Player decoding or Receiver decoding, that is the question

[BIslander]

Comments in red. . Also, as you are using a soundbar rather than a 5.1 surround system, it may not matter much whether the source is discrete 5.1 or stereo. My comments are written to differentiate between stereo and true 5.1.

Originally Posted by cpemploy

My TV can send PCM, Dolby Digital or DTS via toslink or analog cables (no hdmi option) to my Vizio VHT510 soundbar. My questions are:
1. For the best sound which should I select, PCM, Dolby digital or DTS? What TV do you have that sends DTS? That's very rare. But, as there are no TV sources with DTS, it's usually a non-issue. What do you have attached to to your TV that would have DTS as an audio option?
The digital audio output of TVs is limited to the S/PDIF protocol, which limits PCM to just two channels. So, you would want to use either DD 5.1 or DTS because they offer discrete 5.1.
2. What are the advantages of one over the other?
3. What output should i use toslink or analog? Is there a big difference? Analog is just stereo, one cable for the left Chanel and the other for the right. So, Toslink is the way to go.

I have also seen the following comments, some of which are contradictory, can you comment on these?
1. Select PCM as this sends more data to the reciver, if you select DD or DTS they are compressed and you lose data True, but out of context. First, PCM over optical is only stereo. Second, DD 5.1 and DTS use data compression and work sort of like zip files. Much of the data removed during encoding is restored during decoding. Bottom line: if you want discrete 5.1 from your TV, you cannot use PCM.
2. If you select PCM and use toslink you only get 2 channel and not 5, (although I am getting surround with my toslink) If you are sending PCM and get surround sound, it's because you are applying a surround mode in your receiver, something like ProLogic II, which expands stereo sources to 5.1. It's not discrete 5.1, although it can sound very good. Of course, your soundbar likely creates some sort of surround regardless of the source. The difference between stereo and 5.1 is much more apparent with a real surround system.
3. If you select PCM and use analog you get 5 channel Not on a TV. You would need a source such as a Blu-ray player with six analog outputs, one for each of the six channels. TVs only have analog stereo, at best. Many TVs don't even offer any analog outputs these days. Does yours?
4. choose dd is better
5. choose DTS it is better That's an old debate, pretty much resolved over time that they sound very much alike. But, you won't have the ability to choose because you have to play the type that's on the source. HD TV signals are broadcast in DD 5.1. SD comes in stereo PCM. No broadcasts are done in DTS. But the question for you again: what sources are you feeding through your TV? It should only be TV signals originating from the set's tuner and Smart TV apps. Audio for everything else would usually go direct to the sound bar rather than being routed through the TV.

[cpemploy]

Ok, let me see if I have it:
1. Select, on my blue ray, DD or DTS
2. No not select PCM, because I will only get 2 channel due to the toslink limitation
3. When I did select PCM, I heard a type of "recreated" surrond sound that is not as good as discrete 5.1, this is another reason not to select PCM.

Two new questions:
1. I also have the ability to select bitstream, is the answer similar to the PCM answer, select DD or DTS due to toslink limitation.
2. The mfg says the product supports; 100Hz - 20KHz. Just to confirm then it dose not support 96 khz conversion?

Thanks

[BIslander]

Yes, select DD or DTS on the disc. Does your TV pass through DTS?

Bitstream is another way of saying the player will send DD or DTS to the sound processor for decoding.

I think you are mixing up the frequency range your bar supports with the sampling rates. There's very little 96kHz content anyway.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

[dwightnov17]

I have a sony str-700 entry level 7.1 but it only decodes DD-ES and DTS-ES. to hear Dolby True and DTS Master 7.1, do I need to let the player do the decoding and output in PCM?

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by dwightnov17

I have a sony str-700 entry level 7.1 but it only decodes DD-ES and DTS-ES. to hear Dolby True and DTS Master 7.1, do I need to let the player do the decoding and output in PCM?

Yep.

Provided you buy one that decodes as 5.1/7.1 and not 2.0 downmix.

[XanderAE]

Hi all,

Hoping someone can confirm for me, as having real trouble finding an answer. There's so much talk online about bitstream v PCM and mechanics of either with regards to player and receiver. However, I can't find info on what the correct option should be for a 5.1 blu-Ray home theatre, where the player and receiver are the same thing.

Bitstream output or PCM? FYI, I have the Panasonic BTT885.

Many thanks in advance.

[mx2004]

Originally Posted by XanderAE

Hi all,

Hoping someone can confirm for me, as having real trouble finding an answer. There's so much talk online about bitstream v PCM and mechanics of either with regards to player and receiver. However, I can't find info on what the correct option should be for a 5.1 blu-Ray home theatre, where the player and receiver are the same thing.

Bitstream output or PCM? FYI, I have the Panasonic BTT885.

Many thanks in advance.

By the same, do you mean that the player and receiver are one unit? If so, the setting is probably immaterial, as it relates to the HDMI output, rather than the internal decoding and amplification.

If not, and you have a separate player and receiver there is no one right answer, although most (me included) will set the player to bitstream output and let the receiver do the decoding (providing the receiver can handle Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio).

[XanderAE]

Thanks for the quick response! That's right, the player and receiver are one unit, with wired speakers etc. I guess it matters not which I select in that case, just strange that I can select between them...

