Help using Kenwood 1080VR with Blu-Ray

[Darel]

OK, so I'd like to upgrade to a Blu-Ray player but I'm getting conflicting reports on how it will interface with my current recevier, a 1998 Kenwood 1080VR - AC-3, 5.1 DD, non-DTS. Can someone please explain why I won't be able to use either the digital coax or the digital optical inputs on this receiver?

Thanks,
Darel

 

[CraigV]

Your display would have to accept the HDMI output of the BD player in order to take advantage of the better picture. You can use the digital output for sound, but you will not get any of the newer surround modes (Dolby True HD & DTS Master) to decode. You will not have the advantages these codecs offer. If sound is not as important as picture, you could use it in this manner, but you would be (in my opinion) over buying by going BD.

 

[AVRat]

Not everyone needs the latest and greatest. You will see a much better picture on your new Sammy due to the matching resolution output of the BD. However, as Craig said, you will be limited to the lossy DD 5.1 capability of the Kenwood. I haven’t heard the new lossless codecs and am still very happy with just the DD and DTS stuff. So if you’ve been happy with DD audio, then there’s no reason you can’t continue using the digital audio inputs.