Best surround sound from DVD via coaxial or HDMI?

[Goodoldbakes]

I posted the following thread on the AV Receivers part of the forum earlier today but no one has offered an opinion. You lot seem to be more forthcoming and helpful on here.

I'm looking to buy the Sony STR DG710 which has HDMI pass through. Could anyone tell me if I'd get better quality surround sound with just a digital coaxial from the DVD player into the amp (and HDMI from DVD to TV as normal) or hooking them all up via the receivers HDMI sockets? Would HDMI offer any benefits in sound quality over Coaxial and conversely, would my DVD's PQ suffer as a result of going through the Sony first?

My TV is a Sharp 42XD1EA and DVD is Panasonic S53 EB-K. Thanks.

[Mark_a]

It's digital so as long as the stream gets to where it can be decoded there should be no differences. Same arguments have been had over optical vs coax, but it just doesn't stand up to reason. It's naughts and ones. Provided the naughts and ones turn up at the decoder the same way they left the player then there cannot be a difference. And if there is a difference something is badly wrong somewhere.

Regards

Mark

[formula1]

I did buy the DG710, and after setting it up, NO surround sound via HDMI. I had to select one of the pro logic (or other simulated surround) settings to get any type of surround sound. I contacted Sony and they informed me that HDMI will NOT transfer any type of surround sound. Looks like I am returning the DG710, going with something cheaper and going back to optical.

[formula1]

Originally Posted by formula1

I did buy the DG710, and after setting it up, NO surround sound via HDMI. I had to select one of the pro logic (or other simulated surround) settings to get any type of surround sound. I contacted Sony and they informed me that HDMI will NOT transfer any type of surround sound. Looks like I am returning the DG710, going with something cheaper and going back to optical.

Follow up, I changed the source fo the audio to output bitstream instead of PCM, and I do get the 5.1 surround via the HDMI connection. PCM will only go thru optical or coax.

[Goodoldbakes]

"I contacted Sony and they informed me that HDMI will NOT transfer any type of surround sound.........."

"Follow up, I changed the source fo the audio to output bitstream instead of PCM, and I do get the 5.1 surround via the HDMI connection. PCM will only go thru optical or coax"

Which just goes to show how much the people on the other end of the phone at Sony know about their own product.