Lack of AVR's decoding of Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio. Is it a concern?

[vyerth]

hi there,
I have been searching and looking for advise to buy a new sound system (AVR+Speakers) for my HD20 and would be playing videos from a Media player... intending to go for Popcorn or playon.

My question is how important is the decoding of Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio by AVR?

In my budget of 15-20K am working out a combination of Onkyo TX SR 307 + Yamaha NSP 270 Speakers. This AVR would not support Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio. The HDMI is only pass through. I have been given to believe that lack of this feature on this AVR is its negative point.

Or is there something else too which I am missing in this AVR for a decent movie experience.

Given all this, I would be seeing a lot of torrent downloaded movies. DVD's and BR Downloads.

Should decoding of both Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio be my concern? I am not an audiophile.

Would a media player decode the same and pass through best sound via coiax/optical to AVR. I guess POPCORN-C200, falls in this category, would it help?

Or am I just looking at the wrong thing to start... should I go for Logitech z5500 which is going to cost around 18-19K? Many of forum members vouch for the sound quality of it.

Would like to know what you guys think.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cheers!

 

[spirovious]

If you search the forum,you will find onkyo-3300 for 25k.

 

[venkatcr]

More than your audio, displaying low quality video through the HD20 would be a disaster. The HD20 is capable of FullHD, and unless you feed it good signals, you will be put off by what you see on the screen.

Cheers

 

[vyerth]

Spirovious... i have been looking at various options...and 25K is bit too much for me.
It is getting pricy for what i have kept for sound.

Venkat its true if the input is not good output wont be better...even if there is upscaling. Am I right? And I believe I will have to look for better source for movies, even if its ripped or torreneted. There would be upscaling at MEDIA player level too. so double upscaling wont help much. Is that correct?

How about at sound level? Is that Decoder going to help a lot... or it can be taken care at Media player level...Or is there any other AVR+Spkr combination which i can get for 20K?

Cheers!

 

[hemantwaghe]

pio 520 for 15.5 in grey
yamaha speakers for 6K start

 

[NetFreak]

Given all this, I would be seeing a lot of torrent downloaded movies. DVD's and BR Downloads.

Should decoding of both Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio be my concern?

In this case, you can safely ignore feature of HD sound.

Reason is, rips with HD audio + video are 25+ GB in size (legal and otherwise). Downloading these is not practical even if such material is available.

Usual 4 -8 GB rips would play just fine on AVR tha does not have HD Audio capability.

Unless source material is HD (Video + Audio) there would not be any quality improvement via upscaling.

If Pio 520 is available for 15k, this is a decent AVR to start with 6k Yamaha speakers. After a year or two, you can upgrade to better speakers.

 

[venkatcr]

How about at sound level? Is that Decoder going to help a lot... or it can be taken care at Media player level...Or is there any other AVR+Spkr combination which i can get for 20K?

This all depends on the source/AVR combination. Most media players do not expect to be used for decoding. Very few of them have analogue out. You can of course send PCM through digital connection, but the sound sucks. A good decoder at the last step of the chain is the best in terms of sound for regular Dolby and DTS leave alone HD audio.

At 30 odd K, you can get a reasonable HTiB, and that is what I would look at if I were in your shoes. Some of them can even handle HD Audio. If you wan a separate AVR and speaker combination, you should look at a budget of 75K to 100K.

Cheers

 

[vyerth]

Venkat,

Thanks for explaining it in more simple words... thats what I wanted to know.
Hemant and Netfreak, I have got a quote of 14K for pioneer 520 but I have been asked to wait for a week. Hope this is a reliable product and lasts well as there won't be any guarntee. In the meantime I would like to get a Demo which I am not sure where to look for. Any of you have idea... where in Mumbai I can go for Pioneer demo.

Can you please point me in right direction with speakers... I get an offer of Yamaha.

NSP270 configuration is as follows. (freq respons : 30hz-25khz; impedance: 6ohms; 4 satellite speakers:30Wto80W ) Netfreak, I know you said it would be good to go for. Would it work with this configuration of AVR?

PIONER VSX-520-K
Power output per channel 130W
Condition 1kHz, 1% THD, 6?
Rated Power Output 130W per channel
Input (Sensitivity/Imp.): LINE 200 mV / 45 k?
Frequency Response: LINE 5 Hz - 100 kHz +0/-3 dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: LINE (DIN) 98*dB
Power Requirements AC 220 - 230 V / 50/60 Hz

Cheers!

 

[hemantwaghe]

Venkat,

Thanks for explaining it in more simple words... thats what I wanted to know.
Hemant and Netfreak, I have got a quote of 14K for pioneer 520 !

from where?
pm me your cell no we will talk. I was planning to buy next wk

are you ok with used speakers?

