Sony.
I understand though, I am not a gamer and the thought of having it in the house sort of subliminally bugs me. Not that we don't have a Wii for the exercise value!
I think others might argue that it is lacking in features compared to stand alones. It has a lot of fans. Very aggressive ones at that.
Killer marketing by Sony.
I understand though, I am not a gamer and the thought of having it in the house sort of subliminally bugs me. Not that we don't have a Wii for the exercise value!
I think others might argue that it is lacking in features compared to stand alones. It has a lot of fans. Very aggressive ones at that.
Can you download movie trailers and other videos with a stand alone player? Can a stand alone player interface with an iPod or link to a media server? It's more than just a game platform or BD player.
If you mean output to HDMI. As far as I know - ALL freestanding players and the PS3 do. It's the standard.
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. While they were part of the HD DVD standard, they are optional in BR. So if your player doesn't support either of these formats you will never get the maximum audio bit rate, over HDMI, that the format is capable of.
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. While they were part of the HD DVD standard, they are optional in BR. So if your player doesn't support either of these formats you will never get the maximum audio bit rate, over HDMI, that the format is capable of.
The ps3 can have lots of features. It could do the dishes too...but if it is not astetically acceptable, or for one reason or another not physically acceptable - all the great features in the world won't win the day. Reminds me of the Dodge Viper. Amazing, but about as ugly as I could imagine.
Personally I could be motivated to go either way (assuming no fan noise issue) - as far as my lifestyle though I will be buying many more devices before I give up the ghost. This cycle it was not a PS3. As for others, for all the positives, I have read a number of people who simply hate the way it looks, or less maturely hate Sony.
Personally I could be motivated to go either way (assuming no fan noise issue) - as far as my lifestyle though I will be buying many more devices before I give up the ghost. This cycle it was not a PS3. As for others, for all the positives, I have read a number of people who simply hate the way it looks, or less maturely hate Sony.
If you mean output to HDMI. As far as I know - ALL freestanding players and the PS3 do. It's the standard.
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. While they were part of the HD DVD standard, they are optional in BR. So if your player doesn't support either of these formats you will never get the maximum audio bit rate, over HDMI, that the format is capable of.
Okay, I stand corrected. Thanks for pointing that out. While I spent a lot of HD Dvd time, I have not bothered with BR yet. There are a lot of subtleties....hell of a way to try and gather up the common customers!
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. While they were part of the HD DVD standard, they are optional in BR. So if your player doesn't support either of these formats you will never get the maximum audio bit rate, over HDMI, that the format is capable of.
Okay, I stand corrected. Thanks for pointing that out. While I spent a lot of HD Dvd time, I have not bothered with BR yet. There are a lot of subtleties....hell of a way to try and gather up the common customers!
Mine sits in the closet on it's own shelf so I could care less what it looks like as long as it performs.
And while the current PS3 software only supports Dolby TrueHD there is no reason it can't be upgraded to send DTS-MA (bitstream at least). Upgrades are done via the internet and take 15 minutes.
I think most PS3/BD haters really just despise Sony for whatever reason. And while that's perfectly fine for making personal purchase decisions it should not carry over into objective product comparisons.
And while the current PS3 software only supports Dolby TrueHD there is no reason it can't be upgraded to send DTS-MA (bitstream at least). Upgrades are done via the internet and take 15 minutes.
I think most PS3/BD haters really just despise Sony for whatever reason. And while that's perfectly fine for making personal purchase decisions it should not carry over into objective product comparisons.
" I think most PS3/BD haters" ???
Hate is a strong word. Yes I know fanboys and their attitudes but I think the bulk of the world keeps hatred to more animate objects (beings). Or I hope so anyway. Objective comparisons do include astetics - and function - and practical all without emotion.
What you are saying here is you put yours in a closet. I will suppose you have a reason for that. Let's now say, someone else has the exact same motivations, and no closet. They might very well give up some neat features, to have a plain box, or they like the blue display, or ??
No hatred, just practical or astetic issues.
