Will an old AVR do?

[everyones_shadow]

Hi all

Am I right in thinking that if I buy a Blu-Ray player with all modern decoding chips and features that I could feed that into an older AVR using just the volume control, input switching and power amps from the AVR and letting the player do the digital processing?

I realize I wouldn't get speaker/room correction but would I lose anything else? There are 5.1 AVRs from most of the good brands on eBay for less than $200.

Thanks

ES

[Jake]

You wont get HDMI.

[everyones_shadow]

You wont get HDMI.

Ah. That matters. Thanks. When was HDMI introduced?

ES

[mr-happy-pants]

Older units with HDMI would be the go...

[joz]

The older units will not accept 1080p even as pass through I believe.
If they only have component 1080i will be maximum,which is still really good but still less than what the format can provide.

When your talking about older,how old?

Overall the later the reciever the better the tech.

If you get the player to do the decoding,I believe that you will need at least 6 analogue inputs on the reciever.

[jel]

Depending on how much 'all in one' functionality you want, HDMI doesn't matter.

You can get a player with analogue outputs (ie OPPO-83, Pana BD-80, Sony 550) and an AVR that has 5.1 analogue inputs,
Then you can:
- Connect your BluRay player HDMI (or component video) direct to your display.
- Connect the analogue output of the player to the 5.1 input of the AVR

This will give you the high quality picture and audio, without needing a newer AVR with HD audio decoders and HDMI.

[Batty]

My panasonic has no idea what HDMI is so I feed directly from my WDTV media converter to the TV and feed the optical output to the receiver.

[shanedudddy2]

Older AVR's generally can be picked up for a lot cheaper and have better amp sections in my opinion, if your using it just a multi channel pre+amp Id go with an old avr.

[ENIGMA]

Just use optical out on the bluray player to the AVR & HDMI to the panel/tv.

Don't worry too much about the new decoding formats and enjoy it in 5.1 from the AVR.

[JohnA]

it will all work just fine

here is what i do

run hdmi into a hdmi 4 way switcher. From there to my pj. This will allow you to have 1080p if needed

use digital coax from the blu ray to the avr. instead of true dolby digital or DTS MA you will have normal dolby digital and DTS

works a treat for me

[dlite]

Just use optical out on the bluray player to the AVR & HDMI to the panel/tv.

Don't worry too much about the new decoding formats and enjoy it in 5.1 from the AVR.

Would this possibly lead to syncing problems between audio and video?

[Jake]

Would this possibly lead to syncing problems between audio and video?

Nope. I do the same and its all perfect.

[ENIGMA]

Would this possibly lead to syncing problems between audio and video?

This problem is usually related to using analog audio outputs & dig video outputs at the same time.

As you are using a digital audio output, all should be fine.

[soundandpictures]

BDP with on-board decoding/5.1 outputs + AVR with 5.1 inputs is all you need.

Forget about using a normal digital connection.

BD is nothing without HD sound !

[jeffpr]

older avr for sale yamaha rxv 795 with 5.1 inputs [and 5.1 preouts] about 8 years old with remote and manual no faults pick up from melbourne $100. was a mid level amp.

cheers jeff.
























4

[Paul Spencer]

I'm looking at getting an older receiver as well, but I wouldn't go that cheap. I'd look for component video inputs as a minimum. I don't see a reason you should have to give up any features offered by the receiver, although I haven't properly looked into blueray. Surely they would have component video and coax digital audio outputs, both of which are easy to find on older receivers.

[EDGEAUDIO]

BDP with on-board decoding/5.1 outputs + AVR with 5.1 inputs is all you need.

Forget about using a normal digital connection.

BD is nothing without HD sound !

SAP, does this really make much difference using the analogue connections over a digital connection?

Just use optical out on the bluray player to the AVR & HDMI to the panel/tv.

Don't worry too much about the new decoding formats and enjoy it in 5.1 from the AVR.

