True/Plus Dolby & DTS-HD????

[june]

Hello All

1. Will the new sounds come pass through the optical or coaxial output via HD/Blu-Ray DVD players?

2. Has anyone heard and/or A/B the new sounds?

[Chris D]

No, optical and coax do not have sufficient bandwith to pass the new high-res audio streams.

I'm just now getting into these new technologies, so stay tuned!

[audioqueso]

Not to stride from the topic, I don't really see how the industry says optical doesn't have enough bandwidth when the properties of fiber optic allow it to be created to almost unlimted bandwidth.

[Jack Gilvey]

Not to stride from the topic, I don't really see how the industry says optical doesn't have enough bandwidth when the properties of fiber optic allow it to be created to almost unlimted bandwidth.

Yeah, it's the spec not fiber itself. What fiber can do when strung about a neighborhood is another story.

As stated above, though, optical or coax can't carry 5.1 lossless audio.

[littlesaint]

Not to stride from the topic, I don't really see how the industry says optical doesn't have enough bandwidth when the properties of fiber optic allow it to be created to almost unlimted bandwidth.

It's the SPDIF interface that is limited. I believe something like 9.2 Mbps. TrueHD is can approach 18 Mbps with 8 channels used, and the decoded PCM is twice that.

[june]

This is why I'm sticking to my Oppo unconvert player & DVDs from region 3. I want the sound more than the picture. I love picture from the Oppo but the sound from region 3 DVDs will give True/Plus & DTS-HD a run.

For now I'm sticking to my plan, Oppo & region 3 DVDs.

[audioqueso]

It's the SPDIF interface that is limited. I believe something like 9.2 Mbps. TrueHD is can approach 18 Mbps with 8 channels used, and the decoded PCM is twice that.

Ahhh, I didn't know that about SPDIF. Interesting. Learn something new everyday. :B

Hey June, what is so great or different from the audio from region 3 DVDs?

[june]

audioqueso,

please check your private messages.

[june]

Hello Chris D,

Did you get a chance to A/B "DOLBY DIGITAL vs. TRUE/PLUS DOLBY or DTS vs. DTS-HD?

Is it worth the $500 investment? Hooking a Yamaha RXV663 to / thur my Rotel RSP1068.

[John Holmes]

june,

I'm not Chris however, I have compared truehd and dd+ with Dolby Digital. Is it better??? Imo opinion...yes. But, I couldn't attach a cost value to it. It just seems a tad more clear. Like being in a quiet room, with no external sound influence. I feel compelled to point out, standard DD (legacy/original) is no slouch. I have no problems enjoying it 99% of my collection! :T

I've not heard DTS-HD thus, cannot comment on it.

[june]

thanks john holmes,

right now the blu-ray disc does sound much better the my standard dvds. so i thought the the new sound will sound much better not a tad better. i'm going to my local dealer and hopefully i can to an A/B demo.

[John Holmes]

Well, I don't like to blow things out of proportion. The HD codecs do sound better. And if they are an option, their use would be my first choice. But, I do believe that everything is relative.

With my setup, they actually sound very good. But, that is my opinion. To the next person, it just may be only different. Sound is hard to quantify from one's equipment and ears, to anothers brain...especially in words. Just way too many varibles.

If you can swing it, I say, go for it. It's about enjoying the hobby. And that enjoyment comes in many different ways on many different price levels.

[hifiguymi]

I think both of the lossless formats (Dolby TrueHD and dtsHD Master Audio) are better than their compressed (Dolby Digital and dts) cousins. What I notice the most is dialog clarity, bass detail and soundstage. I've noticed it on modest systems and larger, high end systems. Putting a price on it is tough and would depend on the person listening.

Eric

[David Meek]

Well put Eric and John. :T I'll just echo what you said, yes it does sound better. Is it worth the investment? You have to listen and decide. For me it's easy - yes it is worth it.

[DeanP]

This sounds like DVD-Audio or SACD, but with a picture!

[june]

thanks all,

i am waiting for the new panny dmp bd50: http://panasonic.net/pavc/blu-ray/dm...res/index.html

[John Holmes]

This sounds like DVD-Audio or SACD, but with a picture!

