What do I need?

[JCarr2]

I have a Sony BDP-S301 that is only HDMI 1.1 capable.

I would like to listen to DTS HD-MA and Dolby TrueHD audio tracks, but I don't care if they are actually HD.

As long as they can be output in normal 5.1 surround, I'm good.

What do I need to do this?

What type of receiver, and what type of cables?

Right now any blu-ray discs I have with DTS HD-MA, I only get 2.0 output from my current receiver.

My current receiver has no HDMI connection and no 5.1 analog connections.

I'd liek to buy a new one, but need to know what type of receiver I need with what type of cables to get.

Thanks to anyone who can give me advice.

[MPDIEHL]

First... there is not any output for the Uncompressed audio you mention.
The 300/301 will NOT play either format
The 300/301 will NOT bitstream either format

Connect to your receiver with either of the digital audio outs to be able to get the standard Dolby Digital or DTS

[JCarr2]

Thanks for your response.

I have my player connected to my receiver with an optical cable. Will this work?

Are there any special settings I should have on the player?

This is probably an answer to my own question, but my receiver is older and isn't capable of DTS. Does this mean that regardless of what I do I won't get a 5.1 output from DTS tracks?

If I buy a new receiver, will any one do?

Can I use any type of connection to the player?

Should I make sure the receiver is capable of any certain aspects?

Thanks again for your help. I appreciate it.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by JCarr2

Thanks for your response.

I have my player connected to my receiver with an optical cable. Will this work?

Are there any special settings I should have on the player?

This is probably an answer to my own question, but my receiver is older and isn't capable of DTS. Does this mean that regardless of what I do I won't get a 5.1 output from DTS tracks?

If I buy a new receiver, will any one do?

Can I use any type of connection to the player?

Should I make sure the receiver is capable of any certain aspects?

Thanks again for your help. I appreciate it.

Through an optical cable you aren't hearing any HD audio. You are, in fact, listening to everything as it is on regular DVD.

No, you won't hear DTS tracks with your current receiver, regardless of how it is connected. If you were using a PS3 and your receiver handles 5.1 PCM tracks, then it would be a different story since the PS3 decodes the DTS HD tracks as PCM and then sends the PCM track to the receiver.

If you are looking into a new receiver, I'd go with an Onkyo 605, Onkyo 705, or Onkyo 805 if you can afford them. They are the best quality for the pricepoint. Each will handle all audio formats regardless of how they are sent from the player (bitstream or not).

[Brain Sturgeon]

There seems to be some controversy over whether the S301 can decode TrueHD and pass it via HDMI as LPCM. According to Paidgeek, it can:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=724

But you can only use this feature if you have an HDMI capable receiver, which you do not. So if you have the means to replace your receiver, then you would need to get one that is HDMI audio capable. The most popular/affordable ones around here would be the Onkyo 605/606 or 705 or 805. Then you would just need a category 2 HDMI cable from the Sony to your receiver and another HDMI cable from your receiver to TV. Then, just set up your Sony to output LPCM on TrueHD tracks, and voila, you're good to go.

Now, this will not work with DTS HD MA tracks, as the s301 neither decodes or bitstreams this codec. On these discs, you'd just be getting DTS 1.5 Mbps "core".

Originally Posted by JCarr2

Thanks for your response.

I have my player connected to my receiver with an optical cable. Will this work?

Yes, but this will only give you 2 channel LPCM, DD, or DTS.

Are there any special settings I should have on the player?

to do what? If you are just using a TOSLINK connection, then you just set up your player to bitstream DTS and DD. You could also set it up to downmix multichannel LPCM to 2.0 channel LPCM, but most people prefer multichannel DTS and DD to 2 channel (which is then typically matrixed to 5.1 channels using Dolby PLIIx or somesuch)

This is probably an answer to my own question, but my receiver is older and isn't capable of DTS. Does this mean that regardless of what I do I won't get a 5.1 output from DTS tracks?

If this is the case, then you are even more SOL if you are just using an optical cable. The best you could do is have the player downmix the DTS track to 2 channel and pass it to your receiver as LPCM.

