Blu-ray help needed!!

[toast]

I am trying to help a buddy out with his home theater setup. He has a legacy pioneer elite receiver ($1500 at the time). It has 2 optical (programmable) inputs, i.link, and is DTS-ES, and 7.1 capable.

He upgraded to a 50" plasma, and a blu-ray player last weekend at Ultimate Electronics. The salesman sold him a blu-ray player with the multi-channel pre-amp outputs. He said that the blu-ray player outputs an "optical hd" audio signal the his reciever would not be able to properly "decode", and that using the 6 analog RCA style wiring would offer superior sound because the blu-ray player does the decoding for the reciever, and all the reciever has to is amplify the channels.

Since Ultimate didnt have 35ft long cables, he went to Best Buy, in which that employee insisted that an optic cable would offer the best audio.

His speakers are also legacy. They are old klipsch speakers. There are 4 of them (the size of a dishwasher), a new (Bigger) center channel, and a klipsch sub. He said they were one step below what movie theaters used at the time of purchase.

The TV and blu-ray player are 35ft from the receiver, what is the best way to get the best audio out of this setup from the blu-ray player??

Optical, or Analog?? Thanks in advance....

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

The "best" way to connect them depends on what your buddy wants from it. Here's some info for you.

Optical connections cannot transfer the new lossless codecs (like Dolby TrueHD) - either decoded by the blu-ray player or in their raw form. The only way to transfer the raw form of those codecs is by using HDMI, and the decoded lossless surround sound can be transferred using an HDMI connection or the analog cables.

So, if your friend wants to listen to the new lossless surround sound audio tracks, then he needs to use the analog connections. If he can live without those for now, then he can go with the convenience of running a single optical cable.

Places like monoprice.com sell good cables for inexpensive prices. You can get this 35-foot optical cable for $9 + shipping. For $2 more, you can get the 50-foot version. They also sell the analog cables for a good price.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Just make sure to tell him you are "busy" on the weekend he is going to attempt to run 6, 35ft RCA cables through the walls!

 

[toast]

Just make sure to tell him you are "busy" on the weekend he is going to attempt to run 6, 35ft RCA cables through the walls!

haha, I did! He will be running all the wires for sure! Thanks for the input. I thought HDMI was video only + stereo only?? Has something changed in the last couple of years?

If we go the optical route, will the blu-ray only send out the "normal" DVD quality audio? Do all blu-rays use the lossless codecs?

 

[toast]

Oh yeah, another guy said it would be cheaper to run quad shield RG-6, but I would need to term the ends.....never heard of that.

 

[Adam]

HDMI can carry digital video and digital audio (including the new multi-channel lossless codecs).

 

[lsiberian]

I am trying to help a buddy out with his home theater setup. He has a legacy pioneer elite receiver ($1500 at the time). It has 2 optical (programmable) inputs, i.link, and is DTS-ES, and 7.1 capable.

He upgraded to a 50" plasma, and a blu-ray player last weekend at Ultimate Electronics. The salesman sold him a blu-ray player with the multi-channel pre-amp outputs. He said that the blu-ray player outputs an "optical hd" audio signal the his reciever would not be able to properly "decode", and that using the 6 analog RCA style wiring would offer superior sound because the blu-ray player does the decoding for the reciever, and all the reciever has to is amplify the channels.

Since Ultimate didnt have 35ft long cables, he went to Best Buy, in which that employee insisted that an optic cable would offer the best audio.

His speakers are also legacy. They are old klipsch speakers. There are 4 of them (the size of a dishwasher), a new (Bigger) center channel, and a klipsch sub. He said they were one step below what movie theaters used at the time of purchase.

The TV and blu-ray player are 35ft from the receiver, what is the best way to get the best audio out of this setup from the blu-ray player??

Optical, or Analog?? Thanks in advance....

At that distance I do recommend using analog inputs. HDMI has issue over 15ft and 35 ft is much farther away.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I don't think HDMI is an option secondary to the old AVR.

A good HDMI cable shouldn't have any trouble with 35ft though....(BJC Belden Series-1)

At that distance I do recommend using analog inputs. HDMI has issue over 15ft and 35 ft is much farther away.

 

[bersik]

I have a 15 meter fiber optic cable HDMI cable for sale. It is made by DVI Gear and can be found at: http://www2.dvigear.com/hdfiopcaff15.html.

The cable is brand new and lists for $450 but I'd be willing to part with it for much less than that. It is brand new so make me an offer (and I don't want to trade for your Honda).