Multi-Channel, Digital Coax, or Optical?!! - Blu-ray Forum

Col. Zombie · 03-15-2008, 12:58 AM

I have been lurking here for a while now and while I know that similar topics surrounding my particular question have probaly been beat to death in a dozen different ways, I'm still at a loss. I tried the search function and really couldn't find anything that's as pointed as the questions I have. If anyone could help me I would really appreciate it.

I currently have my blu-ray player hooked up to my Onkyo receiver via the optical cable. My Onkyo does not have an HDMI input, but only the 5.1 Multi-channel, Digital Coax, and Optical inputs. My blu-ray player also has all three of those outputs and it has a built in Dolby Digital True-HD decoder.

My questions are;

Which of those three will give me the better sound quality?

Will Dolby Digital True HD sound better through the Multi-channel, or am I better off just running optical or coax using the standard DD and DTS? (I ask this becasue I haven't tried to hook it up using Multi-Chanel yet and I'm wondering if it will be worth my time).

Does the Multi-channel connection give the "Uncompressed 5.1" surround sound?

Thanks for your help with this!!

JasonR · 03-15-2008, 01:00 AM

Multi-Channel is the ONLY way to get lossless sound in your case. If using optical or digital coax you are only getting lossy soundtracks.

un4gvn94538 · 03-15-2008, 01:05 AM

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

good info here

and here

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...chool+receiver

Col. Zombie · 03-15-2008, 01:10 AM

Thanks for the help and the link. I appreciate it very much.

I didn't mention in the original post, but the reason I was questioning the multichannel is because a salsperson at Best Buy told me NOT to use it because it is analog and therfore worthless.

What do y'all make of that? Becasue it's analog is it going to be worse than the optical or digital coax?

un4gvn94538 · 03-15-2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col.Zombie

Thanks for the help and the link. I appreciate it very much.

I didn't mention in the original post, but the reason I was questioning the multichannel is because a salsperson at Best Buy told me NOT to use it because it is analog and therfore worthless.

What do y'all make of that? Becasue it's analog is it going to be worse than the optical or digital coax?

thats what you get for listening to a best buy employee

it will be better. youll be able to get lossless sound not lossy.

JasonR · 03-15-2008, 01:15 AM

It will be better, it's lossless for gods sake. Some people in sales just shouldn't talk about things they do not know...

blurayisking · 03-15-2008, 02:01 AM

Try one of the several blu-ray titles that offers uncompressed PCM soundtrack (eg: Pirates movies for example) and then you'll see what everybody is talking about.

Set the audio choice on the blu-ray disc menu to uncompressed PCM and switch your receiver to the multi-channel analog input setting and sit back and enjoy.

First, you will need to follow the instructions for the BDP-S300 to setup to output 5.1 analog sound (rather than 2 chan) and adjust the speaker sizes.

Also, you should set the speaker distance settings and sound levels for the rear channels, centre channel and subwoofer channel using your Sony receiver's menu, set on the multi-channel setting in order to balance the channels.

Personally, I leave the digital coax cable connected to the receiver to allow for proper decoding of standard Dolby Digital and DTS.

As for Dolby TrueHD, it can only be decoded via HDMI (PCM setting) so your out-of-luck with that codec. You will however, get the core portion of the Dolby TrueHD soundtrack via the digital coax / optic connection. Frankly; I've found that it tends to sound better than a regular dolby digital soundtrack.
A good example of the " improved sound " from a Blu-ray disc that has Dolby TrueHD is 30 DAYS OF NIGHT. Man, does that son-of-a-***** kick ass even though it is not decoding the entire Dolby TrueHD soundtrack.

Unfortunately, the BDP-S300 does not pass the Dolby TrueHD encode via the 5.1 analog outputs.

Cheers

Blurayisking

Col. Zombie · 03-15-2008, 07:44 PM

Well, I went for it. I purchased some audio cables, I pulled out the units, which is a real pain and one reason why I was wondering if it was even worth my while, and I hooked them up!!

All I can say is "WOW!!"

Thanks for the input guys. It made a LOT of difference in the sound and the uncompressed is noticeably better.

Give me some time and I'll be moving up to HDMI!!

