Is This A Stupid Question ? - DTS Decoding

[PaulBoy]

I use a Denon 3801 receiver which has DD & DTS decoders
I recently bought a Panasonic DVD-A DVD player which has its own DD & DTS decoders (as well as DVD-A obviously)
I appreciate I can switch between the Panasonic & the Denon decoders & listen but which, in theory, should be the best quality ?
Sorry if this is a stupid question but as my mum always says "what do you expect from a pig but a grunt" ... Paul

[Just]

It's a pretty valid question really, and comes down to which unit has the best DTS DAC conversion unit. I would be pretty sure the Denon will have, but really an audio test will be the only way of being sure. You may find that neither is 'better' but they offer different 'personalities'. Having said that you will likely hear no difference.

[ajm]

I have my dvd-audio player connected both digital and analog (5.1) to my yamaha dsp-a1. I tend to watch movies via digital, but listen to music analog.

With analog remember that your choice of cables is more important too. Spending 20 quid on the 3 pairs of cables isn't going to do the dac justice. Ask to borrow some decent cables from your friendly local hi-fi shop to do a decent analog test.

[sideshowbob]

I have read other posts from folks (albeit with different kit) noticing differences in the processing from the DVD player and amp. It would be worthwhile trying different bits of soundtrack for comparison, eg...

Quiet bit / background detail - tinkly bits in Fight Club in the Penguin Power Animal scene.

Bassy bits - plenty to test out in SPR and similar

Dialogue - something where dialogue is perhaps a little indistinct, or it has a tendency to get drowned out by other effects (Event Horizon?)

Music - DD / DTS music disks

I can pretty much guarantee you'll hear a difference between your analogue and digital outputs for CD / music use, but the difference is possibly less dramatic in the DVD stakes.

[Bapapapa]

I think DVD Audio is only available through the analogue connections, no bitstream so you don't have a choice there.

But for movies I suspect the Denon would make a better fist of it than the player. Only way to be sure though is listen for yourself. :)

[PaulBoy]

Thanks guys - mostly as I suspected ...
I will give my ears a good workout this weekend ... :D
BTW I watched The Shawshank R last night and have to say the picture on the Panny DVD-A is fantastic (as well as the sound on DVD-A obviously!)

[Bapapapa]

(as well as the sound on DVD-A obviously)

Have you actually got any DVD-Audio discs?

[PaulBoy]

Bapapapa (bet I got that wrong!)
Yes I have ELP / Deep Purple / Metallica / Foreigner and can highly recommend all four ... I had them B4 I got the DVD-A unit & thought the DD5.1 that I could access with my old player was great ... but I was blown away by the extra clarity & placement of sound that the DVD-A tracks give you ... The ELP album & Metallica in particular are made for multi channel sound ...
I just wish there were more discs available (Foreigner 4 & Moondance by Van The Man are due out soon and I will snap up both of those)
Although not all DVD-A disc are available there I found the cheapest place to buy them is Oz and I have just ordered The Corrs "In Blue" for a few pence over £11 inc postage!
Paul ;)

[puddleduck]

I have just ordered The Corrs "In Blue" for a few pence over £11 in

Christ, you must really be desperate to get hold of some DVD-A software :)