If I connect my HDTV to my PC, will I be able to hear DTS audio?

[oleglelchuk]

I probably need a DVD recorder. I hope that modern DVD recorders are cool, meaning they have HDMI connection, support upconversion through HDMI, support progressive scan, have DTS decoders inside, so I would only need to buy a 6.1 or 5.1 speaker system, support the playback of NTSC and PAL discs, region-free, and are cheap.
Also, my current DVD player Pioneer DV-393-s supports NTSC and PAL playback and progressive scan, but no matter what disk I play on my TV, when I click on DISPLAY button on my TV remote control, it always says 480p. The player doesn't have HDMI, so am I stuck with 480p in my current situation? Does the TV support 576p? WHAT A MESS THIS IS!!!!
Also, when I watch a TV broadcast, for example, 4.1 channel, when I click on DISPLAY button, it says 1080i. What the hell? It can't support 1080i, it can only downscale it!! So, why does Sony deceive customers like that? Do they think all of their customers are stupid morons? I hope I am not a moron.
So please help me understand this mess.

[edDV]

Good luck finding a DVD recorder that records AC3 from the digital ATSC tuner (forget DTS recording). Most will play AC3 5.1. Some will support DTS stream output to a DTS receiver.

[oleglelchuk]

What? In the year of 2008, it's still hard to record stuff from digital tuners? By the way, ATSC digital tuner is the same thing as HDTV tuner, meaning my TV has a built-in HDTV tuner that allows channels to be shown in high-definition with just an antenna that supports high-definition? (no cable or etc.).

[edDV]

What? In the year of 2008, it's still hard to record stuff from digital tuners? By the way, ATSC digital tuner is the same thing as HDTV tuner, meaning my TV has a built-in HDTV tuner that allows channels to be shown in high-definition with just an antenna that supports high-definition? (no cable or etc.).

ASTC has Dolby AC3 audio which can be 2 channel or 5.1. Your TV has 2speakers so converts 5.1 to stereo. The S/PDIF (coax or optical) port on the back will pass AC-3 as received to and external AC3 decoder.

A DVD Recorder will typically play a DVD AC3 or DTS stream to the S/PDIF connector but usually records all inputs to downmixed 2 channel AC3. There may be DVD recorders with ATSC tuners that record to AC3 5.1 but I don't know of any. AC3 5.1 recording is a no no with the MPAA and other content owners. A cable/sat DVR usually records the AC3 5.1 audio.

[oleglelchuk]

Okay, thank you, but I asked about ATSC tuner also. Is it the same as HDTV tuner meaning my TV has a built-in HDTV tuner that allows channels to be shown in high-definition with just an antenna that supports high-definition? (no cable or etc.).
Also, my TV doesn't support 576p? No way I can play PAL DVDs with 576p resolution on my TV given the fact that my non-HDMI player can't upconvert to 720p?

[edDV]

Okay, thank you, but I asked about ATSC tuner also. Is it the same as HDTV tuner meaning my TV has a built-in HDTV tuner that allows channels to be shown in high-definition with just an antenna that supports high-definition? (no cable or etc.).

There is no such thing as an HDTV tuner. There is a digital TV (ATSC standard) tuner that receives the digital main and subchannels from an over the air (OTA) broadcast station. The broadcast station can send SD or HD in any of 18 formats.
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/what_is_ATSC.html

If a recent model, your TV has a DTV ATSC tuner that can tune AC3 audio but may just convert it to 2 channel stereo (less royalty) or may pass AC3 stereo or 5.1 to the S/PDIF digital audio port at the back. The picture will be SD or HD as sent by the broadcast station. ATSC tuners must receive all 19 standards. SD DTV sets downconvert any HD to SD.

ATSC tuners do nothing for cable TV. Cable continues to offer analog NTSC or QAM digital modulation. To access unencrypted cable digital TV (including local broadcast stations) you need a QAM capable tuner.

Also, my TV doesn't support 576p? No way I can play PAL DVDs with 576p resolution on my TV given the fact that my non-HDMI player can't upconvert to 720p?

You need to ask Sony. Most US TV manufacturers block PAL resolutions to prevent export of US model TV sets*. Your best bet is to feed 720x576i analog component YPbPr to the TV from a PAL DVD player. Analog composite PAL is always lacking unless the TV is spec'd multi-standard and includes a PAL decoder.


* Most other countries heavily tax TV sets making US models look cheap from outside the USA. Manufacturers block PAL to make these sets impossible to export. If PAL component is important, take your PAL camcorder or DVD player to Best Buy and try every TV on display until you find one that displays YPbPr or HDMI at PAL rates and resolutions.

