Dolby TrueHD sound

[KitFisto]

Yet another HD dvd question. I am looking at new receivers with HDMI inputs and output. As long as the receiver has HDMI then is will decode the full Dolby TrueHD sound correct?

I found a Sony for a pretty good price with 2 HDMI inputs and 1 output. It lists several sound decoding options, but does not specifically say Dolby TrueHD.

The model is a STR-DG910

 

[Reinhardt]

from my understanding, most of the HD players on the market (not that there are many lol) do not have true dolby hd sound capabilities right now.

 

[KitFisto]

I am looking at the Toshiba HD-A20. I think it does?

 

[tomandshell]

An HDMI input does not necessarily guarantee that the recorder will decode Dolby TrueHD. (Some receivers have an HDMI input that is "pass through" only.) However, even if the receiver doesn't decode the signal, the player probably does. If your player can decode it and send it out through the HDMI connection then you should be fine.

As for me, my Toshiba HD-A1 decodes DolbyTrueHD and sends it out via six channel analog outputs, so all the digital decoding is being done in the player and I am currently able to hear TrueHD without HDMI. But I am going to get an HDMI equipped receiver sooner or later--the PS3 won't output uncompressed audio through anything other than HDMI.

(All of the HD DVD players that Toshiba has on the market will decode DolbyTrueHD.)

 

[KitFisto]

Tom,

Do you know if the HD-A20 decodes it?


Edit - I see your comments on all Toshiba players now. That's what I needed, thanks.

 

[user 1190]

From what I have read is you need to have HDMI capable reciever, the player does the decoding. I could be wrong but you should be ok.

 

[tomandshell]

Tom,

Do you know if the HD-A20 decodes it?

The HD-A20 will give you 1080p HD video (including upscaling your standard DVDs) and decode in-player these audio formats:

-Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
-Dolby TrueHD 5.1
-DTS 5.1
-DTS HD (Core only)

So if you have a 7.1 receiver you might not want the A20. I have a 5.1 surround setup so the 7.1 is not a factor for me right now.

 

[KitFisto]

The HD-A20 will give you 1080p HD video (including upscaling your standard DVDs) and decode in-player these audio formats:

-Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
-Dolby TrueHD 5.1
-DTS 5.1
-DTS HD (Core only)

So if you have a 7.1 receiver you might not want the A20. I have a 5.1 surround setup so the 7.1 is not a factor for me right now.

Ok, now I am really confused LOL. Do they even make 5.1 receivers anymore? I thought almost everything was 6.1 or 7.1 these days.

 

[Natrix]

from my understanding, most of the HD players on the market (not that there are many lol) do not have true dolby hd sound capabilities right now.

All players should have True HD decoding built in, you might be thinking about the DTS MA.

To answer the OP, as long as your HD player has the built in decoders and you use HDMI, your receiver should play back the audio properly. It really works no different than a DVD player except for using the HDMI instead of optical for the increased bandwidth for the new codecs.

 

[gdb]

An HDMI input does not necessarily guarantee that the recorder will decode Dolby TrueHD. (Some receivers have an HDMI input that is "pass through" only.) However, even if the receiver doesn't decode the signal, the player probably does. If your player can decode it and send it out through the HDMI connection then you should be fine.

As for me, my Toshiba HD-A1 decodes DolbyTrueHD and sends it out via six channel analog outputs, so all the digital decoding is being done in the player and I am currently able to hear TrueHD without HDMI. But I am going to get an HDMI equipped receiver sooner or later--the PS3 won't output uncompressed audio through anything other than HDMI.

(All of the HD DVD players that Toshiba has on the market will decode DolbyTrueHD.)

Tom, how does the PS3 compare to other Blu-ray players out there? Is it a decent player or is it stripped down?

 

[Gruson]

Kit,

I will try to help. This is a VERY confusing subject.

Your HD-A20 will send out the TrueHD audio signal (PCM) over HDMI.

Here is where the problem is. Some receivers will not properly handle the .1 channel over the HDMI input. So bass will be really low.

Others will accept the 5.1 TrueHD signal and output it correctly to 5.1 TrueHD BUT cannot add the extra 7.1 DPL IIx "layer" to it. Meaning you only get 5.1 even on a 7.1 set up.

There is a huge thread over at AVS about it and they break down the receivers into different levels, depending what they can do.

Here it is, please take a look at it:

https://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=738511

Very few receivers on the market today actually process the HDMI TrueHD correctly.


1) Only some receivers with HDMI currently on the market output audio over HDMI, others simply ignore the audio signal and act as a switcher (i.e. Pioneer 1016tx).

2) Movie soundtracks are recorded with the .1 (LFE) channel 10db quieter than the rest of the channels. It is a receiver's job to increase the .1 channel by 10 db, when fed a Dolby or DTS signal. Some receivers do NOT apply this 10 db increase to PCM signals over HDMI, reproducing the bass much quieter than the rest of the soundtrack. See here for more information (including which receivers do what).

 

[KitFisto]

Wow Gruson, thank you! I usually think of my self at at least a little A/V savy, but that thread made me feel like an idiot LOL.

From what I saw it looks like the players on the market today only output at 5.1 so I guess the receivers are supposed to do the work to upgrade to 7.1. I could be wrong as I have just skimmed that thread so far. A LOT of info there.

I am just looking for a replacement set up for my master bedroom right now so 5.1 is good for me and I want a receiver that can properly handle the .1 channel for base. Can you recommend a mid range receiver for that? By reading his levels of receiver I am not sure which level I need LOL.

 

[user 1190]

Wow Gruson, thank you! I usually think of my self at at least a little A/V savy, but that thread made me feel like an idiot LOL.

From what I saw it looks like the players on the market today only output at 5.1 so I guess the receivers are supposed to do the work to upgrade to 7.1. I could be wrong as I have just skimmed that thread so far. A LOT of info there.

I am just looking for a replacement set up for my master bedroom right now so 5.1 is good for me and I want a receiver that can properly handle the .1 channel for base. Can you recommend a mid range receiver for that? By reading his levels of receiver I am not sure which level I need LOL.

I have been looking at the one you are for a while too. The Sony has one nice thing for a nice price 3 HDMI imputs not 2. Based on that thread it seems the 910 is a reciever and a good price.

Also i found this
https://www.soundandvisionmag.com/receivers/2353/sony-str-dg910-av-receiver.html