Receiver to pair w/PS3?

[bootman]

Originally Posted by jdc115

The PS3 will decode TrueHD (and DTS-MA in the future it is believed) but most likely will never send it via bitstream over HDMI. At least from that I read and understood, it does not have the chipset needed to send the signal as bitstream so it will always do the decoding and then send as PCM.

So if somebody really feels the need to do the decoding at the receiver instead of the player, then the PS3 is not the right choice but the end result really shouldn't be any difference.

We are starting to hear a difference now that players are available that can bitstream everything. Initial reports are that with the right equipment it can sound better if the receiver does the decoding.

long thread:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=21565

reminds me of the dts days.
players would decode them until receivers came out.
then the players just started to bitstream.
I have a dvd player that can send dts via bitstream or internally decode it and send it out over pcm.
There is no contest in SQ when the receiver does the work as intended.

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by bootman

We are starting to hear a difference now that players are available that can bitstream everything. Initial reports are that with the right equipment it can sound better if the receiver does the decoding.

long thread:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=21565

reminds me of the dts days.
players would decode them until receivers came out.
then the players just started to bitstream.
I have a dvd player that can send dts via bitstream or internally decode it and send it out over pcm.
There is no contest in SQ when the receiver does the work as intended.

OK, I read through most of that but started to skip through as it seemed like they were going around and around and just confusing each other and I didn't find anything that was very concrete that the receiver would be a better place to do the decoding over the player.

I suppose it is still too early to tell as their isn't enough equipment out there to test all the possibilities but when real tests can be done then I wouldn't mind seeing:

5.1 PCM over HDMI
5.1 PCM converted to analog and output 5.1 analog on the player
TrueHD converted to PCM at the player and outputed over HDMI
TrueHD decoded at the player and sent out over analog 5.1
TrueHD output via bitstream and decoded at the receiver

As I have a PS3 at the moment, my output will have to be PCM over HDMI when I buy a processor that has HDMI. At the moment the processor I am planning to purchase does not decode TrueHD or HDMA so hopefully there isn't a difference if the player or processor does the decoding. If more tests that seem to indicate that there is a difference then I may rethink my plans.

Using my DVD player, I find I prefer it to send 5.1 analog out to my processor (which is then just acting as a analog pass through with a volume control) then sending DD or DTS to my process to do the decoding.

[bootman]

Originally Posted by jdc115

Using my DVD player, I find I prefer it to send 5.1 analog out to my processor (which is then just acting as a analog pass through with a volume control) then sending DD or DTS to my process to do the decoding.

Doing that you lose control over proper x-over settings, speaker distances, DTS-ES information, etc that a properly equipped receiver can do.
Ultimately you decide what sounds best, but how do you really know if you haven't explored all of your choices?

Again I can only go by what I read others doing and my own experiences in my setup with DVD and DTS.
But I am with the mind set that audio is done best with dedicated audio equipment not at the player so I admit to being a bit biased when it comes to audio.

[Imakida]

To answer your first question, if you have a low buget, I would recommend the Harman Kardon AVR247. The price is not too high and it does decode the PCM over HDMI. That's the one I have and I'm happy with. However, it can't do logic 7 over the PCM signal, and I know some hi-end Harman Kardon can do it (useful when listening music with the PS3). You can also look at the Yamaha6060, it is in the same range of price.

Now for the debate about bitstream and PCM, you sometimes make it sounds like PCM is not lossless or not as good as the ''encode signal'' in bitstream like the DD and DTS, and that's definitly not the case. The only difference is where it decode the signal, either the PS3 or the A/V receiver. The drawback in the fact that the signal is decode in the PS3 is that most of the receiver cannot process the signal OVER the PCM (but it WILL keep the settings like the speaker distances, bass or treble settings,etc.). That means you can "modify" the sound to hall, theater, 2 or 5 channel stereo, etc., and that's not a big deal.

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by bootman

Doing that you lose control over proper x-over settings, speaker distances, DTS-ES information, etc that a properly equipped receiver can do.
Ultimately you decide what sounds best, but how do you really know if you haven't explored all of your choices?

Again I can only go by what I read others doing and my own experiences in my setup with DVD and DTS.
But I am with the mind set that audio is done best with dedicated audio equipment not at the player so I admit to being a bit biased when it comes to audio.

My DVD player could do bass management and set speakers sizes, but you are right in that you couldn't control the detail settings of deciding how far each speakers was, etc. But it was my audio bias that has me setup this way. If I send the signal in through a digital interface then my processor has something else going on with the signal. I listen to more 2 channel audio then I probably watch movies and the sounds is always better coming through as analog then being fed through digital and letting the processor do the conversion.

Early next year I will invest in a new HDMI processor so I can test the functions out more and try to get down to a single cable. But I will look out for others exp with were to do the decoding.

[MaleManGuy]

Originally Posted by frank_t

Hi all -

I have a PS3 and am looking for a new receiver to pair with it.

My needs are specifically a receiver which will accept multi-channel PCM over HDMI.

Also must have:

- 7.1 analog inputs
- at least 2 HDMI inputs and 2 component inputs


Nice to haves would be:

- decoding of new audio formats (DTS-MA, Dolby TrueHD, etc...)
- auto-calibration via external mic

I've been looking at the cheaper Onkyo 605 (think I have that model # correct).

It seems very difficult to find any info on receivers which will accept multi-channel PCM over HDMI.

Thanks in advance

The Denon is powerful, with great sound and very flexible in their configuration. I currently am doing the PS3 with the Denon and am very happy with it. It has an advanced external setup with Mic testing the audio reception from a number of points in the room. The 3808 has 4 HDMI inputs. Does all the decoding you'd ever want and 1080p upscaling. Bought the ipod dock with it too so you can control your dock watching the TV. The 3808 has ethernet to connect to your home network to browse for multimedia... yes, the 3808 has a windows multimedia sticker on it... hehe. It's a very lickable unit.
Jeffy

[Gravion2005]

Hey MALEMANGUY....u said the 3808 denon can upscale to 1080p? But can it upscale EVERYTHING to 1080p, even the analog like the 480i or 480p or 720p to 1080P like the Onkyo 905 can or the onkyo875? Isn't the 905 the best and the 875 the second best? Please correct me if i'm wrong my good man The denon doesn't have the hqv chip either that those to new onkyo's have.

What's say u kind sir?