Harman Kardon AVR 254 with PS3

[walmat]

Hi All,
I'm a newbie and this is my 1st post so please bare with me.
I want to update my reciever which is an old H/K AVR110 with the new AVR 254. Is anyone familiar with this amp? Will it be able to support all the new HD audio formats along with the PS3.
As for speakers I'm using only 5.1 with a set of Cewin Vegas.
Any help is appreciated.
THanks

[un4gvn94538]

i looked it up real quick and didnt see any hdmi inputs. was amazon right? first on amazon in 1973 ? to get any of the hd audio from a ps3 you need a hdmi input that is not pass through. ver 1.1 and up.

theres a thread about it, ill try to find it

[un4gvn94538]

old school receiver and hd audio:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=17648

how to get lossless audio

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=40821

from ps3:

http://blogs.ign.com/chubigans/2006/12/29/41597/

hopes this helps

[Luis_A51]

Im not sure what you 2 read, but the 254 is a brand new 2008 model from HK. It has HDMI, so yes it will handle all the HD-Audio goodness your PS3 has to offer.

[un4gvn94538]

oh snap! my bad! i copied and paste wrong model # too much coffee

[walmat]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

old school receiver and hd audio:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=17648

how to get lossless audio

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=40821

from ps3:

http://blogs.ign.com/chubigans/2006/12/29/41597/

hopes this helps

I've read the posts and it helped but I still have a couple of questions.
1. The AVR 254 has HDMI 1.3 and so does the PS3. Now will any HDMI cable do or is there a specific 1.3 HDMI cable?

2. Will the HDMI 1,3 improve anything picture wise on a 1080i/720p TV?

3. Will the PS3 have to be set to Linear PCM to output the uncompressed PCM format?

[walmat]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

old school receiver and hd audio:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=17648

how to get lossless audio

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=40821

from ps3:

http://blogs.ign.com/chubigans/2006/12/29/41597/

hopes this helps

I've read the posts and they helped but I still have a few questions.

1. Is a special 1.3 HDMI cable required or are all HDMI cables the same?

2. Does the PS3 have to be set to Linear PCM to hear uncompressed PCM or will it work on bitstream?

3. Will 1.3 HDMI make any improvement on the picture of my 1080i/720p TV?

3. This is a little unrelated but does anyone know why DTS HD sounds better than standard DTS through optical fiber out of my PS3 while Dolby HD sounds the same as standard DD 5.1?

[SeanMF]

I have the 254 and it works excellent hd audio wise with ps3. The onkyo 605 I use to have was definately not even close to comparison with the 254. The 254 settings made my surround sound setup a lot better with the 254.

[fronn]

I really love the HK line. I have a previous model 247 and outside its quirks, it sounds great.

All it needs to support is HDMI, and it does... the PS3 decodes everything to PCM.

On a side note: I wish they had a comparable product to the Onkyo 875/905 and Denon 3808CI lines :/

[walmat]

Originally Posted by seanfarley2

I have the 254 and it works excellent hd audio wise with ps3. The onkyo 605 I use to have was definately not even close to comparison with the 254. The 254 settings made my surround sound setup a lot better with the 254.

R u using it with a 5.1 or 7.1 set up?

[walmat]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

old school receiver and hd audio:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=17648

how to get lossless audio

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=40821

from ps3:

http://blogs.ign.com/chubigans/2006/12/29/41597/

hopes this helps

If this post repeats I'm sorry. This is my 3rd try. I've read the posts but still have questions.
1. Is there a special 1.3 HDMI cable required or will any HDMI cable do?

2. Will 1.3 HDMI improve the picture on my 1080i/720p DLP if I use its HDMI input?

3. Does the PS3 have to be set to linear PCM to play the uncompressed PCM format or should I leave it on bitstream?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by walmat

If this post repeats I'm sorry. This is my 3rd try. I've read the posts but still have questions.
1. Is there a special 1.3 HDMI cable required or will any HDMI cable do?

2. Will 1.3 HDMI improve the picture on my 1080i/720p DLP if I use its HDMI input?

3. Does the PS3 have to be set to linear PCM to play the uncompressed PCM format or should I leave it on bitstream?

#1. well, not all HDMI cables are the same...but for the most part any HDMI cable will do. If you notice problems then obviously the cable is bad. Just be sure to buy from a reputable site/store, and check out what their return policy is.

Personally, ive had great experiences with monoprice.com and have heard nothing but good things from bluejeanscable.com so I always try to recommend them as theyve been proven trustworthy. Some people have no problems with hdmi cables from amazon or ebay etc. but I like from the sites just mentioned.

What I do advise, is if you really want to buy a MONSTER hdmi cable, do not buy it at regular price, try to find deals on them. Not worth the extra money.



#2. HDMI v1.3 will not have any effect on your 720p/1080i TV as it is not v1.3 compliant...but no worries, it is backwards compatible so it will look as best as it can. Definitely use an HDMI cable. (also dvd upconversion is only possible from the PS3 using an HDMI cable)



#3. Yes, the PS3 must be set on Linear PCM to hear Dolby TrueHD and Dts-HD Master audio. But it also depends on the sound system you are connected to? what receiver are you using?

[swindler]

Everything you've read in this post and others should have you on the right track. You've been getting good info. I might add that an HDMI 1.3 cable is essentially an ordinary HDMI cable that has been tested to be compliant with the signals specified in the 1.3 version of the standard. But likely most all HDMI cables would be compliant were they to be tested.

I love the HK equipment, and the 254 looks like a nice receiver. I'm actually shopping for one myself, but cannot use the HK in my particular setup as the HK receivers are about 1/4" wider than most standard receivers, and it would not fit in my built-in cabinet. Other receivers barely fit as is.

Good luck.

[SeanMF]

7.1