Is there a difference in sound quality?
I'm running my Bluray player through my receiver nad using HDMI audio and Video.
An installer I know told me to use Digital coax(RCA) or optical.
Also he mentioned to run the video straight to the projector.
I'm using a Denon 3808. Any validity to his comments?

Thanks for your help!!

Is there a difference in sound quality?
I'm running my Bluray player through my receiver nad using HDMI audio and Video.
An installer I know told me to use Digital coax(RCA) or optical.
Also he mentioned to run the video straight to the projector.
I'm using a Denon 3808. Any validity to his comments?

Thanks for your help!!

Your installer is an idiot. :mad:

The 3808 decodes lossless Dolby True HD and DTS HD-Master Audio. Neither Toslink or digital coax has the bandwidth to transmit the native bitstreams from the BD player to the 3808. Even if the BD player will decode the lossless codecs to pcm, you will still need HDMI to carry the resultant multichannel pcm. Unless you want to use multichannel analog audio between the player and the 3808. If you do, you lose the advantage of the 3808s bass management and probably lose Audyssey capability.

No need to go directly to the projector either. What does he recommend there, composite video? :rolleyes:

Hopefully this guy is new to the business and just doesn't know what he is talking about. If not, he won't be in business long passing out that kind of crappy infoprmation.

HDMI for high-res audio.

Since they are both being used for digital transmition there would be no sonic differences, but as stated SPDIF has limitations. But say for 2CH CD audio they would sound the same.

Since they are both being used for digital transmition there would be no sonic differences, but as stated SPDIF has limitations. But say for 2CH CD audio they would sound the same.

Actually, that is how my system is set up: HDMI for BD/DVD video and audio, optical for CD playback, both from the same BD player (Panasonic DMP-BD35). The reason is to set different input sensitivies for BD/DVD audio and CD audio for optimum operation of Audyssey Dynamic EQ.

How do you set a different input sensitivity for digital inputs? That's an analog term.

In most receiving devices HDMI locks on the video clock in the signal, which could result in higher jitter, then you would be getting with SPDIF. So in theory for CDs SPDIF could be better, but it is extremely dependent on the listener, and the rest of the system as well. Some proprietary HDMI connection found on some Sony, and Pioneer Elite receivers this has been "corrected".

In most receiving devices HDMI locks on the video clock in the signal, which could result in higher jitter, then you would be getting with SPDIF. So in theory for CDs SPDIF could be better, but it is extremely dependent on the listener, and the rest of the system as well. Some proprietary HDMI connection found on some Sony, and Pioneer Elite receivers this has been "corrected".

Don't worry about it. Getting rid of jitter from inputs is one of those things that digital can do very well, and cheaply.

For example, *every* CD (and DVD) player ever made gets a hugely jittered signal from its optical pickup. But one buffer, one precision clock and some digital logic, and it is all better again.

A good DAC or receiver can get rid of jitter from sources, and almost all modern receivers and surround processors do it right. I know of no exceptions, but I don't know it all.

How do you set a different input sensitivity for digital inputs? That's an analog term.

I don't know how it is implemented nor do I care. Both Denon and Onkyo do it as do other AVR manufacturers.

Onkyo calls it "Intellivolume."

"IntelliVolume

With IntelliVolume, you can set the input level for each input selector individually. This is useful if one of your source components is louder or quieter than the others. Use the Left and Right [<]/[>] buttons to set the level. If a component is noticeably louder than the others, use the Left [<] button to reduce its input level. If it’s noticeably quieter, use the Right [>] button to increase its input level. The input level can be adjusted from -12 dB to +12 dB in 1 dB steps."

It works quite well. Go to the Audyssey thread for more information on how it is used.

In most receiving devices HDMI locks on the video clock in the signal, which could result in higher jitter, then you would be getting with SPDIF. So in theory for CDs SPDIF could be better, but it is extremely dependent on the listener, and the rest of the system as well. Some proprietary HDMI connection found on some Sony, and Pioneer Elite receivers this has been "corrected".

http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ast/26/1/50/_pdf

Jitter is not audible and HDMI has to reclock the audio so there is no reason on why it would be better or worse.