Ben, I understand that some people are still thinking in regular DVD terms- i.e. sending a bitstream to the receiver is the best way to handle surround tracks on disc. the thing is, that's not true anymore with the HD formats, especially HDDVD, since you've got the whole advanced content authoring method to contend with. Sending PCM is just as good as a bitstream with the lossless formats, so why would you have the burning desire to send a bitstream to the receiver in the first place? It just seems like the posts this week have all implied in various ways that sending a bitstream is preferable to sending PCM, and it isn't.
Neek, When DVD players first came out they had the decoders built in as well, but in the end they ended up in the AV receivers.
One reason is because the receiver were able to offer additional functionality like delaying audio per channel and other sound processing. The only reason to let the player decode is the advanced content authoring method. Personally I could care less about menu sounds, and special features. I care more about sound quality and accuracy. The same device can convert from D>A and amplify, there is only one neck to choke.
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Ben, I understand that some people are still thinking in regular DVD terms- i.e. sending a bitstream to the receiver is the best way to handle surround tracks on disc. the thing is, that's not true anymore with the HD formats, especially HDDVD, since you've got the whole advanced content authoring method to contend with. Sending PCM is just as good as a bitstream with the lossless formats, so why would you have the burning desire to send a bitstream to the receiver in the first place? It just seems like the posts this week have all implied in various ways that sending a bitstream is preferable to sending PCM, and it isn't.
Neek,
When DVD players first came out they had the decoders built in as well, but in the end they ended up in the AV receivers.
One reason is because the receiver were able to offer additional functionality like delaying audio per channel and other sound processing. The only reason to let the player decode is the advanced content authoring method. Personally I could care less about menu sounds, and special features. I care more about sound quality and accuracy. The same device can convert from D>A and amplify, there is only one neck to choke.