True HD question (Toshiba A30 player)

[Jonny]

Assuming I purchase a new receiver (like the Yamaha HTR 6060) with HDMI inputs, will I be able to enjoy Dolby Digital Plus/TrueHD? I believe my Toshiba A30 supports those formats.

I ask because I'm unsure if I should pay alot more $$$$ for a newer model with TrueHD capabilities built into the receiver itself - or simply go with one that has HDMI and let my A30 do all the decoding (will that be the same?)

Thanks!

 

[TLS Guy]

Assuming I purchase a new receiver (like the Yamaha HTR 6060) with HDMI inputs, will I be able to enjoy Dolby Digital Plus/TrueHD? I believe my Toshiba A30 supports those formats.

I ask because I'm unsure if I should pay alot more $$$$ for a newer model with TrueHD capabilities built into the receiver itself - or simply go with one that has HDMI and let my A30 do all the decoding (will that be the same?)

Thanks!

I doubt it. Support and decode are different issues. I think you need to get a receiver that will decode Dolby True HD. I suspect the player will convert to Dolby 5.1 before sending it to the analog outputs. If you use the receiver you will have one conversion. That is the way to go.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Assuming I purchase a new receiver (like the Yamaha HTR 6060) with HDMI inputs, will I be able to enjoy Dolby Digital Plus/TrueHD? I believe my Toshiba A30 supports those formats.

I ask because I'm unsure if I should pay alot more $$$$ for a newer model with TrueHD capabilities built into the receiver itself - or simply go with one that has HDMI and let my A30 do all the decoding (will that be the same?)

Thanks!

With the A30, it makes absolutely no difference if you buy a HDMI 1.3 receiver with decoders. The A30 is not HDMI 1.3 and it cannot pass the HD audio bitstream to the receiver. So a 6060 is fine with the A30.

 

[no. 5]

Assuming I purchase a new receiver (like the Yamaha HTR 6060) with HDMI inputs, will I be able to enjoy Dolby Digital Plus/TrueHD? I believe my Toshiba A30 supports those formats.

Yes, it supports those formats. In fact a HD DVD player must decode those formats.

There are receivers on the market that decode those formats, but to do that, the receiver needs the raw bitstream from off the disc, which will only get out of the player if the disc that's playing allows it out. And not all disc's allow that.

 

[TLS Guy]

With the A30, it makes absolutely no difference if you buy a HDMI 1.3 receiver with decoders. The A30 is not HDMI 1.3 and it cannot pass the HD audio bitstream to the receiver. So a 6060 is fine with the A30.

So there you have it. Beware! As I said support does not mean decode and output it. That's cheap smart practice. I would avoid a unit like that on principle.

 

[Jonny]

Thanks for all your quick replies there guys!

So there isn't really any reason to upgrade from my current receiver than? I'm using optical and it gets a wonderful DTS mix from my HD player (sounds great to me - but I'm assuming TrueHD would be even better).

Basically I'm wondering if its worth it to upgrade to a different receiver just for the HDMI hookup vs my current optical setup.

 

[Jonny]

With the A30, it makes absolutely no difference if you buy a HDMI 1.3 receiver with decoders. The A30 is not HDMI 1.3 and it cannot pass the HD audio bitstream to the receiver. So a 6060 is fine with the A30.

Taken from the Toshiba description off of Amazon.com

"The HD-A30 uses the latest HDMI 1.3 interface to connect to your HD television"

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A30-1080p-DVD-Player/dp/B000U6AHYS

Am I missing something here?

 

[gus6464]

Thanks for all your quick replies there guys!

So there isn't really any reason to upgrade from my current receiver than? I'm using optical and it gets a wonderful DTS mix from my HD player (sounds great to me - but I'm assuming TrueHD would be even better).

Basically I'm wondering if its worth it to upgrade to a different receiver just for the HDMI hookup vs my current optical setup.

TrueHD is better than regular DD and DTS. I was also a bit skeptical at first but after getting my new receiver (Yamaha RX-V661 which is the same thing as the HTR-6060 you are looking at) I can definitely hear the difference.

 

[ChicagoTC]

Taken from the Toshiba description off of Amazon.com

"The HD-A30 uses the latest HDMI 1.3 interface to connect to your HD television"

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A30-1080p-DVD-Player/dp/B000U6AHYS

Am I missing something here?

I think the issue here is while it may be a HDMI 1.3 player it can't bitstream to your receiver. The decoding is happening on the player. The A35 can send bitstream over HDMI and let your receiver decode trueHD. This will allow the magical trueHD display to light up on 1.3 receivers.

 

[TLS Guy]

I think the issue here is while it may be a HDMI 1.3 player it can't bitstream to your receiver. The decoding is happening on the player. The A35 can send bitstream over HDMI and let your receiver decode trueHD. This will allow the magical trueHD display to light up on 1.3 receivers.

That's what I originally thought. The player would output Dolby 5.1 at the analog ports, but that if he wants to hear Dolby True HD, then he needs a receiver that supports HDMI 1.3 and that can decode Dolby True HD. That's the best option.

 

[Jonny]

That's what I originally thought. The player would output Dolby 5.1 at the analog ports, but that if he wants to hear Dolby True HD, then he needs a receiver that supports HDMI 1.3 and that can decode Dolby True HD. That's the best option.

Ok so if I do purchase a receiver with TrueHD decoding, than I'll be able to get TrueHD, even though my A30 doesn't pass it through HDMI?

I'm confused, because the Toshiba description lists that the A30 supports the TrueHD format.

 

[TLS Guy]

Ok so if I do purchase a receiver with TrueHD decoding, than I'll be able to get TrueHD, even though my A30 doesn't pass it through HDMI?

I'm confused, because the Toshiba description lists that the A30 supports the TrueHD format.

I think it will pass Dolby True HD to the HDMI 1.3 output, otherwise why would they put on an HDMI 1.3 output?

 

[ChicagoTC]

Ok so if I do purchase a receiver with TrueHD decoding, than I'll be able to get TrueHD, even though my A30 doesn't pass it through HDMI?

I'm confused, because the Toshiba description lists that the A30 supports the TrueHD format.

It already does pass TrueHD over the HMDI but as LPCM since the A30 is already decoding it. Does your receiver say LPCM or Multichannel PCM?

The only difference here is where the track is being decoded; either on the player or receiver.

 

[no. 5]

The only difference here is where the track is being decoded; either on the player or receiver.

Correct.

If you're are using HDMI or a multi-channel analog connection, you will be hearing high resolution audio (i.e TrueHD, DD+, etc...). And the correct settings must be made, naturally.

The only way you will not have access to TrueHD and the like is if you are using a S/PDIF connection.

 

[jbrillo]

Jonny,

If you want to take advantage of Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD, a receiver like the HTR 6060 or RX-V661 will work fine. Let the A30 do the decoding don't worry about getting a receiver with built-in decoding. It's not necessary. You will have to connect the A30 to the receiver via HDMI or the analog inputs. I'd recommend using the HDMI just for the simplicity unless your into SACD or DVD-A's. If your are, then use the analog inputs. Be aware, that there are some receivers out there that have HDMI for video switching only and will not process audio signals. The one your looking at is fine but be wary if you start looking at other options.