Nothing I own accepts HDMI inputs, so I cannot hook up the HD-A1 to my receiver in that way. I was reading the review of the A1 here and see that the next best audio hook-up option is 6 channel analog. Do you agree?

More importantly, should the A1 be set to "PCM" or "Bitstream" for better sound when using 6 channel? I couldn't tell.

On the video front, sometimes blacks look....um....strange. I can't really explain it. Like there's two levels of black color in the same dark areas? I calibrated my TV a while ago, I guess I need to redo it for this player?

Yes, go with the analog inputs. As long as you have firmware 2.0, you can play Dolby TrueHD through analog.


Set it to Auto. It'll detect everything automatically for you. It's a feature I hope the PS3 eventually gets.

Thanks.

Agreed on analog outs, I changed from optical to analog after about a week or two of owning and it was like a whole new world. Since I do not have HDMI audio, multi-channel audio is my savior.

Last night was the first chance I've had to use my player since I started this thread.

The HDMI audio out setting is the only one with the "Auto" choice. The other audio setting only has the choice between Bitstream and PCM.

So my original question still stands: which should it be set to?

PCM.

Thanks again.

I thought the bitstream/PCM selection was only for the digital out. The 5.1 analogs don't have any "choices" other than setting up your speaker sizes, distances, etc.

The other setting he is refering to is the toslink out.

So, apparently since I'm using 6 channel analog, that setting really doesn't matter?

I said they were dumb questions.

Correct. Also make sure you have 2.0 firmware and select TruHD in the menu for discs that offer it.

Which firmware do you have and what do you have "Black Settings" set to?

2.0 firmware and I tried the Enhanced Black Levels setting both on and off. I didn't see much difference.

I have a Toshiba 51H83, if that matters.

Always, for any new player. Best is to have a player with video settings and change them, and you don't change the TV's settings.