Official Blu-Ray Player Audio Setup Thread - All Audio Questions Go Here - Page 8

Originally Posted by jmpage2

Look at the back of this budget Onkyo unit;

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR506-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0015M4G5C/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233349013&sr=8-2

It has 3 HDMI inputs and one output, you run your xbox, blu-ray and cable box into those 3 inputs and then run the monitor output on to the TV. You don't need to use every HDMI input on the TV.

Originally Posted by Mr.G

Why would you recommend a receiver that has HDMI pass-through?

Originally Posted by jmpage2

My mistake, if it's truly pass-through and can't do any audio playback from connected HDMI sources then it's not a good idea to go with it.

I would be surprised though if that's actually how it works. It probably can do at least PCM from the HDMI hookups.

Originally Posted by bluwater

i was wondering this same question...

sorry i'm a bit of noob...so i have my ps3 set to lpcm. you said it decodes it automatically on the ps3 so the light won't display on the receiver...

does that mean you're actually getting all the quality/benefits of listening to it in TrueHD still through the receiver...meaning am I actually listening to TrueHD quality through my speakers even though the receiver doesn't say it's decoding that?

Originally Posted by skatalitegp

I've got a Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray player and a Sony HT-SS2300 home theater system (HTIB). My settings on the HT is to automatically detect audio codings based on the disc in the Blu-ray player. So, when I put in my "Sweeney Todd" DVD, it plays it in Dolby Digital 5.1. But when I put in "The Dark Knight" it plays it in PCM 48k, even if I select Dolby Digital 5.1 on the Blu-ray audio menu.

Originally Posted by JHolman

I've been modernizing my three-year-old basement theater, one step at a time, and since my Blu-Ray player (a Samsung BD-P1500) will output DTS audio only via HDMI, I bought a new receiver (a Yamaha HTR-6140, same as RX-V463) with a couple of HDMI inputs to replace an older Onkyo 5.1 system that lacked HDMI in. It sounds pretty good to my ears, but the problem is, my projector (an Optoma H31) doesn't have an HDMI-in either, but does offer DVI-in, in addition to component inputs. I had been connecting the Samsung's HDMI out to the Optoma's DVI in, and the picture was really pretty good for 480p. But with the Samsung's HDMI-out now going to the Yamaha HDMI-in, there appears to be no way to route video out the Yamaha -- as soon as I connect my HDMI/DVI cable from the Yamaha's HDMI out to the Optoma's DVI in, I've got a nice picture but all the sound is gone. I can get the sound out of the Samsung and into the Yamaha via an optical cable, but then I'm back to two-channel audio.

So it appears that if I want DTS, etc., I've got to go HDMI -- but then getting the Samsung video to the Optoma Projector has to be done by the component video connections, which is how I've got it set up now. That works -- but I don't think the picture I'm seeing on the Optoma, with the video connected via the component ins, is as good as it was when I had the Samsung connected via HDMI/DVI. And the issue is complicated further because I've also got a Dish VIP722 to connect somewhere.

The obvious answer is to replace the Optoma H31 with a new 720 or 1080p projector that has a real HDMI-in that can utilize the Yamaha's HDMI-out. But I'm not quite ready to do that. Assuming I don’t replace the projector tomorrow, does anybody know:

1. Would an HDMI splitter that routes one HDMI signal to two places (Monoprice sells them starting at $30) solve my problem? I'd then route the Blu-Ray HDMI out the Yamaha HDMI in for audio, and separately (via the splitter) to the Optoma's DVI in. Or would the fact that the Blu-Ray's HDMI out is connected to DVI, even via a splitter, still kill the HDMI audio on the Yamaha.

2. Do all AV receivers deal with HDMI as the Yamaha does -- killing the HDMI audio if anything other than a true HDMI monitor is connected to its HDMI video out -- and not permitting the use of the receiver's other video outs (Component, etc.) with HDMI audio coming in?

3. Is there any other solution to these limitations that I haven't thought of?

Originally Posted by JHolman

I've been modernizing my three-year-old basement theater, one step at a time, and since my Blu-Ray player (a Samsung BD-P1500) will output DTS audio only via HDMI, I bought a new receiver (a Yamaha HTR-6140, same as RX-V463) with a couple of HDMI inputs to replace an older Onkyo 5.1 system that lacked HDMI in. It sounds pretty good to my ears, but the problem is, my projector (an Optoma H31) doesn't have an HDMI-in either, but does offer DVI-in, in addition to component inputs. I had been connecting the Samsung's HDMI out to the Optoma's DVI in, and the picture was really pretty good for 480p. But with the Samsung's HDMI-out now going to the Yamaha HDMI-in, there appears to be no way to route video out the Yamaha -- as soon as I connect my HDMI/DVI cable from the Yamaha's HDMI out to the Optoma's DVI in, I've got a nice picture but all the sound is gone. I can get the sound out of the Samsung and into the Yamaha via an optical cable, but then I'm back to two-channel audio.

So it appears that if I want DTS, etc., I've got to go HDMI -- but then getting the Samsung video to the Optoma Projector has to be done by the component video connections, which is how I've got it set up now. That works -- but I don't think the picture I'm seeing on the Optoma, with the video connected via the component ins, is as good as it was when I had the Samsung connected via HDMI/DVI. And the issue is complicated further because I've also got a Dish VIP722 to connect somewhere.

