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Best player for setup without HDMI

post #1 of 24
1/12/08 at 3:38pm
Thread Starter 
What would be the best player for a pre-HDMI HT setup? Display does 1080i and has DVI in, AVR has everything but HDMI. I would like to keep it on the lower price point as I do not believe that I will be able to take advantage of many of the new audio codecs and 1080p up converting, unless I gain features by going up to higher end models.

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post #2 of 24
1/12/08 at 3:49pm
To get the best PQ and AQ you would want to get something with decent 5.1 analog out and use component for video. An older Panasonic BMP-BD30 could probably be had for a good price still (~$400). The BDP-30 was a decent match for my analog set-up when I had it.
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post #3 of 24
1/12/08 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 
Would component be better than an HDMI to DVI cable? I was under the impression that you could not up convert over component so I would have to go the DVI route.
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post #4 of 24
1/12/08 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by miata View Post

To get the best PQ and AQ you would want to get something with decent 5.1 analog out and use component for video. An older Panasonic BMP-BD30 could probably be had for a good price still (~$400). The BDP-30 was a decent match for my analog set-up when I had it.

Given that the BDP-30 doesn't decode any of the advanced audio formats it might not be the best bet. It's great in conjunction with an HDMI 1.3 receiver, but I'd hold off for the BDP-50 (or if price isn't a concern the forthcoming Denon player.)
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post #5 of 24
1/12/08 at 4:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesgig View Post

Would component be better than an HDMI to DVI cable? I was under the impression that you could not up convert over component so I would have to go the DVI route.

It's true you can't up-convert over component, but most players will only work with DVI inputs that have HDCP support. Double-check this aspect of your display before you rely on an HDMI-to-DVI cable.
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post #6 of 24
1/12/08 at 4:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesgig View Post

Would component be better than an HDMI to DVI cable? I was under the impression that you could not up convert over component so I would have to go the DVI route.

Well, how good is the scaler in your TV? You may not need to upconvert. My TV was as good of better than most o the HD players I conncted to it. Also, do you know that your TV has HDCP support on the DVI input? You will also need that to upscale DVDs.
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post #7 of 24
1/12/08 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 
Well, after a bit of research, the DVI port is HDCP, but the display only does 720p, different than what my parents believed (this is their set). It supports up to 1080i input which led to the confusion. Any way, the TV is a Sony KDF-60XBR950 and the AVR is a Yamaha RX-V2400.

I think $1000 would be the absolute highest.

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post #8 of 24
1/12/08 at 4:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesgig View Post

I think $1000 would be the absolute highest.



I have an HDMI-DVI cable I will sell you for the $1000 you seem to be dying to give away.

Or you could get one from Monoprice.com for under $10.

Your choice.

What more do you need??!!
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post #9 of 24
1/13/08 at 9:30am
Thread Starter 
So, if I understand correctly, I need a player which can decode the audio and send it over analog to the AVR. Which players, out now or in the next 2 months, do well at this and up-converting SD dvds?

The $1000 would be the max for the DVD player, not the cable.
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post #10 of 24
1/13/08 at 10:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesgig View Post

I need a player which can decode the audio and send it over analog to the AVR.

There must be something you are saying that I completely misunderstand.

Every DVD player has analog audio outputs.

The proper (optimum) way of connecting an HDMI-DVD player to a DVI-enabled display is an HDMI-DVI cable for the video and Toslink optical or digital coax for the audio.

Sure, you could use analog component and the 5.1 analog output but WHY!? That requires D/A conversion in the player and A/D conversion in the display. Completely redundant and does nothing but introduce image degradation.

As to "upconversion" in the DVD player, read the link in my sig to see why that is a bogus requirement.
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post #11 of 24
1/13/08 at 10:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesgig View Post

What would be the best player for a pre-HDMI HT setup? Display does 1080i and has DVI in, AVR has everything but HDMI. I would like to keep it on the lower price point as I do not believe that I will be able to take advantage of many of the new audio codecs and 1080p up converting, unless I gain features by going up to higher end models.

Thanks

If your AVR has ILink this might be offered as an option on Bluray later this year and this is the best choice if you are only 5.1. Otherwise the upcoming Pioneer BDP-05 or Panasonic BD-50 would be good choices (Decode all formats to 7.1 Analogue and both <$1000).
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post #12 of 24
1/13/08 at 11:21am
Thread Starter 
I may be mistaken, but from what I understand, the lossless audio on bluray can only be taken advantage of through HDMI or analog, if the player does the decoding.

From what I have read on a variety of manufactures sites, not every dvd player has 5.1 or 7.1 analog out, please correct me I am am misreading something.

What I am trying to do is get the most possible out of the bluray technology without spending close to 10,000 on a new tv and avr. The audio system is 6.1. With the current tv, avr and speaker setup, what do I need to get the best audio and video for under $1000.

