7.1 analog out br player and a few questions

[dkane360]

I can't seem to find a lot of information regarding br players with 7.1 analog out. Is there a relatively cheap one (around $200)? If it outputs through the analog, it would be the HD codecs right? I have a AVR-3300 with 7.1 analog in, would it use all 7.1 channels even though its only rated for 5.1? It does however have 7 speaker channels out.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[jostenmeat]

The Panasonic BD80 would fit the bill. There surely must be other good candidates too. Check out this audio support chart:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14323698&postcount=1

AFAIK, you can get 7.1, but ONLY when the bluray itself is recorded in 7.1. (Not many.)

Yes, output through analogs, you will access all of the available lossless codecs. They will be decoded in the player itself before sent to your receiver.

You may need to research the recommended settings when doing the mch analogs. For the Pana above, it has been recommended to boost the SW level by 15 db. Here is an article:
http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/How_To_Set_up_a_Blu-ray_Player_Using_Multi-Channel_Analog_Outputs_And_Why.shtml

 

[dkane360]

yea i know 7.1 will only be sent if thats what it's mastered in, but if I do send 7.1 to the receiver, will it send it out as 7.1 even though its only a 5.1 receiver?

 

[jostenmeat]

yea i know 7.1 will only be sent if thats what it's mastered in, but if I do send 7.1 to the receiver, will it send it out as 7.1 even though its only a 5.1 receiver?

I think I understand your question now. A 5.1 receiver can only produce 5.1. However, the 6th/7th channels can be downmixed into your side surrounds. So, on one hand you're not missing any "info" from the disc, but it's still 5.1 if all you have are 5 speakers (and subs), if that makes sense.

Excuse my misunderstanding.

 

[dkane360]

Ok thanks for your help so far. Are there any other options with 7.1 analog out that you know of?

 

[dkane360]

anyone have experience with this one?
http://www.ecost.com/Detail.aspx?edp=51452672&navid=155441519

ugh link isnt working. Sony 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player - BDP-S550 on ecost.com

 

[jostenmeat]

anyone have experience with this one?
http://www.ecost.com/Detail.aspx?edp=51452672&navid=155441519

ugh link isnt working. Sony 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player - BDP-S550 on ecost.com

I vote strongly for the BD80 over the S550, unless the savings are truly substantial. If anything, the BD80 will give you less headaches if you need to select different audio outputs in the future (Pana shotguns all at same time). The Pana has released three generations of bdp's during the time of the S550 already. Good luck.

 

[dkane360]

$60 difference give or take a few. Thats pretty significant. No one else has recommendations? I would just get the oppo bdp-83 and be done with it if I could

 

[jostenmeat]

$60 difference give or take a few. Thats pretty significant.

If it really is that much money to you, ok then, get the S550. I will only vote against that if you ever see the need to switch between, say, optical/hdmi/mch analogs, etc. If this will only ever output with one certain audio connection, and $60 is a lot, get the S550.

I would just get the oppo bdp-83 and be done with it if I could

Why? You have an extensive hirez mch music collection?

 

[dkane360]

If it really is that much money to you, ok then, get the S550. I will only vote against that if you ever see the need to switch between, say, optical/hdmi/mch analogs, etc. If this will only ever output with one certain audio connection, and $60 is a lot, get the S550.



Why? You have an extensive hirez mch music collection?

I shouldn't have to switch between audio outputs enough for it to be a problem. I dont have an extensive mch music collection, but if I wanted to get into it then I wouldnt need any additional equipment.

 

[jostenmeat]

I shouldn't have to switch between audio outputs enough for it to be a problem. I dont have an extensive mch music collection, but if I wanted to get into it then I wouldnt need any additional equipment.

If $60 is a lot to you, I would stay away from hirez mch music discs. You can always add an SACD player later, and the combined cost of S550/BD80 + SACD player will STILL be less money than the Oppo, with double the drives to wear out.

I don't know what prices you have found on either S550 or BD80, but I think you'll be happy with the S550. I did see the BD80 at roughly $180 recently, but I think it's up to around $230ish IIRC. I don't follow this stuff too much.

Let us know what you do. Again, good luck, I gotsta run.

 

[gtche]

I am not sure if your AVR can do bass management on the analog inputs (most do not), but I would check the owners manuals of the players in question. There were limitiations with both the Panasonic (100 Hz crossover) and the Oppo (speaker distance limitations) that were not ideal for my setup. I ended up with the Pioneer BDP-320 ($227 at Amazon) which I have been very happy with. It may not be the fastest player but I think it is on par with the Panasonic.