The obvious answer is to replace the Optoma H31 with a new 720 or 1080p projector that has a real HDMI-in that can utilize the Yamaha's HDMI-out. But I'm not quite ready to do that. Assuming I don't replace the projector tomorrow, does anybody know:

1. Would an HDMI splitter that routes one HDMI signal to two places (Monoprice sells them starting at $30) solve my problem? I'd then route the Blu-Ray HDMI out the Yamaha HDMI in for audio, and separately (via the splitter) to the Optoma's DVI in. Or would the fact that the Blu-Ray's HDMI out is connected to DVI, even via a splitter, still kill the HDMI audio on the Yamaha.

2. Do all AV receivers deal with HDMI as the Yamaha does -- killing the HDMI audio if anything other than a true HDMI monitor is connected to its HDMI video out -- and not permitting the use of the receiver's other video outs (Component, etc.) with HDMI audio coming in?

3. Is there any other solution to these limitations that I haven't thought of?

Originally Posted by jmpage2

Your statement that you can't get DTS without an HDMI connection is misleading. There's no reason you can't get high bitrate DTS and Dolby Digital via an optical or coaxial connection from the BD player.

What you won't be getting is lossless audio, however many people can't tell the difference between DTS-MA and DD-True lossless tracks and the lossy DD or DTS tracks on the same disc.

Also, the issue that you describe with your audio being killed on the Yamaha when you go out to a DVI connection sometimes has workarounds, such as the installation of a better HDMI->DVI converter that will try to fool the AVR into thinking that there is an HDMI capable device at the other end so that the audio chain remains unbroken.

Honestly though the simplest solution for you is to just run HDMI->DVI to your PJ and just run optical audio out to your AVR with bitstreaming.

You won't be getting lossless but it will still sound better than DVD and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a new PJ.

Originally Posted by nextoo

I agree. This probably makes the most sense. Optical to the receiver with the player set to bitstream and video directly to the projector.

But for the OP there may be one more thing to try. I have the HTR-6090 so I have a bit of familiarity with Yamaha receivers. The HTR-6140 has an HDMI Set option in the user settings. Under HDMI Set there is the Support Audio option. The choices are "HTR-6140" or "Other". If "Other" is selected the audio coming in via HDMI is passed on to a supported HDMI device. If it is set to "HTR-6140" the audio is not passed on. I would play around with this setting. Perhaps it is currently set to "Other" and because the audio is being sent to a non compliant device through an HDMI to DVI connection it may confuse the heck out of the receiver and kill the audio in the receiver. Who know just a guess. With this set to "HTR-6140" I really see no reason why the audio should not be audible from the receiver. If the video is getting through then not passing on the audio may be a quick fix.

Page 67 of the HTR-6140 manual.

Originally Posted by spoor

I have two newbie, basic questions, which I have not seen definitively answered in these forums:

1) will I get any audio (i.e., regular 2-channel audio) through the HDMI connection between my tv (new Samsung A630 46" LCD) and Blu-ray player (say, a Sony BDP-S350)? (I'm still shopping for a receiver and speaker system) Does it have to be connected to a receiver?

2) if I'm getting a new receiver that decodes newest formats (e.g., DTS-MA), is there any benefit to getting a Blu-ray with on-board decoding, or can I save some $ and get one w/o the decoding (letting the receiver handle this)?

Thanks - and sorry if these have been answered...

Originally Posted by spoor

I have two newbie, basic questions, which I have not seen definitively answered in these forums:

1) will I get any audio (i.e., regular 2-channel audio) through the HDMI connection between my tv (new Samsung A630 46" LCD) and Blu-ray player (say, a Sony BDP-S350)? (I'm still shopping for a receiver and speaker system) Does it have to be connected to a receiver?

Originally Posted by spoor

2) if I'm getting a new receiver that decodes newest formats (e.g., DTS-MA), is there any benefit to getting a Blu-ray with on-board decoding, or can I save some $ and get one w/o the decoding (letting the receiver handle this)?

Originally Posted by Timo11

Hello All,
I have a question regarding 5.1/7.1 analogue rca connection that I have not been able to pin down a definitive answer to in this thread, or any other related BR-audio threads. (I did use the search so forgive me if it has been addressed). According to a salesman in a "high end" boutique shop, DTS-MA and DD True-HD CANNOT be decoded and passed over the analogue connection, even if the player is doing the proper decoding internally. The ONLY way to get the hi-res audio is through HDMI. According to him, this is due to copyright restrictions and you will only get the core decoded and sent over the analogue connections. ?

Originally Posted by Timo11

I currently don't have the necessary gear to test this (PS3--> Marantz SR7500 via optical), but even if I could, how would I know what was REALLY being sent over the rca's?

Originally Posted by rdclark

Or you could check the player's onscreen display, which should tell you what the current audio track is.

Originally Posted by rdclark

How would you know? One could answer: if you can't hear the difference, why does it matter?

Originally Posted by BIslander

Unfortunately, some players merely tell you what track was selected for playback, but they don't let you know when a lossy core or companion track is being used....

Originally Posted by Timo11

Hello All,
According to a salesman in a "high end" boutique shop, DTS-MA and DD True-HD CANNOT be decoded and passed over the analogue connection, even if the player is doing the proper decoding internally. The ONLY way to get the hi-res audio is through HDMI. According to him, this is due to copyright restrictions and you will only get the core decoded and sent over the analogue connections.

Originally Posted by Subic Squid

Or, should I also connect the receiver to the TV via the HDMI to DVI cable?