Compressed --> Loseless Converts

[dborgill]

I had an old HTIB receiver that worked pretty well for 7 years of the DVD era. Well, I bit the bullet and got a new Marantz SR-4003. If ANYONE is debating whether to go to a new receiver even though you don't have the best speakers, STOP HESITATING! It's night and day going from compressed audio to uncompressed audio. I watched Ratatouille and Transformers last night. WOW!

Now... please list me your FAVE Blu-Rays rated by audio quality!

[Bobby Henderson]

The Marantz SR-4003 is a 7.1 channel receiver. But it doesn't feature built in Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD decoding (it decodes lossy Dolby EX and DTS-ES formats).

That's not necessarily a bad thing if you have a PS3 or Blu-ray player that can internally decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD and output it as multi-channel LPCM.

I'll also say there's a significant difference in moving up from a HTIB device to a setup controlled by a more powerful AV receiver. You're going to hear a quality difference even when playing the same lossy DD and DTS tracks.

[dborgill]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

The Marantz SR-4003 is a 7.1 channel receiver. But it doesn't feature built in Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD decoding (it decodes lossy Dolby EX and DTS-ES formats).

That's not necessarily a bad thing if you have a PS3 or Blu-ray player that can internally decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD and output it as multi-channel LPCM.

I'll also say there's a significant difference in moving up from a HTIB device to a setup controlled by a more powerful AV receiver. You're going to hear a quality difference even when playing the same lossy DD and DTS tracks.

Yes, I realized that when I bought it. I have a PS3 so I knew what I was getting into. It's night and day with my old receiver. I am very happy for the price I got it for.

[JunkBoy]

I don't know what speakers you have but if they're as old as your previous receiver and you were wowed with that upgrade...you'll likely be double wowed and blown away with a speaker upgrade too! Like you I sat on my SD HT system for a good 15 years (1990-2005 VHS, SVHS, LD to DVD) and went HD (TV & receiver) in 06. I was wowed then and thought life was all good but it wasn't...I lived with my previous speakers until earlier this year when I upgraded them (5.1 out of the 7.1 at least) and the difference has truly been night and day. Whether it be lossless or lossy Dolby & DTS it all sounds incredibly good on BD!

[alexakajeff]

Originally Posted by dborgill

I had an old HTIB receiver that worked pretty well for 7 years of the DVD era. Well, I bit the bullet and got a new Marantz SR-4003. If ANYONE is debating whether to go to a new receiver even though you don't have the best speakers, STOP HESITATING! It's night and day going from compressed audio to uncompressed audio. I watched Ratatouille and Transformers last night. WOW!

Now... please list me your FAVE Blu-Rays rated by audio quality!

30 Days of Night
The Exorcism of Emily Rose

[Clark Kent]

Live Free or Die Hard is a sonic marvel on Blu-ray.

[dborgill]

Originally Posted by JunkBoy

I don't know what speakers you have but if they're as old as your previous receiver and you were wowed with that upgrade...you'll likely be double wowed and blown away with a speaker upgrade too! Like you I sat on my SD HT system for a good 15 years (1990-2005 VHS, SVHS, LD to DVD) and went HD (TV & receiver) in 06. I was wowed then and thought life was all good but it wasn't...I lived with my previous speakers until earlier this year when I upgraded them (5.1 out of the 7.1 at least) and the difference has truly been night and day. Whether it be lossless or lossy Dolby & DTS it all sounds incredibly good on BD!

I can only imagine

One thing at a time as my wife is growing impatient with my HT purchases!

Thanks - Keep the audio suggestions coming!

[Sith]

Originally Posted by dborgill

I had an old HTIB receiver that worked pretty well for 7 years of the DVD era. Well, I bit the bullet and got a new Marantz SR-4003. If ANYONE is debating whether to go to a new receiver even though you don't have the best speakers, STOP HESITATING! It's night and day going from compressed audio to uncompressed audio. I watched Ratatouille and Transformers last night. WOW!

