High Def Audio Question

[Zotar]

I'm trying to work out if my Home Cinema System is optimal and specifically whether it supports High Definition Audio.

My Blu-Ray player is a PS3, my TV is a Pioneer LX608D (which has 3 HDMI 1.3 connectors on the back), and my amp (Which is from 2001) is a Sony STR-DB1070.

The PS3 is connected to the TV via HDMI, and connected to the Amp via a digital optical cable.

My amp has neither an HDMI connection nor support for TrueHD or Dolby HD. Does this matter? Or does the PS3 take care of decoding everything into PCM before it sends the soundtrack to the amp?

Any advice would be well appreciated....

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Zotar

I'm trying to work out if my Home Cinema System is optimal and specifically whether it supports High Definition Audio.

My Blu-Ray player is a PS3, my TV is a Pioneer LX608D (which has 3 HDMI 1.3 connectors on the back), and my amp (Which is from 2001) is a Sony STR-DB1070.

The PS3 is connected to the TV via HDMI, and connected to the Amp via a digital optical cable.

My amp has neither an HDMI connection nor support for TrueHD or Dolby HD. Does this matter? Or does the PS3 take care of decoding everything into PCM before it sends the soundtrack to the amp?

Any advice would be well appreciated....

the only way to listen to lossless audio from the ps3 is through the HDMI cable. Optical wont cut it. sorry

[crackinhedz]

now, if you had a standalone bluray player (such as Samsung bd-p1400) that had multichannel analog out's you could with your receiver...

but id suggest getting a new receiver.

[Zotar]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

now, if you had a standalone bluray player (such as Samsung bd-p1400) that had multichannel analog out's you could with your receiver...

but id suggest getting a new receiver.

Received and understood. Thanks very much for the quick response.

As an aside, what features should I be looking for in a new Receiver / Amp (Apart from having a hdmi connection)? Is there any Make/Model that you'd recommend? Do some amps support hdmi 1.3 and others only 1.0?

Also I notice non of the Sony amps support TrueHD or Dolby HD.

Cheers,

Zotar

[Amon37]

At this point I think only some Onkyo receivers support the new codecs, but the PS3 cannot bitstream the codecs yet so that does you no good, although since the PS3 decodes internally the player can receiver umcompressed and true HD through HDMI and Linear PCM.

What is your budget for a new receiver.

Onkyo has some that are HDMI 1.3 for 399 and up and Denon has some great non 1.3 recievers for 699 and up.

[crackinhedz]

Onkyo TX-SR605 ($400)

Yamaha RX-V661 ($500)

Sony STR-DG910 ($330)


These are very good entry level receivers that will provide 1080p/Lossless Audio...


if you have or plan on getting an HDTV with hdmi 1.3 then you should look at the Onkyo...if not, than any of these will be great for your set-up.

[crackinhedz]

...just happen to look at your HDTV, and noticed youre in Europe correct?

then this may help you...

Amazon.co.uk

[gvortex7]

The only lossless audio you can get through optical is a 2 channel LPCM. That's due to its bandwidth limitation.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

The only lossless audio you can get through optical is a 2 channel LPCM. That's due to its bandwidth limitation.

optical has plenty of bandwidth...125 Mbit/s

however it does not provide HDCP.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

optical has plenty of bandwidth...125 Mbit/s

however it does not provide HDCP.

The specification of TOSLINK limits it's bandwith so only 2.1 PCM can be transmitted. Optical itself has the bandwith you mentioned (as used by ADAT lightpipe for example).
And it would not need HDCP. HDCP is only used in HDMI connections, so that's insignificant.