Question Regarding Audio

[thebluemax]

Hello:
I'm new to Blu-Ray. Love the Sony BDP-S1. I have a Denon AVR-1804/884 receiver, my question is from what output should I listen to HD-DTS, PCM and other new HD audio formats? Optical, Coaxil, or Analog 5/1 output?

[HDJK]

If you want to get 5.1 in PCM you need to go with analog outs. Optical and coax don't support the bandwith for 6 PCM streams. The advanced codecs will have to be decoded by the player and put out as PCM since there are no receivers with HDMI 1.3 out yet that can handle them.

[thebluemax]

HDJK:

Thank you very much for the info, much appreciated, so I use 5/1 output for PCM etc, but can use Optical for regular Dolby and DTS.

[ClaytonMG]

Technically you don't need a reciever with HDMI 1.3 for DTS-HD. If you player decodes the audio format, HDMI 1.1 and 1.2 can carry the signal to the reciever as PCM and you'll still be getting the bit for bit master audio. The 1.3 is for when your player doesn't decode and your reciever needs to do the decoding. However your player will also need DTS-HD/DTS-High Res output along with HDMI 1.3. I think it'd be easier to wait for a player with DTS-HD decoding than having to buy both a new player with HDMI 1.3 and a new reciever with HDMI 1.3.

Now, to connect to your reciever, I'd go with analog for PCM if you can get the bass sounding right (I never can using analog connections so I am staying with coax until Friday when I get a new reciever with HDMI, then I'll be able to enjoy true PCM audio). And then for good ol Dolby Digital and DTS (including DTS-HD) I'd stick with optical or coax.

[thebluemax]

Thanks, ClaytonMG that was very helpful. I do get excellent bass from the analog output, so I will use that for PCM.