No HDMI, only optical - is this a problem??? - Blu-ray Forum

ShootingBlanks · 02-02-2007, 12:24 AM

Hello, all - not sure if this is the right forum to post in, but I'm hoping someone here can help me out...

I have this receiver:

Yamaha HTR-5960 - Click Here for specs

As you can see, it has no HDMI capabilities, so I have everything hooked up via optical cables...

Using a PS3 for watching Blu-Ray movies, what am I losing out on here by not having HDMI? I have not tried a Blu-Ray disc yet - will it even WORK?...

I should note that I have an HDMI cable going from my PS3 to my TV (for the video portion of it), but then an optical cable going to my receiver (for the audio portion)...

What BD Audio Output setting should I use in the PS3's setup screen? - "Linear PCM" or "Bitstream"?...

Thanks again for any help anyone can offer!...

ProvenFlipper · 02-02-2007, 03:26 AM

You should be fine. Just make sure the PS3 is set to bitstream.

ShootingBlanks · 02-02-2007, 01:41 PM

Okay, thanks...

...but what am I missing out on by not being able to connect HDMI for audio (and being restricted to only optical)?

Casey · 02-02-2007, 01:54 PM

you wont get some of the new lossless audio formats

but there's not many hdmi 1.3 receivers yet anyway

ShootingBlanks · 02-02-2007, 01:56 PM

Awesome - thanks again!!!...

dobyblue · 02-02-2007, 02:08 PM

You're missing out on PCM and TrueHD.
You only need an HDMI 1.1 receiver for these that accepts audio through HDMI.

With Optical - For DTS tracks you'll get the full lossy core at 1.5 Mbps which is double what 90% of SD DTS tracks are at. You'll get Dolby at 640 Kbps which is about 30% better than SD DVD.
You can listen to the PCM tracks from Blu-ray, but you'll only get the left and right channels as optical only supports 2.0 PCM up to 24/48.

Enjoy the optical, the sound will still be great, and perhaps next year look towards picking up one of the HDMI 1.3 receivers. If they do eventually add DTS-MA decoding to the PS3 then you'll only need an HDMI 1.1 receiver.

02-02-2007, 12:24 AM	#1
ShootingBlanks Active Member Member since:Feb 2007 Blu-ray collection:76	No HDMI, only optical - is this a problem??? Hello, all - not sure if this is the right forum to post in, but I'm hoping someone here can help me out... I have this receiver: Yamaha HTR-5960 - Click Here for specs As you can see, it has no HDMI capabilities, so I have everything hooked up via optical cables... Using a PS3 for watching Blu-Ray movies, what am I losing out on here by not having HDMI? I have not tried a Blu-Ray disc yet - will it even WORK?... I should note that I have an HDMI cable going from my PS3 to my TV (for the video portion of it), but then an optical cable going to my receiver (for the audio portion)... What BD Audio Output setting should I use in the PS3's setup screen? - "Linear PCM" or "Bitstream"?... Thanks again for any help anyone can offer!...

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02-02-2007, 03:26 AM	#2
ProvenFlipper Special Member Member since:Jun 2006 Home Theater Gallery:4 4K collection:334 Blu-ray collection:900 Trading Score:1	You should be fine. Just make sure the PS3 is set to bitstream.

02-02-2007, 01:41 PM	#3
ShootingBlanks Active Member Member since:Feb 2007 Blu-ray collection:76	Okay, thanks... ...but what am I missing out on by not being able to connect HDMI for audio (and being restricted to only optical)?

02-02-2007, 01:54 PM	#4
Casey Special Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2006 Location:St. Louis, MO 4K collection:144 Blu-ray collection:493 DVD collection:11 Digital collection:269 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:113	you wont get some of the new lossless audio formats but there's not many hdmi 1.3 receivers yet anyway

02-02-2007, 01:56 PM	#5
ShootingBlanks Active Member Member since:Feb 2007 Blu-ray collection:76	Awesome - thanks again!!!...

02-02-2007, 02:08 PM	#6
dobyblue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jul 2006 Location:Ontario, Canada Home Theater Gallery:71 4K collection:55 Blu-ray collection:655 Blu-ray reviews: 15	You're missing out on PCM and TrueHD. You only need an HDMI 1.1 receiver for these that accepts audio through HDMI. With Optical - For DTS tracks you'll get the full lossy core at 1.5 Mbps which is double what 90% of SD DTS tracks are at. You'll get Dolby at 640 Kbps which is about 30% better than SD DVD. You can listen to the PCM tracks from Blu-ray, but you'll only get the left and right channels as optical only supports 2.0 PCM up to 24/48. Enjoy the optical, the sound will still be great, and perhaps next year look towards picking up one of the HDMI 1.3 receivers. If they do eventually add DTS-MA decoding to the PS3 then you'll only need an HDMI 1.1 receiver.

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