HT Connection Questions. (1 Viewer)

[overmyhead]

Newbie here, thanks in advance.

What I have (or soon will have):

Samsung pn50a550 (TV)
Samsung BDP-1500 (Blu-ray)
Onkyo HT-S3100 5.1 (Home Theater) - No HDMI
Direct TV HD DVR (which I don't have yet, but I assume will have HDMI)

So here are my questions. If my AV receiver doesn't have HDMI can I bypass the receiver from my sources (in this case Sat Box and Blue Ray) directly to the TV? Then run optical or coaxial from each source (sat box and dvd) into the receiver for audio? So NOTHING running from the TV to the receiver at all? I hate to not use HDMI for the video if I have it on both the TV and sources.

I have the DVD set up this way now and I get sound, but it doesn't seem to be 5.1 (not sure how to tell)? I get sound input choices like Pro Logic II and Neo6 and stuff. When in Neo6 mode I do get a little red indicator light that says DTS, but I am not sure I am getting true 5.1 DD this way?

It seems from reading the manual that I am only simulating 5.1 in those modes? I don't know what I could be doing wrong. I have a blu-ray disc (casino royale), in a blu-ray player, with an optical connection to the onkyo. I get sound out of all 5 speakers and the sub, so maybe it is working fine (it sounds great), but I am not sure it is true DD 5.1.

So is it okay to bypass the receiver in this manner with the video (HDMI) to the TV?

And is it okay to take the Audio from sources to AV receiver using optical? Will this also work for my Satellite Box (I don't have it yet)?

It seems to work okay, but I am wondering if I am losing out on 5.1 DD sound by doing it this way?


My last question is about cables. Thanks to this forum I checked out monoprice for cables and now understand just how ripped off I got. This is what I have vs. what monoprice has. Are these the same quality items? Will they do the job just as well? If so I am taking them back and saving myself about $200 in cable!

Monster Cable HDMI 700hd High Speed HDMI Cable - 6.6' - $95 (circuit city)

HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified Cable 28AWG - 6ft w/Ferrite Cores (Gold Plated Connectors) - BLACK - $4.19 (monoprice)

Monster Cable Fiber Optic 400dfo Audio Cable - $56 (circuit city)

PREMIUM 6FT Optical Toslink Cable w/ Metal Fancy Connector - $3.81 (monoprice)

Thanks again.

 

[Ed Moxley]

Yes. The Monoprice cables will do just as well as the Monster cables.

 

[overmyhead]

Ed -

Thanks for detailed response, I guess I need to mess with the settings on the Blu-ray and AVR, I will give it a shot tonight, I am planning on getting a harmony 880 remote anyway, so that should be okay.

Can you tell me what the 5.1/7.1 analog outputs on the blu-ray and 5.1/7.1 analog inputs on the receiver might look like and what sort of cable I would need, (I mean physically)? So that would be better than hooking up the sound with the optical connection?

Sorry for more questions, just trying to wrap my brain around all this.....

 

[Robert_J]

Yes because without an HDMI input on your receiver, this is the only way to get HD resolution audio. But instead of your receiver decoding it, your player decodes it and passes the analog version to your receiver.

-Robert

 

[Ed Moxley]

overmyhead.............
I went to Samsung's site (I hate their site!) and looked through the owner's manual for your blu ray player. It does not have the 5.1/7.1 analog outputs. So, I'm sorry to say that you won't be able to hear the HD audio soundtracks, from blu ray movies, with the system you have. Just enjoy the DD and DTS.

 

[overmyhead]

Ed -

Thanks for taking the time to do some research for me. I had found the same info.. DD and DTS will be fine for me for now, someday down the road I can always buy a new AV Receiver that has HDMI or whatever is the latest and greatest then. Going from and old tube TV with no HT, to 50 inch plasma with any sort of HT is pretty great as it is. Thanks again.

 

[overmyhead]

Just wanted to say thanks again, I got it going in DTS now, it was was the bitsreaming vs. pcm thing. It sounds great.

 

[JohnRice]

BTW, I wouldn't sweat not being able to use the HD audio tracks right now. With an HTiB, it probably won't much if any difference.

 

[Ed Moxley]

Glad you got it going..............
Until you can afford the better receiver, maybe you'll run across a good deal on a blu ray player with the analog outputs, such as the Sony BDP 300. Check your local Craig's List.
Good luck!

 

[overmyhead]

One more question about PCM vs. Bitstreaming. I have noticed some Blue-rays discs say 5.1 PCM on them, should be switching my receiver back to PCM to play them or can I just leave it in Bitstreaming? There are two Bitstreaming modes, one is "re-encoded" or something like that, the other is "audiophile". Right now I have it in "re-encoded" as that seems to be what the manual suggests.

I am still a little confused by the DTS vs. DTS-HD and Master HD audio or whatever it is called. I think I just have basic DTS and not DTS-HD. Or is there a difference?

 

[Jeff Gatie]

In order to play 5.1 PCM, you need an HDMI 1.1 receiver or analog 5/7.1 connections. Since you are using digital optical/coax, you would only get PCM 2.0 stereo from PCM. Having the PCM 5.1 reencoded to DD will be better for you, so leave the player in "Bitstream" mode. Note that some players will only output PCM 2.0 from a PCM 5.1 track regardless of the "Bitstream" setting. If you have one of these players you must choose the standard DD 5.1 track to get 5.1 sound.

As far as the differences between DTS flavors, they are essentially DTS-Good, DTS-HD-Better, DTS-HD/MA-Best (lossless). From your player with optical/coax, you will be getting the [email protected] "core" from DTS-HD and MA, which is in between the good (standard DTS@640mbs) and better (DTS-MA).