Like the difference between CD and audio cassette, the Blu-Ray Disc's UNCOMPRESSED digital audio is MUCH better than DVD can offer. Here's an actual account of an "Uncompressed Audio" experience:

"I was watching 'Alien Vs. Predator' (on Blu-ray) and the sound was freakishly clean. There's a scene where a person climbs the side of an ice wall. You can clearly hear her digging her pick in the ice and the snow breaking apart with the tiny ice fragments. Then her phone rang and I was like, 'Wow!' In the movie theaters there are scenes where it's quiet and something loud is introduced and it startles you. A damn phone ringing was so small but it made me realize what I was listening to. The same thing continued throughout the rest of the movie. When people talk you can hear the distance of their voices. It's so open. Like if they are far away or close and maybe there's an echo or something to it. Little things you would never notice or pay attention to. It feels great to finally HEAR quality as well as see it in movies. I LOVE SOUND. Yeah, people don't know at all what they are missing out on. Everyone just focuses on the picture." - NADIR KHAN

When using the "7.1ch AUDIO OUT", remember that all of your speaker settings (size, distance, position and individual volume) are now controlled by the "MULTI-CHANNEL AUDIO OUT" settings in your Blu-ray Disc player's setup menu.

When using an HDMI cable, make sure your "HDMI Digital Audio Out" in your Blu-ray Disc player's setup menu is set to "Bitstream" and not "PCM".

Don't forget to select the "Uncompressed PCM" or "DolbyTrueHD" or "DTSHD Master Audio" track from the "Languages" Menu of EACH Blu-ray Disc title you sit down to watch it. The discs usually default to standard DVD audio.

There have been several "redux" titles that were released almost 3 years ago (when Blu-ray Disc first appeared). Aside from getting a "sharper" picture, these "redux" titles usually offer much better audio quality, too.

Be sure you pick up the newer (and less expensive) PS3 "Slim" to get the best audio quality from your Blu-ray Discs.

LPCM

Check for any of the 3 "uncompressed" audio logos on the Blu-ray Disc's package before you buy. Some titles only support standard DVD-quality audio ("Dolby Digital" or "DTS").

WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!!

Don't be fooled by the "DTSHD High Resolution" logo found on some Blu-ray Disc players and Home Theater receivers. The "High Resolution" means that all of your "DTSHD Master Audio" soundtracks will get watered down to regular old "DTS" before being sent to your speakers.

Here's the "Wall of Fame" for the few that are ACTUALLY listening to 100% UNCOMPRESSED DIGITAL AUDIO in their OWN homes.

CHASE BUNGER

KEVIN ENDERLE (aka "The Sound Broker")

DR. ORAVETZ

NADIR KHAN ("DTS-HD Master Audio")

D&M SOUND ("DTS-HD Master Audio")

STEVE & SHERI LANE

OMAR SILVA

RICO ("DTS-HD Master Audio")

Here's a list of a few Home Theater receivers that can handle all of this UNCOMPRESSED sound with ONLY the HDMI cable running from your Blu-ray Disc player (assuming your BD player is capable of sending the information):

Onkyo

"Integra" DTC-9.9 (preamp)

TX-NR906

TX-SR876

TX-SR806

TX-SR706

TX-SR607 (DolbyPrologicIIz)

TX-SR507

Pioneer Elite

SC-09TXH

SC-07

SC-05

VSX-03TXH

VSX-01TXH

VSX-1018AH-K

Yamaha

RX-Z11

RX-Z7

RX-V3900

RX-V1900

RX-V863

RX-V765

RX-V665

RX-V565

RX-V465 ($379.95)

Denon

AVP-A1HDCI (preamp)

AVR-5308ci

AVR-4310ci

AVR-3808ci

AVR-2809ci

AVR-2309ci

AVR-1910

AVR-1610 ($379)

Marantz

AV8003 (Preamp)

SR8002

SR7002

SR6004

SR6003

SR5004

SR5003

SR4003 ("Uncompressed PCM" only)

NR1501

Here's a list of a few Blu-ray Disc players which can send "DTS-HD Master Audio" (as well as "DolbyTrueHD") to your capable receivers:

NOTE: All of these players can actually decode "Uncompressed PCM" INTERNALLY and some can decode "DolbyTrueHD" (internally), eliminating the need for a new receiver.

Panasonic DMP-BD60 (BD-Live ~ Profile 2.0)

Samsung BD-P1600

Sony BDP-S360

Marantz BD5004 (BD-Live ~ Profile 2.0)

Denon DBP-1610 (BD-Live ~ Profile 2.0)

Denon DVD-2500BTCI (disc transport)

Pioneer Elite BDP-95FD

LG BD390

Yamaha BD-S2900

And finally! Here's a few Blu-ray Disc players which can decode "DTS-HD Master Audio" INTERNALLY and output it in full-blown "Multi-Channel Analog" (in addition to "DolbyTrue HD"). This means you can hook them right up to your CURRENT receiver and hear all that UNCOMPRESSED AUDIO without buying more than a few pairs of stereo RCA cables (Budget Cables).

Panasonic DMP-BD80 (7.1ch Output ~ BD-Live ~ Profile 2.0)

Denon DBP-2010CI (7.1ch Output ~ BD-Live ~ Profile 2.0)

Denon DVD-3800BDCI (7.1ch Output)

Marantz BD7004 (7.1ch Output ~ BD-Live ~ Profile 2.0)

Marantz BD8002 (7.1ch Output)

Here's a great title (even if you don't like the Rolling Stones) which features all 3 uncompressed HD audio formats ("PCM", "TrueHD" and "Master Audio"). Switching between them during playback is great way to demonstrate the subtle differences between all 3 uncompressed formats.

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