I have a pretty cheap Sony Receiver I purchased a couple of years ago running with my current axiom setup. In the areas I care most about sound (HD-DVD and DVD audio)I am running the sound via the multi channel analog cables.
Does my receiver have any bearing on the sound or does it just pass it thorugh? I have been considering upgrading my receiver this summer with the Sherwood HDMI 1.3 receiver, but will it have any effect on the sound quality I have currently if it doesn't process the sound? Would I be better off getting a HDMI 1.1 receiver that can carry the HD audio signal that my HD-DVD player decodes?
I'm looking for any ideas, because if getting an upgraded receiver wouldn't have much of an affect I can put tat money towards teh new sub that I need and the new TV that I want.
Any input would be appreciated.
I think it's a combination of both. Speakers are a major factor but the receiver does make a difference. I used to have a Sony and it was fine, but I did notice a difference when I upgraded to an Integra. I purchased the Axioms first. So I did notice a difference when I replaced my speakers and again when I replaced the receiver. Is it worth the extra money? It was for me, but I watch a lot of movies and listen to music during the day.
Priz, except of course for amplifying the sound, a well-designed receiver/amplifier is supposed to pass it through without adding any sonic characteristic of its own. Flat 20-20KHz response and inaudibly low noise and distortion are the requirements, and many moderate-cost units, possibly including your Sony, can meet those requirements. If so, it's already amplifying transparently and there won't be any sound difference when you don't apply tone controls or other sound processing features.
Chances are the extra power you will get from the upgrade will make it a noticeable difference. The lower end Sony's are notorious for over rating the WPC spec.
That's true. I'm pretty sure I'm not getting a full "120 Watts per Channel" like it claims.
But, I'm more wondering if the receiver does any processing when passing through the analog multi channel input. Is my DVD player doing everything. Because if tha were the case, changing receivers wouldn't change all taht much, correct?
I noticed quite a difference going from a low end sony to my 1804 Denon and then from a sony DVD player to a Samsung. The Denon had a little more clarity at lower volumes. The Samsung seems to have more output to the receiver than the Sony did. I was listening to movies at -15 to -10 with the Sony and now listen at -20 to -15. So there is a difference in the electronics and signals that they send.
Priz, if you have evidence of that, file a formal complaint with the FTC, because it would be a violation of the regulations. All receiver/amplifiers sold in the U.S. have to meet the power rating resulting from the test method in the FTC regs.
The player does the digital-analog conversion when feeding the analog inputs of the receiver. The user can of course apply tone controls or other processing of his choice.
Thanks Wid for that link, I'm curious if there is an updated report anywhere, many receivers are not listed. I guess I get the idea of which brands are conservative rated.
Priz,
Where you would notice a difference routing HD-DVD audio through a capable HMDI receiver verses what you are doing now (analogue), is bass management, channel adjust and post possessing within the receiver. Now, you have to adjust the channels with the DVD player and all of your bass management is also handled by the DVD player. Some receivers (very few), will allow you to control the LFE channel and post process DD EX / PL IIx or DTS ES to extract a sixth and / or seventh channel off the analogue inputs, but I doubt yours will do that.
When you go with a receiver that processes uncompressed PCM audio streams from HD and BR players, they will process this data stream the same as your current receiver will process compressed DD and DTS sound tracks that are also included in the high def disks.
Clear as mud?
That makes it somewhat clear. Now I need to figure out how to tell apart receivers that just pass through HDMI and those that will be able to handle the HD Audio. I was thinking HDMI 1.3 because it was a sure bet to be able to handle the HD Audio, but now I have read that I may be better of using PCM than bitstream anyway, so maybe I can find more "bang for my buck" if I go with a current HDMI receiver that can handle the PCM HD Audio over HDMI.
Did taht make any sense?