If I buy a blu ray player, will the audio work with my existing environment? I have a Yamaha home theater receiver that is about 8 years old (read: no HDMI). It supports DD 5.1 and DTS which I connect my DVD player and xbox through an optical connection. Will I need to upgrade my receiver if I get a blu ray player, or can I get a BR player with optical audio output that will support what I have? I would be connecting the BR to my TV via HDMI if that matters?
Stereodude
Not really a
Most Blu-ray players will convert the HD audio formats to DD5.1 and/or DTS5.1.
Do you know if it's feasible for me to use both optical and HDMI at the same time without issues? HDMI going to my TV and optical going to the receiver. Also, is there anything specific I should look for in the BR player that allows it to convert to DD5.1 and/or DTS (ie is it a specific name or spec)?
I kind of like the Samsung BD-P1600 for the price. It seems to have all the modern BR features.
The article says:
I'm guessing that means I can use the legacy audio format to connect to my receiver?
The article says:
I'm guessing that means I can use the legacy audio format to connect to my receiver?
Stereodude
Not really a
That shouldn't be an issue.
Stereodude
Not really a
It actually doesn't say anything related to the use case you're interested in.
From browsing through the manual it does not appear to have any encoding capability, so you will get the DTS core for any DTS track, and DD for any DD+ or True-HD track via SPDIF, but if you watch a disc with LPCM audio you will get 2 channel only via SPDIF.
I was reading a review over at Engadget HD and it makes mention of a BitStream re-encode option. I think that does what I need for right now until I upgrade my audio in the future.
I googled that BitStream re-encode option and Samsung claims the following which makes me think I'll be fine with my current reciever.
I googled that BitStream re-encode option and Samsung claims the following which makes me think I'll be fine with my current reciever.
Stereodude
Not really a
Odd because I thought the manual says it will only output 2 channels for discs with LPCM audio.
I don't know much about LPCM audio, is that a common format on BR movies? I found the same note you mentioned from the documentation.
Further in the manual I found similar information about the re-encode: "Recommended choice if you don’t have an HDMI supported receiver, but have a receiver with an optical input that can decode DTS."
The Cons for using re-encode state:
"Audio quaility may be lower than PCM or Bitstream (Audiophile) setups when you are using a receiver with HDMI or Optical input."
I'm ok with those cons for now. My audio portion (speakers/receiver) would need upgrading to get better sound any way.
Further in the manual I found similar information about the re-encode: "Recommended choice if you don’t have an HDMI supported receiver, but have a receiver with an optical input that can decode DTS."
The Cons for using re-encode state:
"Audio quaility may be lower than PCM or Bitstream (Audiophile) setups when you are using a receiver with HDMI or Optical input."
I'm ok with those cons for now. My audio portion (speakers/receiver) would need upgrading to get better sound any way.
Stereodude
Not really a
It was on some of the earlier ones. Usually those discs have another audio track though.
I got a craving to watch the Planet Earth in HD series last night. This is a total spur of the moment purchase which requires a BR player. 
Thanks for the help with this.
Thanks for the help with this.
ddrueding
Fixture
I got a craving to watch the Planet Earth in HD series last night. This is a total spur of the moment purchase which requires a BR player.
Damn, that looks pretty good. Let me know if you like it.
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
I got a craving to watch the Planet Earth in HD series last night. This is a total spur of the moment purchase which requires a BR player.
Thanks for the help with this.
Or you could torrent the 1080p BR rips instead and play them through a PC connected to your HDTV.
Stereodude
Not really a
I bought that player last night and also got bestbuy to match the price on the 4-disc Planet Earth with Walmart's price of $55. The series looks fantastic so far. My only concern is in a few situations, the dark areas on the screen were doing this weird pulsing of white. I don't think it's my TV as I've never noticed it before with anything else (TV @ 1080i and xbox at 1080p). It could either be the planet earth recording or maybe something with the BR player. I'll need to get another BR disc to watch and see if it still has the occasional pulsing (ever half second) in certain dark and contrast areas of the video. Otherwise the video quality was very good.
As for the audio, it works fine so far using the bitstream re-encode option. My receiver shows as playing a DTS sound track as expected and it sounds very good. Arguable better than DVD soundtracks, but I'm not comparing apples to apples here.
As for the audio, it works fine so far using the bitstream re-encode option. My receiver shows as playing a DTS sound track as expected and it sounds very good. Arguable better than DVD soundtracks, but I'm not comparing apples to apples here.
Fushigi
Storage Is My Life
We picked up the domestic release of PE on BD, not the BBC version. Sigourney Weaver narrates and I like her version better than the BBC narrator (David Attenborough). AFAIK the domestic version is only available at the Discovery site; I've only ever seen the BBC version at retail.
Pradeep
Storage? I am Storage!
Doug, does your receiver by any chance have a 5.1 pre-amp input? That in conjunction with the 5.1 analog outs of an appropriate blu-ray player will give the high def audio (24 bit 48 kHz * 7.1 channels) that optical and co-ax S/PDIF doesnt have the bandwidth for.
I'm running a PS3 via HDMI to a Pioneer 1018 receiver, blu-ray audio is significantly more lifelike and dynamic compared to the highly compressed DD 5.1 that most DVDs use.
I'm running a PS3 via HDMI to a Pioneer 1018 receiver, blu-ray audio is significantly more lifelike and dynamic compared to the highly compressed DD 5.1 that most DVDs use.
My home receiever does have the 5.1 pre-amp inputs but the BR player I bought does not have the outputs for this. The next model up from mine (which is another $150) has them, but I didn't find that worth the money given the unit uses the same exact video chipset offering no other visual improvements. I'd rather put the extra $150 towards a new receiver that uses the TrueHD. Otherwise that's a good idea.
Even the current compressed audio that I have now sounds better than my DVD player. I bet it would get even better as you've suggested with the TrueHD and/or DTS format. I was reading good things about the Onkyo TX-SR607...hmm
Even the current compressed audio that I have now sounds better than my DVD player. I bet it would get even better as you've suggested with the TrueHD and/or DTS format. I was reading good things about the Onkyo TX-SR607...hmm
Pradeep
Storage? I am Storage!
It would be worth the money to go to the 700 series Onkyo's IMHO.
Right now I'm watching prices of Viera G1s and G10s. 1080p plasma is getting very affordable.
Right now I'm watching prices of Viera G1s and G10s. 1080p plasma is getting very affordable.
ddrueding
Fixture
Neither of those look to be plasma? All the links I see say LCD...
Looking at one of these for a client, but the question is whether it will send source A to receiver 2 and source C to receiver 4 while simultaneously sending source B to receiver 1. I know it will make any of those connections, but I don't know if it supports multiple feeds simultaneously.
Anyone have experience with these things?
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
Pradeep
Storage? I am Storage!
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIERA-TC-P50G10-50-Inch-Plasma/dp/B001UAEWUS
I think they have model lines with both LCD and plasma, the G10 has more onboard stuff for the Viera link (buying VOD from amazon etc). Given that all that can be done with an HTPC, the G1/S1? is more bang for the buck.