onboard audio decoding in Blue Ray player

[admin_exported]

In your latest review of HD AV-Receivers (including Sony, Pioneer and Yamaha) I noticed that you suggested partnering these with Blue Ray Players of the same manufacturer with onboard audio decoding. Isn't that a waste of money if you have a top-end HD receiver? Aren't you better off with a 'transport' like the one made by Denon, and shouldn't all manufacturers make a really good transport model in their high end price range to pair off with their top AV-receiver?

Interested to hear any views on this.

 

[hunnyy]

I'd just like to echo Quinten's query, for I've wondered about this myself.

If you're bit-streaming, say, a Panasonic '35 to a high quality HD AV-amp, how much (or little) is to be gained by "upgrading" to a more expensive player, if the AV amp is doing much of the processing?

 

[caddyhound]

This query has come up several times in other forums.General consensus from people who have tried both is that in the majority of cases it sounds better when the amp/receiver does the decoding.I don't think anyone tried an expensive Blu ray player with a cheap amp/Receiver though!

 

[professorhat]

I've heard people comment a few times that there is a possibility that some future Blu-Ray standard might enforce decoding is done within the player as opposed to on the amp. I have yet to see any evidence of that, but it's been mentioned more than once and from what I consider fairly credible sources.

Personally, I went for the Sony BDP-S550 which can decode onboard (with multichannel outputs) as well as an amp which can decode (Onkyo 905) as it gives me the most flexibility in the future, no matter what happens. However, if I was buying a top end BD player, I would be tempted by a transport in the same thinking as you have that there shouldn't be any wasted money on features I don't need.

 

[nads]

a while ago i asked about the point of Audio DACs in BD player if you are using HDMI and AV Amp decoding.

this digital system has a lot to answer for.

 

[Anonymous]

caddyhound:This query has come up several times in other forums.General consensus from people who have tried both is that in the majority of cases it sounds better when the amp/receiver does the decoding.I don't think anyone tried an expensive Blu ray player with a cheap amp/Receiver though!

I personally find decoding inside the player to sound better than in the amp. As you might expect, there's not a lot in it (slightly tighter bass and a marginally more dynamic overall sound) but the fact doing this also means you can view Picture-In-Picture tracks and actually hear the secondary audio track seals it for me.

 

[Tonestar1]

Just from a logical point of view isn't it better to let the amp concentrate on amplifying rather than have it decoding as well. This is surely the primary funtion it was designed for.