That is exactly what it is like. To some it's worth it. Others don't see what all the fuss is about.

[George Bellefontaine]

That is exactly what it is like. To some it's worth it. Others don't see what all the fuss is about.

Yeah, I sort of fall into the latter category. I don't have an HDMI receiver so my Panny bitstreams plain vanilla DD / DTS over my coaxial connection. Now I have a pretty good sound setup and the plain vanilla seems to have just a little more vanilla when I spin a Blu-ray disc as compared to a standard dvd, so I am more than pleased. Will I put out for a new receiver ? Probably not. I'd rather add a few new hi-def discs. Let's face it, I'm 71 and from a time when a moving picture was magical, and sound was something a little better than the radio console in the living room. But, hell, for those who can afford the best, by all means go for it. I'm sure it will make a bigger difference to your younger ears than my tired old ones.

[H.T.C]

I think your right george,its a matter of money,being able to enjoy what we have now (who knows what the future holds) without constantly trading up with every new format that comes out and if i get another intergrate it most likely will be 2-channal and not surround.

In the late 60s/70s most films were recorded in mono and not stereo to make a difference for rear channels.

[John Holmes]

Yeah, I sort of fall into the latter category. I don't have an HDMI receiver so my Panny bitstreams plain vanilla DD / DTS over my coaxial connection. Now I have a pretty good sound setup and the plain vanilla seems to have just a little more vanilla when I spin a Blu-ray disc as compared to a standard dvd, so I am more than pleased. Will I put out for a new receiver ? Probably not. I'd rather add a few new hi-def discs. Let's face it, I'm 71 and from a time when a moving picture was magical, and sound was something a little better than the radio console in the living room. But, hell, for those who can afford the best, by all means go for it. I'm sure it will make a bigger difference to your younger ears than my tired old ones.

This post by George, reflects the exact points I made above. And it is something that many have tried to get across to members of our hobby. If you spend for a mid to upper level system, and take the time to do "proper setup" to include what is necessary to get the max quality sound from "correct" speaker position (including sub), most would be simply amazed at how good "plain vanilla" DD & DTS sounds! (Boy, that was one running sentence).

However, many for a variety of reasons either cannot position speakers where the belong or refuse to. Believe me, the electronics regardless of level and sophistcation, are at the mercy of the speakers position. And of course, these positions, are very listening postion and room dependent.

So yes, TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTSHD are better. But it's worth, very subjective. I learned the hard way. Many system changes later, great sound can be had for very little money, but does require a good investment of time!

[Chris D]

Agreed with all above.

To answer the question, though, YES, I've compared. Unquestionably, lossless True HD, DTS-MA, and lossless PCM are substantially better than the legacy digital audio formats. This becomes more and more true, the higher fidelity system that you have that can showcase the difference.

Subjectively, YES, I would say it's worth a $500 upgrade for anyone other than casual movie watchers that aren't interested in performance.

[bigburner]

Subjectively, YES, I would say it's worth a $500 upgrade

Hi Chris,

Would you please tell me what you're referring to here.

Nigel.

[Chris D]

Nigel- I was referring to the original poster, asking if it would be worth $500 to upgrade to equipment capable of lossless audio. IMHO, it is.

[Spearmint]

I’ve recently upgraded from the Rotel 1098 to the Denon AVP-A1HD pre. I’ve been running HD-DVD & Blu-Ray via digital for many months and always found the core DD or DTS tracks to be superior to their SD cousins. Having now got the ability to decode the new formats, I’m not sure if the improvements are monumental, certainly having the Audyssey has made my system sound different. On top of that the differences between Rotel & Denon are the usual sonic differences.

In a nut shell I’ll go out on a limb and say the differences between the core track and the PCM track are probably in the micro-dynamics and possibly a smoother sound, but IMO I’m only talking a few percentage points.

[june]

Thanks Spearmint,

decisions/decisions 8O

I have a birthday coming up on 5-17 & upgrading to the new sound via Yamaha rxv-663 was my present to myself. I strongly agree with you about the BD sound to standard DVD.

But weighting a small percentage to $500 is the questions.