[oleglelchuk]

Okay, it looks like my TV doesn't like 576i too because it displays 480i with PAL DVDs when I switch the player to the interlaced output. But exactly the same TV model has PAL tuner in other countries, judging by what I read online! Listen, lemme ask u again, IS MY TV, I MEAN, MY TV NOT ABLE TO DISPLAY 1O8O HD IN ITS FULL RESOLUTION IN EITHER THE INTERLACED OR PROGRESSIVE WAY? I am starting to doubt this again because one TV, even though it's supposedly the same model, has one tuner, but the other, supposedly the same model TV, has a different tuner. So, maybe one TV of the same model can show 1080 in its full resolution, but another one can't? IT'S CONFUSING! The Operating Instructions that came with my TV seem to be for the TVs of different models, including mine. On one page, I can read:
"PICTURE QUALITY AND ASPECT RATIO - You can enjoy crisp, clear images, smooth movement and high-impact visuals from 1080 HD signals. When you compare a high-definition signal to a standard analog signal, you will notice a big difference. The 1080 HD signals provide more than twice the vertical resolution of the standard TV signal".
When I turn to the last page of the Operating Instructions, it says in the description of every model, including mine: "Display resolution (horizontal x vertical): 1,366 dots x 768 lines". What A MESS!! Doesn't it imply it's incapable of the 1080 resolution? In the column Television system, for every model it says: "NTSC: American TV standard. ATSC (8VSB terrestial): ATSC compliant 8VSB. QAM on cable: ANSI/SCTE 07 2000 (Doesn't include CableCARD functionality)."
Doesn't ATSC suppose to inlude 576i and 576p too?

[edDV]

Okay, it looks like my TV doesn't like 576i too because it displays 480i with PAL DVDs when I switch the player to the interlaced output. But exactly the same TV model has PAL tuner in other countries, judging by what I read online!

If it is playing PAL DVD as 480i, you have a DVD player that makes the conversion. Be happy! To test PAL resolution capability, feed 720x576i from a PAL capable source like a camcorder or computer.

Listen, lemme ask u again, IS MY TV, I MEAN, MY TV NOT ABLE TO DISPLAY 1O8O HD IN ITS FULL RESOLUTION IN EITHER THE INTERLACED OR PROGRESSIVE WAY? I am starting to doubt this again because one TV, even though it's supposedly the same model, has one tuner, but the other, supposedly the same model TV, has a different tuner. So, maybe one TV of the same model can show 1080 in its full resolution, but another one can't? IT'S CONFUSING! The Operating Instructions that came with my TV seem to be for the TVs of different models, including mine. On one page, I can read:
"PICTURE QUALITY AND ASPECT RATIO - You can enjoy crisp, clear images, smooth movement and high-impact visuals from 1080 HD signals. When you compare a high-definition signal to a standard analog signal, you will notice a big difference. The 1080 HD signals provide more than twice the vertical resolution of the standard TV signal".

Your TV inputs all ASTC standards and converts every one to 1366x768 for display. That is a good resolution for a 32" TV unless you are sitting inside 3 feet and using it to display computer text. This TV was clearly listed as "720p" which is TV store speak for anything between 1024x720 to 1366x768 display resolution. If you want to display 1920x1080, you look for a "1080p" model. Ignore the narrative and look at the specification page for "native display resolution".

When I turn to the last page of the Operating Instructions, it says in the description of every model, including mine: "Display resolution (horizontal x vertical): 1,366 dots x 768 lines". What A MESS!! Doesn't it imply it's incapable of the 1080 resolution? In the column Television system, for every model it says: "NTSC: American TV standard. ATSC (8VSB terrestial): ATSC compliant 8VSB. QAM on cable: ANSI/SCTE 07 2000 (Doesn't include CableCARD functionality)."
Doesn't ATSC suppose to inlude 576i and 576p too?

No, 576i and 576p are used in PAL countries and are not part of ATSC.
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/what_is_ATSC.html

The TV may or may not display 576i or 576p but is not required to. Like I said above, you need to test the TV from a PAL source in the store. 576i/576p capability is not usually listed in the spec unless it is marketed as a multi-standard or "international" model.

QAM tuning is not required by the gov't. Look for QAM (aka "clearQAM") capability in the spec. This would tune unencrypted digital cable channels including local broadcast channels. To tune encrypted channels you would need "cablecard" capability. Your TV does not support QAM or cablecard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CableCARD
http://www.abt.com/scripts/site/site_product.php3?id=28280&source=rkggoogle&gclid=CLOJ...FRpOagodKDXD3Q