Optical or HDMI?

[GSB]

Hi folks,seem to have got myself a bit of a dilema :?

As we all do,i want to get the best SQ from my system.

While watching BBCHD,my avr instead of displaying DD,switched to DD EX which i have never had before.

I have the imput from the sky box to the avr set as auto,but having reset to optical i'm getting DD EX.

Dilema is what will give me the better SQ?.....i listen in 5.1 with the simulated front pressence speakers on(dsp).Can't make up my mind as to which i prefere(HDMI/Optical),they sound completley different,but i like both :wall:

Also,what would you recomend for say a 7.1 Master audio,straight 5.1 or use the avr's dsp to simulate the front pressence speakers?

Would realy appreciate opinions on this.

 

[michael hoy]

If you are using HDMI out from the sky box then you will only output stereo, the optical lead will allow DD.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Optical or I prefer digital coax. If u have been using HDMI from Sky then no wonder it sounds poor !

 

[GSB]

Sorry,i have the sky box set to optical out...the avr set to auto.

i'm using both optical...DD.....and HDMI....avr dsp,just can't decide which i like best,for stereo sd broadcasts i prefere the avr dsp,but for 5.1....... :?

What do you guys prefere?

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Personnally i use the least processing when there is a good source. Suck and see is the best oprion. Certainly with bd 5.1 or 7.1 less is more unless yr system & room need lots of eq. I dont think therw is much stereo on tv??? All dolby pro logic at min surely. Or are you talkin music cd?

Cheers

 

[GSB]

I mean while watching the bbc news in standard defanition the sound output is stereo,so i find the avr'd dsp to be better.

It's the HD broadcasts i can't decide on,either 5.1 DD....7.1 DD EX....or use the avr's dsp via hdmi,iv'e had the avr audio input set to auto so on the main iv'e been using HDMI...was just wondering how others use there avr

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Bottom !! Just lost all my text !

I think the min Sky broadcast to is Prologic so using STANDARD dsp is right for the news. Occasionally a broadcast may benefit from another dsp but I rarely use them.

Other Sky broadcasts (Films and most of Sky1 etc etc) broadcast in Dolby Digital 5-1. I always use STRAIGHT but an occasional program may sound better with dsp.

For DVD or BD in 5-1 or 7-1 (WARHORSE) I always use PURE but if quality is poor then STRAIGHT.

All this is my opinion and depends on room acoustics and broadcast quality etc.

I dont understand where the HDMI issue comes in unless you are using analogue inputs??

Cheers

 

[GSB]

if i use auto imput from the avr,it shows as PCM Dolby PLII Movie.....(HDMI)

if i select optical imput from the avr it shows DD EX.

What i can't understand is why in auto,the avr chooses to send sound via hdmi instead of optical(and the correct...but having got used to that i will perservere with DD via optical,although a little louder,and wider it does sound a bit thinner compared to PCM.

if i press the pure button while watching a bd,the sound stays but the picture disapears....so will have to settle for straight.[edit] just adjusted the pure direct mode to display audio :roll:

thanks for your patience.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

I aint arf confused !

1) Have u got a picture now with yr bd?

2) Are we talking Sky here? Because Sky will not send anyhing but stereo to yr AVR (PCM I think) so anything on sky must use the optical or digital coax.

3) Maybe the (HDMI) refers to the video output - not sure where the 'auto' is set? Usually 'auto' means that it chooses which HDMI the input is from.

4) I think DD Ex shows up if I select STEREO enhanced - ie its not an input but a decoder selection.

Hope this makes some sense !

Cheers

Just thought have u set for amp to pass thru - check in manual else let us know yr connections eg ...

Sky box HDMI to amp HDMI 1 and optical to AV1

DVD player to HDMI 2

Amp out to TV HDMI 1 etc

cheers

 

[GSB]

sorry to confuse you Robin..... :doh:

the avr audio select can either be set to...

auto..

hdmi....

optical/coax...

analogue.

i usualy have it set to auto,but this gives pcm when watching sky,now it's on optical which shows as DD EX on avr.

it is set up to pass thru,hdmi to hdmi1,optical to av1.

