TrueHD and DTS-MA 5.1

[Brakboy]

I'm trying to get a new surround sound system to accomedate my Blu-Ray player. I have run into a confusing situation.

So that i did not "overbuy" a new AV receiver, i started paying more attention to what most action Blu-ray's offer for the audio and noticed something surprising... Most offer True HD and DTS-MA 5.1 instead of 7.1.

Im confused because i cannot locate and good brand that has a 5.1 system with these codecs... they are all 7.1's.

I have searched all of YAMAHA, ONKYO, and SONY... although i dont think i go for a sony receiver.

Is this just a money scheme or will more studios start utilizing 7.1 on a regular basis.

[Miller Lite1]

what is your BD player?

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

It's hard to say. But IMO we should start to see a lot more of 7.1 when Blu-ray goes mainstream.

[Brakboy]

Originally Posted by Miller Lite1

what is your BD player?

I have BDP-S550

[pacificvibes]

Why dont you just buy a 7.1 AV receiver so you are good to go? (I didnt mean to sound rude, typing cant show the tone of voice) There are many great and relatively inexpensive 7.1 receivers.

[Twitch9]

7.1 never really happened with DVD and i wouldn't hold your breath for more on blu-ray. I hope it happens but mixing 7.1 is very long and tedious work. I believe the studios don't want to put the extra work in when they know the movie will sell just as well in 5.1.

[Brakboy]

Originally Posted by pacificvibes

Why dont you just buy a 7.1 AV receiver so you are good to go? (I didnt mean to sound rude, typing cant show the tone of voice) There are many great and relatively inexpensive 7.1 receivers.

I know your not being rude. But think about it. If we occasionally see movies in 7.1 true hd and dts-ma, is ti just a marketing ploy to only have receivers that offer these codecs in 7.1

BTW, im pretty sure that i have to do what the companys say that i must do. it just doesnt make sense for the audio companies to force you to by a product that most blu-rays will not utilize as 7.1

[solarrdadd]

go for the 7.1, remember if your receiver only does 5.1 you won't get to take advantage of the 7.1 movies and you don't want to be replacing this in a couple of months. there are plenty of great sounding 7.1 movies out right now and more to come. i've got plenty. TRUST ME go with 7.1 and make sure it does hdmi 1.3 and if it's decent it will have 7.1 analog in too get all the options you can now!

Please & Thank You!

[Miller Lite1]

my yamaha rx-v663 may be a greeat option for you.

[red_5ive]

I think you're confusing a 7.1 receiver as not being backward compatible with a 5.1 soundtrack. There's no issue there. The 7.1 receivers will still decode 5.1 HD audio streams (DTHD/DTS-MA/PCM), as well as the standard vanilla 5.1 codecs. You also don't have to use a 7.1 configuration with a 7.1 receiver. If you only have a 5.1 speaker setup, you just configure the receiver to not use the back surround channels and it will play in 5.1 just fine.

[pacificvibes]

Originally Posted by Brakboy

I know your not being rude. But think about it. If we occasionally see movies in 7.1 true hd and dts-ma, is ti just a marketing ploy to only have receivers that offer these codecs in 7.1

BTW, im pretty sure that i have to do what the companys say that i must do. it just doesnt make sense for the audio companies to force you to by a product that most blu-rays will not utilize as 7.1

I totally get what you are saying but the thing is that say you buy a 5.1 receiver, then 7.1 becomes the norm (it just an example) you will have to upgrade and spend more money. So you are better off getting a 7.1 that you know will decode everything 7.1 and under.

[Brakboy]

Well i found a onkyo HT-S9100THX priced between 799-999 online... i will prob go this route. Trust me, i do want great sound... but i dont wanna buy features for the sake of jut owning them. thats what i am afraid of when it comes to 5.1 vs 7.1

[Twitch9]

One thing to note about 7.1 receiver, you can simulate 7.1 sound with every movie or TV show, Game or music you listen to with a receiver that can decode 7.1 audio. It really doesn't cost any more to upgrade either.

[pacificvibes]

Originally Posted by Brakboy

Well i found a onkyo HT-S9100THX priced between 799-999 online... i will prob go this route. Trust me, i do want great sound... but i dont wanna buy features for the sake of jut owning them. thats what i am afraid of when it comes to 5.1 vs 7.1

Do you have speakers or are you starting from the ground up???

[Brakboy]

Originally Posted by pacificvibes

Do you have speakers or are you starting from the ground up???

i have he "out-of-the-box" speakers that came with my yamaha 5.1. i dont want a situation where i have 2 speakers that do not macth (vanity sucks) but i liked the specs of that onkyo systems and i thought the speakers included were decent.

and for the record i do understand that a 7.1 will be backwards compatible with 5.1 and it will simulate 5.1... but if 7.1 does not become the standard and dies off...thats likes living with pro-logic because true surround audio never became popular. at this point no one can definitivly say that 7.1 will become the norm or even that it will be used more.

[pacificvibes]

Originally Posted by Brakboy

i have he "out-of-the-box" speakers that came with my yamaha 5.1. i dont want a situation where i have 2 speakers that do not macth (vanity sucks) but i liked the specs of that onkyo systems and i thought the speakers included were decent.

and for the record i do understand that a 7.1 will be backwards compatible with 5.1 and it will simulate 5.1... but if 7.1 does not become the standard and dies off...thats likes living with pro-logic because true surround audio never became popular. at tghis point no one can definitivly say that 7.1 will become the norm or even that it will be used more.

The reason I ask was because normally with HTiB (home theater in a box) doesnt come with the greatest of speakers. I was wondering because you could get a 7.1 receiver and then buy separates, but I dont know your budget. If you are on a budget, then the HT-S9100THX is the way to go because you have everything you need to start watching movies. I am not trying to say that the HT-S9100THX is crap, I've just heard people say that they aren't the best.

[Brakboy]

I gathered that THIB speakers are not the best...but its better than what i do have now as a system. as long as they are decent i will be happy. i just dont want a situation where i buy a great receiver for 600-900 and still have to by 600 worth of speakers. i'll leave that for the "audiophilist" of people. i enjoy the highest quality of sound and picture, but at some point you have to know when to settle.

[pacificvibes]

Originally Posted by Brakboy

I gathered that THIB speakers are not the best...but its better than what i do have now as a system. as long as they are decent i will be happy. i just dont want a situation where i buy a great receiver for 600-900 and still have to by 600 worth of speakers. i'll leave that for the "audiophilist" of people. i enjoy the highest quality of sound and picture, but at some point you have to know when to settle.

I totally hear you many people have given that THiB great reviews on onkyo's site. And you get a nice 7.1 system. I say go for it

[Brakboy]

thanks all... appreciate all the help

[pacificvibes]

Originally Posted by Brakboy

thanks all... appreciate all the help

no prob. I learned everything I know now from the guys on this site