 

[dkane360]

This may sound a little ridiculous, but if the receiver and br player don't have bass management, can't I just turn up the gain on the sub?

 

[1kwik72]

I am kind of in this same boat and would like to hear opinions from those that are using the analog inputs.

I have a Yamaha RX-V1400 that is capable of 7.1 analog in. I don't have a BP yet and am weighing all my options including replacing my AVR with one that can decode the newer codecs and provide hdmi switching. As I understand it all the bass managment and speaker setup would fall on the BP if I went the 7.1 analog route. Who has their system set up this way and how big a PITA was it to get it sounding good? Any features on certian players that make them better/worse than others?

The other issue I have is my TV only supports 1080i via component or DVI so I am a little behind in that department as well. I dont really plan on reinventing the wheel anytime soon by replacing everything but I don't want to paint myself into a corner either.

Craig

 

[jostenmeat]

This may sound a little ridiculous, but if the receiver and br player don't have bass management, can't I just turn up the gain on the sub?

Without bass mgmt, your sub would have nothing to play. It would be dead silent. Fortunately, receivers have bass mgmt. Not all players have bass mgmt, but those with mch analog outs do.

Now, if you're trying to fix some sort of LFE issue by raising sub gain, you should be informed that you will also be proportionately raising your "summed bass" or "rerouted bass" coming from the other channels.

I am kind of in this same boat and would like to hear opinions from those that are using the analog inputs.

I have a Yamaha RX-V1400 that is capable of 7.1 analog in. I don't have a BP yet and am weighing all my options including replacing my AVR with one that can decode the newer codecs and provide hdmi switching. As I understand it all the bass managment and speaker setup would fall on the BP if I went the 7.1 analog route. Who has their system set up this way and how big a PITA was it to get it sounding good? Any features on certian players that make them better/worse than others?

The other issue I have is my TV only supports 1080i via component or DVI so I am a little behind in that department as well. I dont really plan on reinventing the wheel anytime soon by replacing everything but I don't want to paint myself into a corner either.

Craig

TV is a non-issue, as you can just use an HDMI/DVI cable there. As for how large of a PITA, I wish people did chime in for you, but opinions will vary, and YMMV. Actually, it's not really a PITA. The only downside is the lack of flexibility of certain things, if you cared.

Historically, I've normally advised getting a cheaper BDP w/o mch analogs, so that the money can be saved towards an HDMI receiver. However, since that time, BDP prices have plummeted and these savings are not quite as significant when comparing with a receiver's price point.

HDMI = better, IMO. But, mch analogs work fine as well. You just have to pick the player more carefully, depending on what flexibility you wanted. Of course with that added flexibility will the price point rise, whether that Pioneer, or even up to an Oppo, etc.

 

[dkane360]

Can I take the subwoofer output from the bd80 and plug it directly into my subwoofer and control volume and stuff from the back panel?

 

[jostenmeat]

Can I take the subwoofer output from the bd80 and plug it directly into my subwoofer and control volume and stuff from the back panel?

I don't recommend it, and never heard of anyone doing that, and I don't know what the gamut of issues are. It is extremely likely you will need the receiver's adjustments to get both LFE and summed bass at the correct levels. As I've told you earlier, I read that the above must be boosted by a very whopping 15 db for instance on a Pana! Turning your sub gain to absolute maximum is normally a very bad idea.

And if you did what you're thinking, the only time you get to have a sub playing is with the bluray player. Not for TV, not for video games, not for anything else.

 

[dkane360]

So the bd80 will work for me because it can adjust bass, right? The crossover point is fixed at 100hz, but my receiver is at a fixed point of 80 I believe. Would the crossover on the receiver not be taken into account because it would be bypassed?

I found an open box bd80 at best buy for 185 btw. Its about the lowest I can find online.

Thanks again for all of your help, I really appreciate it.

 

[gtche]

So the bd80 will work for me because it can adjust bass, right?

Any of the blu ray players with analog outputs can adjust the bass. Your reciever will not do anything except amplify the signal for your speakers. So your 80 Hz crossover that you use with your reciever will not be active. The crossover frequency from the blu ray player will be used instead. You will also use the blu ray player to set speaker distance and sound level. Hope this helps.

 

[gonk]

Might see what OPPO announces in the next week or so - they are planning to inveil a lower-priced Blu-ray player. There's no word yet on specs, so price and whether or not it has a 7.1 analog output are still unknown.