DVD-Audio playing back only in stereo into Cambridge Audio 640R

[birdus]

I just got a Cambridge Audio 640R and can't get DVD-Audio discs to play back in Dolby Digital. They just play back in stereo. I've tried a couple different discs. My DVD player is a Panasonic S97 and is connected to the 640R with a digital coax cable. The 640R is playing back the music but only in stereo. When I put a movie in my DVD player, it plays back in 5.1.

Ideas?

Thanks,
Jay

 

[davepuma]

This is a limitation of DVD-A. It can only be carried in multi-channel format over digital using HDMI. It downcoverts to 2.0 channel IIRC over optical and digi-coax. Therefore you will need to use multi-channel analogue outputs (player) ==> cables ==> multi-channel analogue inputs (amp) using 6 phono cables. I use bluejeanscables multi-channel analogue cables for my HDDVD player.

 

[birdus]

Would I be better off just running HDMI from the DVD player to the 640R? Would this also give me good quality for CDs and the sound from movies?

Thanks!!!
Jay

 

[Andy98765]

Would I be better off just running HDMI from the DVD player to the 640R? Would this also give me good quality for CDs and the sound from movies?

Thanks!!!
Jay

No. As the 640R only switches HDMI and does not process audio but just lets it pass through.

 

[davepuma]

Your amp doesn't process audio over HDMI. The HDMI connections are simply passthrough to pass the audio/video straight to the TV, leaving both untouched.