Blu-ray audio - Blu-ray Forum

rockhpi · 06-15-2008, 11:10 AM

I’ve been wanting to get a Blu-Ray player for many months now, but I’m hung up on the audio (and a little confused by the terms). I have an older home theater system (no HDMI inputs) and many of the latest players don’t decode the HD audio onboard.

Do most Blu-Ray discs come with standard Dolby 5.1 or DTS tracks? Can I connect 5.1 to my receiver w/o HDMI?

I don’t want a PS3 because of the remote control issue (I know there are workarounds but…) and I don’t want to downgrade to 2.0 audio or pay a lot for a new home theatre system, but if I can get Dolby 5.1 or DTS until I can replace my receiver then I’d consider getting the BP-D1500 or something similar.

Thanks

crackinhedz · 06-15-2008, 11:28 AM

Dts-HD MASTER and Dolby TrueHD are backwards compatible so you will not have any problems playing them with your existing system. Do you have an optical input? ...It will not be Lossless audio but this will be your best route for the time being.

Also can I ask more about the PS3 remote issue you have? the remote works great, what about it do you not like? You definitely should not let this be a deciding factor as the PS3 is the best BD player out for the money!

rockhpi · 06-15-2008, 11:46 AM

I thought I had read that optical was only 2.0. Is that incorrect?

I have a universal remote that I shelled out a lot of money for (and I love having just the one) but PS3 doesn't work with an infrared remote (I think it's bluetooth). There are workarounds for it but I don't want a bunch of junk hanging out of it.

crackinhedz · 06-15-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhpi

I thought I had read that optical was only 2.0. Is that incorrect?

It is 2.0 lossless audio, but if you bitstream you will get 5.1 standard dolby digital and dts.

rockhpi · 06-15-2008, 12:52 PM

Ok, and bitstream is an option I select on the BD player? (sorry for my ignorance!).

crackinhedz · 06-15-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhpi

Ok, and bitstream is an option I select on the BD player? (sorry for my ignorance!).

yes. When using an optical cable, you definitely should set to bitstream.

rockhpi · 06-15-2008, 01:33 PM

Thank you very much for your help!

rockhpi · 07-13-2008, 03:09 PM

Ok, now I notice that the Sony bdp-S350 bitstreams most audio formats but it lists it as HDMI bitstream. As I mentioned above, my receiver has no HDMI inputs (it's old). The S350 does have an optical output (and my receiver does have an input) but I don't know what I can get through it. If I can at least get some sort of 5.1 format until I can upgrade the receiver, I'll be happy but I don't know whether the S350 can do it. Is there an HDMI-to-optical converter?

Teazle · 07-13-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhpi

Is there an HDMI-to-optical converter?

I think there would be an inherent problem with such a device because optical can't handle nearly the audio data that HDMI can. You're sure the player can't bitstream via optical the way the PS3 can?

rockhpi · 07-18-2008, 11:41 PM

Not sure of anything yet...but on the S350 lots of formats are listed as "HDMI Bitstream"...if I can't get a decent output, at least I won't have to buy an incredibly expensive receiver because the S350 decodes so much internally.

It is supposed to be here Tuesday-I'll see then!

crackinhedz · 07-18-2008, 11:49 PM

ok, optical should be set to bitstream.

the options in the bd player should look like this:

Dolby = Dolby
Dts = Dts

...something to that effect.

06-15-2008, 11:10 AM	#1
rockhpi Junior Member Member since:Jun 2008	Blu-ray audio I’ve been wanting to get a Blu-Ray player for many months now, but I’m hung up on the audio (and a little confused by the terms). I have an older home theater system (no HDMI inputs) and many of the latest players don’t decode the HD audio onboard. Do most Blu-Ray discs come with standard Dolby 5.1 or DTS tracks? Can I connect 5.1 to my receiver w/o HDMI? I don’t want a PS3 because of the remote control issue (I know there are workarounds but…) and I don’t want to downgrade to 2.0 audio or pay a lot for a new home theatre system, but if I can get Dolby 5.1 or DTS until I can replace my receiver then I’d consider getting the BP-D1500 or something similar. Thanks

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06-15-2008, 11:28 AM	#2
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	Dts-HD MASTER and Dolby TrueHD are backwards compatible so you will not have any problems playing them with your existing system. Do you have an optical input? ...It will not be Lossless audio but this will be your best route for the time being. Also can I ask more about the PS3 remote issue you have? the remote works great, what about it do you not like? You definitely should not let this be a deciding factor as the PS3 is the best BD player out for the money!

06-15-2008, 11:46 AM	#3
rockhpi Junior Member Member since:Jun 2008	I thought I had read that optical was only 2.0. Is that incorrect? I have a universal remote that I shelled out a lot of money for (and I love having just the one) but PS3 doesn't work with an infrared remote (I think it's bluetooth). There are workarounds for it but I don't want a bunch of junk hanging out of it.

06-15-2008, 12:52 PM	#5
rockhpi Junior Member Member since:Jun 2008	Ok, and bitstream is an option I select on the BD player? (sorry for my ignorance!).

06-15-2008, 01:33 PM	#7
rockhpi Junior Member Member since:Jun 2008	Thank you very much for your help!

07-13-2008, 03:09 PM	#8
rockhpi Junior Member Member since:Jun 2008	Ok, now I notice that the Sony bdp-S350 bitstreams most audio formats but it lists it as HDMI bitstream. As I mentioned above, my receiver has no HDMI inputs (it's old). The S350 does have an optical output (and my receiver does have an input) but I don't know what I can get through it. If I can at least get some sort of 5.1 format until I can upgrade the receiver, I'll be happy but I don't know whether the S350 can do it. Is there an HDMI-to-optical converter?

07-18-2008, 11:41 PM	#10
rockhpi Junior Member Member since:Jun 2008	Not sure of anything yet...but on the S350 lots of formats are listed as "HDMI Bitstream"...if I can't get a decent output, at least I won't have to buy an incredibly expensive receiver because the S350 decodes so much internally. It is supposed to be here Tuesday-I'll see then!

07-18-2008, 11:49 PM	#11
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	ok, optical should be set to bitstream. the options in the bd player should look like this: Dolby = Dolby Dts = Dts ...something to that effect.

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