Radience audio question

[Jonesthegas]

I think I'm in a bit of a pickle. I am getting the Samsung Dual player when it is out next year. As well as HiDef video I would like the Hidef Audio also. I can't use my Rotel 1068 for that as the Sammy doesn't offer control of its 7.1 outputs and the Rotel doesn't do anything to those either. I had intended to get one of the new Onkyo receivers with 1.3a and support for the new audio formats.

But here is the rub. I also want the Radience to replace my Lumagen ProHDP. It will be 1.1 initially. So, I either output 1.3 into the Onkyo (and get Hidef audio) and then from there to the Radience (what will that do to the video - does it do passthrough?) or output the Sammy into the Radience and get 1.1 into the Onkyo - and no Hidef sound.

Is there a way out? If not, I could wait until the Radience is 1.3 but I feel I am always waiting and am sick of it. I'll probably just get the Radience and then upgrade when available and stick to SD audio in the meantime.

Martin

[Liam @ Prog AV]

Ideally you want to run HDMI audio and video all via the Radiance, then send one of the two outputs to the amp. Does the Samsung thing support on-board decoding? The Radiance is able to pass through LPCM signals no probs. Seems with HD decks that the new norm is decoding in the player rather than passing through to the amp/processor for decoding.

PS - the Onkyo might have HDMI audio but I doubt it will compare to the sound quality of the Rotel pair. In fact mch analogue to the Rotel would probably sound better. I'd hurry into the Radiance and hold back on the audio until there are more options on the HD Audio processor side of things. (no point doing it the other way around - there ain't gonna be anything better than the Radiance for a bloody long time!)

[Jonesthegas]

Thanks Liam. The Samsung does have on board decoding (DTS MA needs a firmware update I believe) but for the HiDef stuff you can only output it via HDMI 1.3 or 7.1. I can't use 7.1 into the Rotel because it is a bypass mode ie it will not let you alter speaker delays. The Samsung should do this but it is a serious omission from the specs.

I did find out that the Onkyo has a passthrough mode for video so I could go from Samsung to Onkyo to Lumagen and wait for 1.3 upgrade to the Radience (date and cost unknown). Or I could just wait and stick to SD audio for the time being. I like my rotel stuff and am unsure what to do. The Onkyo does get rave reviews though.

I am not sure when we will see more 1.3 processors on the market. According to Nic Rhodes there are too many issues with the technology (mainly due to HDMI) for the major players like Arcam to get involved at this stage.

Martin

[Liam @ Prog AV]

THat's a shame about the Samsung. Kind of makes having analogue outputs pointless if you can't balance them up correctly. Unfortunately as you have seen there just aren't many options in the HDMI audio market yet, it's only just started. It's such a tease knowing that something will be out there soon, but you have to face that if you want to be buying something today that we are just too early and will have to face a pick of the current limited crop of products available and/or not have full HD audio from every source.