Surround sound questions

[David Schwartz]

Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am new to the home
theater-surround sound scene and am trying to learn.
Here is my question: I have my DVD signal going to the TV and then from the
TV to my audio-video receiver. This way, I can watch a DVD using only the
TV's speakers, if I want. But, when I turn on the receiver and set it to
DolbyProLogic II Movie (I assume this is what I should set it at) I can
barely hear my rear speakers. I know they work-both because of the test
sound and because when I set my receiver to Multi-Stereo, which uses all of
the speakers but just in a stereo sound, the speakers work just fine. I
also increased the volume on the rear speakers.

My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
passing on stereo sound? Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?

Thanks in advance.


--
David Schwartz
Commack, NY

[Larry]

In article <afevh.304$_z3.3@newsfe10.lga>,
"David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote:

> Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am new to the home
> theater-surround sound scene and am trying to learn.
> Here is my question: I have my DVD signal going to the TV and then from the
> TV to my audio-video receiver. This way, I can watch a DVD using only the
> TV's speakers, if I want. But, when I turn on the receiver and set it to
> DolbyProLogic II Movie (I assume this is what I should set it at) I can
> barely hear my rear speakers. I know they work-both because of the test
> sound and because when I set my receiver to Multi-Stereo, which uses all of
> the speakers but just in a stereo sound, the speakers work just fine. I
> also increased the volume on the rear speakers.
>
> My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
> receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
> passing on stereo sound?

It probably is, depending on the connections you are using. You
mentioned you wired it this way in case you want to watch a DVD with
only the TV speakers. Is this something you really do on occasion?

Personally, I'd recommend sending your audio to the receiver and not to
the TV at all. Then you can set your receiver to a true surround mode -
Dolby Digital or DTS, for example, instead of the ProLogicII (which
fakes a stereo signal into a surround one).

Note that for true surround sound, you also need a digital cable -
either coaxial or optical. Stereo sound (the red and white cables) are
just two-channel, so you would need something like ProLogic to make it a
5.1-channel signal.

> Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
> receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
> split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?

You could split the audio with an appropriate splitter. It would send
the signal to both sources, though. But again, I don't think this would
be an optimal setup.

> Thanks in advance.

[Neck & Red]

>
> My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
> receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
> passing on stereo sound?

Yes, exactly.


Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
> receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
> split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?

Yes, you need to connect the DVD player directly to your AV Receiver USING A
DIGITAL CABLE to get the 5.1 sound. The normal RCA jacks won't do it, you
must use the digital output.

[Gary A. Edelstein]

On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:56:53 -0500, "David Schwartz"
<who4ever@optonline.net> wrote:

>Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am new to the home
>theater-surround sound scene and am trying to learn.
>Here is my question: I have my DVD signal going to the TV and then from the
>TV to my audio-video receiver. This way, I can watch a DVD using only the
>TV's speakers, if I want. But, when I turn on the receiver and set it to
>DolbyProLogic II Movie (I assume this is what I should set it at) I can
>barely hear my rear speakers. I know they work-both because of the test
>sound and because when I set my receiver to Multi-Stereo, which uses all of
>the speakers but just in a stereo sound, the speakers work just fine. I
>also increased the volume on the rear speakers.
>
>My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
>receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
>passing on stereo sound? Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
>receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
>split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?
>
If the TV doesn't change the signal in any way and the stereo audio is
passed directly, then, depending on the DVD, you should hear something
in the surround speakers. But that may vary depending on how the
soundtrack was produced and what the player does with it. I suppose
it's possible the TV modifies the signal in some way to affect this.
If you were passing a mono signal, then you would hear most of the
audio information in the dialog (center) channel.

If the receiver has DPL II, then it should have a digital audio input.
I suggest you hook the player up to the receiver with a digital audio
cable, either coax or toslink (optical). You can keep it connected to
the TV with the analog audio cables if you want for the TV speakers.
I'd minimize or eliminate the use of the TV audio out to the receiver
when playing DVDs and use the digital out. You'll really notice the
difference.

Gary E
--
|Gary A. Edelstein
|edelsgNO@SPAMyahoo.com.invalid (remove NO SPAM and .invalid to reply)
|"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Walt Kelly's Pogo

[Ron]

On Jan 28, 10:56 pm, "David Schwartz" <who4e...@optonline.net> wrote:
> Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am new to the home
> theater-surround sound scene and am trying to learn.
> Here is my question: I have my DVD signal going to the TV and then from the
> TV to my audio-video receiver. This way, I can watch a DVD using only the
> TV's speakers, if I want. But, when I turn on the receiver and set it to
> DolbyProLogic II Movie (I assume this is what I should set it at) I can
> barely hear my rear speakers. I know they work-both because of the test
> sound and because when I set my receiver to Multi-Stereo, which uses all of
> the speakers but just in a stereo sound, the speakers work just fine. I
> also increased the volume on the rear speakers.
>
> My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
> receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
> passing on stereo sound? Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
> receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
> split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> David Schwartz
> Commack, NY

I feel your pain, this is what I did.

