Max2 Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 I figured I would try the optical output for audio and use HDMI for video today when I had some spare time. Messed with all the setting but only got 2 channel output with DVDA being played in the multi channel mode or 5.1 mode. Finally pulled up the manual online and it said due to copyright reasons the player will only play multi channel audio through HDMI.... I was pretty shocked to find this out. Anyone have any insight on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaDude Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 (edited) It's been that way for years... And just as the manual says, it's there to keep high resolution, uncompressed, multi-channel signals (found on SACD and DVDA, along with Dolby True HD and DTS Master HD found on Blu-Ray) from being transmitted and potentially copied in the digital domain. HDMI is allowed (digitally) because of the copy protections built in to the standard. Also, optical (Toslink) and RCA/coax digital connections don't have the bandwidth/capacity to carry the digital, uncompressed, multi-channel signals from those sources. If you have HDMI why not use it? Or, you can use the analog, multi-channel outputs found on the Oppo-BD103, to send the signals as LPCM to the multi-channel inputs on your receiver or pre/pro. Edited February 15, 2015 by GPBusa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 It's been that way for years... And just as the manual says, it's there to keep high resolution, uncompressed, multi-channel signals (found on SACD and DVDA, along with Dolby True HD and DTS Master HD found on Blu-Ray) from being transmitted and potentially copied in the digital domain. HDMI is allowed (digitally) because of the copy protections built in to the standard. Also, optical (Toslink) and RCA/coax digital connections don't have the bandwidth/capacity to carry the digital, uncompressed, multi-channel signals from those sources. If you have HDMI why not use it? Or, you can use the analog, multi-channel outputs found on the Oppo-BD103, to send the signals as LPCM to the multi-channel inputs on your receiver or pre/pro. All is correct in the above reply. Digital coax/fiber optic will dumb it down to plain vanilla 2-channel if a hybrid or dual layer SACD/DVDA and only play the CD layer. Not sure about single layer SACD/DVDA. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 That's interesting. How is that different from watching or listening to 5.1 Blu-rays using the optical out (which I do all the time). Isn't quality equal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 That's interesting. How is that different from watching or listening to 5.1 Blu-rays using the optical out (which I do all the time). Isn't quality equal? Playing BD's through a digital optical or digital coax will down sample to plain Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 which is lossy as opposed to Dolby TrueHD, DTSHD-MA, and uncompressed LPCM which are lossless. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaDude Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 (edited) That's interesting. How is that different from watching or listening to 5.1 Blu-rays using the optical out (which I do all the time). Isn't quality equal?No, the quality isn't equal.Most people don't know that the only mandated codecs on a Blu-Ray are the 5.1 channel, lossy/compressed, Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks... to maintain backwards compatibility with old equipment. And the Linear PCM (uncompressed audio) which can have up to 8 channels... but can only be output through the analog multi-channel outputs. The lossless, up to 8 channel, Dolby Digital True HD and DTS HD Master Audio soundtracks on a Blu-Ray are actually optional. But are usually on most Blu-Ray discs... But can only be played through an HDMI connection. So if you're listening to Blu-Ray discs and getting your audio via Toslink or Coax digital, you're NOT getting the best possible sound. http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#bluray_audio_codecs Edited February 15, 2015 by GPBusa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 (edited) ... Edited February 15, 2015 by Schu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaDude Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 I figured I would try the optical output for audio and use HDMI for video today when I had some spare time. Messed with all the setting but only got 2 channel output with DVDA being played in the multi channel mode or 5.1 mode. Finally pulled up the manual online and it said due to copyright reasons the player will only play multi channel audio through HDMI.... I was pretty shocked to find this out. Anyone have any insight on this? Here's the SACD faq webpage, which also includes a lot of information and comparisons/differences to DVDA discs... http://www.sa-cd.net/faq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Never too old to learn something. I didn't know that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max2 Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 Well there you have it. I was reading where a Mac Mini is benefited by running its audio out of its digital output verses using the HDMI out. I didn't have a converter plug for the Mac, but had a toslink. Thats when I put it on the Oppo. I guess I just haven't been informed about this since the S-video and toslink days of the old. Thanks for the info guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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