Multi Channel or Digital?

[bikerman]

I have and older Yamaha receiver Model # HTR 5950 and it doesn't decode the DTS HD MASTER LOSSLESS AUDIO but when I play say I, Robot through the analog multi channel, it sounds noticeably cleaner and clearer than playing it through the fiber optic audio cable or coaxial cable. The beginning of the movie in the water and when Will Smith walks into the building where the scientist is killed. The doors shutting and the voice over the P.A. system is really noticeably better. My question to all of you sound masters is... is it better to play all the movies through the analog multi channel than fiber optic or coaxial cable? I even notice a big difference on both Fantastic 4 movies using the multi channel analog even though they claim to be DTS. Is there a big difference or am I just hearing things... (pun intended)

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by bikerman

when I play say I, Robot through the analog multi channel, it sounds noticeably cleaner and clearer...I even notice a big difference on both Fantastic 4 movies using the multi channel analog

you answered your own question.

Best = what sounds best to you.

[bikerman]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

you answered your own question.

Best = what sounds best to you.

is this usually the case?

[un4gvn94538]

does your player decode true hd and dts ma? if it does then youd be hearing hd codecs. optical or coax cannot carry the same signal

[bikerman]

my player does not support true hd or dts ma. but still sounds better on multi channel. i don;t know if this is normal...

[bikerman]

so i gather that multi channel is better for all audio signals from bluray players?

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by bikerman

my player does not support true hd or dts ma. but still sounds better on multi channel. i don;t know if this is normal...

I am assuming you are comparing a normal DD or DST signal from Optical being decoded on your receiver vs having your player decode the signal and then sending it out via 5.1 analog output?

If this is the case, it is quite possible that you like it from analog output instead of the receiver doing the decoding. I am not sure on your model but many receivers will by-pass the digital circuits when fed the analog input and may just provide a pure pass through to the amps. I know I prefer a 2 channel analog feed going through pure by pass mode to having it fed via digital then having my process do volume control and other things in the digital domain.

The negative side of feeding it analog and by passing the digital signal is you can not take advantage of speaker size and distance settings from your receiver.

In the end, listen to what you enjoy and do it that way.

[Nathan P]

Originally Posted by bikerman

my player does not support true hd or dts ma. but still sounds better on multi channel. i don;t know if this is normal...

Check paidgeek's insider thread - i'm sure there reference to a firmware update for your s300 that will allow it to decode true HD

Just found it, its post #724 in paidgeeks thread - sorry couldn't work how to link the post

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by bikerman

I have and older Yamaha receiver Model # HTR 5950 and it doesn't decode the DTS HD MASTER LOSSLESS AUDIO but when I play say I, Robot through the analog multi channel, it sounds noticeably cleaner and clearer than playing it through the fiber optic audio cable or coaxial cable. The beginning of the movie in the water and when Will Smith walks into the building where the scientist is killed. The doors shutting and the voice over the P.A. system is really noticeably better. My question to all of you sound masters is... is it better to play all the movies through the analog multi channel than fiber optic or coaxial cable? I even notice a big difference on both Fantastic 4 movies using the multi channel analog even though they claim to be DTS. Is there a big difference or am I just hearing things... (pun intended)

Just be careful. It may seem to sound better on Multichannel, but you need to find out what the receiver is doing with the signal. It sounds to me like your receiver is actually downmixing the signal to 2 channel stereo and then using that stereo signal to fake the surround feeds. This DESTROYS the surround integrity. Yes, it does sound clearer, but it lacks three dimensional sound field integrity!!!

What is the model # of the receiver??? Maybe when I learn how to read I'll consider myself a big grown up boy.