HDMI Lossless Audio
Dear Gary:
Hopefully, I have a simple question. I have never quite understood the ins and outs of bitstream vs. PCM for receiving Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio. I have an Onkyo TX-SR875 receiver, which can decode the high-resolution audio. My understanding is that my Sharp BD-HP20 Blu-ray player can only send a PCM decoded signal to my receiver. However, it doesn’t matter if I select bitstream or PCM—my receiver only displays Dolby Digital EX and not Dolby TrueHD (yes, for discs that are labeled Dolby TrueHD, such as Casino Royale). If I try other listening modes, the receiver never detects Dolby TrueHD (maybe it can’t since it is decoded in the Blu-ray player). The audio doesn’t sound different either. I’m sending the signal using a 1-meter HDMI cable that has a Simplay symbol and is supposed to be HDMI Version 1.3. I have a JVC DLA-RS2 projector that is connected to the receiver with a 10 meter HDMI cable, and the on-screen display info from the projector indicates 1080p 24fps when using my HD-DVD player, so it seems the HDMI signal is working.
Is there a trick to getting Dolby True HD? The Widescreen Review of the Sharp player stated the Dolby TrueHD PCM output of Casino Royale sounded great. Could this be an operator error? Could the 10-meter HDMI cable prevent the receiver from getting TrueHD, even though it is downstream? Should I try another brand 1-meter HDMI cable? If I get the new Panasonic DMP-BD35 (or BD55) Blu-ray player and use bitstream, will my problem be solved?
Thanks for your help and a great magazine.
Carrington McVeigh
editorgary@widescreenreview.com
Editor-In-Chief and Publisher Gary Reber Comments:
If the Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio is decoded in your Blu-ray Disc player, then the player will output PCM and your processor will not detect that signal as Dolby or DTS, just PCM. We use, in one of our reference systems, the excellent Panasonic DMP-BD55 Blu-ray Disc player. When the player decodes the Dolby or DTS bitstream, the player outputs PCM and that output is shown by the DMP-BD55 on our monitor’s display.
You can E-mail Widescreen Review @ editorgary@widescreenreview.com