Pioneer BDP-51FD Blu-Ray

[dfranks]

Need help with connections for my upcoming purchase of this player.

This machine has loads of outputs:

Digital Coax, Optical

7.1 audio (yes RCA interconnects for receiver)
HDMI

The unit decodes DTS Master audio, DTS HD, DD HD.

What is the best way to hookupto my receiver and plasma to take advantage of the audio outputs (my RXV 861 will pass the above formats through but only decodes DD11, DTS,DD.)
Options;
A)I was thinking to run the HDMI directly to my plasma, and use the 7.1 interconnect hookups to my receiver?.

B) same as above with the optical out?

C) Use the HDMI to my receiver and then to my TV.

I don't like option C, ( but will use it if provides best results) Because sometimes when my kids are a sleep I want to watch a movie with just sound from the TV, and not have to power on the receiver every time etc.

Any light that you guys can shed on this will be greatly appreciated.

[Sherardp]

To achieve the best possible audio/video use HDMI to receiver and tv. If your receiver has no HDMI, then use multichannel inputs for audio/HDMI for video.

[wutadumsn23]

Sherardp nailed it on the head. HDMI to your receiver then to your TV sounds like the best option to me. It's the way I have mine set up and it works great for me.

[dfranks]

Thanks for the advice, Keep it coming.

[cheddar]

If I read your original post correctly, your receiver can't decode TrueHD or DTS-HD MA. Can it accept multichannel pcm over HDMI? If so, players that internally decode the above formats can pass the decoded signal to your receiver via hdmi and that's usually the recommended way to connect the player to the receiver. If not, then you will have to use the analog connections to get at the lossless audio (includes the 3rd lossless format which is uncompressed pcm).

For video, you usually want as few conversion steps as possible between the player and the display. So for instance, if your display is 1080p capable and your player is outputting a 1080p signal, you'd want your receiver to be capable of 1080p 'pass through' so it doesn't add any video processing to the signal as it passes through the receiver. If your receiver is capable of pass through (even adding an on screen display from the receiver will change the video signal) then there is no drawback to connecting through the receiver. If not, then it's up to you how important an unmolested video signal is to you. But it sounds like you may just want the convenience of easily bypassing the receiver anyways. People still get excellent results with audio using analog outs. Optical will not pass lossless audio to your receiver.

[dfranks]

Thanks Cheddar, Yes my receiver will upconvert to 1080p or I can have it just pass through the signal.

I think the best method is HDMI to receiver than to plasma as you have all suggested.

When my kids are asleep I will use the "night" option on my receiver.

Thanks again

[donedroolin]

Hey have you gotten the Blu ray player yet, I am considering one. What do you think of it. Where are you getting it from. Im looking at Hippos. Do you think it is BETTER then the Sony BDPS350.

[AVKommonsense]

In my opinion the Pioneer BDP-51FD is better than the Sony BDP-S350... The only drawback the Pioneer unit has over the Sony unit is that it's BD profile 1.1 as oppose to Sony's 2.0... In a nut shell it will allow you to play/unlock the BD-Live content (i.e. movie extras, interactive games, and etc.) on a Blu-ray movie.

Here's a link that gives you a chart on various BD players and their features. Hope this helps:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums...ad.php?t=49226

[criverajr]

Had 2 great machine, I would take it over the Sony all day, and twice on Sunday. Got a chance to run them side by side on the same 1080p LCD. The Pioneer won hands down. Just my .02

CRj