Audio decoding in the player

[Damon Payne]

I was trying to answer a question on another forum and came up empty. Am I correct that no Blu-Ray players can currently decode DTS-HD/DDTHD in the player for output over the analog out?

[amavon]

Originally Posted by Damon Payne

I was trying to answer a question on another forum and came up empty. Am I correct that no Blu-Ray players can currently decode DTS-HD/DDTHD in the player for output over the analog out?

I cannot confirm this but the Pioneer 95 might, but when the Denon 3800 ships...then you should have a yes.

[quetzalcoatl]

Have not checked my 95 for DTS HD HR since at the time I did not have any titles. And sorry I redid my cabnet and it is no longer real easy for me to get to the analog outs to test it. But the Panasonic 10 will do it.

[Woody]

The Pioneer 95 decodes DDTHD internally but not DTS HDMA.

The Denon 3800 will be the first HDM player to internally decode both.


A few players now bitstream both though.

ie: the Sammy 1400, and the Panny 30, and the Pioneer 95.

[garak]

Check out this link. This will answer your question.

http://www.idoblu.co.uk/page2%20Blu-ray%20Players.html

[Theo Cupier]

Originally Posted by garak

Check out this link. This will answer your question.

http://www.idoblu.co.uk/page2%20Blu-ray%20Players.html

Useful table, but unless I'm missing something, it doesn't indicate which players will send the decoded audio via analog out to the amp.

Out of interest (to help someone running away from the HD DVD sinking ship) why is Bluray behind HD DVD in terms of internal audio decoding and transmission via analog 5.1 outputs? This is the big sticking point for me in terms of using the refund from my HD player to immediately buy a BD player, since I have a non-HDMI amp that doesn't support the HD formats.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Theo Cupier

Out of interest (to help someone running away from the HD DVD sinking ship) why is Bluray behind HD DVD in terms of internal audio decoding and transmission via analog 5.1 outputs?

1) For a lot of the earlier releases, even some of the new Disney releases, the uncompressed LPCM was used. So for the CEs, it didn't seem to make sense to add to the cost of the component to add DTS HDMA/ TrueHD decoding for the first gen BD players. Second gen players and onwards have TrueHD decoding. No DTS HDMA decoding thus far.

2) As far as I can tell, no HD DVD players can decode DTS HDMA either.


fuad

[Theo Cupier]

You're right about the DTS-MA, but I've not seen many BD players that will decode ANY HD audio (eg TrueHD or DD5.1) and send it via analog connectors. Some have analog but only decode the SD audio.

This is the functionality I need from a player and until I can find it at a reasonable price, I just can't jump ship.

[garak]

Originally Posted by Theo Cupier

Useful table, but unless I'm missing something, it doesn't indicate which players will send the decoded audio via analog out to the amp.

If the player can internally decode TrueHD and DTS-HD MA and has analog outs, then it will send the decoded signal over those analog outs.

[Theo Cupier]

Originally Posted by garak

If the player can internally decode TrueHD and DTS-HD MA and has analog outs, then it will send the decoded signal over those analog outs.

Is that strictly true?

I only ask because I understood the Panasonic BD30 can decode (most of) the formats and has analog out, yet only sends basic DD5.1 or DTS over analog...

Either I'm wrong, or it's more confusing than it seems.

Also, is there a list of the players with analog outputs?

[BadAss]

it is confusing hence why I'm expanding the player list.

A player can have internal decoding and not output it as bitstream over HDMI because it might not have a 1.3 HDMI chip.

Also a player might output True-HD and DTS-MA over HDMI as bistream but not decode it internaly and output it over analog.

Its complicated allright.

[krisjan]

Originally Posted by Theo Cupier

Is that strictly true?

I only ask because I understood the Panasonic BD30 can decode (most of) the formats and has analog out, yet only sends basic DD5.1 or DTS over analog...

Either I'm wrong, or it's more confusing than it seems.

Also, is there a list of the players with analog outputs?

The Panasonic BD30 does not internally decode True HD or DTS-MA. It passes them in bistream form through HDMI. One must have an HDMI 1.3 receiver with capabilities to decode True HD and DTS-MA in order to get those audio formats from this player. As far as the BD30 analog outputs, it will send lossless pcm (if the BD has a lossless audio track) which is as good as either True HD or DTS-MA. Otherwise, you will get standard DD or DTS 5.1 out of the BD30 analog outs.

[w3syt]

I just got my Sony 300 and am puzzled about something. It has 5.1 ( 6 cable) output. My Onkyo receiver likewise. But, I see no way to hear the Onkyo powered subwoofer output from this connection. Am I doing something wrong ? Is this setup preferrable to Toslink type which does output the subwoofer?

[bootman]

Originally Posted by Theo Cupier

Useful table, but unless I'm missing something, it doesn't indicate which players will send the decoded audio via analog out to the amp.

Out of interest (to help someone running away from the HD DVD sinking ship) why is Bluray behind HD DVD in terms of internal audio decoding and transmission via analog 5.1 outputs? This is the big sticking point for me in terms of using the refund from my HD player to immediately buy a BD player, since I have a non-HDMI amp that doesn't support the HD formats.

Does you gear apply correct processing to 7.1 analog inputs or are you at the mercy of the player's settings?

If your gear is of high enough value that you do not wish to upgrade to a prepro with the proper digital processing of HD Audio, my suggestion is to wait for the highend Denon 3800.
The $2K price is still cheaper for some than upgrading their gear for a $500 player.

Or you can get an Integra 9.8 prepro and a Panny BD 30 for about the same price.

[Theo Cupier]

Originally Posted by bootman

Does you gear apply correct processing to 7.1 analog inputs or are you at the mercy of the player's settings?

If your gear is of high enough value that you do not wish to upgrade to a prepro with the proper digital processing of HD Audio, my suggestion is to wait for the highend Denon 3800.
The $2K price is still cheaper for some than upgrading their gear for a $500 player.

Or you can get an Integra 9.8 prepro and a Panny BD 30 for about the same price.

Depends what you mean by processing. The player would need to set the delays and levels for each speaker since the 5.1 analog ins on my receiver are pass through, straight to the amp.

Assuming I've understood you correctly, the disappointing thing about what you say there is that all the functionality I need was available for £300 in the Toshiba HD EP35, which I've now sent back to the retailer since HD DVD is effectively dead (I guess you all noticed!)

So what I'm trying to do now is find a BD player with equivalent audio functionality to that, for around the same money. If you're saying the Denon is going to be a $2K player, then it's simply not an option.

Do let me know if I have the wrong end of the stick with regard to the level of processing I need from they player...