This is how I have my BDP connected to a pre HDMI AVR. Sounds OK but I do notice speaker level issues between different discs.

[Jeffro]

I was keen to go this way myself as I have a 3 yr old Arcam pre which has HDMI for video only.Looked at either the Pana BD80 or Sony S550 but doing a bit of research on them I found that users were saying that there was a significant difference in SQ ,when using the 5.1 analogue out it wasnt as good.

Both these 2 players mentioned above dont have the greatest dacs and this is where the problem lies. I wish this wasnt the case as I love my Arcam[especially its 2 ch] and would have to spend much much more to get a modern AVR which would be comparable to what I have.

Has anyone compared this? Using same Blu ray player comparing HDMI V 5.1 analogue?

[EDGEAUDIO]

SAP, does this really make much difference using the analogue connections over a digital connection?



This is how I have my BDP connected to a pre HDMI AVR. Sounds OK but I do notice speaker level issues between different discs.

Well, I've just realised that my Samsung BDp1500 does not have analogue out which is probably why I connected using the optical out which is the only available audio output for older AVR's - Doh!

[JohnA]

I was keen to go this way myself as I have a 3 yr old Arcam pre which has HDMI for video only.Looked at either the Pana BD80 or Sony S550 but doing a bit of research on them I found that users were saying that there was a significant difference in SQ ,when using the 5.1 analogue out it wasnt as good.

Both these 2 players mentioned above dont have the greatest dacs and this is where the problem lies. I wish this wasnt the case as I love my Arcam[especially its 2 ch] and would have to spend much much more to get a modern AVR which would be comparable to what I have.

Has anyone compared this? Using same Blu ray player comparing HDMI V 5.1 analogue?

yes i have and found i preferred just using digital coax from the blu ray player to my processor.
Others may find it different though as what i found is bass management through the blu ray players was not as good.
My rotel 1098 has and is still doing a brilliant job.
The only thing that annoys me about it is the clicking of the relays when the sound format changes.

[jel]

I was keen to go this way myself as I have a 3 yr old Arcam pre which has HDMI for video only.Looked at either the Pana BD80 or Sony S550 but doing a bit of research on them I found that users were saying that there was a significant difference in SQ ,when using the 5.1 analogue out it wasnt as good.

Both these 2 players mentioned above dont have the greatest dacs and this is where the problem lies. I wish this wasnt the case as I love my Arcam[especially its 2 ch] and would have to spend much much more to get a modern AVR which would be comparable to what I have.

Has anyone compared this? Using same Blu ray player comparing HDMI V 5.1 analogue?

It might be worthwhile adding the OPPO 83 to your research, they seam to get a good review.

[kesa32]

If you can't afford a new avr , then by all means go for an older ( decent) one with inputs you need......l kept my Sony TADA9000es as l really like it , and bought a Pioneer bdp51fd ( great dacs ) and run 7.1 anolgues for sound and hdmi direct to my pj.........works really well

cheers ken

[Cody]

if you buy a good blu-ray player (ie with good speaker set-up/bass management etc, good analogue stage), that also has full decoding for all the HD audio codecs, then you should be better off using the multi channel (5.1 or 7.1) analogue outputs into your AVR. this way you still get lossless audio.

for various reasons though, you may find using S/PDIF provides better sound (even though you cant get lossless audio this way), as John A did. So best always to check for yourself.

as already mentioned, hdmi can then be run straight from the player to the TV, so no need to worry about that in the AVR.

[Jeffro]

The Pioneer might be the way to go.

Correct me if i am wrong but the dacs are not only important in the Blu ray player,but also important in the avr/pre-pro as far as using the analogue out??

[kesa32]

Dacs are important , l went the pioneer because my avr does'nt do hdmi etc and this was the best way for me to go , unless l sold the sony..........if you have a hdmi able'd avr with good dacs then thats the way to go.......no need to have great dacs in both avr and bdp if you have hdmi