How to Hook Up a Bluray player to Get Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio Sound

HD Audio sound is awesome and its only available from your Bluray ( also known as blue ray ). The Sound quality is a huge step up from even the old Dolby Digital sound tracks. But how exactly do you get it? Its easy once you know how.

Things You'll Need

• Audio Receiver with built-in HD Decoders
• Blu-Ray player version 2.0
• HDMI Cables
• Up to 7 speakers
• Sub woofer

Instructions

1. Forget about Optical and Co-ax Digital connections.
   Those 2 options do not carry Dolby HD or DTS HD.

2. 

   Understand HDMI.
   HDMI is the best way to get Dolby True HD and DTS HD Audio.
   Its all digital and offers HD video with 8 channels of HD audio all in one thin cable.
   HDMI offers new features not found in other connection methods.
   HDMI is the connection of the future and today. HDMI carries HD video in 1080P plus it carries 7.1 channels of high definition Audio.

3. 

   Buy an HD-Audio Receiver.
   Look for receivers with DOLBY HD and DTS-HD logos on the unit. Also check for HDMI 1.3 compliance. HDMI 1.3 ensures your connection carries the newest technology-features for video and audio.

   TIP: The HDMI connection on your receiver can affect image quality. The digital signal passes through the receiver, extracts the HD audio (in the digital domain), and passes the digital video onto the display. The most desirable receivers accept the full 1.3b HDMI signal, extract the audio and pass the digital video unchanged in any way. Better Receivers with upscalers allow for a direct pass with all scaling and overlays shut off. This allows for a cleaner, sharper image.

   If you already own a receiver that predates HD-audio but has a 7.1 or 5.1 analog input, you have a low-cost option. You can buy a Bluray player with a built-in HD-audio decoder. This can be an acceptable alternative to buying an expensive HD Audio receiver, but the Bluray player will cost a little more. Please check this article's cautions about this option.

4. Buy a Blu-ray player that is HDMI 1.3 ready. All units built in JAN 2009 or later should be 1.3 compliant.

5. Buy 2 HDMI cables rated as 1.3 compliant.

6. Connect the 1st HDMI cable from the bluray player to the receiver HDMI-IN.

   Connect the 2nd HDMI cable from the Receiver HDMI-OUT to your TV or projector.

7. Turn everything on in the right order.
   HDMI is all digital so you want everything to find each other.
   Turn on the Receiver, then the Blu-ray, then the TV last.
   The TV should always be last so it can look for an live input.

8. Play a movie. You wont get HD audio until you are in the movie. Menu screens rarely contain HD audio.

   Once the movie is playing, check the receiver front panel for a light that says HD AUDIO or similar. Some receivers use a large blue HD Audio logo, while others may use a similar indicator.

9. If it turns out the HD Light is not on, Check the following.
   #1. Make sure your movie has HD Audio. It is always clearly marked on the blu-ray case.
   #2. HD audio receivers have many settings. Make sure you have set it to one of the modes that support HD audio. Typical choices are...
   DIRECT
   DOLBY HD + ...
   dts HD + ...

Tips & Warnings

• Use HDMI 1.3b to extract HD audio whenever possible.

• Use HDMI 1.3b certified cables. Older cables lack new features provided by 1.3.

• HDMI offers a 100% digital path not possible with any other method.

• HDMI Delivers high definition digital video and 8 channels of digital HD sound all in one single thin flexible cable.

• HDMI is the preferred way to extract Dolby True HD adn DTS HD Audio.

• Make sure all your gear is HDMI 1.3 certified to extract 7.1 audio.

• If you can not buy an HD audio receiver.

• If you are using the bluray's HD decoder, your older 7.1 receiver might have a more crude yet useful static audio delay feature to ensure lip sync with the digital processing found in modern displays.

• Avoid cheap bargain cables.

• HD-Decoders found on the budget Bluray players are typically do not match the quality standards of the decoder found in hi-end HD Audio Receivers.

• When using HD-Audio from the bluray-player's HD decoder, use high-grade cables as short as possible. This is an analog signal. Analog signals are subject to noise and hum that are not an issue with digital signals.

• Avoid audio cables running along AC power cables which can introduce 60 cycle hum.

• If you use the HD-audio decoder found in some Bluray players, you will forfeit the new auto-lip-sync correction feature supported by HDMI 1.3b.

• Using the Bluray player's HD decoder, means you will add up to 8 cables (7.1)coming out of the back of your Bluray player. For many people, this may be considered a big negative if the cables are not carefully hidden.

Resources

• Bluray Related Articles
• How to Sound Proof Your Home Theater Project
• How to Get the Most Out of Your Blu-ray Player
• How to Purchase Blu-ray Movies with the Best Picture and Sound