new to HD audio

[link_of_hyrule]

I have a Denon AVR 4802 receiver and Sony Blu Ray BDP S2000ES and am trying to acheive the new HD audio playback. Not sure if I'm doing this correctly.

AVR 4802 cannot decode these new HD codecs (and has no HDMI inputs) and will have to rely on the player to decode.

I have connected with 6 RCA from the player to the reciever - to the EXT IN inputs.

I have also connected the player and receiver with a coax cable for regular DD/DTS playback (for camparison).

When the receiver is set to EXT IN, I have 5.1 audio. I have no way of telling what quality, because the receiver does not display anything, I guess assuming that the Blu Ray is doing the decoding.

I switch to digital input on the receiver and also get 5.1 audio - I guess would be the regular DD/DTS.

I hear no difference in sound quality (except for the bass which had to be increased due to analog input).

How do I know the player is doing the decoding when EXT IN is selected and not the receiver? If EXT IN is selected, can the receiver still perform the 5.1 decoding from the analog inputs?

I have no way of telling if I'm hearing HD audio from the player, or regular 5.1 from the receiver.

Also, the player setting s have DTS or PCM downmix options and do not know which to select.

Sorry for the long description, but hoping someone can shed some HD light.