Are the analogue 5.1 and the digital outputs both live at the same time on a HD XA2, so I could use dolby true HD and use the digital outputs for SD soundtracks ?
Just curious if any of the HD-DVD players with 5.1 analog outputs support DVD-Audio media. Nothing in any specs list I've read indicate that there is support out there, so I'm guessing not. However, has anyone tried this?
The HD DVD players with 5.1 multichannel analogs do not support High Resolution. But if you simply select the DTS surround option, your analogs will provide as much of a sound threat.
Your reply has left me confused, and perhaps it's because my question wasn't specific enough. When you say High Resolution are you referring to DVD-Audio discs (DVD-A; eg. Diana Krall's When I Look In Your Eyes)? If that's the case, what do you mean by selecting the DTS surround option? Is that an option in the DVD-A Menu or in the player's setup menu? It's obvious that I don't have a clear understanding, so I'm grateful for any help you can give me.
If you put a DVD-A disc in a player capable of DVD-A playback, you have an audio menu that lets you choose between High Resolution (need to use the 5.1 analogs) and PCM Stereo (also selectable, I believe).
If you put a DVD-A disc in the tray of a normal DVD player or an HD DVD player you get a different audio menu and you can select PCM stereo, DD 5.1 and DTS surround. In this case, you can use SPDIF digital connection or 5.1 multichannel analogs.
Note: I have never read that both menus are available in one of these players. It is either one menu or the other. But both are present in the disc.
Can someone help me with a thing? What kind of cables are needed to use the 5.1 analougue outs on the XA-1 to a reciever? I'm assuming just plain RCA audio cables but does one use the red or white one? Sorry, I feel like an idiot.
Actually, I guess I used the white cables. Looks like they've been discontinued over at Newegg, but I used 3 sets of these cables for the analog connection on my X-A1:
The usual shielded cables ("stereo") are alright. I really can't tell you what the difference would be between red or white in the US. Here they're often red, white or black. The conectors white/red (to denote the two stereo sides) or red/blue, etc.
This comment about the A1 from last August went unanswered. Last night, I watched my first 4:3 material on my D2 from Costco. I'm using component and had the same problem - the image was stretched, not pillarboxed. Surely there is a way around this? I can use the modes on my Pioneer 533 RPTV to force 4:3, but the TV puts unsightly grey bars on the side, not the desired black ones.
Can anyone help? I would have to use my Malata region-free player for all 4:3 material otherwise, as I'll be damned if I'll watch with grey bars...
I posted this to Highdefdigest. Just like TimObi, I'm contemplating using plain ol' RCA cables for multiple 5.1 analog connections. This is mainly because I have a plethora of these cables sitting around and rather than spend a bunch of $$ that could be put towards the purchase of the new Panny Blu-Ray player, I thought I'd dust off the extra cables and put them to good use. Before I go that route I thought I'd ask the question to the enthusiast community - Do "official" SACD/DVD-A/5.1 Analog cables really do a better job of passing uncompressed audio than your basic RCA cables? If not, is the appeal of the "official cables" more of a bragging rights issue? I welcome all feedback.