 

[NetFreak]

Is it possible for you to get a demo of NSP270 ?

Based on specs, it matches this AVR. Reason is:

1. AVR supports 6 ? speakers (NSP 270 is 6 ? )
2. AVR is approx 50 W per channel (130 is marketing hype, specified at 1 KHz and not at full frequency)
3. Speakers are 30 W per channel ( Page 1 of : http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/pdfs/moreinfo/nsp270.pdf )

I am using a similar combination. Yamaha 665 AVR and NS-P430.

Regarding Gray market, yes there is a risk because of lack of warranty. AVRs are sturdy and do not have moving parts, so in my opinion its a reasonable risk but a risk nonetheless.

I bought Yamaha AVR for $240 for US, I am using it without warranty.

 

[ukjeyaraj]

Venkat,

In the meantime I would like to get a Demo which I am not sure where to look for. Any of you have idea... where in Mumbai I can go for Pioneer demo.

Can you please point me in right direction with speakers... I get an offer of Yamaha.

I dont think Pioneer is officially launched in India, and hence no place for demo. You may have to find some HFV member already owning vsx-520 and ready to give you a demo.

Regarding Yamaha speakers, you can have a demo at The Shop Andheri. About offers check with our HFV member Yogeshtulsiani. There is already a thread by him on Yamaha offers in Sale by Dealer sub-forum http://www.hifivision.com/sale-dealer/13699-yamaha-mission-deals.html

 

[vyerth]

Thanks NETFREAK for your encouragment and explanation.

After reading review of Pioneer, having second thought to go for Onkyo 308. But its expensive in market @17500/-. I also want to buy POPCORN c200/A210 guess its performance is remarkable. Need to do more research about media players though. Not sure which one to go for.

I am pondering import both at same time... save on shipping and customs... will try to work it out if I can.
Question is Do I really need a 110 to 220 convertor for AVR imported from USA? with my Optoma I don't have to worry nor with my Macbook.

Share your experience please.
Thanks.

 

[NetFreak]

Yes you do need 220 V converter and it MUST be an isolation transformer (Costs 3k).

Smaller items like Laptops/Cell phone chargers use SMPS so they can work with any voltage from 110 to 240.

Buying from US makes most sense if you are visiting there and do not have to pay shipping.

Regarding Media player, have a look at Samsung BD player. It supports all media plyer function + plays BR.

 

[naren2512]

NetFreak,

"Regarding Media player, have a look at Samsung BD player. It supports all media plyer function + plays BR. "

Do you mean Samsung BD Player will better than the favorite Media players of our HFV members ( Popcorn hour, Play on HD, WD TV Live ) ?

Also do you know what may be the approx price for this BD player?

( I am also going to buy either a BD or Media player soon so it will help me )

 

[RetinalNV]

Do you mean Samsung BD Player will better than the favorite Media players of our HFV members ( Popcorn hour, Play on HD, WD TV Live ) ?

Also do you know what may be the approx price for this BD player?

I picked up this Samsung BD c5500 for 10500 INR for my parents.

Essentially my final decision was made based on :
*Single device for DVD+Downloaded formats (MPEG2, H.264,VC-1, AVCHD, DivX HD, MKV, MP4, WMV9, HD JPEG)
*Future blu-ray capability

Otherwise an investment on a a good DVD player 4k + media player (6k) would mean a tangle of wires, additional power connection etc.

The Samsung is fast, sleek and easy to use interface. Media can be paused and then restarted.

 

[vyerth]

Thanks friends,
Am still looking for option of onkoyo 308.... finding hard to get onkoyo in grey market. Anyone knows of gery onkoyo market .

However I have no intention of going into BR discs, still Samsung sounds interesting. Looked for it at Croma but they don't have it yet.

Where did u get this model from? Probably this is the best option for high end MEdia player buyers. I am not sure if it has a BT torrent compatibility and a hard disk to download stuff directly on it. Anyway at 10.5K its a good buy.

Cheers!

 

[RetinalNV]

Where did u get this model from? Probably this is the best option for high end MEdia player buyers. I am not sure if it has a BT torrent compatibility and a hard disk to download stuff directly on it. Anyway at 10.5K its a good buy.

It is most definately not a high end media player. but it is a device capable of what most media players deliver and a very good PQ (though I cant compare with wd/xtremer etc)

No hard disk for download.

Reliance digital has it for 10990/- with 5% cashback for mastercard.

Croma price is 11990/- and no stocks.