Receiver - which one to choose?

[jerclay]

Hi guys,

I'm kinda new to this HD things and not really technically advanced and may seem to most of you pretty dumb, but recently I got ready to go for Blu Ray. After digging into the subject I found out that BLU RAY AUDIO have 4 formats - Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio. And because BR discs come in all four formats, you gotta have either a BR-player which reads all 4 formats either a receiver which reads them all (sorry if I simplified it a lot) to be fully equipped. Now I looked for a player and found none in my price group (about 400-500 bucks), which can decode all four, so I started looking for receivers in the same price category, and found 2 of them - Onkyo TX-SR805 and Yamaha RX-V663, which both decode all 4 audio formats. So basically, my question is: I buy either of them, I buy a budget BR player not really caring what formats it decode and I don't have to worry about HD sound anymore? Am I right? Sorry, if I really simplified it all and if you are tired of questions like this. And one more thing: what other things I should worry about making my BR home theatre? Except the HD-TV of course.

Thanks in advance!

[Marine Mike]

Onkyo TX-SR605 decodes them all. Also to clarify, you do not need a receiver that decodes HD codes to listen to Blu-Ray movies. You only need that to listen to the HD codecs that are available on majority of Blu-Rays.

You can pick them up for less than $400.


For a Blu-Ray player, I recommend picking up a PS3 which you can find for $399.

Though I definately recommend reading more threads about this on this website as this is just my narrow opinion regarding the Home Theatre experience.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Onkyo TX-SR605 decodes them all. Also to clarify, you do not need a receiver that decodes HD codes to listen to Blu-Ray movies. You only need that to listen to the HD codecs that are available on majority of Blu-Rays.

You can pick them up for less than $400.


For a Blu-Ray player, I recommend picking up a PS3 which you can find for $399.

Though I definately recommend reading more threads about this on this website as this is just my narrow opinion regarding the Home Theatre experience.

actually if the player decodes the hd audio, all you need then is a receiver that can ouput pcm audio. or if a player has analog outs you can use a receiver with analog ins. you dont necessarily need a receiver to decode hd audio to listen to hd audio. it depends on your situation

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

actually if the player decodes the hd audio, all you need then is a receiver that can ouput pcm audio. or if a player has analog outs you can use a receiver with analog ins. you dont necessarily need a receiver to decode hd audio to listen to hd audio. it depends on your situation

Wow I didn't know that, thanks for informing me. I thought that you needed to have an HDMI connection for HD audio. Why is it that you need an HDMI connection with a PS3 then to have HD Audio? Is it because it doesn't have an analog out but an optical out?

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by jerclay

Hi guys,

I'm kinda new to this HD things and not really technically advanced and may seem to most of you pretty dumb, but recently I got ready to go for Blu Ray. After digging into the subject I found out that BLU RAY AUDIO have 4 formats - Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio. And because BR discs come in all four formats, you gotta have either a BR-player which reads all 4 formats either a receiver which reads them all (sorry if I simplified it a lot) to be fully equipped. Now I looked for a player and found none in my price group (about 400-500 bucks), which can decode all four, so I started looking for receivers in the same price category, and found 2 of them - Onkyo TX-SR805 and Yamaha RX-V663, which both decode all 4 audio formats. So basically, my question is: I buy either of them, I buy a budget BR player not really caring what formats it decode and I don't have to worry about HD sound anymore? Am I right? Sorry, if I really simplified it all and if you are tired of questions like this. And one more thing: what other things I should worry about making my BR home theatre? Except the HD-TV of course.

Thanks in advance!

check out the player link at the top of this sites page. it will tell you the specs of the players. not all player will decode all hd audio codecs or bitstream (needed for receiver decoding) all hd audio codecs

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Wow I didn't know that, thanks for informing me. I thought that you needed to have an HDMI connection for HD audio. Why is it that you need an HDMI connection with a PS3 then to have HD Audio? Is it because it doesn't have an analog out but an optical out?

the ps3 doesnt (but should) have analog outs. thats why hdmi is required. hdmi can either handle decoded hd audio or send it bitstream to a receiver.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

the ps3 doesnt (but should) have analog outs. thats why hdmi is required. hdmi can either send decoded hd audio or send it bitstream to a receiver.

Thank you for clearing it up for me, definately appreciate it.

[crackinhedz]

Ultimately out of the options you mentioned I would get an Onkyo 805. But if price is important then the Yamaha 663 would be sweet too, or even an Onkyo 605/606.

then for a bluray player I would just get:

Insignia NS-BRDVD

...It will Bitstream all the codecs to either the Onkyo or the Yamaha.

Then you will be set.





Oh yeah, you will need speakers too.

[jerclay]

Yeah, I heard something about speakers

Well, thanks everybody for replying. So if I understand correctly, I can buy either Onkyo or Yamaha receiver and then go with the regular cheap BR player? But if it's not Insignia, then what do I have to keep in mind buying another player? What does it have to have so I'm all set (like HDMI output, anything else)? Can it be Sony or Panasonic budget model? For example, Sony BDP - S300? It also has an analog 1.5 audio output, which might be useful before I upgrade my 6.1 receiver to HD-receiver.

[jerclay]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

actually if the player decodes the hd audio, all you need then is a receiver that can ouput pcm audio. or if a player has analog outs you can use a receiver with analog ins. you dont necessarily need a receiver to decode hd audio to listen to hd audio. it depends on your situation

Is there a budget player (400-500$), which decodes all the HD audio formats? I didn't find one yet... And also, in your opinion, is it better to have a blu ray player that decodes all audio formats or a receiver which decodes all formats?

[cawgijoe]

Also take a look at the Pioneer VSX-1018....it decodes the latest codecs....130w per channel....3 HDMI ins.....and also has pre-outs. It stays cool as oppossed to the Onkyo which tends to run hot.

As to BD players.....the newer standalones are getting much bettter....Sony BDP-S350 seems to be getting some good reviews......I still think the PS3 is the best player around especially when it comes to start-up times.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Wow I didn't know that, thanks for informing me. I thought that you needed to have an HDMI connection for HD audio. Why is it that you need an HDMI connection with a PS3 then to have HD Audio? Is it because it doesn't have an analog out but an optical out?

You are correct sir, you need at least 5.1 analog outs (which the ps3 doesn't have)

[rayfundora]

I had the TX-SR605, but I was never really happy with it. It did all it was supposed to do, but I just was never blown away by it.

I just got the Pioneer Elite (VSX-91THX), what a change!!!! I turned it on, put in a movie, and WOW!!!!! Alot of power!!!!! The set-up was easy, and pain free. I'm very happy with it!!!!!!

[rajhardia]

Hi, m also planning on buying SR605, and wanted some answers on whether I can hook up my S750 creative 7.1 speakers to it and get TrueHD sound???

[Mirage]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Ultimately out of the options you mentioned I would get an Onkyo 805.

Sound wisdom, crackin! After lurking here for some time (and buying a Sony BDP-S350 last month), I pulled the trigger on an 805 last night, replacing my 803.

B&H Photo had them for $579 and change with free shipping. Since Amazon's price for the same receiver is $802.18 and it occurs to me that there are a number of people like me choosing the 805 over the newer 806, it was time to move before the 805s dry up.

If there's a better value available these days in a full-featured, powerful AVR, I don't know what it might be.

[jerclay]

So, basically, to sum it up - I buy a reveicer which decodes all the audio formats and any player which has HDMI output and I'm set. Am I right, guys?

[blurayisking]

Make sure your BD player can bitstream all of the codecs if you are planning on getting a receiver to handle the decoding. The new Sony BDP-S350 BD player is one choice that would be ideal in this case.