7.1 Dolby Surround ? ?

[Mr_Jones24]

I am looking at getting a new receiver and want to be able to take advantage of upcoming surround formats. I have a PS3 and want to know if HDMI is the required out put for getting 7.1 High Def surround or if Optical will get me the same signal.

Any input is appreciated.

 

[j_garcia]

Nope, you need HDMI to utilize the latest formats. The sound will still pass via optical for TrueHD and DTS-HD, but you will only get the "core" 5.1 signal. The LPCM (lossless) tracks can only be passed via HDMI from the PS3.

 

[Mr_Jones24]

Hey,

That's great info thanks for your help. Do you know if The HDMI handeling offered by the Sony DG800 will actually carry the Digital lossless over HDMI? I have heard that there HDMI handeling will only carry the video and can not support the new formats. If this is the case than I may look
at the similarly priced Onkyo 604

 

[nattyg]

What else can I learn about 7.1?

I've settled on a Pioneer AX4Avi ( since I live in Europe...) Its numbered as a 74 over there. Brand loyalty aside, how can I really get 7.1 audio? I have 7.1 speakers, use optical connections from all my audio sources and realize 1) not much if any material is more than 5.1 or 6.1. 2) I will need a source that can output the full 7.1.

J Garcia states that optical will not output full correct 100% 7.1 audio? I must use HDMI 1.2a or higher ( SACD support)? TrueHD and DDHD and so on, are these the only correct 7.1 codecs? With my current Pioneer, could I even properly blast 7.1 from it with a BluRay or HD DVD using optical?

Please don't tell me I'm underestimating my naivity about these formats and communication protocols please...??

...perhaps J Garcia is directly relating to the PS3? Its still good to learn answers to my questoins above... there aren't too many places I've been, and even less people who can talk at a higher level about surround logic ( I mean components, connectivity and so on ) so I have to ask.

 

[j_garcia]

Yes, for the PS3, the only way to get 7.1 LPCM (or any LPCM I believe) would be via HDMI. Lossless will not pass via optical or coaxial. For other dedicated players, some (most?) do have built in decoders so you can connect the 7.1 analog outs from the player to any receiver with a 7.1 input and get the full benefit of 7.1, but the PS3 does not have multichannel outs, thus HDMI must be used for TrueHD and DTS-HD.

For standard DVD, 6.1 is the max (DTS-ES, DD-EX), but that is processed and played back in 7.1 if that is how you have your system configured. These forms CAN be passed via optical or coaxial connections.

Sorry, not familiar with the DG800, so it will depend on the version of HDMI it comes with, which I believe is not 1.3, and I am not sure if 1.2/1.2a supports lossless or not. I believe I read here that it does, but can't say for sure.