Is it ok to use your analog rather than digital outputs on a DVD player?

[rjusticefour]

It recently occured to me that I might be better off using the anlog outs on my DVD player rather than the digital ones, when watching movies. I have a Denon 2910 DVD player and a Denon 2805 AV receiver acting as pre/pro for an Emotiva MPS-1 amp. The 2910 has better DACs than the 2805, and it occured to me that I might not be taking advantage of those if I run digital audio to the 2805. I'm now running analog between the two, and using the ext in and pure direct mode on the 2805. I seem to be getting much better audio during movies, and it seems all I have sacrificed is 5.1 rather than 7.1, no surround mode processing, and a little less bass managment.

Does it make sense that I would get better audio with the analog outs in this setup, or am I fooling myself?

Thanks for your help.

Bob

 

[markw]

If you don't mind either stereo or DPL processing there's no problem

You're not going to get true discrete 5.1 (or whatever .1 you're using) from two channel analog feed.

Now,m if you're talking about using the DAC's in the DVD player instead of the DAC in the receiver and sending the signal thru 6 or more analog feeds, then whichever DAC sounds better to you should rule. Bass management is a touchy subject. If you can get it to work properly with an analog feed, go for it.

 

[mtrycrafts]

It recently occured to me that I might be better off using the anlog outs on my DVD player rather than the digital ones, when watching movies. I have a Denon 2910 DVD player and a Denon 2805 AV receiver acting as pre/pro for an Emotiva MPS-1 amp. The 2910 has better DACs than the 2805, and it occured to me that I might not be taking advantage of those if I run digital audio to the 2805. I'm now running analog between the two, and using the ext in and pure direct mode on the 2805. I seem to be getting much better audio during movies, and it seems all I have sacrificed is 5.1 rather than 7.1, no surround mode processing, and a little less bass managment.
Does it make sense that I would get better audio with the analog outs in this setup, or am I fooling myself?
Thanks for your help.
Bob

I seriously doubt that one of those DACs are indeed audibly different. But you'd have to do a pretty good comaprison between the two to find out.

By the way, does that player have 6 analog outs or just two? Does if do DVD Audio?

 

[rjusticefour]

Thanks for the input.

Just to clarify, the 2910 DVD player has 5.1 analog out. I'm using those as analog in to the receiver (2805). I'm then sending 5.1 channel preamp outs to a 5 channel amp, and a powered SVS sub.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Go with what sounds best to you. It's all about tweaking, and if you can tweak it best with the analog outs, then that's the way to go.

 

[rjusticefour]

Thanks Buckeyefan. When I get some time I'll do more detailed comparisons. I just added the amp today, and should probably listen to the receiver processing again now that I've got more power.

 

[j_garcia]

The main difference is, your receiver has better bass management than the 2910, even if the 2910s DACs are better. IMO, they are probably the SAME DACs or very similar, so for DVDs I'd stick with digital. SACD and DVD-A you obviously need to use the analog connections. Second difference - you are limited to 5.1 only when using the multichannel outputs - no DD-EX or DTS-ES.

 

[rjusticefour]

I just did some side by side comparisons now that I've hooked up the Emotiva MPS-1 amp. Much less of a difference between the digital and analog outputs, in fact it is hard to hear the difference. Things sound a lot better since I added the amp.

So, without the amp the analog outs seem to sound better. With the amp there isn't much of a difference.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I just did some side by side comparisons now that I've hooked up the Emotiva MPS-1 amp. Much less of a difference between the digital and analog outputs, in fact it is hard to hear the difference. Things sound a lot better since I added the amp.

So, without the amp the analog outs seem to sound better. With the amp there isn't much of a difference.

The other consideration you need to check and account for is level differences between the digital and analog signals as they are not the same levels; volume differences will sound like other differences in sound, not volume.
Same when you compare internal amps and external amps, the levels need to be identical.
Levels cannot be set by ear. Spl meter is minimally better and volt meter should be used but now we are getting technical and complicated. I wouldn't worry too much, just enjoy.

 

[rjusticefour]

Thanks for the input mtrycrafts.

Your suggestion had occured to me during the test. I calibrated the analog output level using the setup function in the dvd player, bypassing processing in the receiver. Then I calibrated the ouput levels in the receiver when using the digital output. Then I did the side by side comparison. Not a huge difference once I added the external amp.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Then I did the side by side comparison. Not a huge difference once I added the external amp.

Now, we shift this to blinding you to know which operation is playing, randomly switched by a third party And guessing correctly beyond chance