HD Audio

[Dermondo]

Hi all, as previously I have delved into the world of HD with the purchase of a new TV & Blu Ray player.

I have them currently have connected up and have no visual issues, the question I pose is in the audio side of connections.

I have 5.1 multi channel outs from sony BD760 to Denon 3802 and set up on blu ray I have the priority setting in audio set to multi channel out to enable PCM, HD audio, DTS HD audio etc.

What I have noticed is if I change audio setting to coaxil outpriority the sound seems better more beefier and with added punch but surely this should not be the case as the HD sound is far superior in bandwidth etc., have I set it up wrong or can anyone with similar settings set up shed any light on this query, many thanks in advance to all who reply.

 

[d4v3pum4]

Only your ears can tell you which you prefer. If it's lossy via digital-coax, so be it.

I would have a read of this:

EDITED BY MODS - House Rules

 

[f1only]

You get HD audio through it then? as i was under the impression the need for an amp that can cope with DD HD & DTS HD fed through HDMI & the model you quoted has DTS & DD + others, but not the HD Sound.

Having said that though it is possible i presume to have a better quality sound from the blu-ray DD & DTS over the standard dvd's?

 

[The_Lhc]

f1only:You get HD audio through it then? as i was under the impression the need for an amp that can cope with DD HD & DTS HD fed through HDMI & the model you quoted has DTS & DD + others, but not the HD Sound.

That's correct you can only get HD audio through HDMI or multi-channel analogue outs. If you're not happy with the sound from the multi-channel analogue outputs then there's a problem with your setup, I presume you've set all the speaker levels from within the Blu-ray players menu system, the amp won't do any level adjustment for the multi-channel inputs, it'll just pump out the inputs at the same level, which may not be appropriate for your setup.

Having said that though it is possible i presume to have a better quality sound from the blu-ray DD & DTS over the standard dvd's?

DTS-HD soundtracks carry a standard DTS track as the core, the HD bits are "added on". This core will be sent out over the optical or coax digital output and is usually a higher bit-rate (ie less compressed) than an equivalent DTS track from a DVD, so yes, potentially you could get a better sound from that. I don't believe the same is true of Dolby TrueHD though.

 

[kevinJ]

When using the multi channel sound output on the sony, did you make any adjustments to the speakersettings in its menu?
If you did, try setting them back to "standard" or something like that, and let the receiver do all the adjustments.

Also, in the Sony's audiosettings menu, there are options like "audio drc", "audio att" and "bd audio setup"
"audio drc" should be set to "broadband"
"audio att" should be switched off
"bd audio setup" to "direct"

see if that makes a difference.

 

[The_Lhc]

kevinJ:When using the multi channel sound output on the sony, did you make any adjustments to the speakersettings in its menu?
If you did, try setting them back to "standard" or something like that, and let the receiver do all the adjustments.

If his amp is anything like mine it won't make any adjustments to the multi-channel inputs, which is precisely why you have to do the setup on the blu-ray player in the first place. The amp can only make adjustments to phase and delay when the audio is in the digital domain, using the multi-channel inputs the audio is never in the amp's digital domain, so it can't do anything with it. That's my understanding anyway.

 

[Dave_]

the_lhc:kevinJ:When using the multi channel sound output on the sony, did you make any adjustments to the speakersettings in its menu?
If you did, try setting them back to "standard" or something like that, and let the receiver do all the adjustments.

If his amp is anything like mine it won't make any adjustments to the multi-channel inputs, which is precisely why you have to do the setup on the blu-ray player in the first place. The amp can only make adjustments to phase and delay when the audio is in the digital domain, using the multi-channel inputs the audio is never in the amp's digital domain, so it can't do anything with it. That's my understanding anyway.
Indeed, when using multi-channel analogues the processor is by-passed and signals are sent direct to to power amp(s) section,so all adjustments have to be made within the player.

 

[kevinJ]

so, I didn't know that

Never had to try it either.

Anyway, try the settings in the audiosetup about outputting in "direct""broadband" and "att"-less. That could make some difference.
And you'll have to start measuring speakerdistances and listen to irritating noises and find an spl meter.

 

[chudleighpaul]

daveh75:the_lhc:kevinJ:When using the multi channel sound output on the sony, did you make any adjustments to the speakersettings in its menu?

If you did, try setting them back to "standard" or something like that, and let the receiver do all the adjustments.

If his amp is anything like mine it won't make any adjustments to the multi-channel inputs, which is precisely why you have to do the setup on the blu-ray player in the first place. The amp can only make adjustments to phase and delay when the audio is in the digital domain, using the multi-channel inputs the audio is never in the amp's digital domain, so it can't do anything with it. That's my understanding anyway.

Indeed, when using multi-channel analogues the processor is by-passed and signals are sent direct to to power amp(s) section,so all adjustments have to be made within the player.

When using the multi inputs, the pre amp is not by passed Daveh. As you say the processor is by passed. If the pre-amp was by passed it would not be possible to adjust the volume of the amp. It is just the processor that is by passed, which means that you cant use DSP modes either

 

[The_Lhc]

I thought I was pedentic!

He never actually said the pre-amp was bypassed to be fair (I know he said the signal goes straight to the power amps but...), he only mentioned the processor.

 

[Dave_]

My fault for not being very clear...Never mind,we got there in the end!

 

[Dermondo]

Wow, thanks for all the replys and informative info.

Whilst taken the info on board, I have in the Blu Ray audio settings tinkered around with the levels for the speakers and made the listening area speaker levels the same with a sound meter, this has made quite a difference especially in the soundfield.

The volume level would still have a be at a higher level than is set normally for DD & DTS, for example DD/DTS -25 via coaxil & PCM/True HD etc. via multichannels outs -18, once this set thier is a notable difference is quality of sound, mainly with speed, soundfield & over all clarity.

Finally would a newer amp with HD on board decoding give any real benefit over my exising setup using Blu Ray onboard decoding via multi outs.

 

[The_Lhc]

Dermondo:The volume level would still have a be at a higher level than is set normally for DD & DTS, for example DD/DTS -25 via coaxil & PCM/True HD etc. via multichannels outs -18,

Yes, this is normal, the larger dynamic range of HD audio means the quiet bits can be quieter and the loud bits can be louder.

Finally would a newer amp with HD on board decoding give any real benefit over my exising setup using Blu Ray onboard decoding via multi outs.

Quite possibly, but it would depend very much on which amp you went for. If nothing else it would give you the option to see which method you prefer, BDP decoding or amp decoding, although in theory there shouldn't be any difference over HDMI but the Amp might have superior DACs compared to the ones the Sony uses for its analogue outputs.

 

[Dermondo]

Right, so there is no real point in going out to purchase a new amp, I can let my Blu Ray do all the decoding and the amp handle the rest.

My kit is as follows:

B&W 603 S2/ 686 & HTM 62, front & centre cable Nordost flatline gold biwire & rears QED silver anniversity silver

MK Sub with monster cable.

Denon 3802

Arcam CD92 using nordost interconnect silver shadow to Arcam Amp

Arcam A80 using nordost silver shadow to Denon 3802

Sony BD 760 Multichannel 5.1 outs to Denon 3802, note bog standard cables used, HDMI QED-P to tv.

Sky+ using QED scart to TV , monster optical out to Denon 3802.

Samsung 37" B550.

All power leads Russ andrews power cords & power link block.

Any input of my above kit would be welcomed.