A30 Auto or PCM?

[junglalien]

I have a Sony STR-DG720 on the way. Should I set "Digital Out HDMI" to Auto or PCM?
Step-up features on the STR-DG720:
7.1 channels, 105 watts of power
Three HDMI inputs
Can handle eight channels of LPCM audio
NO onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665361526

[peterhefer1]

I have the 910, set it to PCM, you'll get the player decoding then sending out the pcm

[mrspeakers]

Originally Posted by junglalien

I have a Sony STR-DG720 on the way. Should I set "Digital Out HDMI" to Auto or PCM?
Step-up features on the STR-DG720:
7.1 channels, 105 watts of power
Three HDMI inputs
Can handle eight channels of LPCM audio
NO onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665361526

set to PCM and make sure your Blu-ray transport can decode the formats you're interested in. The latter is still a dodgy issue... Very few players output all formats in PCM today, though a few more are coming "in the next few months."

[junglalien]

Originally Posted by mrspeakers

set to PCM and make sure your Blu-ray transport can decode the formats you're interested in. The latter is still a dodgy issue... Very few players output all formats in PCM today, though a few more are coming "in the next few months."

I have a PS3. As I understand it tommorow 4/15 I should be able to get firmware update 2.30 and be able to decode DTS-HD Master Audio.The firmware update will add DTS-HD High Resolution Audio as well.

[peterhefer1]

Originally Posted by junglalien

I have a PS3. As I understand it tommorow 4/15 I should be able to get firmware update 2.30 and be able to decode DTS-HD Master Audio.The firmware update will add DTS-HD High Resolution Audio as well.

you bet, I've been holding off watching some of my latest Blu-ray purchases from fox and MGM like rocky and first blood. and about 15 others till I can download the update aswell.

[CochiseGuy]

Originally Posted by peterhefer1

you bet, I've been holding off watching some of my latest Blu-ray purchases from fox and MGM like rocky and first blood. and about 15 others till I can download the update aswell.

What the hell! Why are we discussing PS3 audio here in the HD DVD Hardware forum???

Just kidding, my fellow Purples. You guys are in for a treat with full DTS Master Audio decoding for those Fox & New Line titles - I've been enjoying it bitstream via my Panny BD30 & Onkyo 605. As to junglalien's question - if you set the A30 to "Auto", it will bitstream Dolby Digital & DTS audio on standard DVD's to the DG720, which it should handle fine, and will decode all audio on HD DVDs internally and output it as PCM (extracting only the DTS 'core' on any HD DVDs with DTS MA.

[Blacklac]

+1 for Auto, for the sake of bitstreaming for SD's.

Doesn't really matter for HD though.

[junglalien]

ok now I'm confused again....The first people said put it on PCM. I don't plan on watching many regular dvds. Do I lose something on "Auto" with HD DVD? I don't understand about "core"

[CochiseGuy]

Originally Posted by junglalien

ok now I'm confused again....The first people said put it on PCM. I don't plan on watching many regular dvds. Do I lose something on "Auto" with HD DVD? I don't understand about "core"

If you don't plan on watching many standard DVDs then it won't make much of a difference. No, you won't lose anything with "Auto" the A30 will always decode internally all audio on HD DVDs and output it as PCM to your receiver whether it is set to Auto or PCM. Auto just gives the flexibility of letting the receiver decode standard DVD audio.

"Core" refers to the "standard def" DTS audio which can be extracted from DTS-HD Master Audio high def audio. Currently, the PS3 (and the A30) can only extract the standard def 'core' at 1.5mbps; after tomorrow with the software update the PS3 will be able to extract the full DTS-HD MA, which is usually 4-6mbps. It's not a big deal for HD DVD unless you get into imports - only New Line's Pan's Labyrinth and a few concert HD DVD U.S. releases used DTS-HD MA, but it is commonly used on European HD DVDs. Just wanted to make sure you understood that on your A30, not matter what setting you use, it will only extract the 1.5mbps core with DTS-HD MA.

[FriarD]

I have my A35 set to auto with my 605. Should I switch it to PCM or keep it at Auto?

[junglalien]

I planed on gettin the Motorhead concert HD DVD when i get my audio system up and running. http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/motor...agefright.html
English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround.
So I'm not going to get the best audio with A30 on auto or pcm?
I just read a review somewhere else says its DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1
confusion...

[CochiseGuy]

Originally Posted by junglalien

I planed on gettin the Motorhead concert HD DVD when i get my audio system up and running. http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/motor...agefright.html
English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround.
So I'm not going to get the best audio with A30 on auto or pcm?
I just read a review somewhere else says its DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1
confusion...

This disc has DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 Master Audio, but no HD DVD player can internally decode in full Master Audio high-def resolution, only extract the standard def DTS "core". The only "workaround" on HD DVD is to get the A35 or XA2, which can bitstream (read & pass through the compressed audio) via their HDMI 1.3 output to a newer receiver with HDMI 1.3 & decoding for DTS-HD MA - like my Onkyo 605.

Originally Posted by FriarD

I have my A35 set to auto with my 605. Should I switch it to PCM or keep it at Auto?

With an A35 (and XA2) paired with an Onkyo 605, you want to have it set to Auto. In the setting under that one - Direct Digital Audio Mode, you want to have that set to "On". That will bitstream all audio to the 605 for decoding which, in my opinion and to my ears, sounds noticeably better than the player doing the decoding.

[junglalien]

Thanks Cochise. Well I'm not going to get a A35 and different reciever just for my imports on a dead format. I think I'm all good to get the best audio out of BD.

[FriarD]

Does anyone else have a problem with their A35 cutting out around the 1 hour mark? My screen freezes up or I lose my audio.....every single time around the 1 hour mark. It is frustrating the hell out of me.

[CochiseGuy]

Originally Posted by FriarD

Does anyone else have a problem with their A35 cutting out around the 1 hour mark? My screen freezes up or I lose my audio.....every single time around the 1 hour mark. It is frustrating the hell out of me.

On every disc? That would frustrate the heck out of me, too. Only thing I can think of is maybe it's over heating - do you have it in a cool, well ventilated location?