Best quality audio from XA2?

Analog 5.1 with good quality RCA's

It does not get any better.

What about optical out?

Are you serious? Better than HDMI bitstream to a onkyo 605?

It can't decode DTS-HD.

Bitstream via HDMI to a capable receiver that can handle advanced audio codec.

Analog 5.1 Dolby TrueHD to my Parasound 7100 Classic pre/pro and 2205AT amplifier is pretty sexy on the ears.

Wrong! HDMI is the only way to go. Bitstream all hidef codecs.

I agree.

I'm currently sending PCM through HDMI to my receiver, doesn't get much better.

Since I don't own a single DTS-HD or HD MA, HD DVD disc, not being able to decode it is absolutely meaningless.

The best option is to turn Direct Digital Audio on and bitstream the advanced codecs via HDMI to a capable receiver.

If you're going to use the multi-channel analog outputs, you must turn the SPDIF setting to "PCM" (not "Bitstream") and set all speakers to Small. Otherwise, bass and speaker management controls don't work properly.

First of all, his question cannot be answered, because he doesn't give us enough input.

What kind of receiver does he have??????????

1)If its an older receiver, the ONLY way to hear the new Codecs is through Analog 5.1.

2)If its a pretty new receiver(LIKE MINE) odds are his receiver can take 8 Channels of PCM sound through HDMI, and he can listen to the new Codecs through HDMI.

3)If he has a brand new receiver it might decode the new codecs, in which case he can bitstream them to the reciever.

But, ANY of the above 3 lets him listen to the new codecs, so it doesn't really matter.

It can't decode DTS-ES 6.1 either, e.g. Top Gun. But that's not the point. OP may have imported many HD DVDs that contains DTS-HD MA. There is at least one US release HD DVD that contains DTS-HD MA as well. Just because you don't have any, doesn't mean it is good enough for everybody.

It can bitstream DTS ES through Optical, if you really want to hear it on Top Gun.

But lets face it, DTS-HD MA is pretty much completely useless on HD DVD.

Out of the hundreds of movie, 1 having it is a joke.

All of Studio Canal's titles use DTS-HD MA.

DTS-HD was commonly used on many HD-DVD imports. Constantin, Dutch Filmworks for example.

The only use of DTS-HD on HD DVD boils down to concerts and imports.

Which I admit, if thats important to you, then bitstreaming is more useful.