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Blu-Ray HD Audio Coding, worth $1000 Upgrade?

Just when I thought I had it all I realized that with the rise of Blu-Ray there are now new Surround Codings such as DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO that my tuner won't process to the full capacity of the coding. DTS-HD can, "This bit stream is so fast and the transfer rate so high that it can deliver 7.1 audio channel, 96k/24-bit sound identical to the original studio master." (From DTS.com)
I currently have a Pioneer Elite VSX80-TXV with 110 watts a channel (AB amplifier) running Paradigm Studio 60V2's bi-amped, Titans in the rear, CC170 Center, and a JL Audio Fathom 113 sub with PS3 doing Blu-ray duty.
I am considering the Pioneer SC05 Tuner with is 130 watts Class D amplification, and of course it does the DTS-HD as well as a couple of other new codecs that I don't know about. It also can upscale non 1080P source information as well, whereas the VSX is only 1080P video pass through.

It is about $1000 upgrade after selling off my old tuner and Pioneer Elite DVD player that I don't use anymore.
My system is used 40% Movies, 40% HDTV, 20% Music.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or alternative theories are gladly accepted!

christian_coach
christian_coach OP
9 posts
 
I looked through every menu and can't find anything on my tuner settings for PCM. Not sure what I am missing here.

Does anyone know when the new Rotel's will actually be out?
iplaynaked
193 posts
 
When you think about it, there's so much "gray area" for the average audio enthusiast to consider, regarding everything from they type of equipment he should consider, to the best connections, best decoding options, best scaling options, best settings, yada, yada, that's it's almost a total crap shoot, basically! I mean you make your choices, guess your connections, set your settings, tweak your parameters, and hope for the best, seems. Don't it though?!
I bet you could even ask 100 different people with the same exact basic system, how to connect the gear, which conenctions are best, and with what settings and parameters they should use, and you'd get 80 different answers, easy!!!
Simply amazing. It's gotten so confusing that even the experts are not so sure, often - lol.
christian_coach OP
9 posts
 
Iplaynaked, you make a good point. That is the exact reason I post here! I want more than one opinion. I like to collect a good amount of information from a variety of sources then make an "informed" decision.
Part of the fun for me is the process of building my system.

With that said, does anyone have other suggestions? I am really curious to hear from someone who has upgraded to DTS-HD Master. Does it make a big difference?

If I go with a lesser expensive tuner, what 7 channel amplifier would you recommend?
bar81
791 posts
 
I need to correct my earlier comment. To do 5.1 over toslink (or coax) for that matter you would have to reencode to DTS or DD. The only way to get lossless 5.1 out of the PS3 is to have a receiver that is capable of receiving LPCM over HDMI, which your receiver does not appear to have the capability to do. Alternatively, you could get a Blu-Ray player that decodes everything internally like the PS3 but also has 5.1 analogue outs to hook up to the analogue ins on the receiver.
aolmrd1241
1,028 posts
 
"I am really curious to hear from someone who has upgraded to DTS-HD Master. Does it make a big difference?"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I have just recently started to listen to the ps3's new codecs in my home theater system with blu-ray,and,in a word, "impressive". I did not expect that much of a improvement in sound quality,you know, being a two channel guy, but now you can color me impressed.

I feel the biggest improvement in the sound over DD or DTS is that the sound field is now of a more organic nature with an over-all better sound stage,more natural to say the least. Definitely a BIG upgrade and worth the technology IMO...

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