Hiend Home cinema

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Due to blu-ray now taking the lead on dvd what are the main processors to look for to replace my Tag AV32R 7.1 or should I change over to an AV amp that will do it all I intend to get a blu-ray player but for me to get the best audio quality out of it I dont have the audio formats that come with it. My local hifi / homecinema dealer said dont worry about changing any of my kit just to connect the player as follows:- connect the HDMI cable to the plasma connect an optical or coaxial cable to the processor and use it that way What are your thoughts on this? Kit 2 x Tag power Amps AV32R 7.1 DV32flr Sky HD Arcam FMJ cd23 Sony MDS JB930 B&W CM series speakers Panasonic TH42PZ50B Nordost IC and Speaker cables

 

[professorhat]

Well, this will work, but you won't get the new HD audio formats this way. To get all of them you need one of the following:

(a) A Blu-Ray player which can decode all the new HD formats on board and export them in Linear PCM format either via HDMI (like the PS3) or via 5.1 channel analogue outputs (like the Sharp BD-HP20). You then need an amp with either an HDMI or 5.1 channel analogue outputs that can accept and process this signal (depending on which player you have).
(b) A Blu-Ray player that can send all the new HD formats out in bitstream (i.e. undecoded) format via the HDMI socket (like the Panasonic DMP-BD30). You then need an amp which can accept this signal and decode all of the HD sound formats.

Or a combination of the above! You can't get any of the new formats via optical or coaxial though as it doesn't have the bandwidth to carry the signal.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="professorhat"]
Well, this will work, but you won't get the new HD audio formats this way. To get all of them you need one of the following:

(a) A Blu-Ray player which can decode all the new HD formats on board and export them in Linear PCM format either via HDMI (like the PS3) or via 5.1 channel analogue outputs (like the Sharp BD-HP20). You then need an amp with either an HDMI or 5.1 channel analogue outputs that can accept and process this signal (depending on which player you have).
(b) A Blu-Ray player that can send all the new HD formats out in bitstream (i.e. undecoded) format via the HDMI socket (like the Panasonic DMP-BD30). You then need an amp which can accept this signal and decode all of the HD sound formats.

Or a combination of the above! You can't get any of the new formats via optical or coaxial though as it doesn't have the bandwidth to carry the signal.
[/quote]

Yes I already pointed that out about the audio formats in my original post that my processor doesnt support them

My main question is what PROCESSORS are availabe OR should I change over to a dedicated AV AMP

 

[Anonymous]

anyone from What Hi Fi care to comment on this PLEASE

 

[Andrew Everard]

No, stick with what you have - I am sure more players will become available with onboard decoding and multichannel analogue outputs.

For now, I know of few processors available able to handle these formats that don't come at prices sufficient to make the original RRP of the AV32R look like a bargain.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Andrew Everard"]
No, stick with what you have - I am sure more players will become available with onboard decoding and multichannel analogue outputs.

For now, I know of few processors available able to handle these formats that don't come at prices sufficient to make the original RRP of the AV32R look like a bargain.
[/quote]

Would you recommend adding a BR player at this stage Andrew and route it via the coaxial output and use pcm or mpeg thats on the processor?

 

[Andrew Everard]

TBH I would hold fire. I also have an AV32R - the fully-loaded bp-192 version with DAB - and I'm hanging on until a suitable BR player comes along.

Annoying thing is I was reading a US review this morning of an Integra (ie Onkyo) processor that does everything you and I need, has superb picture processing apparently, and sells for just $1600, or a sniff over £800.

But as far as I can see, it's a US-only model - shame, as it would have been fine to use with the 100X5R:10 power amp...

 

[Anonymous]

what about the Pana BD30

 

[Andrew Everard]

Yes that would work, but I am sure there will be higher quality machines along in the next few months.