HD audio formats, Home Theater Applications, ripped BD's

[runLoganrun]

equipment:
Marantz sr5003 a/v receiver
JBL Studio L Speakers, 5.1 configuration
Velodyne subwoofer, sorry don't have model here, but not one of the 3k ones, more like $6-700 range (awesome nevertheless)
Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Sound Card, outputting to Marantz Reciever, via HDMI
Lite-on iHOS-104-06 BD-ROM

I went with 5.1 as opposed to 7.1, partly due to the fact that the speakers I have can get pricey, I was able to score mine at auction, but do I really need two more, don't think so (correct me if I'm wrong), but also a very small amount, something like 5% or less (I believe, don't have the specs right here) are outputted to those rear channels. When you hear them, great, but otherwise, seems like a waste of space, money, and just more cables to deal with for such small output, may consider getting some smaller ones for that, IDK.

My topic for discussion is however HD audio, ie: Dolby TrueHD & DTS-MA vs standard DD(ac3-640) or DTS(768 or 1536, take your pick)
What kind of system is needed to actually reap the benefits of the HD audio formats? After going to all the trouble of getting the proper equipment to stream said formats to a/v receiver (not downsampled) for decoding and pushed out to speakers, I was shocked to hear some blu-rays in DD or DTS sounding quite fantastic, and often hard to distinguish. Bear in mind that my previous system utilized an onboard pc sound card decoder outputting to a 5.1 Klipsch Pro Media Ultra PC self powered speaker setup, the amp for all 6 channels being housed in the subwoofer, def not capable of HD audio, and the other formats were subject to decoding by a high quality, but nevertheless onboard sound card subject to all the "noise" from PC. That system I enjoyed for many years and not knocking it in any way. However it just doesn't compare to the new system, the fidelity is far superior, but I never migrated from DD/DTS with those speakers to the HD formats. I set it up with express intention of decoding HD audio, so in a way i was somewhat disappointed to hear such great sound coming from DD. disappointed is perhaps the wrong word, but having gone to the trouble, and spending the extra dollars on HD capable receiver I questioned the actual value, in the speakers there's no question, they're awesome whatever you're listening to, well whatever good audio. But even with those, are they capable of capturing the full range of the HD formats, IDK. And, would I be equally as impressed, or nearly with a say, I think it's the sr-4003, which does not do HD decoding. Before anyone says it, yes listening is very much subjective, so if you love it- great. I'm more interested in facts pertaining to a home system like this one, which is no slouch for sure, but it's almost like I have to sit and pay attention to hear specific differences in sound quality, and then of course it depends on the source recording as well, and it's so close sometimes it's hard to even tell, every disc is different though. I thought I was perceiving a richness in the HD audio which was not present in DD, but it seems as though the difference is negligible, maybe it's the acoustics in my room, again- IDK. I just read an interesting article though comparing DD+ to Dolby TrueHD written by people who had been to Dolby labs and been subject to blind testing, and this is with, of course, insane equipment, and their results were surprising, noting how good the more compressed versions of the audio codecs, DD+ and DTS sounded in comparison, and in some cases they weren't able to tell which ones they were hearing.

So my question goes out to all the home theater users, utilizing this technology, and to anyone very tech savvy in the implementation of HD audio. Is it worth it, if you do not have a 10k plus audio system? can you actually hear the difference, is it possible? And even though I have, what I consider excellent speakers, are they capable of reproducing the sound the way it's meant to be heard, as good as they are? And, how much of this is hype and marketing to sell new receivers to people? I love my Marantz, it's certainly an excellent piece of audio equipment, but after hearing Star Wars, episode IV, in 448Kbps DD+ no less, and it being very impressive on my system, I question the need for the bit for bit HD audio, and what's pertinent here, the space it takes up when ripping to HDD, and like I said I'm one for best audio quality possible, within reason, and my budget, but at a point, within a given system there is a ceiling, and beyond that it's just added expense for marginal, or no improvement, IMHO.

Comments???
thanks,
rlr

[runLoganrun]

allow me to simplify....
to rip with HD formats, and use compression/conversion on video, or to downsample audio as well?
thing is you get like a 9-12GB vid file, as far as what I'm doing, and then a 3-5GB audio file if audio not tampered with, meaning about 1/4 of file is audio, seems like a lot in comparison, but it is awesome. honestly I don't mind losing a little of the vid quality, although I endeavor not too, but the audio really makes the movie imho.
Just wondering what other folks are doing with this....