HD Audio through HDMI or Multi Channel?

[photoeye]

Hi,

question for you H.T. guru's

any difference in sound quality when using the multi out from
a blu ray player to the multi in on your AVR vs. the HDMI cable?

I know one is analog and one is digital. If using the multi out
from the BD player, that signal is processed different than
one used with HDMI? the AVR does the sound processing in this case?

just curious if any still used multi ch. thx

 

[Adam]

A couple of things come to mind:

1. If your receiver can't process the newer lossless codecs (like Dolby TrueHD) but your blu-ray player can, then the analog connections are the only way to experience those.
2. If your receiver is like mine, then the equalizer and other settings aren't applied to the multi-channel analog inputs (an annoyance to me). If that's the case, then you might experience a rather noticeable difference in sound between the HDMI input and the multi-channel input.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Analog or Digital, I love them both.

I own the Panasonic DMP-BD55, and I don't notice a difference between the 7.1-multichannel analog output or the HDMI digital output.
The reason is very simple, the Dacs on the BD55 are very good, the analog section had top quality parts and the bass management is sufficient.
Oh, and by the way, my receiver is the Onkyo TX-SR805.

Actually, I like it so much (BD55 multichannel analog out), that I connect it like that on my 805.

I have another system with the Samsung BD-UP5000 connected to an Onkyo TX-SR876 from the HDMI digital out of the 5000. In this case, I can supplement the sound with Audyssey MultEQ XT, and a better bass management than the 5000.

In the end, both ways works great in both my systems, and I love the sound in both too.

Bob

 

[photoeye]

Thanks for your replies. I'm looking to upgrade to a new AVR in a month or so.

My personal choice was going to be the Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH. I just read about the new Onkyo receivers having the Dolby IIz which allows 2 more front speakers for vertical sound.

Does anyone know if you would still get the HD Audio quality from blu ray when using this Dolby IIz mode? or is it just another DSP effect concert, hall,etc....?

I might go for the Onkyo if it has best of both worlds

thx

 

[Lordoftherings]

Thanks for your replies. I'm looking to upgrade to a new AVR in a month or so.

My personal choice was going to be the Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH. I just read about the new Onkyo receivers having the Dolby IIz which allows 2 more front speakers for vertical sound.

Does anyone know if you would still get the HD Audio quality from blu ray when using this Dolby IIz mode? or is it just another DSP effect concert, hall,etc....?

I might go for the Onkyo if it has best of both worlds

thx

You can read a review of the Onkyo TX-SR607 at C-Net.

And yes, you still get the HD Audio quality from blu-ray using the Dolby Pro Logic IIz superimposed mode.
But to be honest with you, it seems to be more of a gimmick than anything very useful. So I will not attach any importance to this new feature.

However, it is a tough choice between the Onkyo TX-SR607 with 6 HDMI inputs, Audyssey 2EQ and the Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH with THX Select2 and MCACC calibration. I believe that the VSX-03TXH also have preouts for all channels, very nice feature indeed, to add a future external amp with more power if you wish so.

So, I think that I will go with the Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH as my first choice here, and you can probably get it for a sweet price too (it retails for $1,000).
Yep, that's what I'll do, pick the Pioneer Elite for sure.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[photoeye]

yup, I agree. I would go with the Onkyo but it does not have pre-out.

I'll stick with the Elite.

I'm wondering if the Dolby IIz can be a firmware upgrade which
would allow other receiver's this function or it's a hardware chip related
feature.


thanks.

 

[cwall99]

It sickens me to think that my Pioneer Elite VSX82-TXS (or whatever... they have a user-gnarly naming convention) is partially obsolete. Its HDMI are 1.2.

So, to get the full audio benefit from a BluRay player (the full, uncompressed audio signal), I'll have to go with the analog outs from the player (thinking about that new Oppo player). Then, I'll run an HDMI connector out to a new display (that will support the BluRay high-rez video formats).

Or I'll just stick with my current system because in under a year, HDMI 1.4 will be out, and if the article they posted here on Audioholics a week or two ago, HDMI 1.4 will use a different connector.

It's kinda nuts, frankly, and while I love my system, I also like marital bliss and going out to dinner at a nice restaurant that I can afford once in a while.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Hey cwall99,

You're absolutely right. HDMI version 1.4 is coming very soon, we might even see the first products by the end of this year!

Dolby Pro Logic IIz is already in Onkyo and Denon receivers.

Audyssey DSX (Dynamic Surround Expansion) is coming in the new Denon AVR-4310ci this June. It uses an 11.2-speaker configuration.
And it sounds very promising too, according to Audyssey.

Video with 4K resolution is also coming eventually.

HDMI version 1.5 will also be in the pipeline at some point.

They are working right now very hard on 3D.
And about 0.3mm thick TVs that you can bend?
And flat speakers technology too.

And Holographic technology is making further steps.


So, that's all good news in a sense, but it's also bad news too.
I guess it all depends on each individual's point of view, and financial resources.

Cheers,

Bob