Is it worth upgrading my reciver to get true HD & DTS HD

[Ian986]

As title sayes really How much difference is there between normal dolby digital and true HD is worth upgrading my reciever to get True HD and HD DTS

I have Sony STR-DA1200ES which I am happy with if there is not that much difference between HD sound and non HD sound I wont bother upgrading asked in couple of shop and dont get a straight answer! I am using 5.1 speaker set up incase that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Hi, from what I have heard master audio is the big jump and yes it is a big jump, louder and clearer.

 

[Anonymous]

Ian986:

As title sayes really How much difference is there between normal dolby digital and true HD is worth upgrading my reciever to get True HD and HD DTS

I have Sony STR-DA1200ES which I am happy with if there is not that much difference between HD sound and non HD sound I wont bother upgrading asked in couple of shop and dont get a straight answer! I am using 5.1 speaker set up incase that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance

What blu ray player are you using, if it has analogue outputs, you can get the player to decode the HD audio & ouptut via it's 7.1 analogue connection, then just assign that input on your STR-DA1200, and you can enjoy HD audio with out having to buy a new amp.

 

[Ian986]

markjaspi:Ian986:

As title sayes really How much difference is there between normal dolby digital and true HD is worth upgrading my reciever to get True HD and HD DTS

I have Sony STR-DA1200ES which I am happy with if there is not that much difference between HD sound and non HD sound I wont bother upgrading asked in couple of shop and dont get a straight answer! I am using 5.1 speaker set up incase that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance

What blu ray player are you using, if it has analogue outputs, you can get the player to decode the HD audio & ouptut via it's 7.1 analogue connection, then just assign that input on your STR-DA1200, and you can enjoy HD audio with out having to buy a new amp.

I have a Panasonic BD60 Blu ray that would be great if an get it to work like you say

Thanks again

 

[Anonymous]

Right, well the BD60 only has a 2 channel output, so that's not an option.

However, if you go into the functions on the BD60 REMOTE, select TO OTHERS, select SETUP, select SOUND, goto DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUT.

Set Priority settings to USER

Then go down and change all the options to PCM.

This will tell the player to decode all the HD audio internally into LPCM, which it will send via the HDMI, your STR-DA1200ES can accept this.

This will now be HD audio, although it will just say PCM on the screen of the AVR.

 

[professorhat]

markjaspi:This will tell the player to decode all the HD audio internally into LPCM, which it will send via the HDMI, your STR-DA1200ES can accept this.

From what I'm reading in the STR-DA1200ES manual, this isn't true I'm afraid. Page 26 of the manual "Audio signals input to the HDMI IN jacks are output from the HDMI OUT jack. The input audio signals are not output from the speaker output jacks, PRE OUT jacks and any other audio output jacks". So in other words, it will pass through any audio to the TV but it won't come out of the surround system.

So in my opinion, yes, it would be worth upgrading your amp to take advantage of the HD audio tracks. However, don't take my word for it - go and get some demos and see what you think.

 

[Ian986]

markjaspi:

Right, well the BD60 only has a 2 channel output, so that's not an option.

However, if you go into the functions on the BD60 REMOTE, select TO OTHERS, select SETUP, select SOUND, goto DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUT.

Set Priority settings to USER

Then go down and change all the options to PCM.

This will tell the player to decode all the HD audio internally into LPCM, which it will send via the HDMI, your STR-DA1200ES can accept this.

This will now be HD audio, although it will just say PCM on the screen of the AVR.

Thanks for that but my amp cant take HDMI sound tried this when I bought the blu ray player had to wire through opt input to get sound.

 

[Anonymous]

Prof, just read that and it makes sense at all, the specifiaction pages clearly states it can accept, 96k 24Bit PCM.

However, try the settings I have given you, then whilst playing a blu ray, use the STATUS button on the remote and it should tell you what level of PCM is being played, if it does not appear to be at a higher bit rate than standard/core then yes you will have to change one of your components to enjoy HD Audio.

If your happy with the STR-DA1200ES, you could go for a player with Multi Channel ouputs or you could just get a newer AVR that accepts the bitsream over HDMI, at least this way the "HD AUDIO" light or whatever the amp does, will show.

And to aswer your original question, Yes HD audio is head & shoulders above standard lossy formats.

 

[professorhat]

Not denying it can't accept it, but the manual is pretty clear in stating that the audio will only be passed through to the TV, it won't output audio via the speaker terminals (as Ian has already experienced as well).

I'd look at a new amp personally, along the lines of the Sony STR-DH800 if on a budget, or something like the Sony STR-DA2400ES or the Denon AVR-1910 if you've got a bit more money to spend.