Now... please list me your FAVE Blu-Rays rated by audio quality!

Rambo, Underworld, Doors was cool...Nin is a must

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Live Free or Die Hard is a sonic marvel on Blu-ray.

Agreed. This is my reference disc.

I also watched Rambo for the first time on Blu-ray. The AQ was amazing on that one, too.

[Streaker76]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

The Marantz SR-4003 is a 7.1 channel receiver. But it doesn't feature built in Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD decoding (it decodes lossy Dolby EX and DTS-ES formats).

That's not necessarily a bad thing if you have a PS3 or Blu-ray player that can internally decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD and output it as multi-channel LPCM.

I'll also say there's a significant difference in moving up from a HTIB device to a setup controlled by a more powerful AV receiver. You're going to hear a quality difference even when playing the same lossy DD and DTS tracks.

I have a Marantz SR8002 and a PS3. Am I going to hear a difference between a bitstream or a the PS3 decoding? There is always this talk that there's no difference between PCM and Bitstream. Just wondering if you've actually know or heard the difference or tested it? You would think that a 2000 dollar receiver would have a better decoder than a PS3 that's only 400 dollars.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Streaker76

I have a Marantz SR8002 and a PS3. Am I going to hear a difference between a bitstream or a the PS3 decoding? There is always this talk that there's no difference between PCM and Bitstream. Just wondering if you've actually know or heard the difference or tested it? You would think that a 2000 dollar receiver would have a better decoder than a PS3 that's only 400 dollars.

I used a PS3 for a year before picking up a player that can bitstream the HD codecs. Before doing so, I believed that there would be no difference. After recently picking up a dedicated player that can bitstream, I've realized how wrong I am. There's much more depth to the sound field and side to side/front to rear panning. The PS3 is now doing secondary blu-ray duty in my game room. So I'd have to say the proof is in the pudding.

[Streaker76]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

I used a PS3 for a year before picking up a player that can bitstream the HD codecs. Before doing so, I believed that there would be no difference. After recently picking up a dedicated player that can bitstream, I've realized how wrong I am. There's much more depth to the sound field and side to side/front to rear panning. The PS3 is now doing secondary blu-ray duty in my game room. So I'd have to say the proof is in the pudding.

I'm thinking of getting a sony S350 or panny 30k and trying it out with my PS3 and actually sitting back and testing to see... I really am curious. If i can get a panny 30k refurb I just going to pick it up anyway.

[upswiseass]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Live Free or Die Hard is a sonic marvel on Blu-ray.

Couldn't agree more.

[Canada]

if you have a Blu Ray player/ PS3 you really need a new receiver to fully appriciate Blu Ray in my opinion.

Best Sounding Blu Ray's

Casino Royale
Pirates of the Caribbean 1,2,3
Live Free or Die Hard
Top Gun (DTS MA)
Black Hawk Down
Ratatouille ( Surpriesed how much it had going on in audio department, it still has some of the lowest bass I have ever heard, did not expect this from a (great) childrens film.

[owa]

Here are a few that I thought had great audio...

Live Free or Die Hard
I, Robot
Master and Commander
Black Hawk Down
Cars
Rambo
ID4
Sunshine
The Orphanage
The Day After Tomorrow

[UltimateFighter]

Originally Posted by Streaker76

I have a Marantz SR8002 and a PS3. Am I going to hear a difference between a bitstream or a the PS3 decoding? There is always this talk that there's no difference between PCM and Bitstream. Just wondering if you've actually know or heard the difference or tested it? You would think that a 2000 dollar receiver would have a better decoder than a PS3 that's only 400 dollars.

Actually the PS3 has 10x the decoding power of most receivers. The Cell processor is hailed as one of the best decoders out there. I seriously doubt any receiver can rival it.

[dborgill]

Excellent. Thanks for all your replies. Yeah, after watching the last 15 minutes of Transformers last night, I'd love to find something that sounds even better. That blew me away.

[Pelican170]

Cloverfield or Master and Commander are excellent