Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater pcm surround sound with Blu Ray Samsung BD-P1200

Hey all -

Question abotu PCM surround sound using a Blu Ray player's analog(ue) outputs.

Basically, I just got a great deal on a Samsung BD-P1200 (I know, it's not a 1.1 player, and it lacks TrueHD, etc., but my receiver can't decode that stuff anyway...). My question is, I know that the player will decode Dolby Digital Plus (DD+), but will only do so over either HDMI (which my reciever can't handle) or PCM (which my receiver also won't decode DD+). So, I was wondering if anyone has experience setting the player to output PCM and then plugging in the analog 5.1 cables to the multi-channel input on my receiver. I am hoping that the player will decode the DD+ signal and output it over the analog cables and will also give me a regular DD or DTS signal when no DD+ is encoded on the disc.

Thanks.

Adrien

I'm not sure why you don't just use an optical cable if you aren't getting the new sound formats. What receiver are you using, unless it is ancient it should take care of the DD and DTS.

Ive got the Yammy RX-V700 or the 1400, forget. It will decode DD and DTS-ES, up to 7.1 with DD PLIIx matrixing.

Optical cables will not pass "more" than DD or DTS. DD+ is like Dolby Digital, with a higher bitrate and, I presume, more detail. I am trying to take advantage of the DD+ sound format, which my receiver won't decode. I have read, though, that DD+ can be passed through the multi-channel inputs, with more detail than if the signal is passed via optical or coaxial.

Worst case scenario is that I just use an optical/coaxial hook-up like I currently do, since the DD and DTS tracks are mandatory on each Blu Ray, basically just stripping the extender flags off of the DD+ track.

Just wanted to get the most our of the new player.

Hopefully this clears up my motivations. Does anybody have any experience with what I proposed in the OP?

Capn,
I used to own the RX-V1400 and it did not have HDMI so the only option to get DD+ would be to use the analog output on your Blu-Ray player. I have the PS3 and have since upgraded to the RX-V1800 and the sound is amazing.

Using the analog outputs (5.1 or 7.1) on any blu-ray player with a built in decoder should allow you to listen to the best audio format that the decoder can decode. The sound quality may not be as good as having HDMI/PCM because of the DACs in the player or external noise but I suspect it is very close and most would not hear the difference.

I am suprised that they put a decoder in a blu-ray player that wouldnt decode Dolby TrueHD!? That is the nice thing about the PS3 -upgrades!

Thanks for the reply. The lack of the highest quality DACs is a result of Blu Ray's apparent rush to market, or some altogether nefarious plot to ensure that early adopters will not only buy early, but often.

Indeed, I wish that TrueHD or DTS-HD were an option, but, alas, I guess it will have to wait until the format is stable (assumign it survives) and the prices on profile 1.1 and 2.0 players come down.

Also, the BD-P1200 was a second generation player, since made obselete by teh BD-P1400, which has the advanced DACs. However, I have read that it does not do quite a job on upscaling regular DVDs.

Adrien, I have no specific knowledge regarding the 1200, but if it decodes DD+ to PCM, converts it, and outputs it on the analog outputs, then there's no significant problem and your receiver will process and amplify it. Regardless of whether the DACs in the player are of the "highest quality", DACs these days are almost universally able to perform the conversion process without audible flaws.

Cool. Thanks. I just have never used the analogue outs on a player since, I don't know, 2000? It's like one step back to make one step forward, a little counterintuitive during these "digital is better" days.

I have read that the analogue connection will be just as good as the digital connection. I just wasn't sure if I would actually get a more defined audio signal using the analogue outs. I think I'm clear now.

Thanks, all.

Just to wrap this thread up in case someone later wants a difinitive answer while perusing the boards...

I actually exchanged the BD-P1200 for the BD-P1400 for the upgraded audio codecs on board. The set up was the same for both.

Multi-channel inputs into the receiver - analogue 5.1 cables - and the player set up to give me PCM sound, without downmixing or compression gives me an awesome 5.1 experience. Lossless mixes are noticeably fuller than the standard 5.1 Dolby Digital.

The downside to this os that my receiver (Yammy RX-V1400) won't let me monkey with any advanced settign while in Multi-Channel in mode. That is, I can't create a 5.1 matrixed surround when only 2 channels are output from the receiver. I also can't use the rear surround speakers until I upgrade. Also, no delay or voluem settings on the reciever. On balance, given that my room is nearly ideal for surround sound, I think the trade-offs are well worth it.