Ok, I have few questions. I understand blue ray player is best using hdmi but my rotel 1068 doesn't have hdmi, and my tv is only component and dvi. So would it be best to have hdmi to dvi cable for video and use toslink/coax for sound......but I wouldn't get all the TrueHD sound or whatever the new formats are called. Without having to buy new prepro someone told me I can use analog cables but I'm confused? What would be the best connection as far as video and audio for tv that has only dvi and component inputs and pre/pro with no hdmi? My tv only does 1080i native since its few years old as well. Currently with my 480p player using component it looks really good, but I can't imagine how blueray would look on my tv. And with my axioms just plain dolby dig or dts sounds so darn good.....how much better is the new audio formats considering I only have 5.1 system, not 7.1?

I think you answered your own question. I guess if it was me you would use a HDMI to DVI cable from the player to the tv to enjoy up to 1080i video. For audio, since your Rotels won't decode he HD audio stuff, you have a few options I believe. If you use toslink or coax you will be sending a pure digital signal from the bluray player to your rotel. If you us the analog audio cables, the signal is converted from digital to analog and then once it gets to the Rotel, converted back.

I don't know if you can use HDMI to DVI--wouldn't the HDMI fail because of the lack of HDCP on the DVI port? In that case, you'd have to use component, which should work.

My Sanyo Z2 only has DVI inputs and my DVD players and HTPC have HDMI. Just purchased an HDMI/DVI cable and it works fine for me. It is my understanding that the digital video signal is identical for DVI and HDMI. I guess the HDCP might propose a problem, not sure.

The video signal is the same, but if the DVI port doesn't have HDCP, it most likely will not work.

You'd have to look it up in the TV manual, but a lot of pre-HDMI sets still have full HDCP via DVI.

That is correct, my old 42" plasma had HDCP DVI

Good point--I kept forgetting to put it that clearly.

Yep, many tv's support HDCP over DVI.

Since my tv with dvi is hdcp compliant and it will work. But I'm conserned with the audio portion. Would you still run toslink/coax and just use the normal dolby dig and dts or can I run analog cables from player to the rotel multi-input for the newer audio formats? Also I know my prepro is software upgradable and maybe the upgrade might allow the player to decode the newer formats? I never tried updating it before and not sure how to do it. Also the new 1069 is out and it is exactly same as 1068 except with hdmi ins/outs, so I wonder if I could upgrade the pre/pro itself since I've only had it almost 3 years now and it might still be under warranty? So I'm just not sure what I should do at this point, either replace the equip, update the equip by software, or just do the best with what I have and enjoy? Just when you buy highend system, you're suddenly outdated quickly before you know it.

You should be able to enable the BR player to decode the newer formats and then send them analogous to the rotel.

Hi Ereed,

Jason (Jakewash) is correct. Be sure you get a Blu-ray player that has a full set of analog outputs for the lossless audio formats, then you can take those to the multi-channel analog inputs on the Rotel, using your DVI for the video.

There may be a slight measurable loss in audio quality if the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) chips in the Blu-ray player are really crummy, but I doubt that would be audible with music or soundtrack program material on a controlled, blind A/B comparison. Measurable, yes, but audible? Highly doubtful.

As you have stated, existing Dolby Digital 5.1 and dts "lossy" audio formats are extremely good. Putting aside the ooh-ah hype surrounding the new lossless formats, Dolby TrueHD and dts Master Audio, the actual audible differences between those and Dolby Digital 5.1 are nuances. Slightly cleaner, deeper bass and a little crisper mids and high end, with better dynamics.

I also expect the new lossy Dolby DigitalPlus, which runs at a higher data rate than existing Dolby Digital 5.1, would be extremely transparent. I've had a good demo of it, but haven't been able to compare it directly to Dolby Digital 5.1.

Regards,

Alan