DTS-HD Master Audio Decoding

[chris83]

Hi All,

I realize this is REALLY a Newbie question, but I'm a bit confused over the various soundtrack formats.

I have the Samsung BD-P1500; it does NOT decode "DTS-HD Master Audio". I was looking at the new Onkyo HTIB (HT-S5200), and the receiver in that does NOT decode DTS-HD Master Audio either. If I'm watching a Blu-Ray such as "Pinocchio" (or any other disc that has the 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack), am I limited to just the mono or 2.1 options? I guess I'm just trying to understand WHAT I will be hearing from whatever system I end up with when watching a movie with the 7.1 audio. I probably can't tell the difference between soundtrack formats, but if the BD-P1500 doesn't decode DTS-HD Master Audio and the receiver doesn't either, will you still get "some" decent audio from the system or is it basically similar to the sound off the TV?

Thanks in advance for your help...and patience.

[Steve]

As I understand it, you'll be hearing a "core" lossy, regular DTS track.

[Clark Kent]

You will be able to enjoy the lossy DTS core of any DTS-HD MA track. Typically that will mean a 1509 kbps DTS surround track of 5.1 channels, which is the equivalent of the DTS audio tracks found on dvds.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by chris83

Hi All,

I realize this is REALLY a Newbie question, but I'm a bit confused over the various soundtrack formats.

I have the Samsung BD-P1500; it does NOT decode "DTS-HD Master Audio". I was looking at the new Onkyo HTIB (HT-S5200), and the receiver in that does NOT decode DTS-HD Master Audio either. If I'm watching a Blu-Ray such as "Pinocchio" (or any other disc that has the 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack), am I limited to just the mono or 2.1 options? I guess I'm just trying to understand WHAT I will be hearing from whatever system I end up with when watching a movie with the 7.1 audio. I probably can't tell the difference between soundtrack formats, but if the BD-P1500 doesn't decode DTS-HD Master Audio and the receiver doesn't either, will you still get "some" decent audio from the system or is it basically similar to the sound off the TV?

Thanks in advance for your help...and patience.

What are you sending the audio to? If to your TV then it doesn't matter. If it's to a receiver that can handle audio via HDMI then you can send it bitstream for decoding in the receiver. If you have a receiver that can't handle audio via HDMI and must send it via optical/coax, then you will get the core DTS, or Dolby in the case of TrueHD.

That said, unless you have some pretty good speakers you won't be able to tell the difference, even if your receiver does handle audio via HDMI.

[chris83]

Thank you for the responses. One other question: what would be a good receiver in the $350 range? If it can do HDMI audio/video, great. If I need to connect the components (Blu-Ray, DirecTV receiver, etc) directly to the HDTV via HDMI and use optical for the audio, that's okay too.

As repete66211 noted, I'm probably not going to notice much difference between formats. I just want a receiver where I don't have to settle for audio from only the front speakers if all there is on disc is a 7.1 track, such as "Pinocchio". No sense in having a surround system, a 50" HDTV, a Blu-Ray player and having to listen to transistor radio sound.

Thanks!

[phantompwr]

For $350, your best bet for a receiver would be the Onkyo TX-SR507. It's entry level, but it does decode both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA. If you run optical only for sound, you won't get any high resolution audio, and nobody wants that.
A lot of people here use Onkyo, and for the price you can't beat them. We use Integra, which is the professional line, at my work. They are basically the same as the matching Onkyo, and they are great.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by chris83

Thank you for the responses. One other question: what would be a good receiver in the $350 range? If it can do HDMI audio/video, great. If I need to connect the components (Blu-Ray, DirecTV receiver, etc) directly to the HDTV via HDMI and use optical for the audio, that's okay too.

As repete66211 noted, I'm probably not going to notice much difference between formats. I just want a receiver where I don't have to settle for audio from only the front speakers if all there is on disc is a 7.1 track, such as "Pinocchio". No sense in having a surround system, a 50" HDTV, a Blu-Ray player and having to listen to transistor radio sound.

Thanks!

Yes, if you have satellite speakers I doubt you'll be able to tell much difference between Dolby and TrueHD. At least I couldn't, but then audio perception is subjective.

The 507 would take care of you, but I recall seeing an HDMI-switching Yamaha for under $400--thought not as low as $350--not too long ago. Was it the 663? Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

[chris83]

The Yamaha RX-V565 is on sale at this moment thru Newegg for $329. Would that receiver work for HDMI switching?

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by chris83

The Yamaha RX-V565 is on sale at this moment thru Newegg for $329. Would that receiver work for HDMI switching?

The specs indicate it can decode HD audio. TrueHD and DTS-HD MA can only be output via HDMI, so I would think the would have HDMI switching. All features point to this receiver being an HDMI switcher, but I'm afraid I don't know much about the Yamaha lineup, so perhaps someone more familiar with them could answer this question.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

You will be able to enjoy the lossy DTS core of any DTS-HD MA track. Typically that will mean a 1509 kbps DTS surround track of 5.1 channels, which is the equivalent of the DTS audio tracks found on dvds.

While there are a handful of DVDs with 1509 kbps DTS encodes, the vast majority are only 768 or 754. So, the 1509 core on Blu-ray is quite a bit better than what you get on DVD in almost all cases.

The same goes for DD 5.1 tracks. DVD is limited to 448 kbps and most discs only have 384 encodes. DD 5.1 on Blu is 640 kbps.

So, the audio on Blu over an optical connection is a big step up from DVD. It's debatable whether the next step up to lossless is much of an improvement.