DVD player S-Video out to TV and toslink/optical (this is your audio)
cable out to receiver.

Use this for watching DVD's in surround sound.

Use the RCA outputs (red-white audio...yellow video) of the DVD player
to another input on back of your TV. Use that for watching DVD's
through the TV.

Don't know what else you have hooked up to your TV (VCR ?) but
hopefully you have enough inputs to use this method.

[D A V I D L A N E]

DPLII is for processing ANALOG signals. Even if fed a DIGITAL SIGNAL, your
receiver will convert the signal to ANALOG before processing as DPLII.
DPLII, BTW, is the latest incarnation of Jim Fosgate's "6-Axis" analog
signal processing circuit. Fosgate got tired of marketing his (AWESOME)
design to Hollywood, and lent his expertise to Dolby. Good move for both
parties.


"Gary A. Edelstein" <edelsgNO@SPAMyahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:u60sr29rej7uh4gnuvpcun9cncbdsmh50o@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:56:53 -0500, "David Schwartz"
> <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote:
>
>>Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am new to the home
>>theater-surround sound scene and am trying to learn.
>>Here is my question: I have my DVD signal going to the TV and then from
>>the
>>TV to my audio-video receiver. This way, I can watch a DVD using only the
>>TV's speakers, if I want. But, when I turn on the receiver and set it to
>>DolbyProLogic II Movie (I assume this is what I should set it at) I can
>>barely hear my rear speakers. I know they work-both because of the test
>>sound and because when I set my receiver to Multi-Stereo, which uses all
>>of
>>the speakers but just in a stereo sound, the speakers work just fine. I
>>also increased the volume on the rear speakers.
>>
>>My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
>>receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
>>passing on stereo sound? Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
>>receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
>>split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?
>>
> If the TV doesn't change the signal in any way and the stereo audio is
> passed directly, then, depending on the DVD, you should hear something
> in the surround speakers. But that may vary depending on how the
> soundtrack was produced and what the player does with it. I suppose
> it's possible the TV modifies the signal in some way to affect this.
> If you were passing a mono signal, then you would hear most of the
> audio information in the dialog (center) channel.
>
> If the receiver has DPL II, then it should have a digital audio input.
> I suggest you hook the player up to the receiver with a digital audio
> cable, either coax or toslink (optical). You can keep it connected to
> the TV with the analog audio cables if you want for the TV speakers.
> I'd minimize or eliminate the use of the TV audio out to the receiver
> when playing DVDs and use the digital out. You'll really notice the
> difference.
>
> Gary E
> --
> |Gary A. Edelstein
> |edelsgNO@SPAMyahoo.com.invalid (remove NO SPAM and .invalid to reply)
> |"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Walt Kelly's Pogo

[David Schwartz]

Thanks for your time and good advice.


"Larry" <x@y.com> wrote in message
news:x-EADA37.23024628012007@news.west.earthlink.net...
> In article <afevh.304$_z3.3@newsfe10.lga>,
> "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am new to the home
>> theater-surround sound scene and am trying to learn.
>> Here is my question: I have my DVD signal going to the TV and then from
>> the
>> TV to my audio-video receiver. This way, I can watch a DVD using only
>> the
>> TV's speakers, if I want. But, when I turn on the receiver and set it to
>> DolbyProLogic II Movie (I assume this is what I should set it at) I can
>> barely hear my rear speakers. I know they work-both because of the test
>> sound and because when I set my receiver to Multi-Stereo, which uses all
>> of
>> the speakers but just in a stereo sound, the speakers work just fine. I
>> also increased the volume on the rear speakers.
>>
>> My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
>> receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
>> passing on stereo sound?
>
> It probably is, depending on the connections you are using. You
> mentioned you wired it this way in case you want to watch a DVD with
> only the TV speakers. Is this something you really do on occasion?
>
> Personally, I'd recommend sending your audio to the receiver and not to
> the TV at all. Then you can set your receiver to a true surround mode -
> Dolby Digital or DTS, for example, instead of the ProLogicII (which
> fakes a stereo signal into a surround one).
>
> Note that for true surround sound, you also need a digital cable -
> either coaxial or optical. Stereo sound (the red and white cables) are
> just two-channel, so you would need something like ProLogic to make it a
> 5.1-channel signal.
>
>> Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
>> receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
>> split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?
>
> You could split the audio with an appropriate splitter. It would send
> the signal to both sources, though. But again, I don't think this would
> be an optimal setup.
>
>> Thanks in advance.

[David Schwartz]

Thanks for your time and good advice.


