Best way to hook up my new Oppo bdp-103

[rexracer]

I'm finally moving into the modern age with an HDTV and I'm looking for advice on the best way to hook everything up. I have a Yamaha RX-V 659 (no HDMI but a great amp section) and the new Oppo. My question is concerning how to connect the audio to the Yamaha which runs my 5.1. Do I just use a digital hookup, or does it make sense to use the analog jacks, which I guess would be like using the Oppo as a pre-amp? I have some catching up to do, as this is my first experience with HDMI and my first flat screen. I'm pretty sure I'll have to replace my cable box, too. The TV is an LG 50" Plasma (great deal!) and after looking at every Blu Ray player out there, I decided to spend way more than I wanted to and got the Oppo because I wanted DVD-A and SACD and decided it would carry me into the future, or at least until it stops working. eventually I will replace the Yamaha, but from what I see I'll need to spend $1000-$1500 to match the audio capability of what I have, and I won't downgrade.

So, for those of you who know what you're doing, how would you hook this all together?

 

[markw]

For the best video, run HDMI directly to the TV.

For the best audio, run the multi-channel analog audio outputs to the multi-channel analog inputs on the receiver, assuming it has them. That's the only way you'll get SACD and the hi-glitz blu-ray only audio formats.

If not, then run either a digital or optical digital audio to the receiver.

In either case, check the OPPO manual to assure your Oppo knows it's outputting 5.1.

 

[rexracer]

For the best video, run HDMI directly to the TV.

No choice there, my Yamaha doesn't have HDMI.

For the best audio, run the multi-channel analog audio outputs to the multi-channel analog inputs on the receiver, assuming it has them. That's the only way you'll get SACD and the hi-glitz blu-ray only audio formats.

If not, then run either a digital or optical digital audio to the receiver.

In either case, check the OPPO manual to assure your Oppo knows it's outputting 5.1.

Are you sure about that? I looked at a LOT of bluRay players and almost none of them have analog outputs. I find it hard to believe that 90% of the players on the market can't play the " high glitz blu ray only" audio formats. Now I'm really confused...

 

[Pyrrho]

In order for YOU to hear the new formats, you have to get them into your receiver. So that means that the BD player must decode them and send them to your receiver via multichannel analog connections. Now, the way it is done with most people, is they hook up an HDMI cable from the BD player to the receiver and then the receiver decodes the digital signals there. YOURS cannot do that, so you have to use the multichannel analog connections with YOUR receiver. With other receivers, HDMI would be the way to go. With many BD players, they can only give you the best sound if they are connected to a receiver with HDMI inputs that can handle multichannel digital.

In other words, all BD players are capable of outputting the fancy BD audio formats (though most can't deal with SACD or DVD-Audio), but they do so via HDMI. YOU can't use that with your receiver, so YOU need some other way. Most BD players would not be suitable for you, as long as you continue to use that receiver, if you want the best possible sound. If you do not care if the sound is degraded, then you can use the conventional digital connection, but you will NOT be getting the new high resolution audio formats; the player will have to DOWN CONVERT the signal to ordinary Dolby Digital or dts or 2 channel PCM. You will not get SACD audio at all that way.

If you ever replace your receiver with a current model, you will probably want to change the way you have it hooked up, by having the HDMI output hooked up to it instead of using the multichannel analog input.

To put this another way, markw is giving you EXACTLY the right advice.

 

[rexracer]

My bad. I misunderstood what he was saying. I thought he was saying that multichannel analog was the only way you get the good audio, but he was saying it's the only way I get the good stuff. I just ordered a set of analog cables from Blue Jeans.
Now, when I do upgrade my receiver is there any reason to use Analog over HDMI? If I read it right the HDMI will use the DAC in the receiver but analog will use the DAC in the Oppo. Say I get a Yamaha RX-A 1030, which would be on my list if buying now, would there be any advantage to using analog?
BTW, thanks for the info guys.

 

[Pyrrho]

In theory, you would want to use whichever device had the better digital to analog conversion, along with the best analog section. However, it is going to be going through a lot of analog circuitry in the receiver regardless, so even if the analog section were better in the Oppo, it will still go through the analog in the receiver.

Most likely, IF both ways were set up identically and correctly, you would not hear any difference. Since it is easier to set up the receiver than the player, using HDMI is generally the smartest approach, if one has it.


My advice in your case (with your current receiver) is to set the audio levels and delays of the BDP-103 based on what YPAO automatically does for other inputs on your receiver, as the speakers are in the same places regardless (and, I believe, your receiver does not apply those settings to multichannel analog inputs; consult the manual to be sure). Otherwise, you would want an SPL meter and play with some test tones to set the levels and delays, which involves spending more money, that is not needed since you have YPAO which is good with levels and delays (though it is not good at setting crossover points and not good at deciding if speakers are "large" or "small").

If you had the RX-A1030, I would advise using HDMI to connect the Oppo to the receiver. It would be simpler and easier and it is what I would do myself.

 

[rexracer]

Thanks. I do have a meter and the Riva test tones disk. Looks like I may have some work ahead (again)

 

[markw]

I'm glad that Phyrro aset you straight on the Blu-ray audio thing but, unless OPPO does something different with SACD (like some Sonys), I believe that the 5.1 analog is the only way to get SACD sounnd, at least multi-channel SACD. But, nmost SACD discs have dual layering so a redbook CD still lies within.

 

[rexracer]

So if that's the case, even if I get a new receiver I'll want to use the analog cable hookup. Should be getting some goodies tomorrow, then I can start reading through manuals in preparation for when my cables come, and my cabinet is ready.

