HDMI questions

[timetohunt]

I really just started to dig much deeper into understanding Hi Res formats and how to go about getting the best out of them.

This has lead me into trying to understand HDMI a bit better since I had been trying DVD-A and SACD over both HDMI and through Analog outs.

Q1. From a consumer's standpoint, how long has HDMI allowed Multi Channel DSD and PCM output? It just occured to me that this was possible after reading the specs for a new Oppo DVD player.
I have two universal players from 2006, both of them downmix DVD-A to STEREO over HDMI (and I can't tell for sure if its even hi resolution stereo??) and the one that plays SACDs will only output the DSD through analog outs.

Q2. Does this have something to do with the version of HDMI. I keep seeing different version numbers? Cuz, dang, one of my DVD players was about an $800 job brand new - and it can't do multi channel out of HMDI but a new $169 Oppo can.

Q3. So, are these new players outputting the DSD and PCM multi channel in high resolution and how would this compare sound quality wise to using the analog outs?

Q4. If its the newer version of HDMI that is the key, can my units be upgraded ?

 

[jcPanny]

HDMI audio

Hunt,
HDMI 1.1 added support for DVD-Audio and 1.2 added SACD. Not all universal players with HDMI outputs implement this feature, most rely on the analog outputs. All of the Oppo digital players support this HDMI audio feature. I don't think you will find any hardware or firmware upgrades for your current players.

In terms of audio performance, you would be comparing the D/As and bass management of the player via analog outputs to the internal D/As and bass management of your receiver with Oppo HDMI output. You might consider using the 30 day trial period on one of the Oppo players.