Receiver upgrade

[Ironhide]

Hi guys!

Recently I bought PS3 mainly for the blu-ray player.
Everything is perfect with the video on my LCD TV. The audio is also fine although my AV Receiver is Sony str-dg 500 and I am running audio through optical (no hdmi).
I've read tons of opinions that the new HD audio formats are superior than the Dolby Digital through optical. I also read tons of threads about what is the difference between the two and if you can easily hear the difference. So I won't bother you with these questions.
So now as many of you I am wondering if to upgrade my reciever to one with hdmi interface. I think that the answer depends on the speakers that you are using. And beacuse my speaker are not the best (there is no space for larger ones) I just want to ask you: do you think that the upgrade to a Onkyo TX-SR605 will make a big difference with these speakers?:

http://www.eltax.com/eltax/index.php?item=10&id=10225 - front
http://www.eltax.com/eltax/index.php?item=10&id=10223 - rear
http://www.eltax.com/eltax/index.php?item=10&id=10235 - center
http://www.eltax.com/eltax/index.php?item=10&id=10055 - subwoofer

Or should I stick up with my Sony receiver?
The room is 4 by 7 meters
Sorry for the n-number question in this direction and I will be extremely grateful if you can help mi with the decision, or just to chat about what speaker do you use with your home systems.

Regards

[dennie]

You're this close posting to the right section. Home Theatre section.

[Ironhide]

Very useful information. Thanks :). I'll paste it there.

[banie01]

The onkyo is a great piece of kit but have you taken a look at Sony STR DG910? I've been using mine for a while with technics speakers and I think its a great piece of gear.

[glyoung]

Sony is not really known for their recievers. TV's yeah but for a reciever I would go with Onkyo, Yamaha or Denon. I personaly am using an Onkyo 805 and I love it.

[CCourtney]

A couple comments while you're still over here.

At this time the PS3 doesn't support the Dolby True HD and DTS-HD standards (basically lossless audio.)

Basically, the audio quality itself you'd not be able to tell the difference unless you had high end speakers. That said, you really need a 7.1 speaker setup to take a benefit over DD5.1 and DTS at a minimum, then high end speakers and receiver to really tell the difference between the lossy and lossless audio compression.

Personally, I only have a 5.1 speaker setup, but high end speakers. No HDMI receiver yet (still with my Denon AVR3300) but the next one I get will be support the Dolby True HD and DTS-HD even if I haven't purchased the next two speakers so that I'll be ready for the future.

But keep this in mind. If you're using satellite speakers forget it. If you can buy your speakers at Best Buy, forget it.

TAZ427

[Silar]

The STR-DG-910 is a fine choice. Ignore what the AVSnobs say, it's am well priced HDMI 1.3 amp, that sounds great and works well with the PS3, in full 7.1 glory..

[CCourtney]

The STR-DG-910 is a fine choice. Ignore what the AVSnobs say, it's am well priced HDMI 1.3 amp, that sounds great and works well with the PS3, in full 7.1 glory..

Yeah, I may be an AV Snob, but I'm just saying to invest in the speakers first and not worry about trying to be part of the crowed that can say hey, I've got Dolby True-HD / DTS-HD and you don't if it's still going to sound piss poor with ones speakers.

I basically told my neighbor to invest in speakers before getting a new receiver that supports 1.3a since he bought a BR player.

He had to do it, he still has satellite speakers, he asked my opinion when I was over. I asked him if he remembered what I said, he confirmed that he did. Then I had him come over to my house, tossed the movie in my PS3 and put it through my system and he was pissed.

I've got 10yr old Mirage Omni's and a 12" Mirage Sub and a 10yr old Denon receiver, that sweeps his crap under the rug.

TAZ427

[glyoung]

"At this time the PS3 doesn't support the Dolby True HD and DTS-HD standards (basically lossless audio.)"

The PS3 has supported Dolby True HD for quite some time now and supports DTS-HD MA as of April 15th. It can not bitstream these formats but it can decode them internaly and streamed via PCM to your reciever. You also must use and HDMI cable. The PS3 can do any sound option available today with HDMI.

[CCourtney]

"At this time the PS3 doesn't support the Dolby True HD and DTS-HD standards (basically lossless audio.)"

The PS3 has supported Dolby True HD for quite some time now and supports DTS-HD MA as of April 15th. It can not bitstream these formats but it can decode them internaly and streamed via PCM to your reciever. You also must use and HDMI cable. The PS3 can do any sound option available today with HDMI.

