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Blu-ray and DTS HD/DD+/DD True HD......

post #1 of 12
1/14/08 at 12:12pm
Thread Starter 
I currently have a Harman/Kardon AVR 240 receiver. If I buy a Blu-ray player, do I need to upgrade my receiver?

From what I can tell, I can buy a Blu-ray with the on-board decoders and then send it to my HK with an optical or coaxial digital cable.

Will this work? Or should I buy a receiver with HDMI ports? Thanks.
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post #2 of 12
1/14/08 at 12:58pm
You need analog 5.1/7.1 or HDMI for hi rez audio codecs
Optical will only give you DTS or DD core
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post #3 of 12
1/14/08 at 1:08pm
Thread Starter 
How do I do analog 5.1/7.1 on an HK AVR 240? Can I ran a digital coaxial cable, or is that no good? I am competent on HT setup, but don't have a Blu-ray player yet, and have never done an "analog" connection. I have always used the optical or digital coax.
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post #4 of 12
1/14/08 at 1:12pm
HD audio is only available via HDMI or 5/7.1 analog outs. The most you will get from optical/coax is downmixed DD/DTS. To do analog, you must have a receiver with 5/7.1 analog in connections. You simply connect the outs to the ins via RCA cable, then you calibrate the channels (volume level, distance, size, crossover, etc) in the BD player setup manu.
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post #5 of 12
1/14/08 at 1:15pm
Your receiver does not have HDMI or analog inputs; therefore, you CANNOT get the advanced audio. You need a new receiver.

FYI, the Sony STR-DG810 is the cheapest receiver that will accept advanced audio over HDMI. I think it has 5.1 analog inputs too, but I'm not sure on that one. You need a blu-ray player with built-in decoding to use this receiver to its fullest.

The Onkyo 605 is the cheapest receiver that accepts the advanced audio via bitstream for internal decoding.

I myself have the Onkyo 705 and love it!
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post #6 of 12
1/14/08 at 1:18pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks guys, this is helpful info. If this works, below is a pic of my HK receiver. Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't the 7.1 analog inputs on on the lower left of my receiver? And if this is correct, all have to do is buy a Blu-ray player that has the built-in decoders for True HD, etc.?

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post #7 of 12
1/14/08 at 1:21pm
Those are pre-outs for using your H/K as a processor and sending the signals to an external amplifier.

You want to use the "direct in" connections that are more in the center.
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post #8 of 12
1/14/08 at 1:28pm
Thread Starter 
So those ARE analog, which would be compatible with Blu-ray?
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post #9 of 12
1/14/08 at 1:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthBark View Post

So those ARE analog, which would be compatible with Blu-ray?

Yes. I have a Samsung BD-P1400 hooked up to the analog inputs on my HK AVR 335.
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post #10 of 12
1/14/08 at 1:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthBark View Post

So those ARE analog, which would be compatible with Blu-ray?

Yes
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post #11 of 12
1/14/08 at 1:54pm
Thread Starter 
Are there any downsides to using this receiver?

One cable (HDMI) would be simpler. Also, how would I tell if True HD or DTS HD were actually working?
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post #12 of 12
1/14/08 at 2:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthBark View Post

Are there any downsides to using this receiver?

One cable (HDMI) would be simpler. Also, how would I tell if True HD or DTS HD were actually working?

If you plug RCA cables from the Samsung Blu-ray player's analog output to the H/K's analog direct inputs and get sound, it's working.
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