The AVR has 5.1 analog in from an external decoder, coax, and optical

Based on my reading here, and on many other sites, I have been lead to believe that I can get the best from HDMI-DVI video and analog audio. Is this correct, if not, what should I be looking for?

Thanks
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post #13 of 24
1/13/08 at 11:46am
If you are looking for a Blu-Ray player with HDMI and 7.1 analog outputs, no such product exists.

The as yet unreleased Panasonic DMP-BD50 may be what you want.
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post #14 of 24
1/13/08 at 12:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavu View Post

If you are looking for a Blu-Ray player with HDMI and 5.1 analog outputs, no such product exists.

The as yet unreleased Panasonic DMP-BD50 may be what you want.

What do you mean? The PS3 is the only Blu-ray player I am aware of that does not have both HDMI and analog 5.1 output. The PS3 only provides HDMI, optical To0slink and Analog stereo. All other Blu-ray players provide 5.1 analog out -- although support for codecs is mixed. Some do and some don't decode TrueHD. None of the current players support internal decoding of DTS-HDMA.
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post #15 of 24
1/13/08 at 2:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavu View Post

If you are looking for a Blu-Ray player with HDMI and 5.1 analog outputs, no such product exists.

The as yet unreleased Panasonic DMP-BD50 may be what you want.

Wrong! The PS3 is the only exception on the BD side for not having analog 5.1/7.1 output. Every other player has it and can send PCM to analog out. Most lossless audio in BD movies is in PCM so any player other than PS3 will work. However, if you want TrueHD support also, then you can choose anything except PS3 and Panny BD-30. If you want DTS-HD-Ma support through analog also, you will have to wait. Nothing does that right now.


Also, optical/coax only gives lossy codec support. Make sure your AVR has analog input. Is it also a good AVR? If you have an average AVR and no BD player, you might be able to get a BD-30K and an average HDMi 1.3 AVR for under $1000.
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post #16 of 24
1/14/08 at 7:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavu View Post

If you are looking for a Blu-Ray player with HDMI and 5.1 analog outputs, no such product exists.

The as yet unreleased Panasonic DMP-BD50 may be what you want.

My Samsung 1400 is hooked up via 5.1 analog to my Denon, I now for sure that the Sharp and Panasonics support it as well.
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post #17 of 24
1/14/08 at 1:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesgig View Post

I may be mistaken, but from what I understand, the lossless audio on bluray can only be taken advantage of through HDMI or analog, if the player does the decoding.

From what I have read on a variety of manufactures sites, not every dvd player has 5.1 or 7.1 analog out, please correct me I am am misreading something.

What I am trying to do is get the most possible out of the bluray technology without spending close to 10,000 on a new tv and avr. The audio system is 6.1. With the current tv, avr and speaker setup, what do I need to get the best audio and video for under $1000.

The AVR has 5.1 analog in from an external decoder, coax, and optical

Based on my reading here, and on many other sites, I have been lead to believe that I can get the best from HDMI-DVI video and analog audio. Is this correct, if not, what should I be looking for?

Thanks

The Sony BDP-S500 would fit your requirements. It has 5.1 analog outputs as well as coaxial and optical. I have it outputting video through the HDMI to my DVI television and doing the audio via analog to my AVR. Everything works great. Sony's don't do DTS-HD-MA, though (hopefully will soon).
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post #18 of 24
1/14/08 at 1:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Petrus View Post

The Sony BDP-S500 would fit your requirements. It has 8 analog outputs as well as coaxial and optical. I have it outputting video through the HDMI to my DVI television and doing the audio via analog to my AVR. Everything works great. Sony's don't do DTS-HD-MA, though (hopefully will soon).

Lets not confuse people. The player only does 5.1 analog output.
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post #19 of 24
1/14/08 at 1:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donnie Eldridge View Post

Lets no confuse people. The player only does 5.1 analog output.

My bad, I have corrected my post to be correct
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post #20 of 24
1/15/08 at 3:43am
Thread Starter 
I am having trouble finding much on which players use the better D/As. Which ones would you suggest?
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post #21 of 24
1/15/08 at 3:47am
Quote:


If you are looking for a Blu-Ray player with HDMI and 5.1 analog outputs, no such product exists.

Huh? My BDP-S1 has both HDMI and 5.1 analog outs.
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post #22 of 24
1/15/08 at 6:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavu View Post

If you are looking for a Blu-Ray player with HDMI and 7.1 analog outputs, no such product exists.

The as yet unreleased Panasonic DMP-BD50 may be what you want.

Or you could get Panasonic's DMP-BD10A which has HDMI and 7.1 analog outputs!
See it here:
http://reviews.cnet.com/video-player...-32455487.html
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post #23 of 24
1/26/08 at 5:12pm
what about the Sharp BD-HP20u?
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post #24 of 24
1/27/08 at 3:35pm
I like the sharp. It works well. I use the 5.1 analogs.
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