 

[The_Lhc]

sorry to confuse you Robin..... :doh:

the avr audio select can either be set to...

auto..

hdmi....

optical/coax...

analogue.

i usualy have it set to auto,but this gives pcm when watching sky,now it's on optical which shows as DD EX on avr.

it is set up to pass thru,hdmi to hdmi1,optical to av1.

I'm struggling to understand why you're questioning this still (that's the polite version), stick it on optical/coax and just leave it alone, you'll get the best possible sound quality in any given situation, if you put it on hdmi or auto you'll be missing out when proper DD is being broadcast.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Downloaded yr manual now. Similar to mine. P33 suggests AV3 for yr optical.

P87 u are looking at yes.

Must have a shower but I'll be back

 

[GSB]

well you can say what you like,polite or not.

my question was what are others using, their avr's dsp or dd.

i have googled about dd ex and my confusion lay in the fact that it was bought out years ago,now i understand that quite a few others have noticed sky hd are using it as opposed to dd.

sorry for clogging up your forum brother,and i'm not whinning or whinging as you put it but trying to understand something that is new to me.

 

[GSB]

It's fine Robin,i have the optical cable selected and is working...thanx for your advice tho. :cheers:

 

[RobinKidderminster]

my pleasure but all willnot be well with av1methinks.

good luck & keep usinformed

cheers

I am no expert but I do have a Yamaha amp. Some seem not to

Cheers

 

[GSB]

iv'e tried selecting other inputs,but the only imput that gives dd is av1.....i will get the cd manual out tmrw and read through again and if i do need to change i'll let you know.

glad you told me about the pure direct by the way,had a look at the imput and video wasn't selected.... :cheers:

 

[The_Lhc]

i'm not whinning or whinging as you put it

Did I? I don't recall using either of those words. I'm simply saying that DD from the optical connection is the best you're going to get from Sky, there really isn't anything to question about it and this is, to my memory, the third time you've asked this question.

And yes, DD and DDEX ARE old now but it's the best Sky offers, as others have said there isn't much point adding additional processing to it, you can't polish a turd.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

you have plugged yr optical into av4, selected av4 on amp and get no signal? Some black magic witch aint expensive cable goin on :cheer:

selected emoticon cuz i can

yes av4 optical & av3 dig coax

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Which model yamaha are u familiar with lhc? I cant find my manual for ref.

cheers

 

[The_Lhc]

Which model yamaha are u familiar with lhc? I cant find my manual for ref.

None of them, what I'm talking about isn't dependant on any particular amplifier.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Sorry but 'stick it on optical' is amplifier dependant. I think with the Yamaha u nees to select av4 for pass through to well to pass through. Av1 will on auto select hdmi by first default so will not deliver the correct signal. Leave on auto for other inputs but av4 optical will take preference through hdmi1.

Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[The_Lhc]

Sorry but 'stick it on optical' is amplifier dependant.

No it isn't, if you want DD from sky you MUST use optical (or coax). That's the only point I'm answering, exactly how you do it on any given amplifier is a different question and not, as far as I can tell, what gsb was asking.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

QED. I hope our suggestions help to a solution and our greater mutual understanding.
Cheers

i'm not whinning or whinging as you put it

Did I? I don't recall using either of those words. I'm simply saying that DD from the optical connection is the best you're going to get from Sky, there really isn't anything to question about it and this is, to my memory, the third time you've asked this question.

And yes, DD and DDEX ARE old now but it's the best Sky offers, as others have said there isn't much point adding additional processing to it, you can't polish a turd.

Dolby digital ex is better, stop whinging.

 

[The_Lhc]

Dolby digital ex is better, stop whinging.

FOUL BALL! You can't go grabbing quotes from other threads! Outrageous behaviour, never seen the like of it...

Anyway, just proves my point that GSB is still questioning this even others have told him what's best more than once, if you aren't going to listen to advice stop asking for it.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

:rofl:

Game, set and match. Have a nice day - Im off to the seaside! :bounce:

Cheers :cheers: