Sony STR-DH820 deoding problem

It can't be the cable. When you play a lossless track, do you get lossy or stereo?

You have to force some sources to output bitstream. Sometimes, during the HDMI handshake, the source will output to PCM by default unless you force it to bitstream. See if there are settings to force bitstream out.

Stereo or multichannel? If you are getting stereo, it's likely being caused by the HDMI handshake with the TV. TVs are 2 channel devices and may tell the player to decode the track and downmix it to stereo. Most receivers have a setting that disables the HDMI audio output to the TV.

If you are getting multichannel, that would likely mean you hzve set your players to output PCM. Bitstream is the proper setting to feed encoded audio to your receiver. btw, if you have an older "fat" PS3, it cannot bitstream lossless audio. Another btw: the quality of the lossless audio is the same when decoded in the player for PCM output and when decoded in the receiver.

Again, it is not possible for a cable to cause the problem you describe. Not possible.

Hey Blurayjunkie- did you ever solve this problem? I have the identical issue- thought it was the cables too- was not. If you figured it out, the solution would be greatly appreciated. My bluray and PS3 are confirmed bitstreaming out. thanks!

Hi I just joined this forum for this thread. I just got the receiver and had the same problem. I originally set everything on the player which is a sony bdp s590 to out put bit stream, then output the receiver to amp.Long story short, I ended up with the same problem just getting LPCM. Then I looked into the arc handshake between the tv (sony kdlhx820). I had recently updated the firmware and the audio out put was changed back to "tv speakers". I change the setting back to "audio system" and it all works now. DTS and TRUE HD. I've tried several discs.Turned the receiver off and on. Its solid.
Glad to be a part of this forum. I've been lurking for a while now. haha.

did you read that Sony recommends a Sony HDMI cable only. though there are some others
I believe are compatible. I really do not know the difference yet if someone can share the light......

There are no differences among HDMI cables. Sony simply wants people to buy its cables instead of someone else's.

I would agree they should all be the same. but I have read where many who had sony TV
and sony BR player found they could not get certain audio to/back to their receivers with
out a sony/sony compatible cable.
sony TV forums