hi all, i've just posted a similar question in the blu-ray section but thought i better post in here as well. basicly i'm preparing my self to go blu-ray, once i buy a blu-ray player it will have true HD sound. What i'm confused about is, is my AV receiver true HD surround sound? it has 3 HDMI ports (what is HDMI pass though?) here is the model number: Sony STR-DG510. can someone clear up on how to set tru hd surround sound up, is it as simple as this? blu-ray player to receiver via hdmi, then receiver to tv via hdmi or does it need 2 hdmi from receiver to tv, 1 for picture 1 audio? your help is much appriciated.
HDMI pass-through just sends the video through to the tv, for making it easier when switching sources. It does nothing for audio. Your receiver doesn't decode the new HD audio, and it doesn't even have the 5.1 analog inputs either. So, there's no way you'll be able to listen to the HD audio of blu ray movies, with the receiver you have. You can get a receiver like the Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver, for less than $400, at Amazon.com right now. It will handle all the HD audio you want to listen to. You can get an older receiver that has the 5.1 analog inputs, and get a blu ray player that has the 5.1 outputs (and decodes HD audio internally), and hear Dolby trueHD that way, but not dtsHD MA. Basically, you need a new receiver to do what you want. Yes, the connection is that easy. But you have to make sure you get the settings right, in the receiver's and player's setup menus. The owner's manuals will tell you how.
