Surroundbar IHT 6000 performance Dolby Digital vs 2ch PCM input signal

EC8CH

Does the Surroundbar IHT 6000 perform any differently when a Dolby Digital bitstream is input via the digital optical input, vs when a 2ch PCM signal is provided via the same input? Does the 3D audio feature perform better when provided with the Bitstream signal?

There are multiple internet reviews with conflicting opinions on this point, and I was wondering if I could get some official word from Polk. I would like to know if it is worth the extra hassle and wiring, or if it works equally well with all the components wired to the TV, and all the audio sent to the Surroundbar as a 2ch PCM from the TV's digital video output.

Thanks for any insight :cheesygrin:

[Deleted User]

Hello EC,
I'll forward your question to the Polk folk for you. Good one, by the way.
Regards, Ken

EC8CH

Thanks for the quick reply.

Wiring all components to the TV and letting it do the switching is an ideal solution so long as audio quality isn't compromised by only sending the downmixed 2ch PCM signal that most TV's output from their digital outputs.

Basically it boils down to does the Surroundbar utilize the extra information provided in the DD bitstream to create a better 3d audio effect than what it can produce when only supplied with the 2ch signal. If it doesn't then sending the 2ch PCM from the TV solves a number of potential issues with the product that are most commonly brought up in reviews.

1. So long as your TV has adequate inputs the limited number on the Surroundbar is no longer an issue
2. No longer need to worry about unsupported audio formats like DTS, everything would be converted to 2ch PCM

I am eager to hear their reply.

Thanks again.

EC8CH

If the performance of the Surroundbar isn't any better with the DD bitstream signal, I still see a very valid reason for it to have the ability to decode such a signal. When outputting sound through a TV's digital optical output almost always the multichannel signals from other HDMI connected sources are downmixed to 2ch PCM, however the multichannel audio from digital channels from the internal digital tuner are output as a DD bitstream. Very often TVs don't have options to force the digital tuners audio to be downmixed, and some TV's lack analog audio outputs. The inclusion of DD processing ensures Polk's Surroundbars will be able to play any audio sent from a TV's digital optical output. Another company's soundbar (the HK SB16) that I have been researching doesn't have this ability, and many reviews have been made that complain about this soundbar's inability to play audio from a TV's digital tuner. Customers who have TV's without the option to downmix the audio and without any analog audio outputs are left with no way to play audio from digital channels. For some, this is a non-issue, but for other's, it may be a showstopper.

Anyway... this is the conclusion I came to after doing some comparative research between the Polk Surroundbar 6000 and the HK SB16. I hope this can help anyone else who is considering these two products.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
The opinion from Polk is that the SurroundBar 6000 will produce a more convincing surround experience when it receives a Dolby Digital signal. The feeling of three-dimensionality will be increased. However, they point out that owners who provide a two channel PCM signal will receive an extremely convincing surround presentation as well. A reminder, also, that DTS will not be decoded and owner's should make sure their players are set for Dolby Digital when playing Blu-ray discs.
I hope this is helpful information.
Cheers, Ken

EC8CH

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

Hello,
The opinion from Polk is that the SurroundBar 6000 will produce a more convincing surround experience when it receives a Dolby Digital signal. The feeling of three-dimensionality will be increased. However, they point out that owners who provide a two channel PCM signal will receive an extremely convincing surround presentation as well.

Thanks for getting me an official answer to my question.

Good to know the on-board DD processing improves the Surroundbar's ability to simulate surround sound. This probably helps it create a better soundfield than competing products like the HK SB16 that have no DD processing. It's a shame though that only one input is provided to take full advantage of this feature. Since most TV's are unable to pass through a DD bitstream, customers with multiple sources of DD audio will need to purchase and wire a receiver or stand alone switch if they want to enjoy the best performance from all of their sources with multichannel audio.

I would suggest that a minimum of two digital inputs should have been provided for typical customers to take full advantage of this products capabilities (one for TV/Cable/Sat and one for Bluray player, and possibly even one more for gaming systems). Take this guy's case as an example:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?125306-Surround-Bar-6000-Dolby-Digital-decoding-light


I really just wish TV's would pass through DD bitstreams from HDMI sources. It would make everyone's life a lot easier when building a system without a separate AV Receiver. That, and I wish the Surroundbar 6000 had built in Bluetooth audio streaming.