BryantJones

DVD-Audio

Question on DVD-A...

In order to get the best sound quality, you need to use those 6 analog outputs on the player, correct? What sort of cable do you use for that?

Also, I'm a little confused as to how a DVD player can act as both a video and audio system. Do I connect both a toslink/coaxial and the analog cables to the player? Will the player know to use the toslink when playing movies and the analog when playing DVD-Audio?

Sorry for the onslaught of questions I just can't seem to find a clear answer..

Thanks for the help!

BryantJones

DVD-Audio

Question on DVD-A...

In order to get the best sound quality, you need to use those 6 analog outputs on the player, correct? What sort of cable do you use for that?

Also, I'm a little confused as to how a DVD player can act as both a video and audio system. Do I connect both a toslink/coaxial and the analog cables to the player? Will the player know to use the toslink when playing movies and the analog when playing DVD-Audio?

Sorry for the onslaught of questions I just can't seem to find a clear answer..

Thanks for the help!

Glenn Overholt

I'm going to jump in as I brought a Sony changer a few days ago that has all of your outputs on it. Anyone feel free to correct me on this, as I haven't tried the analog layout outyet.

First, the coax vs optical are one and the same, so you don't need both. Some receivers have both connections, but on different selections (DVD/SAT/etc.) You may pick the coax for DVD, and discover that your only other input (for SAT) is optical, and your sat receiver doesn't have an optical output - which would mean that you'd have to switch them around. The optical cables won't work if they are knotted and/or kinked, thereby making sharp turns.

You do have to remember that all movies carry both audio and video signals normally. Most DVD players have the standard L/R (Red & white) analog pair also.

The 6 analog outputs are another story. Your receiver MUST have the six corresponding inputs in order to carry this signal. This is supposed to be better, but you might have to do some tweaking with your receiver. Since they are analog inputs you probably could use just about any cables (2 pairs and 2 singles).

I hope all of that helps.

Glenn

Glenn Overholt

I'm going to jump in as I brought a Sony changer a few days ago that has all of your outputs on it. Anyone feel free to correct me on this, as I haven't tried the analog layout outyet.

First, the coax vs optical are one and the same, so you don't need both. Some receivers have both connections, but on different selections (DVD/SAT/etc.) You may pick the coax for DVD, and discover that your only other input (for SAT) is optical, and your sat receiver doesn't have an optical output - which would mean that you'd have to switch them around. The optical cables won't work if they are knotted and/or kinked, thereby making sharp turns.

You do have to remember that all movies carry both audio and video signals normally. Most DVD players have the standard L/R (Red & white) analog pair also.

The 6 analog outputs are another story. Your receiver MUST have the six corresponding inputs in order to carry this signal. This is supposed to be better, but you might have to do some tweaking with your receiver. Since they are analog inputs you probably could use just about any cables (2 pairs and 2 singles).

I hope all of that helps.

Glenn

ScottCHI

unless you have equipment that supports firewire or dlink, the 6 analog cables are the ONLY way to get multichannel dvd-audio. most dvd-audio discs CAN be played as dvd-video discs, as almost all dvd-audio discs have dolbydigital and/or dts tracks, too.

btw, you only need the 6 cables for MULTICHANNEL hirez. you CAN, if you desire, listen to hirez dvd-audio as 2-channel only, provided your player allows this. and most do. almost all dvd-audio discs include a 2-channel, hirez mix.

for connecting 6 analog cables, though, you can use 3 pairs (3x2) of audio cables. or 2 sets (2x3) of component video cables will work very well as analog audio cables. that's what i use.

well, don't get the video and audio confused. ONLY audio goes through either a toslink/coax digi connection OR the analog audio cables. the video goes through either a composite video cable, s-video, or component video cables (3). what you use for audio during movies and/or regular cd playback (if you use your player for that too) is your choice and depends upon a few things.

one thing to consider is where the best dacs are; the receiver or the player. generally, you want to decode there. sometimes it's obvious which component is best, however sometimes it's not so easy to decide. in the end, if you're unsure, you should do what sounds best to you.

if you run more than 5.1 (6.1+), then you will have to use the digital connection and decode at the receiver, because most (if not all) players can only do 6 (5.1) channels of analog output.

some people like to use different settings in their receiver for their digi connection and their movies versus their analog connection and their dvd-audio player's settings. decoding movies specifically at the receiver allows this.

