Confusion reigns supreme

[vivekphadnis]

The Asus O!Play HD2 looks pretty good and it has True HD pass through. Why not just invest in this I was thinking.

Check out ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Multimedia- ASUS O!Play HD2

 

[venkatcr]

I have a question here (might sound dumb), does HD Audio sound better on a 5.1 system as well?? As in does it carry better sound quality in the 5 channels as well or does it sound good just because of the 7.1 being more immersive?

With HD Audio, there is a clear and audible difference is sound quality even on a 5.1 system. If you look at a Blu-Ray disc, a major part of the disc is used to store the audio. A Blu-Ray carries upto 8 channels of uncompressed audio, and this is mandatory. In addition, it can carry either Dolby TrueHD or DTS_HD Master audio, both of which are lossless encoding, again for upto 8 channels.

Bulk of the sound in any 5.1/7.1 encoding is used in the front three channels. When you use a HD Audio output, the dialogues are clearer, the sound of instruments and others are well separated, and it really has the capability of taking you right into the movie. Believe me, in movies with HD Audio, I have heard sound that I never knew existed in the movie.

One scene I quote very often is the war between the Romans and the Germanic barbarians in The Gladiator. When you play a DVD, you need a really good system to hear the panting of the dog as it races up the hill in front of the Roman horses. In a Blu-Ray, the sound is crystal clear. I can quote very many such scenes. The creak of metal, the chattering of cricket, the slam of a door, the creak of wood under a pair of shoes - everything is clearer and more realistic.

Cheers

Cheers

 

[angynagpal]

With HD Audio, there is a clear and audible difference is sound quality even on a 5.1 system. If you look at a Blu-Ray disc, a major part of the disc is used to store the audio. A Blu-Ray carries upto 8 channels of uncompressed audio, and this is mandatory. In addition, it can carry either Dolby TrueHD or DTS_HD Master audio, both of which are lossless encoding, again for upto 8 channels.

Bulk of the sound in any 5.1/7.1 encoding is used in the front three channels. When you use a HD Audio output, the dialogues are clearer, the sound of instruments and others are well separated, and it really has the capability of taking you right into the movie. Believe me, in movies with HD Audio, I have heard sound that I never knew existed in the movie.

One scene I quote very often is the war between the Romans and the Germanic barbarians in The Gladiator. When you play a DVD, you need a really good system to hear the panting of the dog as it races up the hill in front of the Roman horses. In a Blu-Ray, the sound is crystal clear. I can quote very many such scenes. The creak of metal, the chattering of cricket, the slam of a door, the creak of wood under a pair of shoes - everything is clearer and more realistic.

Cheers

Cheers

Wow....the way you have explained it is awesome :clapping:! Thanks a lot....! Also, the sound on a downloaded movie can almost never match the original sound on the blu-ray or dvd, isnt it? I auditioned a downloaded movie (Lord of the rings) with ac3 6 channel sound, and the sound was so bland on the speakers, it was as if someone was playing the sound inside an inflated balloon :lol:. However, whenever we have auditioned a dvd, the sound has always been awesome! I have yet to listen to an audio on bluray in a HT setup though. Soon I shall have the opportunity !