Anyone using the analog inputs from the processor?


Is Anyone using the analog inputs from the processor to the analog outputs on their dvd player for surround processing?

Are your results as good as or better than letting the processor decode the sound?
128x128mitch4t

Showing 3 responses by john_z

Don't fear the analog connection! Done properly it does sound excellent. I continue to use a "dolby digital ready" receiver (Sony GA7-ES) in my system so I have never used a digital connection from my DVD player (Sony DVP-C600D) for DD. I cannot directly compare the sound of the analog connection to the digital connection but I can tell you that it sounds very dynamic and transparent in my system. When I select the 5.1 mode on the receiver, it routes the audio directly though the volume pot to the amplifier stage, very much like a high-quality 2ch integrated amp would do on stereo only it's getting a 5.1 signal.

The big argument against decoding 5.1 surround in the player early on was because of limited bass-management on the earliest DVD players. The Sony C600D addressed that issue and was the first player where the decoding was on par with the receivers of that era (late '90's). The clean decoding for DD (96/24 DACS) coupled with complete bass-management and a high-quality analog output stage earned the player excellent review in Home Theater magazine and has never caused me to want to upgrade. I invested in a good power amp instead (Arcam Alpha 10P X 3 channel) and my system rocks on movies.

If I do decide to go BluRay I will probably buy the Sony 2000-ES for similar reasons - quality analog stage and decoding- and it would drop right into my system without replacing the receiver and amp. I route all video directly to the projector anyway so I can live without HDMI in the receiver. I'm waiting to see if the next version of the model Sony 2000 player will decode DTS-MA like the new Sony 550 player. That would be a nice upgrade indeed. Now, if they would also include multi-channel SACD/DVD-A capability as a bonus, that would be sweet! Are you listening, Sony? -jz
I never said the analog connection sounded better than a digital connection, but I stand by my opinion that it is certainly an acceptable alternative. In my situation, I chose to invest in a receiver years ago prior to DD/DTS becoming defacto in receivers, so my priority at the time was good quality 2-channel, Pro-Logic processing, and a analog 5.1 input to ensure compatablity with future formats. And guess what? Nearly ten years later it's still at the heart of my A/V system and performing just fine.

Uncompressed PCM at 24/96 sounds terrific through an analog connection in my system and I have a hunch that the uncompressed Dolby Tru-HD and DTS-MA will sound awesome too. Maybe a hair or two less dynamic than digital HDMI, but still very enjoyable nontheless. Splitting hairs at most between the two.

As an aside, if an analog connection is so limited dynamically, explain why the two most dynamic music formats, SACD and DVD-A, are only available via analog connections? You'd think that the industry would have passed on that option if it were so inferior for their new flagship high-res format? -jz

I guess like most things audio, the outcome depends on many variables. It's expensive to include a quality analog output stage in an audio component, as a result there are many popular DVD players on the market (like Oppo) where a digital connection is the only way to go if you want the best performance. They focus on the digital HDMI performance (very successfully) within a given price target and the analog performance suffers as a result relative to what's possible with analog.

Flrnlamb, I don't disagree with what you've said and if/when I decide to replace my receiver I will probably use digital connections for digital sources, except for my cd player, which has the DCS Ring-DAC built in :-)

The room-correction eq they are building into today's receivers can work wonders in the typical home setup, as you know.

However, I have come across more than one review where they have praised the analog connection route on certain higher-end two-channel systems that pull double-duty as a home cinema system. Specifically, an Arcam FMJ DV29 player feeding decoded 5.1 DD/DTS to their analog C30 preamp (with the optional multichannel module) feeding a giant stack of five (or seven!) Arcam P1 monoblocks.. Strap that system into your typical living room and hold on to your hats! -jz