Shopping for a Blu-ray, do I need Toslink for surround?
 

Got the new 50" Plasma.

We have a Pioneer 7.1 surround receiver with HDMI inputs and outputs.

Unfortunately our old DVD and Satellite box do not have HDMI so we need to upgrade those to one that do.

Long story short, does HDMI carry the surround sound (5.1, 7.1, 7.2, etc.)

My old DVD needed a Toslink optical (or digital coaxial) to feed the surround channels to the home theater receiver.

Side note, anyone have a Blu-ray under $100 they really like? (wife is already freaking that we have to buy new cables and components) Don't need WIFI (but looks like they all get that anyway) or streaming or anything fancy, just want my surround sound and HD video. I get mixed signals about the Sony Blu-ray players... some say they are the best... some say they are a PITA because they need constant software updates.

TIA

Just set my mom up with a Samsung bluray player, uses HDMI to her TV, she has a Bose speaker system that picks up all audio from TV. But, the Bose system is a subwoofer and a speaker bar ...

HDMI should carry the digital audio signal. BTW, don't waste your money on super pricey cables, they are not worth it. We have a Toshiba Blueray and it sucks, we have to unplug it monthly when it locks up and the user input for using Netflix streaming is terrible.

If the DVD, Satellite have component out and the surround receiver has component in then no need to upgrade the devices.

The difference in quality between HDMI and component is negligible and is more dependent on the mix of equipment. Meaning if all your gear has both you may find component yields a better picture than HDMI in your specific configuration.

Blu Ray players can be found all day long for under $100.

Yes, Sony is a PIA with updates but you should not notice.

Mine has updated twice in 3 years.

Indeed - the only reason you may *have* to have HDMI is for the copy protection/DRM crap.

Do not have component out on old DVD or satellite box (both may be up to ten years old... using S-Video outputs :eek: )

Yes Toshiba has terrible reviews, either going Sony or Samsung for the Blueray.

Not doing any WIFI or streaming so bottom of the line (as long as it plays reliably) is OK.

In other shocking news... we are thinking of cutting The Internet at the house (I don't do Internet at home and wife surfs with 4G on her phone).

Will that be a problem with the new units that want updates?

But if we don't have Internet will it stop functioning if it can't get the updates?

No because it won't know an update is available.

Good because I already ordered a Sony S5100 :D

Just to update:

Yes indeed HDMI carries 5.1 to my Pioneer home theater receiver, no extra cables needed.

Got a cheap (under $100 off Amazon) Sony Blu-ray plugged via HDMI to Pioneer receiver plugged to Samsung 51" Plasma ($600 at Costco) via HDMI.

Long story short, have kicka$$ HD and surround in the living-room.

Wife even begrudgingly admitted it looks great.

Thanks for all the input.

PS: To add, as far as I can tell the plasma looks as good as a LED, the shiny flat surface does get a lot of glare but most of our viewing is at night and we plan on mounting it on the wall at an angle in the corner.