HDMI 1.1, .2...but no .3

[Clueless1]

So here's the thing: I have an Onkyo TX-SR674 and a Sonyy KDS-60A2000. I'm looking at jumping in to the Blu-Ray pool with the s350 which has internal decoding of all but the two high end codecs. Here's the thing: The S350 has one HDMI output (1.3, of course), the Onkyo has HDMI 1.1, and the TV has HDMI 1.2. I've read that lossless audio can be output between a blu-ray player and a receiver with a 1.1 connection. What I haven't been able to find is if connect only one HDMI cable between the s350 and the Onkyo, will it be able to pass both visual and audio over to the receiver, which I can then forward (through the receiver) to the TV? (Bandwith concern)--I'm not sure if this the right forum for this, if not, please let me know which one I should post this in.

Cheers,

[Josh Z]

If the Blu-ray player does not internally decode TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, the only way to get those formats in full quality is to pass the bitstream over an HDMI 1.3 connection. You need to have HDMI 1.3 in both the player and the receiver. If your receiver is only HDMI 1.1, it will not accept the bitstream, and it has no TrueHD or Master Audio decoders built in anyway (why would it, if it can't accept the signal?). As such, the soundtracks will be downgraded to either standard Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1.

I'm looking at the specs for the BDP-S350, and it says that it has a TrueHD decoder built in. This means that the player can decode the soundtrack and output it as PCM, which your receiver will accept. That will give you full lossless quality over any version of HDMI.

Unfortunately, the S350 does not have a DTS-HD Master Audio decoder. You won't get that format in full quality unless you upgrade your receiver. You'll only get standard DTS.

Bookmark this page for future reference:

Blu-ray Audio Explained

If you had an HDMI 1.3 capable receiver, it wouldn't matter what version of HDMI your TV has, so long as you connect the Blu-ray player to the receiver first, and then the receiver out to the TV.

[gwoardnog]

It's also fun to note that 1.3 does not necessarily mean it has the decoding. The audio decoding is an optional spec in 1.3.

[Clueless1]

Thanks for the confirm about passing the PCM..my main question is, will the single HDMI out on the s-350, which is going to be 1.1 (due to my receiver) pass both visual and audio info?

Cluelessly,

[Arkadin]

sure.
hdmi passes video and audio.
note: if one has a receiver that cannot pass multichannel pcm over hdmi, one has to use an optical cable to pass the downrezzed audio.

[seandarcy]

Originally Posted by Josh Z

......................
Bookmark this page for future reference:

Blu-ray Audio Explained
.................

(wouldn't let me post the url)

What a great article! Thanks.

[ack_bak]

@OP,

You are the perfect candidate for a PS3

Otherwise watch for the upcoming Sony BD-S550 which is rumored to cost $399 (MSRP) when it streets in early October. It has been reported to have internal decoding for all the audio codecs.

[mschupp]

Originally Posted by Clueless1

So here's the thing: I have an Onkyo TX-SR674 and a Sonyy KDS-60A2000. I'm looking at jumping in to the Blu-Ray pool with the s350 which has internal decoding of all but the two high end codecs. Here's the thing: The S350 has one HDMI output (1.3, of course), the Onkyo has HDMI 1.1, and the TV has HDMI 1.2. I've read that lossless audio can be output between a blu-ray player and a receiver with a 1.1 connection. What I haven't been able to find is if connect only one HDMI cable between the s350 and the Onkyo, will it be able to pass both visual and audio over to the receiver, which I can then forward (through the receiver) to the TV? (Bandwith concern)--I'm not sure if this the right forum for this, if not, please let me know which one I should post this in.

Cheers,

According to the user manual your receiver can accept MPCM over HDMI but does not have decoders for TrueHD or DTS-MA. It can then send the audio to the speakers or to the TV over HDMI (may be able to do both at the same time).

If HD Audio is important to you then you want to look for a player that decodes both those formats and sends PCM to the receiver. The PS3 does, and I believe the higher-end sony that is coming out does also. Not sure about the others.