The only container the Live can pass through True-HD (to be decoded in 5.1) is the M2TS container. No other container, regardless of whether it contains the True-HD stream or not, can have the HD stream passed through. So if you are concerned about using the Live along with a receiver that can decode True-HD then you need to have all your files in M2TS containers.
I see what you mean now. So if I had the stream in an mkv, the WDTV would, theoretically, only be able to decode/output the core AC3 and not passthrough the HD stream to an external receiver? I’m assuming I wouldn’t run into any problems though if I want to play it on, say, a PC equipped with a TrueHD enabled soundcard as it wouldn’t count as a “passthrough”?
The Live *should* correctly play the AC3 stream in a mkv file with True-HD in it (when set to “stereo”). I say “should” because I’ve never done it (due to the way I construct my files). But you can test it (assuming you have a Live) – if you don’t hear anything then it doesn’t work . I suppose I could mux a test file if you don’t have a Live (assuming I can find one of my blu-rays that has True-HD – most are put in my attic and most blu-rays don’t have True-HD, so of the ones I haven’t put away yet I might not be able to find such a track).
Apologies, I do have a WDTV but I have no HD audio media whatsoever. I am planning on some sort of new setup which is why I’m asking for advice. It would be really great if you could try it for me as you suggested. :smileyvery-happy:
No player on the market can pass through the DTS-HD stream – the DTS folks do not want this and therefore it won’t happen. So there’s little or no point in trying to mux a file with a DTS-HD stream. If you do, all you’ll get is the DTS core equivilent (with all the overhead of the DTS-HD). (For this reason alone I have standardized my audio to be just either the AC3 or the DTS core – that and my old ears really can’t hear any difference even on my fancy 7.2 surround sound system).
So it’s the exact same situation as with the Dolby formats, except you cannot passthrough the whole HD stream to some capable receiver no matter what container you use? I guess that’s not too bad assuming you can still get the DTS core on the WDTV with the “stereo” option.