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by XanderAE

Thanks for the quick response! That's right, the player and receiver are one unit, with wired speakers etc. I guess it matters not which I select in that case, just strange that I can select between them...

That option exists for the day something, audio wise, dies in that HTiB so you can use it as just a player when you upgrade to a real audio system.

[beyond 1000]

Just to ask this bluntly.

If you are using a 7.1 analog connection from the player to the AVR or pre/pro, then having, for example, an Oppo 105 or Cambridge CXU as a player, means that it is pointless to go and spend extra money for a Marantz 7702, assuming one doesn't care to use Atmos.

Am I correct?

Thanks

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by beyond 1000

Just to ask this bluntly.

If you are using a 7.1 analog connection from the player to the AVR or pre/pro, then having, for example, an Oppo 105 or Cambridge CXU as a player, means that it is pointless to go and spend extra money for a Marantz 7702, assuming one doesn't care to use Atmos.

Am I correct?

Thanks

well, I'd never say it's pointless, because if you want the 7702 and either the 105 or the CXU, that's what you want, period. having said that, based purely on the way you have it written, it would depend on which DAC you preferred. either the one in the 7702 or the one in either oppo or Cambridge for analog that is.

I have a 105D and I plan to upgrade to a 7702mkii. I plan to connect my 105D as I have it now, 8 channel analog, but, with the 7702mkii, I will also enable hdmi audio because I do want to utilize ATMOS, DTS:X and Auro:3D. I like to keep my options open. I get to choose between DAC's there may be non ATMOS type things that I prefer the 105D DAC and some that the 7702mkii will be better. it all depends.

I currently use my 105D analog out only because my current old pre-amp has a DAC that's incredibly inferior to the 105D.

good news is you can audition the oppo for 30 days in home with your 7702 and determine which DAC you prefer. if you prefer the 7702, send the oppo back and get a refund, not including shipping of course.

good luck.

[BIslander]

For discs played from that one player using MCH analog, the receiver pretty much acts like an amp. All processing, even bass management, is handled by the player prior to the digital-analog conversion.

But, for any other source, the receiver will be doing the processing. And, you may find that the receiver does a better job with the high res sources than your player's analog output. Almost all receivers have more sophisticated processing tools than even the top players.

[2pacalypsenow]

So would my PS3 decode the same way my Av8802A would? I do notice sometimes when using bitstream I get more bass

[BIslander]

That's a different matter. We've been posting about players with multichannel analog outputs, which decode and then do all of the subsequent digital processing and the digital to analog conversion. When your PS3 does the decoding, the rest of the processing is still being done by your prepro.

It should not matter which device does the decoding as the resulting PCM will be the same either way. But, it is always possible your processor treats a PCM input a little differently than bitstream.

[Canuck31]

Sorry if I'm bumping an old thread. But this topic came up in my own thread in a different section. I have a Sony BDPS5500 blu-ray player and a Yamaha HTR6063 receiver. Now for example using Iron Man 3. If I turn on BD audio mix settings in the player then my receiver says DTS on it's display. But if I turn off BD audio mix on the player then the receiver says DTS-HD MSTR on the display. So with the audio mix turned on in the player am I not getting the full HD audio? Why would the receiver display two different things? With Dolby TrueHD disc it doesn't seem to matter which decodes. The receiver will display Dolby TrueHD either way.

[blackhawktraffic]

I hope this is the right place and I am still confused.

But today I got my LG 4K player for my 4K movies. I have had the Bose Soundbar 3(I think) for a while and have had no issues.

Last night i played the Criterion "Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown" which played through my soundbar fine (watching via my Xbox One)

When I try to play any disc on my new 4K player that has DTS Audio it does not work.

How can it work on my Xbox One, yet not the new player when both are connected to the soundbar the same way (via Optical Cable to TV)


Any Suggestions or info would be great.

[lateralspin]

Originally Posted by Canuck31

If I turn on BD audio mix settings in the player then my receiver says DTS on it's display. But if I turn off BD audio mix on the player then the receiver says DTS-HD MSTR on the display.

Yes, this is the idiosyncrasy of the Sony player, which does not output the correct Atmos to the receiver because it has automagically mixed the audio tracks into a lossy DTS track in the above case. If you have a receiver that can decode Atmos, then you might want to configure your player to output Atmos.

[IrishSteel]

Apologies if this is considering digging up a zombie thread....

Pass-through Setup: Xbox One S -> Yamaha HTR 2067 -> LG TV

From what I understand the HTR 2067 doesn't decode DTS HD or DolbyTrue HD but the Xbox does.
So would the receiver play the Blu-ray DTS HD track coming from the Xbox for instance?

Thanks in advance.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by IrishSteel

Apologies if this is considering digging up a zombie thread....

Pass-through Setup: Xbox One S -> Yamaha HTR 2067 -> LG TV

From what I understand the HTR 2067 doesn't decode DTS HD or DolbyTrue HD but the Xbox does.
So would the receiver play the Blu-ray DTS HD track coming from the Xbox for instance?

Thanks in advance.

It should decode the lossy cores just fine, so you'll still get 5.1 just not lossless.

If it accepts 5.1 PCM over HDMI that's your best solution by letting the Xbox decode (if it can, I've never tried with an Xbox, but have used that several years ago with an older receiver that couldn't do lossless DTS and DD but could accept PCM 5.1 from a BD player).