Blu-ray player with the following functionality

[Theo Cupier]

Hi there, newbie here. These questions are bound to have been asked a million times before, so sorry in advance.

I've just discovered that I can still return my HD DVD player to Amazon, so find myself potentially with almost £300 I can throw at a Bluray player (hoping to back the right horse, second time out).

Of the various features I had in HD DVD, land I was particularly fond of the analog outputs, meaning that I could let the player decode the HD soundtracks and send it to the amp, bypassing any processing.

I have an elderly surround processor that has neither HDMI nor the ability to process anything more recent than DD5.1 / basic DTS / ProLogic I, so would rather not live in a downmix world.

Does this functionality exist in Bluray-world? If so, on what players (or is it all so different over here in Win-land, that this is all irrelevant)

The other key winning feature for me was component output, as opposed to HDMI, since my panny plasma currently does not have an HDMI blade (although I can buy one if necessary). Again, how does this requirement sit in Bluray world?

Thanks in advance for your patience and help.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Theo Cupier

Of the various features I had in HD DVD, land I was particularly fond of the analog outputs, meaning that I could let the player decode the HD soundtracks and send it to the amp, bypassing any processing.

I have an elderly surround processor that has neither HDMI nor the ability to process anything more recent than DD5.1 / basic DTS / ProLogic I, so would rather not live in a downmix world.

Does this functionality exist in Bluray-world? If so, on what players (or is it all so different over here in Win-land, that this is all irrelevant)

The best players for this audio decoding capability are the Panasonic BD30 and the Sharp. They can only decode Dolby TrueHD (as well as core DD and DTS) but can pass through DTS HDMA. Both are Profile 1.1 players as well.

The other key winning feature for me was component output, as opposed to HDMI, since my panny plasma currently does not have an HDMI blade (although I can buy one if necessary). Again, how does this requirement sit in Bluray world?

Component output is available on all BD players.


fuad

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

The best players for this audio decoding capability are the Panasonic BD30 and the Sharp. They can only decode Dolby TrueHD (as well as core DD and DTS) but can pass through DTS HDMA. Both are Profile 1.1 players as well.

The BD-30 only bitstreams TrueHD and Dts-HD MA, so it would not work with his scenerio...his receiver would have to decode, but its an older receiver that cannot.

[Theo Cupier]

So, is there anything that will decode the HD soundtracks onboard and send it as LPCM to my amp, or am I stuck with downmixed audio? To be honest, that's a big sticking point for me, at the moment since an amp upgrade is a LONG way off.

Also, what's the situation in Bluray regarding playback of DVDs I've burned myself (apologies if this is an inappropriate question). My (maybe soon to be ex-) HD DVD player will play DVD-Rs and even upscale them via component if it is not "protected content".

[quetzalcoatl]

Originally Posted by Theo Cupier

So, is there anything that will decode the HD soundtracks onboard and send it as LPCM to my amp, or am I stuck with downmixed audio? To be honest, that's a big sticking point for me, at the moment since an amp upgrade is a LONG way off.

Also, what's the situation in Bluray regarding playback of DVDs I've burned myself (apologies if this is an inappropriate question). My (maybe soon to be ex-) HD DVD player will play DVD-Rs and even upscale them via component if it is not "protected content".

Yes there are some but the best advice I can give you is wait until the end of this week and see what comes out of CES. If the players that are announced are not cloes to being ready then we can discuss what the current options are.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Theo Cupier

Also, what's the situation in Bluray regarding playback of DVDs I've burned myself (apologies if this is an inappropriate question). My (maybe soon to be ex-) HD DVD player will play DVD-Rs and even upscale them via component if it is not "protected content".

I believe its the same...but I use HDMI so I cannot confirm upconversion through component...

but my burned DVD's (er I mean home movies ) play fine.

I use the PS3 which can upconvert non-copy protected material via component, this is what it says:

(Upconversion) Hints

* To use this feature, a TV that is compatible with HD input and output must be connected using an HDMI or component AV cable. Also, the video output setting of the PS3™ system must be set to 1080p, 1080i, or 720p.
* When playing copyright-protected DVD content such as commercially available DVD-Video, an HDMI cable is required to upscale the video content.
* If image quality is reduced or the image does not look right when upscaled, set this option to [Off].




...so I would assume all Bluray players can also?

[julyccc]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

The best players for this audio decoding capability are the Panasonic BD30 and the Sharp. They can only decode Dolby TrueHD (as well as core DD and DTS) but can pass through DTS HDMA. Both are Profile 1.1 players as well.

Component output is available on all BD players.


fuad

panny bd30 decode TrueHD?

I was not aware of that.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Theo Cupier

So, is there anything that will decode the HD soundtracks onboard and send it as LPCM to my amp, or am I stuck with downmixed audio?

CES 2008: Panasonic Press Conference - DMP-BD50

"HD Audio Format Decoding and Output: The DMP-BD50 is equipped with decoders for the high-quality, lossless Dolby® TrueHD and DDTS-HD Master Audio™ audio formats. These formats theoretically contain the information to reproduce original sound sources in their entirety. Connection to an AV amplifier with 7.1-channel input capability enables sound quality on the level of a studio master system."

[Theo Cupier]

thanks, I saw the BD50 announcement. Am I right in thinking it is the only player that:
1. has analog audio outputs
2. will decode HD audio onboard and send them to the amp via analog
3. is profile 2.0 for the interactive content
yet?

[quetzalcoatl]

Originally Posted by Theo Cupier

thanks, I saw the BD50 announcement. Am I right in thinking it is the only player that:
1. has analog audio outputs
2. will decode HD audio onboard and send them to the amp via analog
3. is profile 2.0 for the interactive content
yet?

Yes and I think I read they had a press conference this morning and said spring for the street date.

[Theo Cupier]

Thanks. Is that UK or US release? (Also, I gather I can add the Denon 3800 to the list, too)

Also, I've obsessed a bit with TrueHD in my questioning so far. I've been told that TrueHD isn't as popular on this side of the street as it is in the HD DVD camp, and BD tends to favour DTSMA as the main HD audio format. Is that correct?

If so, presumably there's less point in going back to the Panasonic BD10 for onboard decoding, since it can't handle DTSMA.