Is Blu-Ray worth it without HDMI & DTS-HD

[djanni]

Inspired by this thread - Is Blu-Ray worth it with a 720P plasma? My interest is in the new Oppo.

My AV is a Pioneer Elite VSX-56TXi and doesn't have HDMI connections. The AV doesn't have the latest DTS-HD or True HD decoders. My TV, is a Samsung DLP, 46" and doesn't have HDMI. From a Blu-Ray player I would connect the video to the TV using a HDMI to DVI adapter as I do now with the DirecTV hookup. I would connect the audio from the Blu-Ray to the AV with an optical cable.

My question is will I get better quality sound having the Blu-Ray with that hook up and using direct stream DTS or DDII?

[rbinck]

If your question is will a Blu-ray player give you better video quality than a SD DVD player, the answer is a resounding yes, even on a 720p HDTV. As far as sound goes, the optical is the best connection to your AV amp.

[djanni]

Originally Posted by rbinck

If your question is will a Blu-ray player give you better video quality than a SD DVD player, the answer is a resounding yes, even on a 720p HDTV. As far as sound goes, the optical is the best connection to your AV amp.

The question is sound about quality. Without the codecs for DTS-HD and True-HD I'm wondering if the sound quality will improve noticeably.

[bootman]

You don't have 7.1 analog inputs on that Elite AVR?
If you connect the 7.1 out of the oppo you will have HD Audio

[djanni]

Originally Posted by bootman

You don't have 7.1 analog inputs on that Elite AVR?
If you connect the 7.1 out of the oppo you will have HD Audio

I do have 7.1 on the Elite even though I use 5.1 and bi-amp the front mains. I don't have decoding for DTS-HD or Dolby's True-HD. With my current setup I can hear a difference playing a SuperBit DVD.

I'm really asking for opinions on whether or not overall sound quality is enhanced via Blu-Ray when DTS-HD or True-HD codecs are not used.

[Loves2Watch]

Originally Posted by djanni

I do have 7.1 on the Elite even though I use 5.1 and bi-amp the front mains. I don't have decoding for DTS-HD or Dolby's True-HD. With my current setup I can hear a difference playing a SuperBit DVD.

I'm really asking for opinions on whether or not overall sound quality is enhanced via Blu-Ray when DTS-HD or True-HD codecs are not used.

Your receiver has multicahnnel analog inputs and the Oppo has multichannel audio outputs. The Oppo will decode DTS MA Dolby True HD and any other HD audio source and pass it along to your receiver via the aforementioned inputs/outputs so you will be able to hear the HD audio with your current receiver.

Did that help?