Help - Deciding on Best Audio connection - Analog 7.1 or HTMI 1.1 ??

[dnav]

I have a Denon AVR-4306 which supports Dolby D/DTS but HDMI 1.1. It also has SACD with 8 Analog channels. I recently bought a new Plasma TV and a Blu-ray OPPO BDP-83 which also supports SACD with 8 Analog channels and HDMI 3.1. The Blu-ray has Dolby D/DTS-HD built in. I currently always have my rear surround channels on per mixing of DD for most everything I watch.
My question is:
1) Should I use the HDMI even though my Denon does not support 1.3? I think that would eliminate the DD/DTS Lossless HD sound track. If I use the 8 Analog the OPPO will pass the lossless direct to the speakers via the Denon, Is that a better sound solution?

2) Will I lose the ablity to hear my Rear Surround speakers with the Analog setup unless the Blu-ray is in 6.1/7.1?

3) If I pass the video thru the Denon, will I lose anything from the 1.3 to 1.1 HDMI video?

Thanks for your help!

 

[markw]

I believe your Denon's HDMI 1.1 connection doesn't support Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.

If you run analog from your new Oppo, which, I believe, does support them, directly to the analog inputs on your Denon, you will get them, plus you get to play SACD's as well. You should lose nothing using this. A friend has that player and it's a winnah!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I believe HDMI 1.1 does not support BITSTREAMING of TrueHD & DTS-HD. However, HDMI 1.1 is fully capable of sending PCM7.1.

Thus, you can still let the Oppo decode TrueHD/DTS-HD and send the PCM via HDMI to your Denon receiver.

1) So, you can get HD-audio with HDMI.
2) Get full surround sound 5.1/7.1
3) Will not lose any video quality - still 1080p resolution with HDMI1.1

 

[BMXTRIX]

I believe HDMI 1.1 does not support BITSTREAMING of TrueHD & DTS-HD. However, HDMI 1.1 is fully capable of sending PCM7.1.

Thus, you can still let the Oppo decode TrueHD/DTS-HD and send the PCM via HDMI to your Denon receiver.

1) So, you can get HD-audio with HDMI.
2) Get full surround sound 5.1/7.1
3) Will not lose any video quality - still 1080p resolution with HDMI1.1

I'm just posting to say that this is the best and proper way to make your connection to the Denon.

You let the Oppo decode your lossless audio and send it as uncompressed PCM HD audio which is something your Denon is capable of playing back and then you sit back and enjoy the HD audio with no worries.

It does a great job and is one of the better ways to accomplish what you want even if your receiver does decode HD audio.