6 Channel Audio Inputs

[EddieG]

My new receiver is coming this week, and it has "6 channel audio inputs". I found a definition on this, but exactly how and when would I use it?

Thanks!

Eddie

 

[agarwalro]

That input is for an analog multi channel source.

Your DVD player will have similar connections designated "Multi-channel Audio Out". From there to the receiver is a one to one connection using Male RCA connector cables like this one, Multi-channel analog audio cable.

If you are not sending multi-channel sound over digital (Coax, Optical or HDMI) you will need to use this input/ output. You will use it when you need/ want to use it .

 

[EddieG]

That input is for an analog multi channel source. Your DVD player will have similar connections designated as "Multi-channel Audio Out". From there to the receiver is a one to one connection using Male RCA connector cables like this one, Multi-channel analog audio cable.

So as far as sound quality and the way the 5.1 surround is processed by the receiver, the first choice would be optical, 2nd is coaxial, then 3rd would be 6 channel audio? Or is 6 channel better than coax?

Thanks!

Eddie

 

[agarwalro]

Optical and Coax are both digital connections equivalent in quality, only different in the medium carrying the signal and the connections.

The choice between analog vs digital depends on which equipment has better digital to analog conversion. If you have a high end DVD player and mid level receiver, use the analog. If you have mid level DVD Player or below, use digital.

As a side note, the HD format palyers, send the HD audio only over HDMI.

 

[Seth=L]

Optical has limited advantage over coaxial. If the coaxial is shielded well enough (as most are) it can perform as good as toslink and has more bandwidth potential (however it may never be fully utilized).

I assume you are getting an Oppo, as most other DVD players don't have multichannel analog outputs. The Multichannel outputs on the Oppo players and other universal players from Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer Elite, list goes on forever, is the ability to listen to high resolution SACD or DVD-Audio that aren't output via SPDIF (toslink and coaxial).

When watching standard DVDs with Dolby Digital and DTS tracks it is likely to be better to use the SPDIF (toslink and coaxial) so the receiver can apply bass management and other more sophisticated surround processing options than most DVD players offer.

What receiver are you getting? HDMI has the potential to support all these different things and more (such as HD DVD and Blu-ray hi-resolution audio output).

 

[Martiad3]

As a side note, the HD format palyers, send the HD audio only over HDMI.

I think that the XA2 and A35 HD-DVD players will also decode it and send it out over the 6 channel analog outs.

 

[markw]

My new receiver is coming this week, and it has "6 channel audio inputs". I found a definition on this, but exactly how and when would I use it?

Thanks!

Eddie

What the others say is very true, but these cn alsdo be used for the analog outputs of a SACD or DVD-Auuio player and, I believe, some of the other multi-channel schemes used by Hi-Def DVD players.

None of the above can be decoded in most current receivers. These players output these in 5.1 channel analog, fo which those inputs you mention are ideal.

 

[EddieG]

Optical has limited advantage over coaxial. If the coaxial is shielded well enough (as most are) it can perform as good as toslink and has more bandwidth potential (however it may never be fully utilized).

I assume you are getting an Oppo, as most other DVD players don't have multichannel analog outputs. The Multichannel outputs on the Oppo players and other universal players from Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer Elite, list goes on forever, is the ability to listen to high resolution SACD or DVD-Audio that aren't output via SPDIF (toslink and coaxial).

When watching standard DVDs with Dolby Digital and DTS tracks it is likely to be better to use the SPDIF (toslink and coaxial) so the receiver can apply bass management and other more sophisticated surround processing options than most DVD players offer.

What receiver are you getting? HDMI has the potential to support all these different things and more (such as HD DVD and Blu-ray hi-resolution audio output).

I got the Harmon Kardon AVR 146. For now I do not plan on using it for HDMI since it does not send the audio via the HDMI connection. Also, only my cable has HDMI and I won't need to worry about anything else until I get a blu ray player next spring when the prices (hopefully) will come down. And even then for audio I may just plug the cable directly into the TV (unless I don't get the new TV with 2 or more HDMI inputs, in which case I'll have to use the receiver and just run audio seperately.

But as Algarwalro said "As a side note, the HD format palyers, send the HD audio only over HDMI". Since my receiver cannot do this then I will have to settle for regular 'ol Dolby Digital?? How different is the sound between HD audio and the more common, current audio formats?

 

[mtrycrafts]

But as Algarwalro said "As a side note, the HD format palyers, send the HD audio only over HDMI". Since my receiver cannot do this then I will have to settle for regular 'ol Dolby Digital?? How different is the sound between HD audio and the more common, current audio formats?

Check out markw's post. With that 6ch capability, you are set, in essence to play back all 5.1 multi channel audio formats, be it SACD, DVD-A or the hi res audio from hi def DVDs, via analog out from your player.

 

[agarwalro]

I think that the XA2 and A35 HD-DVD players will also decode it and send it out over the 6 channel analog outs.

Ah! I forgot the AX2 was out. Thanks for keeping me honest.

 

[markw]

Check out markw's post.

Nobody ever listens to me. I'm used to it.

 

[rmk]

Ah! I forgot the AX2 was out. Thanks for keeping me honest.

The Tosh XA1 (I have one) and virtually all BR players have 5.1 outs for uncompressed HD Audio.

 

[EddieG]

Check out markw's post. With that 6ch capability, you are set, in essence to play back all 5.1 multi channel audio formats, be it SACD, DVD-A or the hi res audio from hi def DVDs, via analog out from your player.

I'm confused...are you saying I cannot play hi res audio with optical or coax, which are digital, but I CAN with analog 6 channel audio? I thought digital would be better than analog.

