Outputting PCM 2.0 directly from BD player to separate computer speakers...possible?

[Jmobie]

My mom recently bought a pair of Boston Acoustic speakers for the Sony KDL-32L5000 in her bedroom. Apparently, a Y-cord is being used to connect the TV to the speakers. This made think of the following. Is it possible to use a Y-cord to connect a Blu-ray player directly to the speaker set with no receiver or amplifier, and receive hi-def sound? The speakers of course are powered, and have ports for line out and line in, I believe. I've never tried anything like this, so I'm not sure if a receiver would be needed.

[HydraShok]

As long as the player is outputting pcm, then yes. Added: upon reading more, now I am not sure, lol. Sorry!

[gonk]

I'm not 100% clear on the "Y-cord" connection - it sounds like you've got analog going to the speakers from the TV, presumably with HDMI from the Blu-ray player to the TV. Going straight from the player to the speakers may leave you without a volume control (except for perhaps the knob on the powered speakers, which would be inconvenient). Unless the speakers have a digital input, you will not be delivering PCM to them. PCM is digital audio.

I think that the arrangement currently in place may actually be the best. You could also run analog directly from the player to the speakers, but that may leave you without a remote volume control. You will get the lossless audio tracks (TrueHD and DTS-HD MA) this way if the Blu-ray player can decode them. If it can't decode them, there's nothing you can do short of adding a surround receiver that will allow you to hear them. You'll be listening to the lossy core tracks. In all likelihood, though, the rest of the audio system in this case is going to be more of a limiting factor than the lossy core track, as the core tracks still use higher bitrates that DVD does.

[Jmobie]

Originally Posted by gonk

I'm not 100% clear on the "Y-cord" connection - it sounds like you've got analog going to the speakers from the TV, presumably with HDMI from the Blu-ray player to the TV. Going straight from the player to the speakers may leave you without a volume control (except for perhaps the knob on the powered speakers, which would be inconvenient). Unless the speakers have a digital input, you will not be delivering PCM to them. PCM is digital audio.

I think that the arrangement currently in place may actually be the best. You could also run analog directly from the player to the speakers, but that may leave you without a remote volume control. You will get the lossless audio tracks (TrueHD and DTS-HD MA) this way if the Blu-ray player can decode them. If it can't decode them, there's nothing you can do short of adding a surround receiver that will allow you to hear them. You'll be listening to the lossy core tracks. In all likelihood, though, the rest of the audio system in this case is going to be more of a limiting factor than the lossy core track, as the core tracks still use higher bitrates that DVD does.

Well, we don't have a Blu-ray player yet, but I just wondering about this before we bought one. Other than that, yes, there is a volume dial on one of the speakers, and the Y-cord (3.5 mm jack to red and white) is currently taking the analog audio from the TV to the speakers. It sounds like we could HD soundtracks if the PCM goes straight to the speakers and as long as we get a player like the BD60 or one decodes both tracks. Thanks guys.

[gonk]

In this situation, you will want a player that decodes the new formats. You will then want to connect it to the TV via HDMI and connect the speakers to the TV's stereo audio output. The player will output PCM over HDMI to the TV, and the TV will convert it to analog for the speakers. You will also be able to use the TV's volume control.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by gonk

In this situation, you will want a player that decodes the new formats. You will then want to connect it to the TV via HDMI and connect the speakers to the TV's stereo audio output. The player will output PCM over HDMI to the TV, and the TV will convert it to analog for the speakers. You will also be able to use the TV's volume control.

Make sure they are powered speakers to get some real volume out of them! Turn the volume UP on the physical speakers (like a level control) and use the TV volume as to you would normally. You'll really get good sound. Make it a good 2.1 system and you'll have really nice bass!