Onkyo TX-SR601 6.1 and Blu-ray

[Natedogg]

My Onkyo TX-SR601 is a 6.1 receiver.. specs here: http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-SR601&p=s&class=Receiver

I have it hooked to my hdtv via optical on the TV. I was wondering if my Receiver will be able to handle the audio on the Blu-ray Discs... I haven't tried one yet, but I'll be purchasing the Pirates movies to view soon, and wanted to make sure I'll be engulfed by the sound Blu-ray offers!
Thanks!

[Sdallnct]

Spikey or others may have to help...but I'll give it a shot.

Your Onkyo will handle anything that comes over optical. However, if I understand it, the newest BD audio formats can only be played thru HDMI or Analog outs. Do you have a stand alone BD player or a PS3? If you have a PS3, it has no analog outputs. So to get the newest audio formats contained on the disc, you will need to use HDMI. I do not know if that particular Onkyo will process the audio over HDMI. Is it a new model?

[Natedogg]

Well I have the PS3 plugged into my set through HDMI... Then I have the TV sending the signal to the receiver via optical out... The Onkyo I have was out after the 6.1 craze, but before the HDMI and HD craze

[Spiky]

If you are just talking about the PS3, that's the best you can do. Should sound quite good, BD has excellent DD/DTS capability, even though it isn't the best available on BD. But if you get a standalone player, you would get even better sound with the analog 5.1 input. Depending on the disc, of course.

[Natedogg]

I was reading up on another forum, but unfortunately, when the audio passes through the TV via HDMI and out via the optical cable to the receiver, it will not work. I'm either going to have to figure a way to plug in all of my equipment to my receiver using optical (only 2 inputs.. need more) or get a new receiver which would be stretching my wallet... Even though it is about stretched out to the max

[Natedogg]

Found this... http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Optical-Toslink-Selector-Connections/dp/B000812QC6
I can use three optical devices through this.. the only problem is I would have to physically get up to switch them

[Natedogg]

Just a little add-on to the above... I found the same component much cheaper from Monoprice, so I bought it there along with some extra optical cables. That should put me in business for the sound ;-)

[Natedogg]

one worry I do have is that some of the titles have the DTS-Hd tracks and stuff.. my receiver cannot decode these... It does do pcm, but not the hd tracks.. would they be so important as to upgrade my system a bit?