At long last, I am ready to pick up my first blu-ray player. Since I think it would be cool to also have a current game console, I'm thinking that a PS3 would make sense. However, I realize that this will require me to replace my old (non-HDMI) receiver too (Denon AVR-1803). Before making this decision, I'd like to run the following by you:

1. If I connect a PS3 to my TV with HDMI and to my old receiver with an optical cable, I'll get standard DVD sound but not the advanced sound possible with blu-ray. Getting that sound would require an HDMI receiver.

2. If I bought an LG BD390 instead of a PS3, would I still need to buy a new receiver to get current generation audio or would it provide this with my old receiver?

It won't be the same quality you'd get with HDMI, but I think DTS tracks will be at a higher bitrate than you generally get on DVD, and...might Dolby Digital be 640kbps instead of the usual DVD bitrates too?

You should be able to take advantage of lossless audio with the BD390. It has 7.1 analog outputs that you can connect to your receiver.

I finally found the manual for my receiver, and it looks like it doesn't even have the analog 7.1 inputs I would need. I guess I am going to have to buy a new receiver regardless.

I have 5.1 receiver with just optical-in, and I get a 640kbps bitrate on DD tracks and 1.5MBps on DTS tracks.

Does it have 5.1 inputs? Those should be pretty standard.

I use optical audio with my PS3, and the sound quality is really high. I should update my receiver, but it does a great job, and I'm pretty broke right now.

It does not appear to have these either.

I too have an optical connection with my PS3 Slim. I posted about the same problem here: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/9844531-post27.html If you have around $450 to spend, that looks like a great receiver. I'll be upgrading soon.

According to this old Product Sheet, the Denon AVR-1803 has:

6-ch Analog EXT. Input ................... FRONT L/R, CENTER, SURROUND L/R, SUBWOOFER

In the photo of the receiver's back panel, that appears to be them in the lower left corner.

You are right. I was thrown because they are labeled "antenna terminals."

Thanks. I spent some time reading receiver reviews yesterday. The Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K AV sounds pretty tough to beat at the mid-range level.

I haven't gotten around to upgrading my receiver yet so I still have an ancient (and I mean ancient) JVC (R-X330V). I have my Blu-Ray hooked up directly to the HDTV then I have the OUT from the TV going INTO the JVC with the speaker set to external. It's not too bad considering the primitive receiver.