personally, i do all of my decoding at my dvd-player, be it movies, cds, dvd-audio, sacd, etc. i don't even use my digital connection. it's connected because it's useful when calibrating and can be very useful for troubleshooting and other comparisons, but otherwise, i don't use it. an advantage of this is that it allows me to run my receiver purely as an amplifier, in it's "pure direct" mode. right now, i only use my receiver's decoding capabilities for my dolby pro logic cable television listening.

you will determine which audio you want to use with your receiver, not the player. if you want to watch movies through the analog connection, you simply use the receiver's external inputs, just as you would for dvd-audio playback. the player will decode it properly depending upon what format it's in, be it a regular cd a dolbydigital movie, or a dvd-audio disc.

many players, for further cleanliness, will allow you to turn off the video circuitry and the digital output circuitry when being used for analog audio playback only, whether it's regular or hirez audio.

what player and receiver (or pre/pro/amp) do you have, btw?

"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."

ScottCHI

unless you have equipment that supports firewire or dlink, the 6 analog cables are the ONLY way to get multichannel dvd-audio. most dvd-audio discs CAN be played as dvd-video discs, as almost all dvd-audio discs have dolbydigital and/or dts tracks, too.

btw, you only need the 6 cables for MULTICHANNEL hirez. you CAN, if you desire, listen to hirez dvd-audio as 2-channel only, provided your player allows this. and most do. almost all dvd-audio discs include a 2-channel, hirez mix.

for connecting 6 analog cables, though, you can use 3 pairs (3x2) of audio cables. or 2 sets (2x3) of component video cables will work very well as analog audio cables. that's what i use.

well, don't get the video and audio confused. ONLY audio goes through either a toslink/coax digi connection OR the analog audio cables. the video goes through either a composite video cable, s-video, or component video cables (3). what you use for audio during movies and/or regular cd playback (if you use your player for that too) is your choice and depends upon a few things.

one thing to consider is where the best dacs are; the receiver or the player. generally, you want to decode there. sometimes it's obvious which component is best, however sometimes it's not so easy to decide. in the end, if you're unsure, you should do what sounds best to you.

if you run more than 5.1 (6.1+), then you will have to use the digital connection and decode at the receiver, because most (if not all) players can only do 6 (5.1) channels of analog output.

some people like to use different settings in their receiver for their digi connection and their movies versus their analog connection and their dvd-audio player's settings. decoding movies specifically at the receiver allows this.

personally, i do all of my decoding at my dvd-player, be it movies, cds, dvd-audio, sacd, etc. i don't even use my digital connection. it's connected because it's useful when calibrating and can be very useful for troubleshooting and other comparisons, but otherwise, i don't use it. an advantage of this is that it allows me to run my receiver purely as an amplifier, in it's "pure direct" mode. right now, i only use my receiver's decoding capabilities for my dolby pro logic cable television listening.

you will determine which audio you want to use with your receiver, not the player. if you want to watch movies through the analog connection, you simply use the receiver's external inputs, just as you would for dvd-audio playback. the player will decode it properly depending upon what format it's in, be it a regular cd a dolbydigital movie, or a dvd-audio disc.

many players, for further cleanliness, will allow you to turn off the video circuitry and the digital output circuitry when being used for analog audio playback only, whether it's regular or hirez audio.

what player and receiver (or pre/pro/amp) do you have, btw?

"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."

Ed Moxley

It will know, because to watch a movie, you push the dvd button on the receiver or the remote, and to listen to dvd-audio, you push the multi-channel button (EXT. IN on Denons) on the receiver or remote.
The receiver DOESN'T know automatically between the two.
If you listen to dvd-audio without using the multi-channel button, you're listening to the DD tracks, instead of the HiRes 5.1 surround tracks. The HiRes tracks are what dvd-audio and sacd is all about.
Enjoy...........

Ed Moxley

It will know, because to watch a movie, you push the dvd button on the receiver or the remote, and to listen to dvd-audio, you push the multi-channel button (EXT. IN on Denons) on the receiver or remote.
The receiver DOESN'T know automatically between the two.
If you listen to dvd-audio without using the multi-channel button, you're listening to the DD tracks, instead of the HiRes 5.1 surround tracks. The HiRes tracks are what dvd-audio and sacd is all about.
Enjoy...........

StephenHa

the player will output to all outputs at once (normally) use a good cable for yor 6 audio connections and I would run the coax or toslink for watching movies