03-15-2008, 12:58 AM	#1
Col. Zombie Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Mar 2008 Location:I've gone into outer space to destroy another race. Home Theater Gallery:5 4K collection:51 Blu-ray collection:435	Multi-Channel, Digital Coax, or Optical?!! I have been lurking here for a while now and while I know that similar topics surrounding my particular question have probaly been beat to death in a dozen different ways, I'm still at a loss. I tried the search function and really couldn't find anything that's as pointed as the questions I have. If anyone could help me I would really appreciate it. I currently have my blu-ray player hooked up to my Onkyo receiver via the optical cable. My Onkyo does not have an HDMI input, but only the 5.1 Multi-channel, Digital Coax, and Optical inputs. My blu-ray player also has all three of those outputs and it has a built in Dolby Digital True-HD decoder. My questions are; Which of those three will give me the better sound quality? Will Dolby Digital True HD sound better through the Multi-channel, or am I better off just running optical or coax using the standard DD and DTS? (I ask this becasue I haven't tried to hook it up using Multi-Chanel yet and I'm wondering if it will be worth my time). Does the Multi-channel connection give the "Uncompressed 5.1" surround sound? Thanks for your help with this!!

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03-15-2008, 01:00 AM	#2
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	Multi-Channel is the ONLY way to get lossless sound in your case. If using optical or digital coax you are only getting lossy soundtracks.

03-15-2008, 01:05 AM	#3
un4gvn94538 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Limbo (Bakersfield, Ca.) 4K collection:143 Blu-ray collection:811 DVD collection:54 Digital collection:1494 Trading Score:277	https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=40821 good info here and here https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...chool+receiver

03-15-2008, 01:10 AM	#4
Col. Zombie Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Mar 2008 Location:I've gone into outer space to destroy another race. Home Theater Gallery:5 4K collection:51 Blu-ray collection:435	Thanks for the help and the link. I appreciate it very much. I didn't mention in the original post, but the reason I was questioning the multichannel is because a salsperson at Best Buy told me NOT to use it because it is analog and therfore worthless. What do y'all make of that? Becasue it's analog is it going to be worse than the optical or digital coax?

03-15-2008, 01:15 AM	#6
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	It will be better, it's lossless for gods sake. Some people in sales just shouldn't talk about things they do not know...

03-15-2008, 02:01 AM	#7
blurayisking Active Member Member since:Oct 2007 Blu-ray reviews:1	Try one of the several blu-ray titles that offers uncompressed PCM soundtrack (eg: Pirates movies for example) and then you'll see what everybody is talking about. Set the audio choice on the blu-ray disc menu to uncompressed PCM and switch your receiver to the multi-channel analog input setting and sit back and enjoy. First, you will need to follow the instructions for the BDP-S300 to setup to output 5.1 analog sound (rather than 2 chan) and adjust the speaker sizes. Also, you should set the speaker distance settings and sound levels for the rear channels, centre channel and subwoofer channel using your Sony receiver's menu, set on the multi-channel setting in order to balance the channels. Personally, I leave the digital coax cable connected to the receiver to allow for proper decoding of standard Dolby Digital and DTS. As for Dolby TrueHD, it can only be decoded via HDMI (PCM setting) so your out-of-luck with that codec. You will however, get the core portion of the Dolby TrueHD soundtrack via the digital coax / optic connection. Frankly; I've found that it tends to sound better than a regular dolby digital soundtrack. A good example of the " improved sound " from a Blu-ray disc that has Dolby TrueHD is 30 DAYS OF NIGHT. Man, does that son-of-a-***** kick ass even though it is not decoding the entire Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. Unfortunately, the BDP-S300 does not pass the Dolby TrueHD encode via the 5.1 analog outputs. Cheers Blurayisking

03-15-2008, 07:44 PM	#8
Col. Zombie Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Mar 2008 Location:I've gone into outer space to destroy another race. Home Theater Gallery:5 4K collection:51 Blu-ray collection:435	Well, I went for it. I purchased some audio cables, I pulled out the units, which is a real pain and one reason why I was wondering if it was even worth my while, and I hooked them up!! All I can say is "WOW!!" Thanks for the input guys. It made a LOT of difference in the sound and the uncompressed is noticeably better. Give me some time and I'll be moving up to HDMI!!

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