Cabling interconnect questions

[HigTone]

So, I am leaning towards Blu-ray as my next-gen media, but have a couple of questions regarding specific cabling requirements. Hope someone can help out.

Currently I have;
-Samsung HL-S6187W 1080p DLP with supposed HDMI v1.0 connectors
-Denon AVR-1706 doing Dolby Digital® EX, DTS-ES®, Pro Logic® IIx, DTS Neo:6, and DTS 96/24 processing (typical 5.1 setup using all digital connections)

Possible future purchase;
-Samsung BD-P1400 or Sony BDP-S500 or Pioneer BDP-95FD (all with HDMI v1.3)

Questions;
1) Since the players and the display have different HDMI versions, will there be any real-world noticeable issues with regards to display quality?
2) I would like to continue to use an all digital connection between the player and the Denon, but am not sure about how the new audio formats will be supported. Are they even possible with my current Denon?

Thanks so much for any insight you can provide. I am really looking forward to making the leap, but want to make sure I can play everything.

(and yes, I jumped from AVS to land here)

[clyon]

The hdmi 1.3 is backward compatible, so your fine & it will work.

Just run the hdmi to the tv & then use the 5.1 analog out on the back of the bd player to your receiver & you will get PCM 5.1. Or you can run a single Toslink cable from the player to receiver. You will not get 5.1 PCM via toslink, but you will get 2.0 PCM + all the other like DTS 5.1, DDex 6.1 & the rest.

[turboLAZER]

http://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/faq.aspx#q2




Q. Do I need v1.3 HDMI to hear the new Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master HD audio content on HD-DVD or Blu-ray players?

No. The Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD Master Audio can be decoded by the playback device into multi-channel Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) digital audio streams, which is an audio format standard that can be sent over any version of HDMI. In fact, all versions of HDMI can support up to 8 channels of PCM audio at 192kHz, 24 bits per sample.

To do this, consumers should ensure that their playback device (such as HD-DVD or Blu-ray player) is capable of decoding these new lossless Dolby & DTS audio formats into the PCM format on the HDMI output, and that the audio device (such as an A/V receiver) is capable of receiving multi-channel PCM audio over the HDMI inputs. Consult your user manual/product specification sheet to determine whether your device supports such PCM capabilities (we believe that nearly all HD-DVD and Blu-ray players will, but users should confirm this). Devices that support HDMI v1.3 and higher may also offer the option to transport the high definition audio formats as a compressed, encoded stream over HDMI so that the decoding function can be performed by the A/V receiver (whereas the above transport method has the playback device performing the decoding).

Q. What is the difference in quality between listening to Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD over HDMI, SPDIF (i.e. coax or optical), or analog from the player to the A/V receiver?

HDMI provides the highest quality as it enables the full, lossless audio data of Dolby TrueHD to be transferred digitally to the AV receiver, and enables the A/V receiver to apply its full digital audio processing capabilities (such as bass management, or sound field processing effects) to further enhance the audio quality. SPDIF does not have the ability to support the data rates required by Dolby TrueHD, and thus will not support it. Analog will be lower quality than HDMI due to two reasons: 1) the nature of analog transmission is lossy and will degrade while transported over the cables, 2) many A/V receivers will not apply any digital audio processing to the analog inputs, and in such cases analog signals will be sent directly to the amplifier without the benefit of such processing.

Q. What is the difference between decoding Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD in the player (i.e. sending over HDMI as decoded PCM) vs. decoding in the A/V receiver (i.e. sending over HDMI as encoded Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD bitstream)?

There is no inherent difference in quality between Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD being sent over HDMI as decoded PCM vs. encoded bit stream. All Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD decoders (whether in the player or the A/V receiver) must be certified to meet stringent quality requirements. However, consumers should make sure that their receivers support the number of incoming PCM channels delivered by their source device (e.g. DVD).

[HigTone]

Originally Posted by clyon

Or you can run a single Toslink cable from the player to receiver. You will not get 5.1 PCM via toslink, but you will get 2.0 PCM + all the other like DTS 5.1, DDex 6.1 & the rest.

So, do I really need to hear "Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master HD" ?? Is there that much of a difference between those and a good DTS track?

[quetzalcoatl]

Originally Posted by HigTone

So, do I really need to hear "Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master HD" ?? Is there that much of a difference between those and a good DTS track?

That would depend on who you talk to. I am one that would say yes there is a difference.

[cpgator]

Originally Posted by HigTone

So, do I really need to hear "Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master HD" ?? Is there that much of a difference between those and a good DTS track?

It would depend on your speakers.

[HigTone]

Well, after doing A LOT of reading on various threads, I have come to the conclusion that I will need a new a/v receiver to keep cable clutter to a minimum and have the ability to hear the new audio formats.

Probably going with the Denon AVR-1908 due to budget and the thought that if my new standalone BD player does all the decoding, I do not need the receiver to do it.

Also going to wait it out for a Profile 1.1 or 2.0 BD player.

Should end up with just HDMI from BD player to a/v receiver and then HDMI to my display.

If I am still off-base, please let me know. Thanks so much for the information!

[quetzalcoatl]

Yep 2 HDMI cables is all you will need.

I would reccommend looking at receivers that can do the DTS HD MA that Dennon will not do it. The lowest end Denon that will is the 2808. The most affordable recevier that can do it is the Onkyo 605.

I am of the group that would rather have my recevier do the decoding. Even if in theory LPCM should be the same.

[HigTone]

Originally Posted by cpgator

It would depend on your speakers.

I have a complete SpeakerCraft 5.1 setup with four AIM7 Three in-ceiling units, an AIM Monitor Three LCR center box and a BassX 10 powered sub. They are wonderful to listen to so I am hoping they handle the new audio formats just as good.