Here is a clip of what the S300 will do audiowise. The setting for TrueHD to be decoded and passed out HDMI as 5.1 LPCM is highlighted.

If I buy a new receiver, will any one do?

Can I use any type of connection to the player?

Should I make sure the receiver is capable of any certain aspects?

Thanks again for your help. I appreciate it.

You need one that is HDMI capable. See the ones I mentioned above. Other brands that are good include Denon, Pioneer Elite, Marantz, etc... Crackinhedz is encyclopedic in regards to receiver choices, so you might wanna check with him.

[JCarr2]

Thanks again for the responses!

Sorry, but what is a category 2 HDMI cable? Will I need one for both connections (from the player to receiver and receiver to TV?) Or will any HDMI cable do for the connection from the receiver to the TV?

When it comes down to it, as long as I'm getting sound coming out all of my speakers, I don't care if it is HD sound or not.

Can I use my current speakers with a new receiver, or do I need to check anything about them to make sure they would be compatable?

[prerich]

http://www.accessories4less.com/make...urround/1.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make...urround/1.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make...r-BLACK/1.html

http://www.fotoconnection.com/p85676...ver-black.html

Here are a few choices under $400.00 (If you want to go over I can do that too )
Marantz 4001 - 269.99 has preouts, excellent AQ , doesn't decode Advanced Codecs - WONDERFUL Machine!

Marantz 5001 - 299.99 same thing as above but more power

Onkyo 605 - 269.99 Decodes Advanced Codecs - No preouts, Good AQ

Yamaha 663 349.00 Decodes Advance Codes and has preouts excellent AQ

Purpose of Preouts - if you find that you want more power - preouts enable you to add additional power amps and allow you to use your receiver as a preamp - with the 606 you would have to upgrade the whole thing to at least a 705 before you see that feature (but that puts you in another price bracket also). Check all of these out. They are great receivers and will supply what you need to get at least TrueHD until you get a BD that can either bitstream DTS-HD MSTR or one that decodes it itself.

[Brain Sturgeon]

Originally Posted by JCarr2

Thanks again for the responses!

Sorry, but what is a category 2 HDMI cable?

From the HDMI.org website:

Q. What are the technical and branding requirements for cables?
As part of the new Trademark and Logo Usage Guidelines, cables will be labeled as either Standard or High Speed.

Standard cables (referred to as Category 1 cables in the HDMI specification) are those tested to perform at speeds of 75Mhz, which is the equivalent of an uncompressed 1080i signal.

High Speed cables (referred to as Category 2 cables in the HDMI specification), are those tested to perform at speeds of 340Mhz, which is the highest bandwidth currently available over an HDMI cable and can successfully handle 1080p signals including those at increased color depths (e.g. greater than eight bits per color) and/or increased refresh rates (e.g. 120Hz). High Speed cables are also able to accommodate higher resolution displays, such as those at the latest 1440p and WQXGA resolutions (e.g. cinema monitors with a resolution of 2560 x 1600).
While many cables that are branded as Standard cables will work at higher speeds (especially at cable lengths of less than five meters), to guarantee performance, consumers should purchase a cable that is tested and rated for the specific speed required by their system.

Category 2 cables are also frequently referred to as HDMI 1.3 cables.

Will I need one for both connections (from the player to receiver and receiver to TV?) Or will any HDMI cable do for the connection from the receiver to the TV?

Yes, you will need two male-to-male cables for player to receiver and receiver to TV.

If your cable runs are short, then practically any HDMI cable will probably work. But if you're buying new cables anyways, might as well get the most up-to-date spec on them, since there are very affordable ones out there:

www.monoprice.com
www.bluejeanscable.com

When it comes down to it, as long as I'm getting sound coming out all of my speakers, I don't care if it is HD sound or not.

Can I use my current speakers with a new receiver, or do I need to check anything about them to make sure they would be compatable?

No, you don't need special speakers to "hear" lossless audio; although, the better speakers (and audio equipment) that you have, the bigger a difference you will notice.

[JCarr2]

Thank you all again very much. I'll take everything you have said into consideration. I may be back to ask further questions