Internal Decoding - Who Cares?

[avaserfi]

The title pretty much sums it up. Why do so many seem to make so much of a receivers ability to internally decode the new HD formats?

Personally I don't care what decodes it as long as it is done and I trust my player for that otherwise I wouldn't have put money into it.

Do people just want to maintain the status quo and do everything the same way it was done in the DVD generation or do you just like your receiver displaying TrueHD?

So why does it or doesn't it matter to you?

[markw]

Remember when DD and DTS first came out and last generation DPL receivers all had the 5.1 analog inputs for the "new" DVD players with the 5.1 analog outputs during the interim stages? That's what this is today, only with HD audio and, in time, all AVR's may have it built in (like DD/DTS decoders today), assuming Hi Def DVD's are here to stay.

Personally, I think it would be really cool to pass both HD video and audio visa one HDMI cable and send the video out to the TV from the receiver. A true "straight line" connection scheme.

[adk highlander]

Well first I will say I do like the display to say TrueHD or Master DTS:D and not the old PCM or Multichannel.

But, having one player that will pass bitstream (Samsung 1400) and one that ony does PCM (A2) I have noticed a difference in at least the output levels of the 2 players. I don't have an SPL meter yet (I know don't say it) but if I play a movie encoded with TrueHD on the blu-ray player it is significantly louder than the HD DVD playing PCM. I've tried this with both the 300 and the latest Potter flick. No I am not saying one sounds better I just have to turn up the dial more on the HD DVD. With these inconsistencies of the implementation of the decoding I feel that if my processor does the decoding then at least my levels should be maintained.

Now do all players send bitstream the same?:rolleyes:

[The Dukester]

Most of the folks that want decoding in the player seem to have older receivers that accept component and not HDMI. The HDMI crowd that has 1.3 receivers (like me:)) seem to want the player to output bitstream thinking they will get a more pure signal that will translate into better sound. Is this correct? Personally, I'm not sure, but I want it, anyway.;) At least that way I can compare. You are right in that I like to see the lights on the receiver come on. Hey, that's why they are there:D

My two cents.

[allargon]

I don't get it. Digital is digital. I know the receivers have better DACs.

Moreover, you lose audio in PiP when the receiver decodes. This isn't an issue for Blu-Ray YET. However, many HD-DVD owners have mentioned this.

http://www.ultimateavmag.com/surroundsoundpreampprocessors/1007anthem/index1.html

[Thunder18]

One thing about the receiver being capable of doing the decoding at least in my case is that analog signal output to my receiver disables the receivers room calibration forcing me to do it in the player. Which would be fine except I've never seen a player with a decent room set-up menu that make it easy to set-up the delays and distances for each speaker.