cannot get dts hd to decode on my sony str-dg820 reciever

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Originally Posted by plasticmanpat

When i watch a bluray movie that is recorded in dolby trusurround hd or dts hd it will not decode it on my sony str-dg820 reciever, i called sony's tech support, they told to make sure i had the speakers hooked up for 7.1, still nothing happened. I keep getting just regular dts, not dts hd.Please help me with this!!!!!!!

1st of all, what are you using as a blu-ray player? And how stupid is Sonys tech support to tell you that you need a 7.1 hookup to get HD sound. The majority of HD codecs are in 5.1 anyway, and if you were watching one with 7.1 you just wouldnt hear the surround backs.

[crackinhedz]

1st of all, what are you using as a blu-ray player?

he's using the BDP-S300. post #3

[Bageara]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Sony STRDG820

Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System

~$600

Perfect! thanks again

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Originally Posted by crackinhedz

he's using the BDP-S300. post #3

Sorry, I missed that one. Theres the reason!

[zubinh]

Ok Gents, unlike the OP, I AM using a PS3 connected by HDMI to the STR-DG820. I have the PS3 set to output LPCM.

From my understanding, If I select DTS-HD in the Blu-Ray movie's set up menu, then what I am hearing is DTS HD, its just that the 820 is not displaying the "DTS-HD" it only says "Linear PCM" Am I right??

Kinda Blows that the 820 doesnt display DTS-HD or Dolby True HD if being fed LPCM.

[JasonR]

It is right. If it is decoded internally and sent PCM, it will only display "Multichannel PCM". You can hit the select button on your PS3 remote to see the codec. If you want to see the lights, you will need a player that will bitstream the codecs (i.e. Sony BDP-S350). It is that way with all receivers that accept a PCM signal.

[zubinh]

Thanks Jason. I'm not about to give up a PS3 for a BR Player. I'll live without "seeing the lights" especially if the PS3 display will show the codec (thanks for the tip by the way).

To those of you on the fence about buying this receiver, I must say I am very impressed. First I bought the HK 254. Awesome GUI, video overlay and awesome sound but the auto setup failed to detect my front speakers and then the audio dropout issue from the PS3 started. Then I tried the Onkyo 606. Great sound and a decent GUI but after a few days I got the buzzing problem the guys on AVS talk about. Finally ended up with the Sony 820..Awesome Sound, Awesome PQ, setup was a snap and for $330 bucks from Circuit City a terrific value. It doesnt have a GUI but I can live without it.

I know the guys at AVS knock non-ES Sony Receivers but in this case Sony has proven em wrong with the 820.

[JasonR]

I have the 920 and love it. Glad I could help.

[Giyomu]

I have a 820 too and tried to change settings so many times because i didn t know why receiver didn t display "dtshd". (Iwaited so long to see the lights! )
I thought first I was cheated on the receiver but someone on the forum told me to push the display button of the ps3 remote and then... halleluyah
I learnt that it is decoded internally by the ps3 and what I was listened to was indeed, dtshd

[oakleyspatz]

OK, I know this thread is old(ish) but my problem is new and this thread looks like just the one to answer it!
I have recently purchased a Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-Ray player and a Sony STR-DG820.
Now contrary to some posts in this thread, the Sony does indeed have internal decoders for Dolby True HD and DTS-HD/Master Audio. It says so in the manual and it is written all over the front of the unit.
The Panasonic states that it can output the raw bitstream of these audio formats too so in theory, I should have no problem listening to DTS-HD Master Audio with a Blu-Ray containing this audio soundtrack.
Here is the problem:
I have tried and tried and tried to listen to Hellboy 2 in 7.1 DTS-Master Audio (which the disc says it contains) but all the Sony will ever display is 5.1 standard DTS.
The Sony has the Master Audio logo to illuminate on its display, but only illuminates the standard DTS logo. Also, I have 7.1 speakers connected and when I go into the speaker set-up screen on the Panasonic and select multi-channel, then the Sony does illuminate all 7.1 channels (albeit in PCM) but when I try to play this disc, it only ever illuminates 5.1 speakers.
I have gone over the settings on both units a million times and everything is set up as it should be (at least I think it is). The Panny is outputting bitstream, the Sony is set to output the audio it receives (instead of converting to PCM) and I have selected 7.1 speaker confirguration in the Sony's menu. I am obviously running HDMI between both.

Anyone have an answer or suffers from the same dillema?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by oakleyspatz

Anyone have an answer or suffers from the same dillema?

did you turn secondary audio Off?

[BACsader]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

did you turn secondary audio Off?

