Can you add on a dolby true hd processor to exisiting 5.1 system?

[yoda313]

Are there external add on processors that can process dolby true hd soundtracks from hddvd and bluray? What I mean is can you get an adapter that would hook on to an exisiting 5.1 dolby digital amplifier? The reason I ask is I have a perfecltly working sony 5.1 amp it just isn't new enough to process dolby true hd.

is this feasible?

Another question is can the xbox 360 hd-dvd drive pass on the true hd audio? I had read at least one post online that the addon drive doesn't process the true hd signal. Would a full true hd amplifier carry this from the hddvd drive?

Would this be cost effective? If such a add on unit exists would it be simpler and cheaper to buy a new amp with the built in decoding?

I don't know about price ranges. I would more likely look into buying a bluray player in the next several months to complete my high def source options. I do love surround sound for movies and am interested in having the best available presentation. However if the new receviers are really high priced I suppose I can wait. I mean my hddvds sound great in the stepped down 5.1 I get off my xbox 360.

Does anyone here have a dolby true system? How different is the output compared to traditional dolby digital 5.1?

[rallynavvie]

I don't think you're going to find anything that will add on to an existing receiver that will process HDCP audio. I'm assuming you can't use HD audio without it going through HDMI anyway? You'll need a receiver with HDMI that supports HDCP audio formats such as HD Dolby.

The advantage is there is more bandwidth with the latest HDMI so you can stream uncompressed audio from your HD player. I don't think you're going to hear any differences yet, but perhaps in the future we'll actually have a use for it. Even so I have an HDMI receiver (so that I could use my PS3 as a SACD player) and the uncompressed PCM audio on some of my BRD don't sound any different than the DTS or Dolby feeds. This is a 660-watt system. Maybe you'd hear some difference if you have a sound-proofed theater room with the highest-end equipment and a good ear but otherwise I'm thinking it's just marketing fluff.

[yoda313]

thanks for the info rallynavvie.

So there doesn't seem to be much difference huh? I guess I'll probably wait until my sony gives up the ghost before upgrading then. Unfortunately it hasn't shown any sign of failure yet so I can't upgrade......

[guns1inger]

There is always a badly placed glass of water, or unfortunate build up of dust over the vents . . . . . .

Just be careful of fires

[yoda313]

hmmm.....

interesting guns1inger. Unfortunatly my nintendo wii and ps2 are in the same cabinet. Also my xbox 360 is in a slot below it. ANd my hdtv is next to it as well. Too much could be lost in the desire for one upgrade.

Oh well.

I can live with JUST my new 360, hddvd and hdtv for now

But I will continue to look into dolby true and the newer dts. I am as much of an audio buff as a video buff. I used to have a dolby surround add on adapter for my old stereo system and a stereo vcr. That was my first surround sound. It did have a center channel and sub output at the time but I didn't have them at the time - just the four speakers. BUT it was the earlier DOLBY SURROUND sans the pro logic so the center/sub was just matrixed anyway.

Boy I just love dolby digital/dts as far as evolution over the earlier surround formats. I would like the newer stuff but if its really not much more of an advancement than I suppose I can wait a little longer.

[Krispy Kritter]

The best "deal" at the moment for a HDMI receiver is the Onkyo 605.

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR605-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B000OBLARC/ref=pd_bbs...5055162&sr=8-1

And the difference in audio quality is dependent upon the quality of your hardware, in this case the speakers.

The same way visual quality varies based on the TV.

[yoda313]

Ouch! 500.00 new is the base price to get dolby true hd or dts hd???

Man that sucks - the Sony 5.1 amp I have now has dolby and dts and was only 200.00 new five or six years ago when I bought it.

Thanks for the link krispy kritter but looks like I'll keep waiting for price drops on next gen amps.....