Toshiba XA1...Can I get TrueHD over HDMI to new amp?

[jbaker]

I have just got a Marantz SR8002 receiver which has in-built decoders for TrueHD, DD+ and DTS-HD Master Audio.
Is my XA1 capable of sending TrueHD for the amp to decode?
With my previous amp I used the 5.1 analogue outs. With the new amp having HDMI 1.3 can I now decode TrueHD in the amp? Or is the XA1 restricted by its HDMI 1.1 spec?
All I seem to be getting on the amp display is 2-channel pcm, even though I've set the XA1's HDMI audio output to bitsream. If I choose a plain vanilla-flavour DD5.1 sountrack on a disc no Dolby Digital lights appear on the amp...just 2 channel pcm.
A bit confused... I so badly want to hear what this fabolous receiver can do

[chic]

Originally Posted by jbaker

I have just got a Marantz SR8002 receiver which has in-built decoders for TrueHD, DD+ and DTS-HD Master Audio.
Is my XA1 capable of sending TrueHD for the amp to decode?
With my previous amp I used the 5.1 analogue outs. With the new amp having HDMI 1.3 can I now decode TrueHD in the amp? Or is the XA1 restricted by its HDMI 1.1 spec?
All I seem to be getting on the amp display is 2-channel pcm, even though I've set the XA1's HDMI audio output to bitsream. If I choose a plain vanilla-flavour DD5.1 sountrack on a disc no Dolby Digital lights appear on the amp...just 2 channel pcm.
A bit confused... I so badly want to hear what this fabolous receiver can do

i am pretty sure you need hdmi 1.3 to stream the hd audio in bitstream format for the amp to decode, if as you say the xa1 is 1.1 then you cant use your amp to decode, the best you can do is set you hddvd player to output pcm over hdmi and let your player decode the hd audio, you amp you then say its getting a multichannel pcm signal.

[Nic Rhodes]

You can't 'stream' though your player can decode DD+ and TrueHD and sed via PCM.

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by jbaker

All I seem to be getting on the amp display is 2-channel pcm, even though I've set the XA1's HDMI audio output to bitsream. If I choose a plain vanilla-flavour DD5.1 sountrack on a disc no Dolby Digital lights appear on the amp...just 2 channel pcm.
A bit confused... I so badly want to hear what this fabolous receiver can do

Hi mate
Set your player to either AUTO or PCM for HDMI audio out that's why your getting 2-channel PCM show up.
Then you'll see what your receiver can do!

[jbaker]

Thanks for the replies...
So in essence that means...The XA1 can't send the TrueHD track as bitstream for the receiver to decode. Instead it has to decode it itself and then send it as pcm over HDMI and/or analogue outputs.

I'll switch the XA1's HDMI output to pcm when I get home tonight.
Does the S/PDIF output just relate to the optical/coaxial output for compressed DD5.1 and DTS soundtracks. Does it matter if this is set to bitstream or pcm?

Such a shame I can't see Dolby TrueHD across the front of the amp. Have a similar problem with my PS3 for Blu-ray. It can't send bitstream so no DTS-HD MA on the amp display either.
Regards

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by jbaker

Thanks for the replies...
So in essence that means...The XA1 can't send the TrueHD track as bitstream for the receiver to decode. Instead it has to decode it itself and then send it as pcm over HDMI and/or analogue outputs.

I'll switch the XA1's HDMI output to pcm when I get home tonight.
Does the S/PDIF output just relate to the optical/coaxial output for compressed DD5.1 and DTS soundtracks. Does it matter if this is set to bitstream or pcm?

Such a shame I can't see Dolby TrueHD across the front of the amp. Have a similar problem with my PS3 for Blu-ray. It can't send bitstream so no DTS-HD MA on the amp display either.
Regards

Hi mate
Your post is correct,mate.
It won't show up as TrueHD on your amp but your still getting the same audio,enjoy!
EDIT:S/PDIF output leave on Bitstream.

[jbaker]

Originally Posted by kingfats

Hi mate
EDIT:S/PDIF output leave on Bitstream.

Strange... I set the S/PDIF output to bitstream and chose a DD5.1 track and it still shows up as pcm on the amp.
I have HDMI, Optical and 5.1 analogue leads going from the player into the amp. When I select a DD5.1 soundtrack how does the player choose which lead to send the signal down?
Same thing happens with my PS3...no Dolby logos light up, just pcm. If I tick the DD and DTS options under Optical I lose all sound.
The only equipment I am getting the Dolby Digital lighting up with is my SkyHD box...

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by jbaker

Strange... I set the S/PDIF output to bitstream and chose a DD5.1 track and it still shows up as pcm on the amp.
I have HDMI, Optical and 5.1 analogue leads going from the player into the amp. When I select a DD5.1 soundtrack how does the player choose which lead to send the signal down?
Same thing happens with my PS3...no Dolby logos light up, just pcm. If I tick the DD and DTS options under Optical I lose all sound.
The only equipment I am getting the Dolby Digital lighting up with is my SkyHD box...

Hi mate
If i select a DD track it then shows as Dolby Digital on my amp.
Have HDMI and opticla connected.
Does everything sound as it should?
EDIT: I thought (someone correct me if i'm wrong) if you have HDMI connected for audio among other cables,the player chooses and outputs the audio via HDMI.

[jbaker]

Hi, glad to report now getting the DD and DTS logos lighting up on normal dvd's (S/PDIF output set to bitstream and HDMI output set to auto). Not so on HD-DVD's tho. All tracks say pcm, but am getting all the speakers symbols lit up.

The only thing I'm not convinced about is the sound on HD-DVD's. Whether I choose TrueHD, DD+ or DD5.1 it all seems to sound the same. I expected to hear some appreciable difference between the compresseed and uncompressed soundtracks.
Certainly on my my PS3 there is a huge difference between uncompressed pcm and the others. On Casino Royale switching from DD5.1 to the uncompressed pcm is a revelation. Thought I'd get this with my HD-DVDs too. More investigation needed I guess

[Nic Rhodes]

set HDMI to PCM