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italy12

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 1:54 PM

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...eventually. While I plan to go Blu this holiday season, I have one major question that will ultimately decide what I purchase. I am interested in a PS3, and while I hear it is a great Blu-Ray player, I am a little confused about what I will need to get the most out of the audio. I plan on purchasing a receiver with HDMI inputs/outputs eventually as well.

Can anyone out there (I know you guys out there know A LOT on the subject) fill me in on what I need to experience the HD audio in the best way possible?

Thanks in advance!

-Dave

John J. Puccio

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 2:56 PM

says... "It's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide." --A.E. Neuman

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"Can anyone out there (I know you guys out there know A LOT on the subject) fill me in on what I need to experience the HD audio in the best way possible?" --Dave

The "best way possible"? I'd buy six Wilson Audio Alexandria X-2s and maybe a smaller Wilson for the front-center speaker. These loudspeakers are about $125,000 a pair, so be prepared to pay about $775,000 for the speaker system alone. http://www.wilsonaudio.com/

Seriously, if you want to get the most out of Blu-ray, you'll probably want a 7.1-channel receiver with built-in decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Try Denon or Onkyo for starters.

Then you'll need to audition speakers for a surround system. I've found that a 7.1 configuration is best, but 5.1 is still plenty good (and almost all theatrical releases are mixed in 5.1 channels, anyway). A decent subwoofer might also prove worthwhile, but I don't know what your budget is. Buy the best speakers you can afford.

John

italy12

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 3:07 PM

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I'm sorry, I have speakers...I was curious about receivers/wiring and the difference between Bitstream and LPCM which I think the PS3 has as choices.

I was a bit confused about what the PS3 would decode internally and send out to the receiver and what not...am I even making sense? I don't know. I know a lot about S-DVD connections and sound options, but when it comes to Blu...it opens up a whole new can of worms.

My receiver currently has no HDMI, and is obviously good for S-DVD but not for Blu-Ray. My budget is modest, so I can't spend thousands on a high end Onkyo or Denon, unless there are good ones for considerably less. I'm talking like a few hundred. Maybe I should wait a few years for that! haha

bladerunner1

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 3:31 PM

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Quote:
The "best way possible"? I'd buy six Wilson Audio Alexandria X-2s and maybe a smaller Wilson for the front-center speaker. These loudspeakers are about $125,000 a pair, so be prepared to pay about $775,000 for the speaker system alone

I have these speakers in my "secondary" theater. Their ok.

bladerunner1

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 3:37 PM

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Quote:
I was a bit confused about what the PS3 would decode internally and send out to the receiver and what not...am I even making sense?

Why yes Dave, you are indeed making sense. The PS3 will decode EVERYTHING..and send it to your reciever. (however you may have to visit Sony for a firmware update.) From the description you gave in your initial post, I'd say that your ready to go. Have fun!

EDIT
BTW. You will need to get a reciever that accepts HDMI, for the PS3 does not have analog out.

[Post edited by bladerunner1 on Nov 14, 2008 - CST 3:41 PM]

richiro33

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 3:47 PM

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Blade,

How advantageous is using HDMI over Optical. I ran HDMI right to my tv instead of through my reciever b/c the picture was much better. So now I have HDMI to my tv and optical to my receiver. Should I do something else?

bladerunner1

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 4:03 PM

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you cannot pass the new hd codecs through optical. it will default to a "core" dts bitseam(not enough bandwidth with optical). you have to use hdmi to your reciever, and then back out to you monitor in order to get what you want. i know, it sucks.

[Post edited by bladerunner1 on Nov 14, 2008 - CST 4:09 PM]

Falcon01

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 4:06 PM

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Blade, from what I understand the PS3 does NOT internally decode the HD audio tracks like Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD.

To be able to hear those you need to get a receiver that has the decoders built-in and set the audio on the PS3 to bitstream that way the receiver can do all the decoding.

I could be wrong but that's how I understand it as far as the PS3 is concerned.

bladerunner1

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 4:16 PM

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maybe you are right falcon. i thought the latest firmware fixed this problem? i don't have hdmi on my pre-pro, so i'm doing the same thing dave suggested. hdmi to monitor. optical to pre-pro. i'm satisfied with this for now...but then again my equip. is on the higher end of the scale. as ive often said, i do the prologic 2 with alot of my br's, and it rocks.

Falcon01

Nov 14, 2008 - CST 5:03 PM

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I'm doing the same thing you guys are, HDMI straight to TV for video and optical to the receiver for audio.

I have to say it sounds pretty darn good as well but I'm hoping to upgrade the receiver this coming Boxing Day to one that has Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD.