High Def Onboard Audio Encoding Via Digital Optical (toslink)?

[Zorro116]

Hi,

Wanting to take advantage of new audio formats of bluray. I have a reciever (Yamaha RX V596 - non HDMI) that will encode 5.1 Dolby Digital and 5.1 DTS.

I am looking at bluray players that encode HD audio onboard being the Sony S550 and the Panasonic BD 35/50/55. My amp has ext analogue inputs to accept an external decoder.

My thoughts are the only way to take advantage of the encoded High Def Audio I will need to connect the audio via the external analogue input in the amp (via RCA cables??).

If connecting via digital optical will this only carry the "clean" unencoded signal for the amp to encode? Or will it also carry the encoded high def audio from the bluray playerl? (i.e high definition Dolby Digital HD DTS). I would want the bluray player to encode the signal not the amp.

Surely a digital (toslink connection) would be of better quality than RCA? - will toslink carry the encoded signal to the amp - thinking like HDMI minus the picture signal.

I realise this is all dependant on what is on the bluray movie. Funnily enough I have noticed quite a few of the new Bluray movie releases are still stating they are dolby digital/DTS 5.1.. as well as the new high def formats. That being the case I guess I could also look at the cheaper Sony S350 and keep utilising DD/DTS5.1 and let my amp do the encoding via toslink

Dont really want to buy a new AMP at this stage. Looks like the new Sony/Panasonic's maybe a cheaper option.

Any thoughts?

Any other models I should consider?

Thanks in advance

[EasterBunny]

Toslink and coax digital out on the players won't carry any of the HD formats but as your AVR has 5.1 analog input then you would need a player that decodes internally and has 5.1 (7.1) analog outputs. All you'll get via toslink or coax are DD, DTS and the DTS core of DTS HD MA. The Sony S550 and Panasonic BD55 would do fine and future proof you for when you get a new AVR that has HDMI inputs.

Edited September 21, 2008 by EasterBunny

[Zorro116]

Toslink and coax digital out on the players won't carry any of the HD formats but as your AVR has 5.1 analog input then you would need a player that decodes internally and has 5.1 (7.1) analog outputs. All you'll get via toslink or coax are DD, DTS and the DTS core of DTS HD MA. The Sony S550 and Panasonic BD55 would do fine and future proof you for when you get a new AVR that has HDMI inputs.

thanks for the quick response!

so RCA is the best connection in this case. Are there special types of RCA cables for this type of application?

Is there really a huge difference in sound quality? Im assuming that is the case, even though we are going back to analogue connections. Will the sound will be far superior to DD/DTS 5.1 via digital toslink?

[Shonky*]

Also, just to note: everywhere you said "encode" you should have said "decode"

Good quality RCA cables should be used for analogue. No need to spend hundreds of dollars though. Have a look at Selby Acoustics (use DTV08 code for 20% discount)

Yes it will be analogue but if you have a player capable of decoding the TrueHD or DTS HD MA codecs then it will be still high quality.

[McKenzieJr]

thanks for the quick response!

so RCA is the best connection in this case. Are there special types of RCA cables for this type of application?

Is there really a huge difference in sound quality? Im assuming that is the case, even though we are going back to analogue connections. Will the sound will be far superior to DD/DTS 5.1 via digital toslink?

I too have a legacy amp that I don't want to trade in (Sony TADA9000ESS) after hearing the sound quality from current AVRs doing HD audio. I now have a Sony BDPS550 on order to do exactly what you're doing because (1) it internally decodes 7 channel HD audio and will output by analogue (though rumour has it that DTS HD MA will only be available after launch by firware download), and (2) it has an ethernet port for downloading firmware upgrades.

In terms of types of cable for the 7.1 channel analogue connections, you would want cable of sufficient quality equivalent to connecting a SACD player. The audio cables that you got free with your last DVD player probably aren't up to the task

I use Kordz Vortex interconnects for this, which are available from Cinema Link in Australia (http://www.clink.com.au/audio/stereo.htm). But depending on the level of your equipment, you might be happy with just using the Evolution interconnects or an equivalent. Have a chat to Gregory at Cinema Link though - I have found him quite helpful when choosing cables (PS, I am not in any way affiliated with or get kick backs from his site - this is just a user recommendation having used cables in the past from commercially available competitors which were not up to standard).

Edited September 23, 2008 by McKenzieJr