Advanced Audio Codecs via HDMI only?

Robert Crawford · 11-16-2006, 08:40 AM

Is processing all of the advanced audio options from both the BR and HD players restricted to outputing from HDMI only?

Crawdaddy

Tony Kwong · 11-18-2006, 08:38 AM

No. If the source device have the necessary decoders and a multichannel output you could go analog rca's.
For BD PCM no decoders are needed and you could just use the multichanel out.

Neil Joseph · 11-20-2006, 12:06 PM

Another question.... If your blu-ray or hd dvd player can output lossless audio, either dts HD master or dd true hd, then will your receiver be able to fully decode it via hdmi if the version of hdmi is only 1.1? Does the receiver have to be hdmi version 1.3? If the receiver is not hdmi 1.3 then can the same lossless audio be decoded properly using the 5.1 analog audio inputs on the receiver? I realize that using the analog inputs limits you to 5.1 unless both the receiver and player have 7.1 I/O's.

Shawn Perron · 11-20-2006, 12:56 PM

There are no receivers at the moment that can process a raw TrueHD or DTS-MA stream. But the players can output 7.1 LPCM over HDMI 1.1. Just look for a player that will decode any formats you are interested in and it should be equivalent to your receiver processing the sound.

DaViD Boulet · 11-20-2006, 08:39 PM

HDMI is needed to transfer lossless audio to your reciever in digital form.

If your BD or HD DVD player had advanced audio decoding built in, and provided d/a conversion for it as well, you could send it via 5.1 or 7.1 RCA connections to your receiver if your receiver had 5.1 or 7.1 analog input.

Regarding going digital to your receiver with advanced audio...

YES, you do need HDMI.

If you have HDMI 1.1 or HDMI 1.3 (on both ends), then you'd need a BD or HD DVD player that has "advanced audio decoding" to decode (decompress) the Dolby True HD/DTS-HD to linear PCM. Then you could ship this "decoded" lossless PCM signal to your receiver if it was equipped to handle the input... as most HDMI 1.1 receviers are.

If you had HDMI 1.3 on both ends, then you could ship the "raw" compressed bitstream to your receiver directly without decoding. This would make for cheaper players though they'd have to have HDMI 1.3 as would your receiver. Presumably future HDMI 1.3 receivers will recognize and decode Dolby True HD and DTS-HD etc.

But you're getting full lossless quality going HDMI 1.1 (or 1.3) in LPCM form and letting the player do the decoding so nothing is lost (except there could be some minor issues with some HD DVD discs that instruct the player to do audio manipulation like mixing streams or adjusting level... but that's a different discussion).

Does that help or did I confuse everyone more?

dave

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Neil Joseph · 11-21-2006, 08:56 AM

So when I (and others) get the firmware upgrade for the panasonic blu-ray player that allows it to play the lossless audio then I will be able to play them even though my receiver is hdmi 1.1 only, right?

DaViD Boulet · 11-21-2006, 11:20 AM

That's exactly right.

When the Panny gets upgraded it will decode/extract the advanced audio (Dolby True HD, DTS-HD etc) to LPCM and send it over HDMI 1.1 to your receiver in "unpacked" form.

Neil Joseph · 11-21-2006, 02:59 PM

Great because this receiver (Yamaha RX-V2600) is only a few months old. Hate to be missing out on something like this. Thanks.

Robert Crawford · 11-21-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil Joseph

Great because this receiver (Yamaha RX-V2600) is only a few months old. Hate to be missing out on something like this. Thanks.

For some of us, talking about myself, I wonder if they can even hear a distinctive difference in what they're missing out on. I'm sure a lively debate can take place about that possibility.