HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1 |
Is there any reason to run HDMI cable to an AVR that does not support HD audio or will I really just get the same result using an optical cable?
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 34
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 34 |
so the HDMI is a passthrough for the video only? I would use it simply because of less cables, one hdmi from output to receiver, one hdmi from receiver to tv. I understant that some receivers are unable to decode the HD audio, but devices such as the PS3 decode the lossless audio and output the data, but not sure if regular AVRs are able to play it. If you worried about price of cable, I would check monoprice.com for cables, they are pretty cheap.
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
|
shareholder in the making
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420 |
The main reason would be for the HD video 1080P otherwise component can handle the 720P signal.
Seems odd to me that if a receiver has HDMI inputs it should support HD audio in some form, I guess some very early HDMI compliant avr's might not support HD audio.
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
|
shareholder in the making
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420 |
After reading your other posts I now know you are working with an older HK 645; someone correct me if I am wrong but isn't the HK645 capable of playing HD audio when the Player is set to output PCM?
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 288
local
|
local
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 288 |
those AVR with HDMI 1.2 or lower would accept 7.1 LPCM signal but would not take bitstream from the player.
as long as the player can decode those HD Audio and send as PCM, it will be fine....I have a Yamaha V861 previously so I knew that.
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for your help. So what I think I understand from your replys is I should scrap the optical cable and run the 8 (6) channel analog from player to AVR and set player to output pcm? When doing this, since the signal is output as analog, is there any audio quality difference between the DAC in the samsung BR vs the one in the Oppo DVD. I am trying to convince myself that it is time to retire the Oppo and let the BR take over, but I dont seem to want to let it go.
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,181 Likes: 1
connoisseur
|
connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,181 Likes: 1 |
Actually, since the Oppo is a DVD player (I am assuming is not a BR player), then you don't have HD audio from that player anyway - HD audio codecs are only BR discs. IMO I would just use the BR player for everything - the only thing you'd be giving up is the Oppo's well known good up-conversion for standard def video material - but this will not affect your audio options. Unless SACD or DVD Audio are a concern for you? Those might be other reasons why you'd want to keep the Oppo in the mix.
So, the only way you're going to get HD Audio with your current setup is to use LPCM output from the BR player over HDMI to your receiver.
Hope that helps, and if I've made a mistake or bad assumption please correct me!
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1 |
You are correct about the Oppo and I have played the same DVD's on the BR with only a slight difference in video quality. My concern was the audio quality of the Oppo vs the BR but I think I have come to realize that as long as the signal is digital it shouldnt matter since the AVR will handle that anyway. Will the 8 channel analog outputs of the BR also give me HD audio to the AVR?
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,181 Likes: 1
connoisseur
|
connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,181 Likes: 1 |
... Will the 8 channel analog outputs of the BR also give me HD audio to the AVR? Actually that I am not 100% sure of - someone else will answer that I'm sure. However I believe if you go LPCM over HDMI there's no advantage to the 8 analog cables. It should amount to the same thing either way with the likelihood of better bass management through HDMI.
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1 |
Ok, so if BR is set to output LPCM to 8 channel would I them choose PCM on a DVD menu as opposed to 5.1? All my DVD's have either a 5.1 Dolby, DTS or PCM option. How does that setting fit into the mix?
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,116
connoisseur
|
connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,116 |
What's your brand of AVR? Some of the entry level early AVR's with HDMI connections did not pass audio through HDMI, only the video. If this is the case allowing the player to decode the audio will NOT work either because the AVR would not be able to pass audio through HDMI. If your receiver has 5.1 or 7.1 multichannel analog connections and so does your Blu-ray than you will be able to receive the lossless codecs such as DTS Master-HD and Dolby True-HD. You would need to run 4 pairs of these cables (7.1) OR 3 pairs for 5.1. http://www.monoprice.com/products/produc...=1&format=2 from your receiver to blu-ray player. I know for Denon AVR's to switch to multichannel analog you go to EXT.IN. For speaker setup and bass management you do it through the BR player settings.
I’m armed and I’m drinking. You don’t want to listen to advice from me, amigo.
-Max Payne
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1 |
My AVR is a Harman Kardon 645, its about 5 years old, it has both HDMI and 7.1 analog with speaker management and eq settings built in
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,116
connoisseur
|
connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,116 |
My AVR is a Harman Kardon 645, its about 5 years old, it has both HDMI and 7.1 analog with speaker management and eq settings built in It seems like the 645 can at least pass audio through HDMI at the very minimum from by brief search. The model below the 645 cannot. Now the question what is the make and model # of your Blu-ray player?
I’m armed and I’m drinking. You don’t want to listen to advice from me, amigo.
-Max Payne
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1 |
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,116
connoisseur
|
connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,116 |
OK great. You have two options. Option one might work (as I'm not 100% sure about the AVR and its hdmi processing) and option 2 which will work for sure. According to this link your Blu-ray player can internally decode the lossless formats and also supports 7.1 multichannel analog. http://www.samsung.com/us/video/blu-ray-dvd/BD-C6500/XAA-specsOption 1 (HDMI):Read posts 4 and 5. Option 2 Follow the steps regarding multi-channel analog above (this option will work 100%)
I’m armed and I’m drinking. You don’t want to listen to advice from me, amigo.
-Max Payne
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1 |
awesome...thank you for your help
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
|
shareholder in the making
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420 |
Just to be clear HD Audio is only from Blu Ray discs.
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1 |
Got it, I think my confusion was in the HK's lack of ability to decode not realizing that thr BR is already doing it and the HK is simply amplifying and dibursing the already decoded sound??
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,116
connoisseur
|
connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,116 |
Got it, I think my confusion was in the HK's lack of ability to decode not realizing that thr BR is already doing it and the HK is simply amplifying and dibursing the already decoded sound?? Did you get it working? Like what Jakewash said, the hd formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master are only supported by Blu-ray disks. Regular DVD's will still decode as Dolby Digital or DTS or perhaps very old movies, tv on DVD just in stereo.
I’m armed and I’m drinking. You don’t want to listen to advice from me, amigo.
-Max Payne
|
|
|
Re: HDMI vs Optical audio
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 138 Likes: 1 |
I havent had time to get everything hooked up yet but thanks to all the help from the great people on this forum i am confident that I have the best scenario figured out. I also took the advice here and ordered a universal remote which I can see will certainly make things a lot easier. Thank you to everyone here for the good advice. It can all seem so complicated sometimes.
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics24,947
Posts442,495
Members15,617
|
Most Online2,082 Jan 22nd, 2020
|
|
0 members (),
921
guests, and
2
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|