Avant Sound Processing Issues

I am using the Oppo UDP-203 UHD BluRay player with my 2014 Avant.  When I set the Oppo Audio Out to Bitstream and play UHD BluRay discs mastered in Dolby TrueHD 7.1 or DTS-HD MA 7.1, the Avant Audio Signal indicates Dolby 5.1.  If I change the Oppo Audio Out to either LPCM or Auto, the Avant Audio Signal indicates PCM 7.1. 

Does anyone know why the Avant would 'downgrade' the incoming TrueHD 7.1 and DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio signals to 5.1? When I spoke to my dealer about it, I was provided an unusual response about the Avant decoder being unable to process Dolby and DTS 7.1 signals....but that doesn't make sense to me since Avant possesses a 7.1 processor.  Thoughts?

ssbrig:

I am using the Oppo UDP-203 UHD BluRay player with my 2014 Avant. When I set the Oppo Audio Out to Bitstream and play UHD BluRay discs mastered in Dolby TrueHD 7.1 or DTS-HD MA 7.1, the Avant Audio Signal indicates Dolby 5.1. If I change the Oppo Audio Out to either LPCM or Auto, the Avant Audio Signal indicates PCM 7.1.

Does anyone know why the Avant would 'downgrade' the incoming TrueHD 7.1 and DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio signals to 5.1? When I spoke to my dealer about it, I was provided an unusual response about the Avant decoder being unable to process Dolby and DTS 7.1 signals....but that doesn't make sense to me since Avant possesses a 7.1 processor. Thoughts?

First of all. The fact that the Avant can send audio to many channels is not the same as being DTS hd compatible. Unfortunately B&O has chosen not to include codec support for DTS HD, Atmos etc.

This is the reason why expensive players such as Oppo is recommended since they themselves often can decode the codecs and instead send pure PCM data (the same exact data as if the Avant would do it itself).

I see the reasoning behind this but it is also quite a cheap by a high end tv manufacturer to do so. However, one can argue it does keep costs down for the many users who never will use the formats or care. And for those it matters to, a player that can decode and send pure PCM data is necessary.

So your dealer was right. If possible, let your device decode to PCM and then your Avant will let all the channels go to your desired speakers.

Thanks Michael, your explanation is clear.  I have been using the PCM out from the Oppo and pleased with it.  I'm surprised however that B&O doesn't support these Dolby and DTS codecs especially since the spec sheet lists them, in general terms, as being supported.  Specs listed from B&O here:  

HDMI: Multichannel PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS Digital Surround.

 

Hi,

Perhaps this posting might shine a little info on this discussion.

Cheers
-g

Not much to add to Geoff's article, really.

 

To me it does not seem reasonable, that B&O (and the costumers) should pay (a lot) for licences for the HD-decoding.

Apart from the cheapest ones, any BRP will do that (the cheapest ones often decodes and downmixes to a 2.0 PCM signal).

The information on the B&O site is correct - the 'old' lossy DD/DTS signals are handled well.

There is no need for more - at least not untill internal (tv) tuners will support Dolby Atmos/DTS:X sound (which probably is a far-in-the-future-thing).

 

The Dolby Atmos thing is different, though.

Apart from the fact, that Atmos (and co) has to be processed in the audio engine according to the amount, placement etc of the speakers in the setup, HDMI would not be able to carry all these channels as a decoded PCM stream.

Means - an external decoding (e.g. In a BRP) is not possible - Atmos and co has to be bitstreamed.

Whether B&O would want to incorporate these decoding possibilities in their future audio engine/s, is a big question.

I would honestly doubt it - only very few costumers would have a need for this kind of setup.

Maybe something for a seperate BSysX - but not as part of an ordinary B&O-tv.

 

MM

 

Thank you Geoff for the links to he article.- great job on writing it, very clear and useful.  It is disappointing that B&O doesn't support these two audio codecs given they are used in practically every blu-ray released today. Good thing I have the Oppo to handle the decoding of these formats.