Need suggestions

[Jwknow]

I'm ready to buy a sony bluray s550 but have doubts about getting the max out of it with my simple existing set up. I have a 3 year old Sony dav-fx80 theater in a box 5.1 system & samsung 42" plasma. How should I hook it up to this antique (still works perfect) to get the best picture & sound without having to start from scratch? Should I go with a simpler blue-ray unit?
I really just want to enjoy HD DVD's great picture & sound. If not, what are your suggestions? Would really love to get imput from those out there that know their stuff.
Thanks Everybody!!!

[JessR]

how about just getting a ps3

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by JessR

how about just getting a ps3
[]

How does that help him???????


OP, You'll want to hook up the Blu-ray player to the Tv via HDMI for video, and Fiber-Optic cable to your HTIB for audio.....

get your cables at monoprice.com

[Deadset]

With the receiver mentioned above and the blu-ray player you are going to buy, both have HDMI.

You won't be able to get TrueHD audio, but you should be able to connect the bluray player to the receiver or your Plasma TV.

Configurations I've had are:

Player ------> TV (using HDMI or component cable for video)
Player ------> Receiver (using optical or coax cable for audio)

With your setup, you should be able to achieve this, since your recv. has optical and coax connections.

For video, you should be setup, the biggest limitation your receiver has is won't handle trueHD audio. Mine doesn't either, but I enjoy my pseudo audio and great picture

[Driver_King]

The best you could get with your current system is lossy 5.1. You could also get 2 channel lossless with your system but that's about it. Read here to learn more.

[kpkelley]

I wouldn't go with a simpler unit just because of an old htib. You don't want to limit any future upgrades that you may make on your reciever.

Speaking of receiver's, you may want to look into a cheap receiver with analog inputs. That blu-ray player internally decode hd audio codecs and send them to a player via analog, so a modern receiver isn't a necessity. The only concern I would have with a new receiver is the ohm rating of the speakers included in the sony htib. If the speakers are 4 or 8 ohm impedance than finding a compatible receiver wouldn't be much of an issue, 6 or 2 ohm speakers could prove troublesome.

Ultimately my advice is to not short change yourself in the future by settling for something now. The S550 is a very good player and nearly as future-proof as any player available.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

With the receiver mentioned above and the blu-ray player you are going to buy, both have HDMI.

You won't be able to get TrueHD audio, but you should be able to connect the bluray player to the receiver or your Plasma TV.

Configurations I've had are:

Player ------> TV (using HDMI or component cable for video)
Player ------> Receiver (using optical or coax cable for audio)

With your setup, you should be able to achieve this, since your recv. has optical and coax connections.

For video, you should be setup, the biggest limitation your receiver has is won't handle trueHD audio. Mine doesn't either, but I enjoy my pseudo audio and great picture

Ok, my unfamiliarity with the products may mean I'm missing something but:

1. The receiver can accept HDMI audio.
2. The receiver cannot decode HD codecs.
3. The player can decode HD codecs according to the stat page.

So... player > receiver > HDTV via HDMI. Set the player to send out PCM/decode. Voila, you get HD codecs.


...right? (or am I missing something?) *edit* Oh wait... it can't pass them via HDMI, can it?

[Hammie]

That might really be overkill for what you have. From what I could find, it only supports TosLink or Coax audio in. That means no HD audio. Most people get the 550 for the analog audio out ports. What is your budget? You can get a Sony 350 and Onkyo 606 for about $575.

An option is the Panasonic BD35 and Onkyo for about $20 less.

You were willing to spend about $350 on the Sony 550 so why not look to do a little more and get a real upgrade.

Then for about $300 more, you can get the Polk RM6750 speakers.

God, I love spending other peoples money about as much as I love spending my own.

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by aramis109

...right? (or am I missing something?) *edit* Oh wait... it can't pass them via HDMI, can it?

no it cannot

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

no it cannot

Yeah just realized that.

OP- without analog or HDMI inputs on your receiver, why not go with the s350 or another model? Then, as previously mentioned you can put that money towards a different receiver and speakers. It's another option.

