Have some nice components (I think)... but how to get best 3d performance? (1 Viewer)

[Martina C]

I admit I'm not the most technically savvy gal at the dance... but I think I'm on the verge of having a really nice system. I need help figuring out what's missing between my 3D TV and my Orb speakers... and how to connect what where.
So, here's what I have already:

• LG 55lm6200 55" 3D 1080p 180Hz LED TV
• Orb surround sound speakers (three Mod2, two Mod1, and 1 subwoofer).
• I also have a JVC RX-DV31SL, but the DVD on it doesn't work, so I don't know if it should even be considered.

When I listen to music (mostly classical and jazz vocals), I want to get my socks blown off.
I'd like to be ooood and awwwed when I watch and listen to 3D BluRay movies.
And, hopefully I want to do it without spending too much more money.
Do I need a special sort of receiver and/or bluray player to get 3D sound with my speakers and TV?
Can I use my JVC unit, in conjunction with a separate Bluray player, and still get great (or any) 3D Audio? (Remember, the DVD player portion of the unit doesn't work.)
Sorry if I sound naive in this stuff, but frankly that's what I am. Doing my best, though, to figure it all out.
Thank you!

 

[Martino]

Can I use my JVC unit, in conjunction with a separate Bluray player, and still get great (or any) 3D Audio? (Remember, the DVD player portion of the unit doesn't work.)

I followed your link - it lists the following:
"2 Assignable Digtial Inputs (1 Optical, 1 Coaxial) that you can designate to any digital source"
If you want to go a cheaper route - and get the same audio quality that was coming from the built in DVD player - you could get a 3-D blu-ray player that has at least 1 of the digtal outputs.
Here is a player that has both - runs for $160.00
Panasonic Integrated Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray DVD Player - Black (DMP-BDT320)
http://www.target.com/p/panasonic-integrated-wi-fi-3d-blu-ray-dvd-player-black-dmp-bdt320/-/A-14082022?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=%7C14082022&CPNG=electronics&ci_sku=14082022&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw=
If you go with the above - it has 1 Optical Digital Audio output....
As an upside - the above player will also play your old DVDs as well....
You won't be getting the latest looseless sound, but there is a Dolby digital or DTS signal (same as coming from your DVD player) that will work on your blu-ray players. You would just need to buy a 3-D blu-ray player that has a digtial output - then hook up your player directly to the TV with an HDMI cable (to get the 3-D video signal) - and hook up your player to the receiver with either an optical or coaxial cable to get this sound.
- If you want the latest and greatest sound that a blu-ray can deliver - then you need a new receiver.
As for the cables needed - don't need to break the bank on these as well...
6 ft optical cable - runs for $1.94 (Needs to run between the blu-ray player and your system)
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022901&p_id=1419&seq=1&format=2
6 ft HDMI high speed cable - runs between the new player and the TV:
Dayton Audio HR13C22 6.6 ft. High-Speed HDMI Cable CL3 - $4.95
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=181-774

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Martina,

Welcome to our forum.

First, your receiver is quite old by the looks of it.

However, it looks as if it has the innards necessary
to decode Dolby Digital and DTS. What you will be
missing is the improved lossless experience that you
would get if the receive had HDMI connections.

You can use the optical output from your Blu-ray player
to the optical input of the receiver. That will work fine.

At some point, you may want to look into investing in
a HDMI receiver that will improve your sonic experience
even more.

 

[Martina C]

I've spent some time researching online now, and found that for a few hundred dollars I might be set:

• Denon AVR-1612
• Sony BDP-S590 3D Blu-ray Disc Player

I would be grateful for your opinion on those.
Also, would the connections between each component be fairly simple? I know how to get the receiver to the speakers, but everything else is something of a mystery to me.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Martina,

I'm a Denon guy. Have owned Denon receivers for
years and I really love them.

That being said, over the past year, Denon has scared
me. There have been many complaints of their network
cards failing. I went over to Amazon to read reviews of
the AVR 1612 and there seems to be a rash of failing units.

Click here to read them

I don't know what to recommend. You can go for the
Denon, or, if you find an Onkyo unit in the same price range
those are good as well.

Hooking the new receivers up is actually easier than what
you have now. Instead of connecting several audio and
video cables from your Blu-ray player to the receiver, you
use just one HDMI cable that carries both signals.

Be very careful of salesmen that try to sell you a single
HDMI cable for $20-$60. You need only spend $10-$20 on
a high-speed HDMI cable.

You will need 2 HDMI cables. One is for Blu-ray to
receiver. The other is receiver to your display. You
will control all the switching with your receiver.

As for the Sony Blu-ray player you mentioned....

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S590-Blu-ray-Player-Wi-Fi/product-reviews/B006U1YUZE/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Seems fine. Well rated on Amazon. I don't
think you can go wrong with that.

 

[Martina C]

Thank you all for your input!