Bingo. For some reason when I got my 60, it was defaulted to on and it took me forever to figure it out. I guess they automatically have it set to on, which is stupid.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by oakleyspatz

Anyone have an answer or suffers from the same dillema?

or make sure that your cable is category 2 version 1.3a

[oakleyspatz]

Originally Posted by callas01

or make sure that your cable is category 2 version 1.3a

Secondary audio is off. The Panny has an "Audio Quality" mode which switches Secondary Audio off and outputs eveything as bitstream. It says to use this mode when outputting HDMI HD audio to an amp/receiver which has the decoders built in (i.e. the Sony).

I bought the HDMI cable just last week but it doesn't actually say that it is even 1.3a let alone catergory 2
All it says is it can handle the "latest video and audio formats" and is "gold plated for maximum signal transfer"
I would assume that all current cables are 1.3a but I'm not familiar with catergory 2 version. Would that cause my problem if it were not catergory 2 ???
The cable is this one: http://www.madcatz.com/Default.asp?Page=318

[callas01]

Take advantage of what your next generation gaming console has to offer with the Mad Catz PLAYSTATION 3 HDMI cable. Experience ultra-realistic high-definition images to the fullest on your HDTV and enjoy sharp, detailed video at screen resolutions up to 1080p. Compatible with surround sound formats like Dolby® Digital and DTS®, now you can create a high-performance connection between your HDMI enabled HDTV, PLAYSTATION 3, DVD player, or other components, and realize the ultimate in home theater gaming. No more complicated cable set-up when installing your home theater system, and no more ugly cable mess behind your components. Gold-plated contacts for maximum signal transfer rates along with copper conductors for minimal signal interference make this cable the premier choice for taking your high-definition experience to the next level. Mad Catz promises innovative, quality products for all your gaming needs.

It doesn't say it does HD audio... not sure if it does or not, but that would be my guess.... Try going to amazon.com and getting a cat2 v1.3a cable for $9.99 or monoprice.com, they have them for cheap too, whichever one wont charge S&H.

[crackinhedz]

another thought...is your receiver HDMI output set to "Amp+TV"?

...set it to "Amp" (only)

[oakleyspatz]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

another thought...is your receiver HDMI output set to "Amp+TV"?

...set it to "Amp" (only)

Yep, that is already set to Amp only and not Amp & TV.
Thanks for the suggestions though! Keep 'em comin!!

[crackinhedz]

well, if the Bluray player has the latest firmware updates, is set to Bitstream and secondary audio is Off...and receiver is set to "Amp", the only other possible suggestion I could think of is...

what resolution is your BD player set to? 720p/1080i,1080p?

guess you might have to try out a different HDMI cable, all the obvious suggestions have been made.


also, are you selecting the audio track on the disc itself? (the player usually does not default to the lossless tracks)

[oakleyspatz]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

well, if the Bluray player has the latest firmware updates, is set to Bitstream and secondary audio is Off...and receiver is set to "Amp", the only other possible suggestion I could think of is...

what resolution is your BD player set to? 720p/1080i,1080p?

guess you might have to try out a different HDMI cable, all the obvious suggestions have been made.


also, are you selecting the audio track on the disc itself? (the player usually does not default to the lossless tracks)

Right, let's see....
I currently have it set to 1080i res as when I set it to 1080p (my plasma is a Pioneer PDP-507XD which will accept a 1080p/24 signal but is not a 1080p res screen) I kept losing the image and it took a lifetime to lock onto it when ever I went into the set-up screen. So now I have it on 1080i but I have tried it on 1080p and still the sound wasn't right.
The disc set-up screen already has dts-hd master audio highlighted and that is the only english audio track available (with the exception of commentary tracks) but I still go in a click on it anyway. When I press display on the panny, it says the audio is DTS-HD, but the sony doesn't agree so the cable may well be the problem.
I would have thought that by now and with the already mass confusion surrounding (no pun intended) HDMI audio, they would ensure all HDMI cables now sold would be v1.3a and cat 2..But it seems not!
Crazy!!

[oakleyspatz]

I've sorted it!!! I went to my Sony Center from where I purchased the amp and they were so helpful it was untrue!! Firstly they leant me a top spec HDMI cable. I took that home tried it and still no joy.
I returned that and they told me to take back one of their demo Sony BDP-350 Blu-Ray players and try that. I did and the amp decoded bitstream DTS-HD Master audio no problem so the problem would appear to be the Panasonic player.
I returned the Sony player and they said, try doing a factory reset on the Panasonic and see if that helps. I did and BINGO!!!! I now have perfect 7.1 DTS-HD Master audio coming from all my speakers!. It would seem the Panasonic DMP-BD30 had some fault, maybe caused by an incomplete firmware update or something. Anyway, all is good now.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, got there in the end!