DVD Player Optical Output

[jcook5000]

Okay, this may be a stupid question...but here we go.

I'm needing to buy a new player with upconversion to 720p or 1080i. So I found this Sony player.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7686024&st=sony+dvd+upconvert&lp=8&type=...=1134703758434

To further complicate the issue, I have a 7.1 Onkyo surround sound system. The receiver can decode just about anything thrown at it. I have several movies in 6.1 DTS and 6.1 DD that I would like to watch on this player. But, it specifically states that this player outputs 5.1DD.

So, my question is, if you use the optical audio out will that always send the full audio to my receiver?

Will the optical out on any DVD player send a full 7.1 or 6.1 surround if that is how it is encoded on the movie?

Thanks for your help.

[SingSing]

In your steup, select raw digital audio output via the coax, and optical. Your surround receiver will decode and play the 5/6/7.1 in DD/DTS itself.

[jcook5000]

Trying to remember the setup of my old player, I believe I had options for PCM or SPDIF. I know PCM wouldn't be considered as raw, but what about SPDIF?

[SingSing]

PCM is like CD audio, it is not raw. SPDIF is more often associated with PC's surround sound.

Why don't you download the manual from Sony ?

[psx_pirate]

Look in the dvd players sound settings for spdif (Sony Philips Digital Inter-Face) ... set this to digital or raw (you should have settings for pcm, stereo and digital or raw) if there is a setting for downmix make sure this is set to off (or disable) play a dvd with 5/6/7.1 sound through you surround amp ... you should hear speech through the centre speaker only ... if the speech can be heard through the front left and right speakers then your settings on your player are incorrect