Is hi res audio the same as True HD audio? I am wondering that for all of the blu ray or HD DVD players only those people with a receiver that has HDMI audio AND video (is that switching?) will be able to have True HD Audio?

 

[Seth=L]

SPDIF is a digital format that allows certain audio signals pass. Those are PCM 2 channel, Dolby Digital (up to 6.1 EX), and DTS (up to 6.1 DTS-ES). Those are the limitations of the SPDIF format which use Coaxial or Optical connections for termination between a source and processor (receiver, preamp, pre/pro).

When DVD-Audio and SACD came out they made no provisions for the format of connection for copyright protection purposes. DVD-Audio uses MLP Lossless which is typically 5.1 LPCM. SACD uses DSD (Sony's proprietary audio format) up to 5.1 of what I understand to be lossless sound. Since they didn't want to use SPDIF (coax or optical) they had to output the sound via Firewire as the digital connection. Most budget DVD-Audio and SACD players did not have Firewire, so the decoding for DVD-Audio and SACD had to occur inside the player and output over a usable 6 channel (5.1) analog output.

Think of it this way. When data is read from a CD it is purely digital (0's and 1's) and must be processed (converted) into a usable analog output. The player converts the digital signal via DAC (digital to analog converter) and the signal is now analog. If you wanted you could use a CD player's digital output (SPDIF; Coaxial or Optical) and the DACs in the receiver or external processor would be used instead of the CD player's. So the digital signal leaves the CD player and is processed into analog outside of the CD player.

Dolby Digital and DTS are different from PCM in that they are packed files. This means they are compressed to fit on the storage medium (DVD or some other medium), much like a .rar file. Just like a .rar file the bitstream must be uncompressed into usable data. So when it is uncompressed it would theoretically take up more space, but it is being read and processed only in one place (such as in a capable DVD player or receiver). Once the bitstream has been unpacked it is PCM and DACs convert the 5.1 signal to analog.

Lets say you watch a DVD on a DVD player with 5.1 analog outputs as well as SPDIF output/s. If you use the analog outputs the DVD player is decoding the 5.1 Dolby Digital signal and sending it out analog to the receiver. If you use the SPDIF (coaxial or optical) the signal is sent out from the DVD player in its digital form and is decoded inside the receiver or processor. The advantage to having the receiver handle the processing is that most receivers can apply post processing methods, such as bass management (cross over for the subwoofer and speakers). Most receivers can't apply post processing to 6 channel inputs because it requires that the analog input be digitized to apply them.

Now the new surround formats like Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, and Dolby Digital Plus can be output via HDMI (this is assuming full HDMI 1.3 compliance on both ends meaning the HD player and the receiver/processor). Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, and DTS are all bitstream packed audio files that must be decoded (converted) into PCM and after which the DACs convert the PCM into analog. That would have all occurred in the receiver in that scenario.

There are two other ways to get similar performance. The next best way, and arguably no better than the first, is to have an HD player decode the bitstream Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, or Dolby Digital Plus inside the player at which point the signal has become multichannel PCM (LPCM specifically, "L" stands for Linear). This LPCM signal (which currently can reach up to 7.1) can be sent out of the player via HDMI to the receiver which can use its DACs to convert the signal to analog and also do any post processing that is necessary.

The last way to handle the Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD formats is to have all processing and conversion occur inside the HD player and be output via analog outputs. As mentioned before most receivers don't allow post processing to occur via multichannel analog inputs. If the HD player has its own bass management it may help if you have no other means.

(note: For the multichannel LPCM to work you must have a receiver or processor with at least HDMI 1.1 (repeater) to get a minimum of 5.1 LPCM from the lossless HD audio formats.)

Sorry for the long post and I can only hope this explains everything.

 

[EddieG]

Sorry for the long post and I can only hope this explains everything.

I'm sorry, can you paraphrase please? Just kidding!! Thanks so much!

 

[Seth=L]

I'm sorry, can you paraphrase please? Just kidding!! Thanks so much!

LOL, that is about as paraphrased as it gets.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Nobody ever listens to me. I'm used to it.

Well, we'll force them to listen

 

[mtrycrafts]

... I am wondering that for all of the blu ray or HD DVD players only those people with a receiver that has HDMI audio AND video (is that switching?) will be able to have True HD Audio?

No. You/they need a receiver with analog inputs, 5.1 to 7.1, allow the hi res DVD player to decode and pass it in analog. You will be getting the hi res audio at least in CD quality, uncompressed, etc.

 

[EddieG]

No. You/they need a receiver with analog inputs, 5.1 to 7.1, allow the hi res DVD player to decode and pass it in analog. You will be getting the hi res audio at least in CD quality, uncompressed, etc.

So the difference between HDMI 1.3 (which iirc handles video and audio, which then gives you True HD) and analog (which iirc is the 6 channel sound) is that one is digital and one is analog, but both give you the True HD sound quality? When asking about the difference in sound quality of digital vs. analog, is it analogous to the difference in HD video quality of component vs. dvi/hdmi? Or is there actually a noticeable difference in audio?

 

[Seth=L]

So the difference between HDMI 1.3 (which iirc handles video and audio, which then gives you True HD) and analog (which iirc is the 6 channel sound) is that one is digital and one is analog, but both give you the True HD sound quality? When asking about the difference in sound quality of digital vs. analog, is it analogous to the difference in HD video quality of component vs. dvi/hdmi? Or is there actually a noticeable difference in audio?

The point is, it is converted to analog at some point anyway. The SQ (depending on certain sound system parameters) should be very good either way if not the same.