BTW, Personally I would be disappointed to not have DTS-MA, I have always felt DTS did a better job. And while I have faith in downloads and upgrades (at least by computers and Toshiba for HD DVD)...if I were a less faithful or technical person, that might have been a deal killer.
Hate is a strong word. Yes I know fanboys and their attitudes but I think the bulk of the world keeps hatred to more animate objects (beings). Or I hope so anyway. Objective comparisons do include astetics - and function - and practical all without emotion.
What you are saying here is you put yours in a closet. I will suppose you have a reason for that. Let's now say, someone else has the exact same motivations, and no closet. They might very well give up some neat features, to have a plain box, or they like the blue display, or ??
No hatred, just practical or astetic issues.
BTW, Personally I would be disappointed to not have DTS-MA, I have always felt DTS did a better job. And while I have faith in downloads and upgrades (at least by computers and Toshiba for HD DVD)...if I were a less faithful or technical person, that might have been a deal killer.
There are a lot of people who actually do seem to "hate" Sony, BD and PS3s - I've seen a few on here recently. My comments weren't directed at you personally.
I put all of my equipment in a closet on the left side of my theater because it keeps the area around the TV cleaner and gives me easier access to all of the wiring. It has nothing to do with aesthetics. I understand not being able to stack a ps3 with other HT equipment if shelf space is limited, but from an aesthetic point of view I actually like the styling.
I also prefer DTS over DD although right now I don't have HDMI connections so I can't take advantage of DTS-MA anyway. But I believe the PS3 will be able to keep up with internet firmware upgrades.
I put all of my equipment in a closet on the left side of my theater because it keeps the area around the TV cleaner and gives me easier access to all of the wiring. It has nothing to do with aesthetics. I understand not being able to stack a ps3 with other HT equipment if shelf space is limited, but from an aesthetic point of view I actually like the styling.
I also prefer DTS over DD although right now I don't have HDMI connections so I can't take advantage of DTS-MA anyway. But I believe the PS3 will be able to keep up with internet firmware upgrades.
DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby True HD are equivalent lossless codecs supporting 24/96 up to the 8 channels specified by Blu-ray or HD DVD. We call those 8 channels 7.1
Beyond that
Dolby True HD can support up to 14 channels at 24/96
DTS-HD Master Audio can support 8 channels of 24/192.
Beyond that
Dolby True HD can support up to 14 channels at 24/96
DTS-HD Master Audio can support 8 channels of 24/192.
Again, thanks for the correction. I guess I will just have to study BR before I put my foot in my mouth again. I have read some on the audio formats, but did not realize that DTS was not 'fully' implemented in the sense of the higher bit rate in BR.
Now that I have a BR, and will have a new receiver in a few days, (and then some absorber panels)...I will finally be able to give it all some listening tests.
And pledge to shut up until I get the facts down!
Thanks all - for the patience.
Now that I have a BR, and will have a new receiver in a few days, (and then some absorber panels)...I will finally be able to give it all some listening tests.
And pledge to shut up until I get the facts down!
Thanks all - for the patience.
Either one at 24/96 will equal the studio, bit for bit.
I don't know for a fact that Blu-ray supports 24/192 but from what I understand it is part and parcel of claiming DTS-HD Master Audio capability. As always the first part of the puzzle is even finding a disc with multi-channel 24/192 on it... not sure they even use 24/192 in the studio... yet anyway...
Bear in mind DVD Audio supported only 24/96 in multi-channel mode. SACD was the only one that could claim 24/192 potential and quality with multi-channel.
I don't know for a fact that Blu-ray supports 24/192 but from what I understand it is part and parcel of claiming DTS-HD Master Audio capability. As always the first part of the puzzle is even finding a disc with multi-channel 24/192 on it... not sure they even use 24/192 in the studio... yet anyway...
Bear in mind DVD Audio supported only 24/96 in multi-channel mode. SACD was the only one that could claim 24/192 potential and quality with multi-channel.
Multi-channel Audio for HD
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/20 ... nnel_a.php
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/20 ... nnel_a.php
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!
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).
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).
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.
Thanks for the additional input and the bit stream PIP catch 22, forgot that. Denon makes receivers with full HDMI support.