Robert Archer
Q. If money did not matter, what is the best TV on the planet that’s 50 inches or more? - Matt Ubel, Minn.
A. The easy answer is the Pioneer Elite Kuro plasma, but Pioneer is phasing out of that product. So if you’re going to buy one, you should do it now.
You should also look into products from Runco and Panasonic.
Many people these days, however, are investing into projection systems (projector and screen). These have larger screen sizes and the ability to play anamorphic movie content in the correct aspect ratio.
In this category look at companies like: Runco, Digital Projection, SIM2, DreamVision, JVC, Marantz, Sony and Sharp.
Q. Is it worth calibrating it for $400?
A. I would say yes, if you have the money. It’s small things that an ISF- (Imaging Science Foundation) or THX-certified installer can do to get the most out of a video system. You’ll notice those details in shadow detail, color accuracy and picture brightness/balance.
If that’s too much, there are discs from companies like Joe Kane Productions (JKP) and the ISF that bring a fundamental baseline of those parameters to your system.
Q. Can Dolby Digital optical/co-axial inputs or outputs handle the new Dolby TrueHD signal?
A. No Matt, it cannot. If you connect a Blu-ray player’s audio outputs to a coax or Toslink (optical) cable, the audio will automatically kick down to Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1.
You need to have a receiver that decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio via HDMI (select bitstream output) in order to listen to the uncompressed Dolby and DTS formats.
The other option is to buy a Blu-ray player with built-in decoding and multichannel analog outputs. A Blu-ray player with these options will send the uncompressed audio out through the multichannel outputs. You will need the necessary RCA cables to make the connection.
Most newer receivers and preamplifier/processors have the multichannel analog inputs because they were included to support the almost-extinct DVD-Audio and SACD audio formats. New receivers and pre/pros include them today because it’s something they can offer affordably as another line-item option.
Some of the new Blu-ray players that include the multichannel analog and built-in processing include:
All of these players can be found for less than $400.
Q. Can you walk me through it? I have a Harmon Kardon AVR 7200, Pioneer Pro151FD Plasma, Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD Blu-ray Player and Comcast HD cable box.
A. Matt, your in good shape. Your Blu-ray player has the built-in analog outputs and decoding and your receiver has the analog inputs. You’ll need as many as eight RCA cables depending on whether your system is 5.1 or 7.1. It’s simply a matter of matching up the outputs from the Blu-ray player to the inputs of the receiver.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to go into the Blu-ray player’s audio menu settings and select the analog audio output. It may also ask you to select the built-in decoding option. I haven’t seen the player personally, but it’s not much more than that. Keep the receiver and Blu-ray player’s owner manuals nearby to reference them in case you hit a hang up.
Then you’ll need to select the analog inputs for audio playback. You’ll probably be able to toggle through all of the receiver’s inputs before you come upon the analog multichannel option. Make sure to save it so it comes up automatically when you select your DVD/Blu-ray player.
Here’s a couple of suggestions:
You’ve got some impressive pieces in your system, and if finances allow, you shouldn’t hold back on cables. Also, think about a good power conditioner. Companies like Richard Gray’s, Transparent, APC, Furman and Torus make some excellent units that will protect your gear from spikes, brown-outs and surges. They will also filter out line noise like EMI and RF interference that detract from a system’s performance.
Robert, You mention the two wiring options for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio. First using HDMI, the other by using multichannel audio. I have a couple of questions regarding this. If your player/receiver combo is set up for these formats, wouldn’t you want to use the HDMI cable for cost savings? I would have to imagine that the HDMI cable would pass a signal that would be as good (if not better) than using the multichannel audio. Or is the thinking that you would want the BluRay player to handle the conversion to TrueHD and DTS Master Audio? If so, why?
Finally if one would want the ‘best’ signal (in other words the direct path) wouldn’t you want to run a HDMI cable for video from the BluRay player direct to the display, and use the multichannel audio out to the receiver? This would bypass the receiver doing the video processing, and using the better video processor inside the Kuro? I think for most of us, when it comes to wiring options and signal path, it just gets plain confusing!
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Hi CJ you are right on the money with all of your comments.
If the receiver is capable of decoding the formats a HDMI cable is the easiest solution and the most cost effective.
The two options I mentioned were given to provide those with older A/V receivers an option that doesn’t involve buying new receiver and Blu ray player. By purchasing a player with the built-in processing and multichannel output you limit the extra expense by about $100.
As for your video comment you’re also right on in theory. Today most receivers have the bandwidth capacity to handle the HD signals without a problem, but as you note, from a purist perspective you are adding another device to the signal chain, which may harm the signal.
The option is given by the manufacturers to make it more convenient for the user to switch audio and video signals at the same time. You can run your HDMI straight to the display, but you add another step of switching the audio to the process.
You can solve this with a good remote from companies like URC and RTI. These companies make remotes capable of executing macro commands. Depending on your finances however it may be more prudent to let the receiver switch from source to source while keeping the audio and video in sync and together.