DTS HD via Multi Analog vs DTS via Bistream

First, nothing wrong with using the PS3 as a Bluray player. It does an excellent job.

Secondly, yes, you should hear a very large difference in sound quality. Standard Dolby Digital and DTS are multi-channel systems that utilize what is referred to as lossy compression. What this means is that to make room for the multi-channel soundtracks included on standard DVD's Dolby and DTS had to severely compress the audio of these soundtracks so that they would fit on the disc. This type of lossy compression discarded a large amount of the actual information found in the soundtrack. The new Hi-def codecs such as Dolby Digital HD or DTS Master Audio use what is referred to as lossless compression. These systems while still basically a compressed format use much less compression than the standard Dolby or DTS plus they utilize much higher sampling rates than the standard codecs. What this all adds up to is top notch multi-channel sound from a Bluray player that can pass these signals through its multi- analogue outputs, as the Oppo does. Sound fully comparable to and sometimes superior to SCAD or DVD-Audio.

Thanks Rcrerar.
So it's true that playing a Bluray DTS/DD HD on my Ps3 through Toslink to my Nad M15 will somehow down convert the Lossless signal to a Lossy audio. And even with my M15 (better DACS) decoding the signal will be less superior than , let's say a samsung BR player (seems Oppo 80 are hard to come by)with internal decoding (inferior DACS) of DTS/DD HD through analog multi-Channel to My 7.1 analog input on my M15 will be still noticably better?

The idea situation is to have a reciever that will decode the DTS HD and Dolby True HD formats with the signal being transferred via HDMI.

The next best option is to have the blu-ray player decode the signal and sent it via 6 plus RCA cables to the receiver. This requires a lot of outputs on the blu-ray player and a lot of inputs on the receiver.

The DTS HD and Dolby True HD are called lossless because they are effectively not compressed. There is some type of compression done but when decoded it is fully restored.

The toslink can only carry two channels of uncompressed sound (i.e. Redbook equivalent) so if you use that for multi-channel movies you'll only get the compressed formats that could be compared to MP3.

Bottom line, huge difference. I had my blu-ray player setup wrong one time and my wife made me stop the movie to get it fixed since the bass stinked, yes stinked, when not playing the lossless format.

Huge difference. I had my NAD T773 receiver hooked up to my BD player with digital coax and it sounded better than my Onkyo TX-SR705 hooked up the same way. I then purchased a BD player with 7.1 analog outputs and hooked it up to my NAD receiver and played a track with DTS-MA and couldn't believe the detail improvement. I switched back and forth for many A-B comparisons and multi channel analog with DTS-MA and Dolby TrueHD won hands down.

Bill

Thanks Rcrerar, Mceljo, and Willland for all your input.

I'll wait for the OPPO BDP-92 to be release. I know that player have 7.1 analog out. I can't wait to hear the diffence in my system!

Cheers!!

There's something special about blu-ray lossless audio. I find myself ignoring movies at times just listening to the soundtracks. I'm only running a 4.1 setup with sub-par rear channels so if you have a more all around setup it can only get better.

Actually Samsung has a Bluray player with 7.1 analog out. for $199 @ Costco.

Will I hear a huge difference in quality from a oppo with both outputting 7.1 analog output?

I'm sure the Oppo 93 will be great if not better than the 80 or 83, but at less than half the cost, the Samsung looks attractive. Still debating if its worth the price just to hear DTS-HD/DD-TRUE DH when watching movies.

So if the any B.R. Player(w muli analog out) internally decodes the DTS-HD/DD-HD signal and outputs it through its 7.1/multi channel analog output, does the pre-processor its connected to decode it again to output a "close to" the HD lossless signal?
And if it does, then does it matter if I use a cheaper B.R player (like the Samsung) to use it as a source and rely on my NAD processor to output "quality" HD surround sound.

If I use/or had a processor with HDMI then I would think the Oppo would be a better choice? But for analog output perhaps the difference is not so dramatic... any thoughts?

No. Once it is decoded, it is decoded. OTOH, if the player is competent, it will have been decoded with full HD lossless resolution.

No. Your NAD processor cannot "fix" the quality if it is corrupted upstream.

No. Why would you think that the Oppo is a better choice if you are using HDMI. The Samsung has HDMI as well.

No. It is likely the Oppo is better if you use the 7.1 analog outputs.

Will you hear a difference? Dunno.

My newly received Oppo BDP-93 sounds great using the 7.1 analog output :). Thanks all for all your input, advice and comments. Enjoy the holidays :)

Does anybody knows why the 2 surround back channels don't play? I'm using 7.1 analog output channels from oppo 93. Thanks

Does your source material have back channel information?