 

[Pyrrho]

I'm glad that Phyrro aset you straight on the Blu-ray audio thing but, unless OPPO does something different with SACD (like some Sonys), I believe that the 5.1 analog is the only way to get SACD sounnd, at least multi-channel SACD. But, nmost SACD discs have dual layering so a redbook CD still lies within.

I think you are mistaken. My old Oppo DVD player outputs multichannel SACD via HDMI, and I doubt that they have removed that from their BD players. But, to be sure, one can consult Oppo's web site.

 

[Pyrrho]

Thanks. I do have a meter and the Riva test tones disk. Looks like I may have some work ahead (again)

Using the YPAO settings should be fine, but go ahead and use your meter if you prefer. You might then want to compare with YPAO, and if there is much difference, you should run YPAO again and also double check your measurements. They should be identical, but there will likely be some slight difference based on the microphones not being precisely placed identically and aimed identically, and if you are in the room in one case and not the other, that, too, can affect the settings. If you are not good at doing the settings manually, you will be better off trusting YPAO for levels and delays (but not speaker "size" or crossover points; as an aside, it is interesting that YPAO [and other automatic setup systems] tend to be good at what is hard for people to do manually, and bad at what is easy for people to do manually).

 

[markw]

I think you are mistaken. My old Oppo DVD player outputs multichannel SACD via HDMI, and I doubt that they have removed that from their BD players. But, to be sure, one can consult Oppo's web site.

Not really mistaken. Not knowing Oppos as well as an owner should, I did leave open the possibility that it could pass SACD via HDMI, like Sonys do. Not all SACD capable units do that.

 

[Natrix]

I recently got the same Oppo BDP-103 and I can attest that it does indeed send the multi-channel signal from an SACD to the receiver through the HDMI output.

 

[afterlife2]

You can use this cable to hook up to the yamaha receiver and your Oppo to get 5.1 audio and picture: Amazon.com: AmazonBasics Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable, 6 Feet: Electronics

 

[rexracer]

Been doing a bunch of reading. Downloaded the manual for the BDP-103 and read through it, and pulled out the manual for my RX-V659. I learned some more stuff! Like the reason that the digital cables won't work with the high def audio is bandwidth related. Some of the things I haven't found an answer for are exactly how the receiver handles the analog inputs. Am I just using the amps? I know the DSP is turned off. I e-mailed Oppo about using both analog and digital connections so that I can switch inputs on the receiver and use DSP on CD's and DVD's that don't have HD sound. I hope they gat back to me and let me know if this will work.

 

[Pyrrho]

You can use this cable to hook up to the yamaha receiver and your Oppo to get 5.1 audio and picture: Amazon.com: AmazonBasics Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable, 6 Feet: Electronics

I am surprised that you would give such bad advice. Multichannel PCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TruHD, and dts-HD Master Audio cannot be passed on to the receiver that way. The ONLY way to get these formats NOT downconverted with the receiver he has is to use multichannel analog connections from a BD player that can decode them. Using what you suggest NECESSITATES a downgrade to regular Dolby Digital, dts, or 2 channel PCM.

 

[Pyrrho]

Been doing a bunch of reading. Downloaded the manual for the BDP-103 and read through it, and pulled out the manual for my RX-V659. I learned some more stuff! Like the reason that the digital cables won't work with the high def audio is bandwidth related. Some of the things I haven't found an answer for are exactly how the receiver handles the analog inputs. Am I just using the amps? I know the DSP is turned off. I e-mailed Oppo about using both analog and digital connections so that I can switch inputs on the receiver and use DSP on CD's and DVD's that don't have HD sound. I hope they gat back to me and let me know if this will work.

You are still using a portion of the preamp section when you use the multichannel analog inputs. Otherwise, the volume control would not work, and that would be very bad.

You can hook the BD player up in more than one way, and it might be what you want do to--depending on what, precisely, you want to do. The multichannel analog connections can get you everything that the Oppo can decode.

 

[afterlife2]

I am surprised that you would give such bad advice. Multichannel PCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TruHD, and dts-HD Master Audio cannot be passed on to the receiver that way. The ONLY way to get these formats NOT downconverted with the receiver he has is to use multichannel analog connections from a BD player that can decode them. Using what you suggest NECESSITATES a downgrade to regular Dolby Digital, dts, or 2 channel PCM.

Yes I do know that. Well he doesn't have HDMI, so I think it would be a good option until he upgraded his receiver.

 

[rexracer]

Yes I do know that. Well he doesn't have HDMI, so I think it would be a good option until he upgraded his receiver.

One of the main reasons I got the Oppo is so that I could take advantage of all the "new" HD audio formats. That's why I got the analog cables. The reason I asked about the additional digital connection is so that I can use the DSP, mainly on concert DVD's. I almost always run "straight" on my Yamaha, but do use DSP on select DVD's sometimes, so would like the option when only 5.1 DD or DTS is available.
As to upgrading the receiver, that's going to be expensive and is not in the budget right now. If you look at Gene's review of my RX-V 659 it's very clean (like most Yamaha's) and has a very under rated amp section. To actually upgrade (amp wise) I'd really need at least an RX-A 1020. We'll see how things go and maybe I'll get something next year. Amazon has the RX-A 2020 for $999. which is a pretty good deal. Maybe by the time I'm ready I can get a 2030 for the same price

 

[Ponzio]

In a previous post I noted that my Oppo BDP-105 sounded the best using the RCA connectors using the 5.1 output over the HDMI & optical audio after conducting some blind test switching with a friend, FWIW.