Who should do the work...BD player or receiver?

[gregt16g]

Hi,
Quick question. What's better? Having a BD player that decodes the HD audio formats or having a receiver that does the work? Does it matter... as long as something does it?

I've been kickin' tires for a year but I'd like to get a PS3 & Yamaha 663...Any pro's & con's of these together would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[no. 5]

If memory serves, the designers of Blu-ray intended to have the players do the decoding, even though it is now possible to have the receiver do it.

But as long as something does it...

 

[obscbyclouds]

Hi,
Quick question. What's better? Having a BD player that decodes the HD audio formats or having a receiver that does the work? Does it matter... as long as something does it?

I've been kickin' tires for a year but I'd like to get a PS3 & Yamaha 663...Any pro's & con's of these together would be appreciated.

Thanks!

If you get a PS3, your only option will be to have the player (in this case the PS3) do the decoding. IMO, there's absolutely no difference what does the decoding; think of it like extracting a .zip file on a computer. It doesn't really matter where it gets done, only that the data is correct on the other end. However, you will not see a TrueHD or DTS-HD MA light on your reciever if it has one. I'm not sure about the 663.

The PS3 is an awesome machine, and will be updateable forever. Heck, it even does other stuff beside play BR's. I think it's the best choice out there for <$500. Unless the lack of true IR interactivity bothers you that much (probably it's one major downside).

 

[gliz]

it makes absolutly no difference what so ever

 

[itschris]

I've read arguments... well... opinion... for both sides. I think as long as you have a solid high end component either on the bd side or the receiver side, Gliz is correct... it won't matter much, though i don't know if there's any other advantages or disadvantages of one or the other beyond quality capability.

 

[BMXTRIX]

You should let the player do the decoding.

As the new HD audio streams can be combined on top of, or with, multiple audio streams, such as audio commentary, or sound effects related to menus, etc. it is impossible to get this second audio track unless the audio is processed within the player itself, because that is where the hardware is in place to accomplish this.

The quality of the audio, according to everything I've heard, is identical.

 

[gliz]

You should let the player do the decoding.

As the new HD audio streams can be combined on top of, or with, multiple audio streams, such as audio commentary, or sound effects related to menus, etc. it is impossible to get this second audio track unless the audio is processed within the player itself, because that is where the hardware is in place to accomplish this.

The quality of the audio, according to everything I've heard, is identical.

this was covered in an AV rant that I cannot find from here ( site is blocked here at work) but it makes ZERO difference where the DAC/coding takes place. I have mine set to let the AVR do the coding in I have had no issue what so ever getting commentary along with the move. If you say that I am not correct, "blind me with science" and show me. most of the players use the same chip-sets as the avr's, so how can this be true? Like I said before I am willing to change my mind if I am incorrect and I will admit it as well. (just noticed that you said HD but i still do not think it really makes a difference)

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I also let all 3 of my players (Denon BD player, Denon DVD player, & Toshiba HD DVD player) do all the internal decoding (DD, DD+, TrueHD, DTS, DTS-MA).