PDVD8 & TrueHD Audio

[SamuriHL]

Originally Posted by roog

I'd go for the 805. Plenty of power (130W), THX2 ultra, and better DACs. You should be able to find it at a higher discount than the lower price models. The only thing I don't like is it only has 3 HDMI inputs. I like having 4 for PC, PS3, XBOX 360, and Cable. I could make out with 3 if I used Component Video for the 360 but I hate the way they implemented the S/PDIF connector.

I'd have to look at the price. That's going to be over 500 bucks I think. I'm not sure my budget will allow that any time soon. I'm not even sure I can swing 500 at the moment.

[kdssrugby]

I was perusing the AVS forums lately, and I ve been noticing a lot of DTS HD MA tracks are being reported to have loud pops. Some are: Golden Compass, AVP:Requiem, the Fly and a number of others. I curious if anyone knows if this is a hardware issue or an encoding issue. It makes me leary to want to play those tracks (once we have DTS HD MA capability) and risk my speakers.

[roog]

Originally Posted by frg

If HD soundtracks are decoded inside the amplifier, it will be impossible to mix a second soundtrack (from a PiP comment f.i., like in Resident Evil: Extinction).

Samuri says he's done PIP using LPCM. Look at his earlier posts.

[SamuriHL]

Originally Posted by roog

Samuri says he's done PIP using LPCM. Look at his earlier posts.

Right, and that's being done by the player not the amplifier. LPCM is the only way to mix audio streams together. Bitstreaming doesn't allow for that. Bitstreaming is the method used to send a TrueHD/DTS-HD MA/etc track directly to the receiver for it to decode. Using that method, no PIP audio.

[hlkc]

Originally Posted by thedatman

hlkc before you start to throw the baby out with the bath water. Let me say this, I would bet your Theta Digital Casablanca probably sound better than any of the receivers that have been talked about here. I would not even be surprised if the Theta using the spdif is going to sound better than a $500 receiver usind hdmi 1.3. I was looking at the Theta Digital Casablanca 3 and it has 5.1 analog ins does yours?

If you have the analog ins than use them with the onboard card for now and go somewhere that you can look at many different audio card, hopefully somewhere you can return it if you don't like it and go with analogs. Unless you want to spend another 4 or 5 grand on a new processor. I'm surprised if they do not have an upgrade path.

Bryston does and they are in the same league. Like I said before Bryston does not even offer hdmi in the upgrade. They will but not until the standard is set. I can wait I have another 17 years of warranty left

Thank you for your compliment!!!

This is bother me the MOST!!! I can't tell you how much I love my Casablanca. If it comes down to I must have other receiver to do all these TrueHD Audio, I might even want to do that before get rid of my CB. Btw, Theta will have the upgrade path to HDMI 1.3 for CB in Sep/Oct but I have the feeling it will cost few thousands of dollars That's why I am trying to go around and see what I can do... They offer something called 6 shooter today and with that I can able to do the analog input for all 6 channels instead of just 2 now. I am thinking to do that now.

[hlkc]

Originally Posted by Jong

Of course this is academic as the audio on a Blu-ray disc IS digital there is no "all analogue" option.

The question is where it gets converted from digital to analogue - on the PC or in the amp. It comes down to which device has the better digital to analogue converters and, if we choose to convert to analogue on the PC, ensuring there is no signal loss in the connectors and cables.

I can't agree more about your statement

[hlkc]

Originally Posted by kdssrugby

HI hlkc, sorry for taking so long to reply, I ve been studying for exams. You understand correctly. Where does the X-FI prelude fit it? What happens is you buy that card and use it like a normal sound card. You then buy the extension card and place it in the slot next to it and connect it by a cable. The HDMI extension card requires the X-FI prelude to work. You cannot use it by itself.

Actually I just get off a 20 mins call with Auzentech and I got more info now.

1) They are working on a card that with combine X-Fi and X-tension all-in-one in Q3. If you have X-Fi now, you can just get the X-tension. If you don't like me, just wait and get this card and save us a slot.

2) Press release is coming out Q2. No above products we talked here will be release until Q3, the earliest

3) Once we have the combo, X-Fi and X-tension then we can just HDMI 1.3 out to TrueHD receiver and we will able to have TrueHD audio like today DTS and DD...

[hlkc]

Originally Posted by thedatman

What I was saying if you had already purchased a $3-5,000 pre-amp / processor it would sound better than a $500 receiver that has hdmi 1.3. Of coarse we will never know for sure. No way to test. So if you can only afford a $500 receiver buy it and enjoy it do all the tweaking you can afford but if you already own a expensive highend unit don't throw it out because it has no hdmi 1.3 input. At least not till the format is actually in place and all products are on the market. Besides most films are in 16/48 anyhow for those that are what you have available today is as good as it's going to get.

Yup, my sytem cost $10K+ and I sure not ready to throw it out to window for a receiver just to have TrueHD logo on it.

I don't meant o show off but here is my system and I love it every min from 2 channel iTune playback to 5.1 PDVD BD playback.

[kdssrugby]

Thanks for the update HLKC. I don thave that much room in my case so a 1 card solution would be the best.I update The FAQ on the first page.
And man, that is some crazy hardware you got.I m only a poor university student, so i only have "crappy" Harmon Kardon HKTS 15's. 1000watt 5.1, Sharp 42 lcd and an Onkyo 605.

[hlkc]

Originally Posted by digitalfreak

A word of caution - Don't assume that the Azunetech extension board will support TrueHD / DTS MA bitstreaming. There's a thread about it over at AVSForum, and the folks from Azunetech will only commit to LPCM output.

Edit: Here's the AVSForum link

Yes, when I just on the phone with them, they sounded like he won't or they are still working on that.