Otherwise, get the s350 (again, no reason to get the s550 that I can see in your situation) and enjoy the great picture and just use lossy audio. You can then upgrade later if you prefer.

[Jwknow]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Yeah just realized that.

OP- without analog or HDMI inputs on your receiver, why not go with the s350 or another model? Then, as previously mentioned you can put that money towards a different receiver and speakers. It's another option.

Otherwise, get the s350 (again, no reason to get the s550 that I can see in your situation) and enjoy the great picture and just use lossy audio. You can then upgrade later if you prefer.

Great advice everyone. I checked the specs on the s350 vs s550. How important is 720p video resolution and upconversion missing on the 350?
The TV is a Samsung HP-R4272. Also, analog output diff. from 2.0 to 7.1 is now a mute point since the receiver has such limitations, correct?
Please forgive my ignorance.

Thanks Again everybody

[Driver_King]

Upconversion of DVD's shouldn't be a problem nor should the 7.1 analog outs. You could still get HD audio codecs when you upgrade your receiver with the
S350 via HDMI so the audio outs aren't that important unless you are interested in purchasing a receiver that has 5.1 or 7.1 analog ins and no HDMI ins.

[Jwknow]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

I wouldn't go with a simpler unit just because of an old htib. You don't want to limit any future upgrades that you may make on your reciever.

Speaking of receiver's, you may want to look into a cheap receiver with analog inputs. That blu-ray player internally decode hd audio codecs and send them to a player via analog, so a modern receiver isn't a necessity. The only concern I would have with a new receiver is the ohm rating of the speakers included in the sony htib. If the speakers are 4 or 8 ohm impedance than finding a compatible receiver wouldn't be much of an issue, 6 or 2 ohm speakers could prove troublesome.

Ultimately my advice is to not short change yourself in the future by settling for something now. The S550 is a very good player and nearly as future-proof as any player available.

Checked out the sony str-dg720 on line for about $225. but also checked my speakers & found 2.7 ohm rating. I take it I will need new speakers if I go this route, correct?

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Jwknow

Checked out the sony str-dg720 on line for about $225. but also checked my speakers & found 2.7 ohm rating. I take it I will need new speakers if I go this route, correct?

Yes.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Jwknow

Checked out the sony str-dg720 on line for about $225. but also checked my speakers & found 2.7 ohm rating. I take it I will need new speakers if I go this route, correct?

Here.

[Jwknow]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

With the receiver mentioned above and the blu-ray player you are going to buy, both have HDMI.

You won't be able to get TrueHD audio, but you should be able to connect the bluray player to the receiver or your Plasma TV.

Configurations I've had are:

Player ------> TV (using HDMI or component cable for video)
Player ------> Receiver (using optical or coax cable for audio)

With your setup, you should be able to achieve this, since your recv. has optical and coax connections.

For video, you should be setup, the biggest limitation your receiver has is won't handle trueHD audio. Mine doesn't either, but I enjoy my pseudo audio and great picture

OK. This is actually the way I thought of doing it from the get-go.
How pseudo an audio? Do you still hear the chopper blades from the other side of the room & the bullets from behind you?

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by Jwknow

OK. This is actually the way I thought of doing it from the get-go.
How pseudo an audio? Do you still hear the chopper blades from the other side of the room & the bullets from behind you?

Many people swear by uncompressed audio. I just don't have the capabilities for it.....yet. I'm building my home theater in my basement, all components will be upgraded at that time (see signature).

As far as audio goes, my PS3 connects to my amp via optical cable. I have a decent Yamaha receiver but no HDMI port on it. Movies sound great to me, especially with the 6.1 it can handle....however I know they will sound exceptional with lossless. My amp defaults at 5.1 DD or DTS, just depends what blu-ray I have.

I'm sure it will get you by for a while, as it is doing for me, but ultimately, if you want the true theater experience, you'll need lossless audio (as will I)

Enjoy and good luck!

[Jwknow]

Thank you very much, I truly appreciate it.

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by Jwknow

Thank you very much, I truly appreciate it.

Np, there's plenty of insightful people around here, check out the sticked topics, lots of good information in them. Let us know how it goes!