 

[Ian986]

Wow thanks for all the help

I was thinking about Sony STR-DH1000 as richer sounds has these at £299 seems to be the same as the 800 with a few more toys quite like the AVR-1910 but is £100 More What you think?

 

[Andrew Everard]

markjaspi:Prof, just read that and it makes sense at all, the specifiaction pages clearly states it can accept, 96k 24Bit PCM.

Yes, in stereo, over S/PDIF optical or electrical digital. Not multichannel.

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:

markjaspi:Prof, just read that and it makes sense at all, the specifiaction pages clearly states it can accept, 96k 24Bit PCM.

Yes, in stereo, over S/PDIF optical or electrical digital. Not multichannel.

AHHHH!!!

 

[Ian986]

Sorry guys I messed around with setting earlier trying to get hd audio to work can confirm that I have the right setting on now

Dynamic range comp OFF

PCM Down Conversion OFF

Downmix Stereo

I watch Top gun on blu ray tonight only had True HD 5.1 or DTS HD Master 6.1 I am guessing as have 5.1 I should select 5.1

Thanks again for all your help and I apoligise in advance if questions seem dumb just want to get best out of the system

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Ian986:
Sorry guys I messed around with setting earlier trying to get hd audio to work can confirm that I have the right setting on now

Dynamic range comp OFF

PCM Down Conversion OFF

Downmix Stereo

I watch Top gun on blu ray tonight only had True HD 5.1 or DTS HD Master 6.1 I am guessing as have 5.1 I should select 5.1

Thanks again for all your help and I apoligise in advance if questions seem dumb just want to get best out of the system

No one has asked you what speakers you have? This would be important to know to advise whether changing your receiver is worth it. I upgraded from the 1200es, which I also loved. The difference in HD audio is huge!

 

[Ian986]

Gerrardasnails:Ian986:

Sorry guys I messed around with setting earlier trying to get hd audio to work can confirm that I have the right setting on now

Dynamic range comp OFF

PCM Down Conversion OFF

Downmix Stereo

I watch Top gun on blu ray tonight only had True HD 5.1 or DTS HD Master 6.1 I am guessing as have 5.1 I should select 5.1

Thanks again for all your help and I apoligise in advance if questions seem dumb just want to get best out of the system

No one has asked you what speakers you have? This would be important to know to advise whether changing your receiver is worth it. I upgraded from the 1200es, which I also loved. The difference in HD audio is huge!

Well That is good to here that the HD Audio is better I went to 2 or 3 shops and got very different answers that is why I thought I would try here as get a unbiased answers!

I am running Kef HTS2001Speakers with Kef Sub PSW2000 I think these are the orignal kef egg speakers I just checked the manual for them says can run 10-100 watts at 4 ohms sub say 250watts but is built in amp hope this helps

Thanks again I am loving this forum no doubt I will end up spending even more on hifi than before LOL

 

[Andrew Everard]

Of course the cheaper upgrade is probably to change the BD player for one with multichannel analogue outputs...

 

[Ian986]

Andrew Everard:Of course the cheaper upgrade is probably to change the BD player for one with multichannel analogue outputs...

I wont change blu ray player as only just bought it at x mas amp I think is a couple of years older so would make sense to change that I guess

 

[chudleighpaul]

I bought my Panasonic BD player from Richer Sounds in Bromley. When I realised I needed on board decoding to get hD audio I phoned them and they agreed to exchange for the model with 5.1 outlets. No problem, I have now got HD audio without the expense of changing my amp.

 

[Ian986]

Thanks for the idea !

I did not really want to swap the blu ray player as it took me a long time to decide which one to buy and, girlfriend purchased it for xmas for me.

But you did get me thinking so I asked Richer Sounds, if I could swap the blu ray for the Sony BDP-S360 if I purchased the STR-DN1000 at the same time! there is a method in my madness here. I have not had a hifi that has matched for 20 years so this kind of apppeals maybe will be able to get away with one less remote and look good together! before I go with this can anyone see a downside to this ? One thing concerns me is I played a cd on the BD60 and it sounded fantastic will theBDP-s 360 be as good?

Sorry for a war and peace

 

[Ian986]

Well I went to the shop to buy the sony amp and blu ray but they talked me out of it and went for the Denon AV1910 instead and kept the BD60 Just got to set it up now but so far seems very good

 

[professorhat]

Sounds like a good decision to me

 

[Ian986]

I have just watched the watchman in HD Audio and what a difference it is ten times better than normal Dolby Digital I am really glad I upgraded! Plus the Denon does sound great just got to work how to set it up.