Not exactly true, as you say it can convert both (now) to a Linear PCM stream and pass that over HDMI. It still doesn't support the streaming of the Dolby True HD and DTS-HD streams directly. Some receivers do not accept the 7.1 LPCM stream over HDMI.

TAZ427

[Ironhide]

So your opinion is that my speakers are too weak to hear a huge difference between the two audio formats and I must upgrade them first?
I don't think that the first thing to do for best HD audio is to upgrade your layout from 5.1 to 7.1. May be this is the last step. Still many movies don't support 7.1.

Cheers

[CCourtney]

So your opinion is that my speakers are too weak to hear a huge difference between the two audio formats and I must upgrade them first?
I don't think that the first thing to do for best HD audio is to upgrade your layout from 5.1 to 7.1. May be this is the last step. Still many movies don't support 7.1.

Cheers

Well, I don't know what speakers you actually have. The great majority of HT setups, I would say this is true. If you're Satellite speakers, I'd say it's definetely true. If you got speakers from BB or CC (Pioneer, Klipsch, JBL, Cerwin Vega, Sony, Bose, Polk, ...) it's highly likely they're still too low end (maybe some of the upper end of the equipment they have would do)

Too many people buy quality receivers and then slap poor quality speakers on them IMO and I do think one would get more out of upgrading their speakers in an existing decent quality 5.1 system, then upgrading their receiver to be able to support Dolby True HD and DTS-HD.

The good thing about good quality speakers is that they never get outdated by technology ;)

TAZ427

[weskurtz81]

I agree with CC, I would go with one of the receivers he suggested, and make sure you have a decent set pf speakers. Not saying Sony receivers are junk, but there are many receivers available that are better.

[Ironhide]

Thanks for the reply.
Just for information, in my first post I gave 4 links with my speakers. So you can see them there.

Regards

[Essenshizer]

Not exactly true, as you say it can convert both (now) to a Linear PCM stream and pass that over HDMI. It still doesn't support the streaming of the Dolby True HD and DTS-HD streams directly. Some receivers do not accept the 7.1 LPCM stream over HDMI.

TAZ427

Not exactly true, as you say it can convert both (now) to a Linear PCM stream and pass that over HDMI. It still doesn't support the streaming of the Dolby True HD and DTS-HD streams directly. Some receivers do not accept the 7.1 LPCM stream over HDMI.

TAZ427


To simplify this for those confused:

The PS3:

1) can DECODE: Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio

The PS3:

2) can NOT bitstream: Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio

---

If you want to use your PS3 as your dedicated Blu-ray player then you will only need an Audio Video Receiver capable of receiving 7.1 LPCM over HDMI (Next-gen audio requires a HDMI receiver).

or

If you plan on buying another Blu-ray player (i.e., a standalone unit like a Panasonic) then the standalone unit can bitstream the Dolby and DTS signals to your AVR which will need to be able to accept the signals directly. Hence you will need a receiver that can decode them. No bias, but for example: Yamaha RX-V663.


Lastly, investing in QUALITY (quality doesn't correlate precisely with price) speakers will enable a very rich listening experience. Don't skimp on either of them! ;)

[Alkali]

I can confirm speakers are most important when first putting a system together. 7 years ago I auditioned 3 floorstanders, and the Mission m74's I picked up are still going strong. I didn't even bother with a sub till 2 years ago due to their 46Hz capability. Once you have quality speakers you know what the fuss is about.

[AMG44]

Yeah, I may be an AV Snob, but I'm just saying to invest in the speakers first and not worry about trying to be part of the crowed that can say hey, I've got Dolby True-HD / DTS-HD and you don't if it's still going to sound piss poor with ones speakers.

I basically told my neighbor to invest in speakers before getting a new receiver that supports 1.3a since he bought a BR player.

He had to do it, he still has satellite speakers, he asked my opinion when I was over. I asked him if he remembered what I said, he confirmed that he did. Then I had him come over to my house, tossed the movie in my PS3 and put it through my system and he was pissed.

I've got 10yr old Mirage Omni's and a 12" Mirage Sub and a 10yr old Denon receiver, that sweeps his crap under the rug.

TAZ427

Mirage make excellent speakers. I have a pair. They arent my primary speakers but I have them. I also have apair of whaferdale, energy, nht, koss (yes they made floor standing speakers n the 70's I got from my dad) and polk.