HD audio vs Dolby/DTS 5.1

[shazzed]

Problem
I have a basic 2.0 sound connected to my blu ray player and full HD LCD.
I am in Australia and HDMI receivers are way too expensive down here. A $300 US HDMI capable receiver (not pass thorugh/repeater) costs around $700aus here when the dollar conversion would actually be $350Aus... go figure

I have a PS3 so my only other option realistically is to take a tech step backwards for a decent 5.1 dolby/DTS receiver and send audio through a Optical cable (bitstream).

Question
My question is how much of a sound difference is Dolby/DTS compared to the new uncompressed HD formats?
Is it honostly a massive leap in quality ?

Thx in advance
Shazz

[allstar780]

one major difference is that in the "old" formats, the dynamic range is compressed... so you have less ability to go from really quiet to really loud... or vice-versa... it makes a big difference in the feel of the movie for me; example: Cloverfield (bad movie though) there are a lot of scenes where it is very quiet to create suspense, and then a lot of very loud scenes... i was actually showing it to my brother to show the difference between Dolby 5.1 and Dolby TrueHD, and it is a very noticeable difference... on both tracks I had it at about 4/5 of my usual movie watching volume and on the traditional dolby it was good, very quiet to pretty loud... on the truehd it was a big improvement, very quiet to very, very loud

[prerich]

Originally Posted by allstar780

one major difference is that in the "old" formats, the dynamic range is compressed... so you have less ability to go from really quiet to really loud... or vice-versa... it makes a big difference in the feel of the movie for me; example: Cloverfield (bad movie though) there are a lot of scenes where it is very quiet to create suspense, and then a lot of very loud scenes... i was actually showing it to my brother to show the difference between Dolby 5.1 and Dolby TrueHD, and it is a very noticeable difference... on both tracks I had it at about 4/5 of my usual movie watching volume and on the traditional dolby it was good, very quiet to pretty loud... on the truehd it was a big improvement, very quiet to very, very loud

You raised a very good point about limited dynamic range. At the height of my system (back in the DD,DTS days - the begining days) I had individual eq's and dynamic range expanders on each channel. That system that I had was the most dynamic thing that I have ever heard - It put the Polk SRT system to shame! After family illness and economic distress, I had to sell most of that system off. I like my current system but - even though my current systme has Lossless audio ect...My old system featurning the Fosgate Model 3A THX processor would give my current rig more than a run for its money (Fosgate's Analog vs Lossless Digital). The Fosgates fast steering logic (prefered it over AC3 and DTS) was uncanny. I watched Stargate in DTS HD (bitrate of 3093kbps), it didn't impress me like my older system did when I first watched Stargate on laserdisc. Was it dynamic...yes, but something was just missing. I notice the improvement of tracks with lossless audio - yes, but something that the Fosgate (and only the Fosgate and Lexicon have produced for me) had is missing with the new codecs - Kinda like when CD first came out -it sounds great - there is vast improvement but something is missing and I just can't put my finger on it. When I listen to 2 channel music on my current system - the magic is still there. Maybe I'm just Fosgate/Lexicon nostalgic. If you're out there Jim Fosgate - get it back together - you have the toughness of Bob Carver - see what you can do with the Lossless codec stuff - bring some of your "magic" to the game!

[Arecsa]

Waiting a bit longer to get a HDMI receiver is definitely the right option. Onkyo and Yamaha have excellent receivers that are absolutely perfect for what you're looking for.

[Canada]

It is a huge difference from Dolby Digital and DTS to Dolby True HD and DTSMA. I believe you don't need a 1.3 HDMI reciver, as far as I know you only need a HDMI receiver that amplifies the sound. How much are we talking about for a receiver that amplifies sound?


Here's the private message box for crackinhedz https://forum.blu-ray.com/member.php?u=4540

He will be able to tell you much more than I can, but I would say buy the HDMI Amp then 2yrs down the road you won't be wondering what uncompressed sounds like.

[callas01]

I cannot decode LPCM with my current receiver sony 710, so I am upgrading, but today I went to my dad's house and put in Pirates 2, set up for uncompressed and played the movie, then using the pop up menu, switch back to dolby 5.1, my wife looked at me and said, wow, your right we need LPCM..... her usual response is 'i dont really notice a difference'.... you can imagine the rise of excitement that shot through my body.

Yes there is that big of a difference.

[shazzed]

I think I will stop kidding myself and save for a HDMI audio capable receiver. I have a decent HD LCD and one of the best Blu ray players.... I might as well hold out 4 more months for something decent.
Thanks for the replys and reality check guys.

[Canada]

Good for you, wait, because if you get a Non HDMI receiver the only person you will be cheating is your self.

[R3DRUM]

Originally Posted by Canada

Good for you, wait, because if you get a Non HDMI receiver the only person you will be cheating is your self.

+1

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Canada

Good for you, wait, because if you get a Non HDMI receiver the only person you will be cheating is your self.

The simplest, yet most profoundly expressive statement that I have ever read on this site. Well said!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by shazzed

Problem
I have a basic 2.0 sound connected to my blu ray player and full HD LCD.
I am in Australia and HDMI receivers are way too expensive down here. A $300 US HDMI capable receiver (not pass thorugh/repeater) costs around $700aus here when the dollar conversion would actually be $350Aus... go figure

I have a PS3 so my only other option realistically is to take a tech step backwards for a decent 5.1 dolby/DTS receiver and send audio through a Optical cable (bitstream).

Question
My question is how much of a sound difference is Dolby/DTS compared to the new uncompressed HD formats?
Is it honostly a massive leap in quality ?

Thx in advance
Shazz

There is a difference between Dolby/DTS Digital and HD Audio Codecs. However, both Dolby Digital and DTS Digital will give very satisfying results. I suggest that you read this article first. A panel of experts went to Dolby Labs and DTS headquarters and after several hours of listening to audio codecs, they had a hard time distinguishing between them. If you don't have the money, wait until you have saved enough. Don't go crazy.

http://www.hemagazine.com/node/Dolby...PCM?page=0%2C0

[Sith]

Originally Posted by shazzed

Problem
I have a basic 2.0 sound connected to my blu ray player and full HD LCD.
I am in Australia and HDMI receivers are way too expensive down here. A $300 US HDMI capable receiver (not pass thorugh/repeater) costs around $700aus here when the dollar conversion would actually be $350Aus... go figure

I have a PS3 so my only other option realistically is to take a tech step backwards for a decent 5.1 dolby/DTS receiver and send audio through a Optical cable (bitstream).

Question
My question is how much of a sound difference is Dolby/DTS compared to the new uncompressed HD formats?
Is it honostly a massive leap in quality ?

Thx in advance
Shazz

just save your money and wait, don't throw good money out on old technology...