Ask S&V

"You'll be happy to learn that you have no need to upgrade. The PS3 cannot send DTS-HD or Dolby TrueHD bitstreams, so the receiver needn't be capable of decoding them."This was true at launch, but the PS3 has been updated with software updates. The PS3 can send on Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD without any problem.

Alex you are wrong. PS3 Does not send DTS-HD or TrueHD via bitstream to an avr. It decodes it first and then sends it through PCM to the avr. The article is correct.

If you don't want to spend massive amounts of money on speaker cables or even interconnects, but you want quality that matches or exceeds those high priced suckers, check out www.mapleshaderecords.com.Their stuff is low cost, extremely high quality with 30 days to decide if you like them or not. I've purchased several products from them and none have disappointed. In fact, they've exceeded my expectations exponentially and have transformed my modest A/V system into a high performance beast!

Alex, Sony has informed me that the PS3 cannot send Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD bitstreams due to hardware limitations, not firmware. As a result, in its current hardware configuration, it will never be able to send these bitstreams. However, it can decode these fomats to PCM and send that via HDMI.

I found this on the website mentioned by ECC (http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/silclear.php) "The secret is microscopically thin silver platelets...to enhance beneficial skin effect. The unique binder for these platelets is an ultra-pure, low dielectric absorption, food-grade grease to minimize signal loss/smearing." It's like a silver-based paste that you put on your power cords to get a better connection. I will keep all comments to myself.

Scott is wrong on the Rotel RSX-1057. It is a video switch only HDMI. You can not get audio in the HDMI ports. So the ps3 needs to be hooked up with the digital out cable so no High Def audio. The only way to get it with that receiver is by using the analog multi channel inputs from a stand alone player that has them. The ps3 does not.

I read the 1057 real quick online and Mike is right. it does appear that HDMI on the 1057 is video pass through only and will need separate audio connections for a HDMI based player.

Hmm, that's very odd. Here's a quote from the RSX-1057 review on UAV: "There are two HDMI inputs (version 1.1, which means multichannel PCM from Blu-ray and HD DVD players is a go)..." We fact-check all our reviews, so if this was wrong, Rotel had a chance to correct it. Still, it could have slipped trough the cracks. I can't verify this with Rotel until Monday, which I will do and post the result here as soon as I have it.

Well, I just checked out the RSX-1057 owner's manual, and by golly, Mike and Bill seem to be correct. From the manual: "The implementation of the HDMI pass-through switching does not support audio signals; thus, a separate audio connection is necessary from an HDMI component." I had no idea, especially since the fact-checked UAV review said otherwise.I'm still going to verify this with Rotel next week, but it looks like I need to change my response to Jason's question, which I will do now.

I just added an update that corrects the response. Thanks Mike and Bill for your eagle eyes!

I'm aware of the lack of stand-alone HD recorders, but I believe that a DVD recorder purchased withing the last couple of years should have a DTV tuner, which should allow someone to record the digital channels. I have looked at these, and they are labled SDTV, so I would think they can tune and record the OTA station, just not in HD. If they were only able to record the analog channels that should be expressly mentioned as they would very shortly become obsolete.

Mike, I'm not at all sure that recent DVD recorders have ATSC tuners, but I'll look into it. Of course, DVD recorders are not only for recording broadcast TV, but also for archiving SD camcorder footage, old VHS tapes, etc. Thus, they aren't completely obsolete even if they can't record broadcast TV any more.

I've just confirmed with Rotel that the RSX-1057 cannot accept PCM or any other audio format via HDMI. According to the company, this AVR was designed in the early days of HDMI and has no internal processing for such a signal. So the update to my response is correct. Sorry about that, Jason.

Dear Peter, Check out the past few Panasonic DVD Recorders, DMREZ27Vk, DMREZ28VK, DMREZ47VK, DMREZ48VK. 27 and 28 models are DVD recorders, the 47 and 48 models are DVD VCR combo recorders. Each of these units has a built in ATSC tuner that is not only capable of recording digital tranmissions, but it can actually record an HD program to a DVD. It will downscale the resolution to 480p, but you can actually record it! But it does have a pretty good Panasonic scaler (same ones that are in the Entry Level Denon Blu-Ray player, and their high quality Blu-Ray Transport), so your 1080p playback of those HD recordings is actually quite good. The 27 and 47 models I believe are 1080i max resolution, where the 28 and 48 do full 1080p. Hope that helps.

I verified with Panasonic that Adam is correct...some of its DVD recorders do have ATSC tuners, and they record all digital channels in standard definition, just as if they were connected to a DTV converter box. Panasonic calls this its "DTV transition solution." Adam, my only concern is referring to these recordings as "HD"; the original signal might be HD, but the recording is not, and referring to it as such seems a bit misleading.Because an HD signal is downconverted to 480 for recording, then upconverted back to 1080 during playback, a lot of picture info is discarded and then reconstructed. This makes me curious about the difference between the live HD signal and the playback of a DVD recording of the same content. Obviously, the live signal will look better, but I wonder exactly what the difference between them would be. I might have to try this experiment some day.

dears friend,i've searching the web looking the right 7.1 setup speaker for my new receiver avr1909 from denon. and also either has the ps3 unit as a bluray player, the oroblem with the bitstream to decode dtshd and dolby digital hd ex, only happen when you pass the audio to the receiver via hdmi or either happen to the optical output?second question, my new denon has 90 watts rms by 7.1 channel, i've playing with home theater since 1999 for hobby not professional. i bought in that time klipsch quintek 5.1 setup that each one has 100watts rms with a 10" active subwoofer. i was thinking to update since my speaker are old, with the new quintek iii, but my inquiry is this new redesign version only carry at maximum 55watts rms for center and 45 for the saletlites, it's worth the change?and third and last, i want to buy either second subwoofer more powerfull, i was thinking on 12" klipsch,but i want to know if i can connect on a single preout outpiut two active subwoofer?tha