"Neck & Red" <neckred@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:dBevh.15767$pQ3.2594@newsread4.news.pas.earth link.net...
>
>>
>> My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
>> receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
>> passing on stereo sound?
>
> Yes, exactly.
>
>
> Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
>> receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
>> split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?
>
> Yes, you need to connect the DVD player directly to your AV Receiver USING
> A DIGITAL CABLE to get the 5.1 sound. The normal RCA jacks won't do it,
> you must use the digital output.
>

[David Schwartz]

Thanks for your time and good advice.


"Gary A. Edelstein" <edelsgNO@SPAMyahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:u60sr29rej7uh4gnuvpcun9cncbdsmh50o@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:56:53 -0500, "David Schwartz"
> <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote:
>
>>Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am new to the home
>>theater-surround sound scene and am trying to learn.
>>Here is my question: I have my DVD signal going to the TV and then from
>>the
>>TV to my audio-video receiver. This way, I can watch a DVD using only the
>>TV's speakers, if I want. But, when I turn on the receiver and set it to
>>DolbyProLogic II Movie (I assume this is what I should set it at) I can
>>barely hear my rear speakers. I know they work-both because of the test
>>sound and because when I set my receiver to Multi-Stereo, which uses all
>>of
>>the speakers but just in a stereo sound, the speakers work just fine. I
>>also increased the volume on the rear speakers.
>>
>>My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
>>receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
>>passing on stereo sound? Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
>>receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
>>split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?
>>
> If the TV doesn't change the signal in any way and the stereo audio is
> passed directly, then, depending on the DVD, you should hear something
> in the surround speakers. But that may vary depending on how the
> soundtrack was produced and what the player does with it. I suppose
> it's possible the TV modifies the signal in some way to affect this.
> If you were passing a mono signal, then you would hear most of the
> audio information in the dialog (center) channel.
>
> If the receiver has DPL II, then it should have a digital audio input.
> I suggest you hook the player up to the receiver with a digital audio
> cable, either coax or toslink (optical). You can keep it connected to
> the TV with the analog audio cables if you want for the TV speakers.
> I'd minimize or eliminate the use of the TV audio out to the receiver
> when playing DVDs and use the digital out. You'll really notice the
> difference.
>
> Gary E
> --
> |Gary A. Edelstein
> |edelsgNO@SPAMyahoo.com.invalid (remove NO SPAM and .invalid to reply)
> |"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Walt Kelly's Pogo

[David Schwartz]

Thanks for your time and good advice.


"Ron" <BigELilE05@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1170085845.667665.201210@v33g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com...
>
>
> On Jan 28, 10:56 pm, "David Schwartz" <who4e...@optonline.net> wrote:
>> Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am new to the home
>> theater-surround sound scene and am trying to learn.
>> Here is my question: I have my DVD signal going to the TV and then from
>> the
>> TV to my audio-video receiver. This way, I can watch a DVD using only
>> the
>> TV's speakers, if I want. But, when I turn on the receiver and set it to
>> DolbyProLogic II Movie (I assume this is what I should set it at) I can
>> barely hear my rear speakers. I know they work-both because of the test
>> sound and because when I set my receiver to Multi-Stereo, which uses all
>> of
>> the speakers but just in a stereo sound, the speakers work just fine. I
>> also increased the volume on the rear speakers.
>>
>> My question is:by routing the audio signal from the DVD to the TV to the
>> receiver, is the TV filtering out the 5.1 surround sound effect and just
>> passing on stereo sound? Do I have to connect the DVD directly into the
>> receiver in order to hear the DVD in 5.1 surround sound? If I do, can I
>> split the audio-1 to the TV and 1 to the receiver?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> --
>> David Schwartz
>> Commack, NY
>
> I feel your pain, this is what I did.
>
> DVD player S-Video out to TV and toslink/optical (this is your audio)
> cable out to receiver.
>
> Use this for watching DVD's in surround sound.
>
> Use the RCA outputs (red-white audio...yellow video) of the DVD player
> to another input on back of your TV. Use that for watching DVD's
> through the TV.
>
> Don't know what else you have hooked up to your TV (VCR ?) but
> hopefully you have enough inputs to use this method.
>
>

[Gary A. Edelstein]

On Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:23:44 -0900, "D A V I D L A N E"
<davidlane@gci.net> wrote:

>DPLII is for processing ANALOG signals. Even if fed a DIGITAL SIGNAL, your
>receiver will convert the signal to ANALOG before processing as DPLII.
>DPLII, BTW, is the latest incarnation of Jim Fosgate's "6-Axis" analog
>signal processing circuit. Fosgate got tired of marketing his (AWESOME)
>design to Hollywood, and lent his expertise to Dolby. Good move for both
>parties.
>
I know. To clarify, what I meant and should have said the A/V
receivers I've seen with DPL II typically have digital audio inputs.

Gary E
--
|Gary A. Edelstein
|edelsgNO@SPAMyahoo.com.invalid (remove NO SPAM and .invalid to reply)
|"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Walt Kelly's Pogo