New to Blu-ray... a Couple Surround Sound Questions

[EaterofWorlds]

I just purchased a LG Super Blu Player Model # BH200. With it I bought a few Blu-Ray DVDs, including 30 Days of Night. I'm driving myself crazy, because I can't get the 30 Days of Night disc to play in Dolby or DTS. It just reverts to Pro Logic II. Is this because the audio tracks are only in Dolby TrueHD for english?

Would it matter if I upgraded my receiver to a Yamaha RX-V663BL? My current receiver is pretty outdated. It's a Yamaha HTR-5930. Would I have to get a receiver with TrueHD compatibility to hear the surround sound or would a new receiver simply decode the signal into a normal Dolby Digital or DTS signal?

It would seem a bit crazy that they'd only make the track in TrueHD and not a more widely used surround sound audio format.

Another question - most of the blu-ray discs I purchased are in the DTS HD audio format. However, I don't think my receiver has the capability to decode DTS HD. When the disc is playing, the receiver displays DTS as the incoming signal. Am I actually getting lossless DTS HD or did my receiver "downgrade" the signal to DTS?

Thanks for any help, guys!

 

[EaterofWorlds]

If anyone has an answer, I'd really appreciate it. I'd love to know as soon as humanly possible, as I'm having a par-tay this weekend and want the best sound possible from my system.

 

[jcPanny]

Audio connections

Eater,
Since you don't have a receiver with HDMI audio processing, you are probably using a digital optical or coax audio connection. Make sure that the source (LG BluRay) is set to output "Bitstream" or "RAW" and not PCM. Sometimes players default to PCM for compatibility, but Bitstream is required for a DD or DTS signal. Getting a receiver with HDMI audio processing will also allow you to take full advantage of the newer audio formats (Dolby TrueHD, etc.).

I am not familar with the LG but the best and cheapest BluRay player on the market is the PS3. They are selling now for $400 and offering a $100 rebate or gift card from several retailers. It is also one of the only players that meets profile 2.0.

 

[darien87]

Make sure that the source (LG BluRay) is set to output "Bitstream" or "RAW" and not PCM. Sometimes players default to PCM for compatibility, but Bitstream is required for a DD or DTS signal. Getting a receiver with HDMI audio processing will also allow you to take full advantage of the newer audio formats (Dolby TrueHD, etc.).

Hey JC,

I asked this in another thread, but didn't get an answer. You need to set the PS 3 to bitstream for TrueHD or DTS-MA. But someone else said that you need is set to Linear PCM for PCM tracks. Is this true? Do you need to change the setting for different movies, or can you just leave it on Bitstream all the time?

 

[patnshan]

Hey JC,

I asked this in another thread, but didn't get an answer. You need to set the PS 3 to bitstream for TrueHD or DTS-MA. But someone else said that you need is set to Linear PCM for PCM tracks. Is this true? Do you need to change the setting for different movies, or can you just leave it on Bitstream all the time?

Not JC, but will answer the question For True HD and DTS MA, you need to use LPCM. You can use LPCM for everything if your receiver can accept it, the player will just do all the decoding. This is what I do. If you must see "DTS" or "DDII" on your receiver, you'll need to switch to bitstream when not using a True HD or DTS MA disc. Remember, this is with HDMI. I think the bitstream answer JC gave is in regards to a digital coax or optical connection.

Pat

EDIT: I See you have the 661 as well, just leave the PS3 on LPCM and there will be no need to worry. You'll get everything. If you want to see what is being output, hit the display button on the PS3 remote.

 

[darien87]

Not JC, but will answer the question For True HD and DTS MA, you need to use LPCM. You can use LPCM for everything if your receiver can accept it, the player will just do all the decoding. This is what I do. If you must see "DTS" or "DDII" on your receiver, you'll need to switch to bitstream when not using a True HD or DTS MA disc. Remember, this is with HDMI. I think the bitstream answer JC gave is in regards to a digital coax or optical connection.

Pat

EDIT: I See you have the 661 as well, just leave the PS3 on LPCM and there will be no need to worry. You'll get everything. If you want to see what is being output, hit the display button on the PS3 remote.

Thanks Pat.

That's what I figured. In fact, I popped in Into The Blue last night to check, (don't laugh, it's Jessica Alba in HD), and switched back and forth between the DD and the PCM track and the PCM track definitely sounded better. I didn't change my setting on the PS 3. I was just wondering if something weird I didn't know about was going on.

Thanks again.