Role of avr for movie playing?

[Vishal]

What exactly does an avr like Denon 1912 or similar do to enhance a video or movie playing in 2.1 setup?

I understand that avr are not so great when it comes to stereo reproduction but if I have blue ray connected by hdmi to LCD tv, what will the avr do?

The context is that I'm debating on a amp vs avr for a 50% music n 30% movies.

Thanks. Mods pls move this to relevant thread if its appropriate

 

[nindo]

If you talk of Denon 1912, it doesnt do much to the video signal except passing it as it comes to the TV, as it has no upscaling feature. But some others like Yamaha 671, Marantz 6006 etc can upscale video from HDMI and other analogue sources to 1080p or FullHD and pass it to your TV, Onkyo 609 can actually upscale to 4k re, though commercially no TV is capable of showing so many pixels yet, AFAIK. As for the sound, when you are using a 2.1 setup it can give you a pseudo/virtual surround sound just from 2 speakers using in built surround processing techniques. But its not proper surround sound like what you get from a 5.1/6.1/7.1 setup with DD, DTS formats.

True, it is considered AVRs are not good at stereo sound as compared to dedicated stereo setup (Int. amp or pre+pro amp). That is primarily because AVRs have a lot of circuitry and power running around for video processing as well which might interfere with sound signals, where as dedicated stereo setups dont. If you have a blu-ray player connected to TV directly via HDMI- plain and simple where does the AVR picture into this?
considering other option that you have a HDMI/optical/coaxial cable running from your BRP to an AVR apart from the HDMI going to the TV, it can give out 2 ch (stereo), 5.1/7.1 HD audio (DD, DTS Hi Def through HDMI), 5.1/6.1 DD, DTS (standard down-mixed through opt/co-ax) from the bluray that you are playing. For normal ACD, it will just give out 2 ch stereo through HDMI/optical/coaxial.

AVR brands like Marantz, Cambridge Audio, NAD, Rotel are perfectly suited for more music:less movie kind of tastes.

hope my two bits helped.

cheers

 

[spirovious]

Budget AVR are solution for movies & compromise for serious listening.
Now AVR decodes the audio stream in movies which is encoded in DD/Dts/HD-audio to separate 5 ch & then its sent to inbuit 5/7 ch amp to amplify.As nindo said,some of the AVRs do upscaling of video.
Why AVR is not used for serious music?The answer is,better electronic circuits in stereo amp & dedicated to 2 ch only.Where as AVR has to handle minimum 5 ch.Its powersupply has to provide current to all ch.Most of the 2 ch amps are built with good powersupply.You can compare size & specifications.

Thats why AVR can struggle with music.Most of the time center ch is busy during movies & so the less power can be enough.You may not notice the strain unless play a complex scene.Also Bass freqs are handled by Subwoofer.

So thats it.

 

[Vishal]

...
But some others like Yamaha 671, Marantz 6006 etc can upscale video from HDMI and other analogue sources to 1080p or FullHD and pass it to your TV
,

If you have a blu-ray player connected to TV directly via HDMI- plain and simple where does the AVR picture into this?

AVR brands like Marantz, Cambridge Audio, NAD, Rotel are perfectly suited for more music:less movie kind of tastes.
cheers

Thank you Nindo. Much appreciated. a couple of comments:

1. If I have a BR output (BR disc + player) and Full HD TV, is there ANY use of a further upscaling? i.e. isnt the AVR redundant from an VIDEO perspective. I would only use a 2 or 2.1, so using a AVR should not have any benefit, correct?

2. The BRP -> HDMI cable -> HDTV is what i have currently. I am debating where to insert a AMP or AVR in there IF I would only be using a 2.1 setup.

I am leaning towards an AMP but want to know what does an AVR really add over n above an amp. I do not plan to use any 3D.

Regards


Most appreciated.

 

[Vishal]

Budget AVR are solution for movies & compromise for serious listening.

Are there amps/avr that provide solution for serious listening and compromise for movie ???

 

[nindo]

If you are sure that you ll be using only stereo I.e. 2 ch then skip the AVR, instead invest in a good stereo integrated amplifier.

Of course if your are playing a BR then you are already streaming HD video so the upscaling feature of any AVR is redundant. It will only help when you are playing DVD or low res video from say a vcd (?!) or pendrive/hdd then It might help. But again most BR players are themselves capable of upscaling.!

 

[spirovious]

Are there amps/avr that provide solution for serious listening and compromise for movie ???

If you spend more to get Hi end AVR,music will sound good & not better than stereo amp.The reason is there are more circuits in AVR than 2ch stereo.Even though you turn on Pure direct or so,stereo amp of similar price will perform well to that of AVR.Still few companies make musical AVRs-
say Marantz,Arcam,Cambridge audio,Yamaha.You need to spend more.

Another way is to get AVR with preout & add stereo amp to it.

 

[s_sachin]

Apologies to OP if this is off topic .. But is there audible difference between dts and hd audio .. I have an old pioneer avr which only does dts .. Worth an upgrade to HD MA ? This could be one more difference between entry level and higher range avr

 

[Deleted member 17547]

Well if you are going to use Bluray discs always to watch movies then you can upgrade but otherwise no use.. and yes.. there is difference between DTS and DTS-HD audio.. atleast i can hear the difference..

 

[s_sachin]

Most of my watching is blu ray rips

 

[Deleted member 17547]

There is no use then untill and unless you are going to watch Bluray ISO or exact copy of movies.. it also depends upon the %age of movies you watch which has HD audio.. there's no point of having something which you are going to use very less..