My Pioneer DV-563A Doesn't Display 5.1 Ch.

gyver65

I have a Pioneer DV-563A DVD player connected to a Pioneer VSX-D908S receiver. I have the 5.1 ch connections from the DVD player to the external decoder 5.1 ch connections of the receiver. When I play 5.1 ch sources if I hit the "Audio" button on the DVD player remote it says that it is playing in 2.1 channels.

My speaker setup consists of "Polk Audio RM7200 with PSW550 sub". I connected the sub the way Polk suggested which it did give the best sound. Sub connected from left and right front preouts of receiver to the left and right line in connections of the sub.

I tried connecting the sub from the subout of the receiver to the LFE of the sub but the sub didn't deliver any bass. I did not try using a Y-cable to connect from the subout of receiver to left and right line in of sub but I didn't see any use since it sounds good the way I have it connected.

I have these settings for both the receiver and DVD player:

Front Speakers: Large
Center and Sats: Small
Sub: No

I tried other settings such as all speakers to small and sub to yes but it didn't sound good and the DVD remote still displayed the 2.1 ch.

I have the 5.1 ch selected under the audio options. The only thing that I have noticed unusual was that the "Trusurround" selection is selected and it is greyed out to where it can't be changed.

When I play DTS 5.1 channel movies such as "Pearl Harbor" if I hit the "Audio" button on the remote it displays:

"Trusurrond DTS 3/2.1 Ch"

When I play DVD-Audio I push the external decoder button on the receiver and the receiver displays 5.1 but the DVD player displays"

"PPCM 96kHZ 24 Bit/ 2.1 Ch".

It sounds like it is actually playing in 5.1 ch but I don't understand why the DVD player doesn't display it. Also I don't understand why the DVD player doesn't allow me to turn off the "Trusurrond" option.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thank you,
Robert

HBombToo

If you have ran the analog outs from the dvd player to the receiver you are using the internal DACS of the pioneer. If you run TOS out to the receiver you are using the DACS in the receiver for dd and dts only. The pioneer will not port digital out to the receiver for SACD or DVD-A.

Check your menu option for sources available on the dvd. You should select from that menu SACD if thats the dvd you popped in.

I know that on the few sacd's and dvd-a's I have options for 2 channel or the likes.

HBomb

gyver65

Last night I played around with the DVD settings and tried out of couple of DVD-Audio discs in the DVD-Video setting and noticed that it played only in Dolby Digital but when I switched back to DVD-Audio setting and turned off all of the digital connections it only played when I switched the external decoder switch on the receiver to 5.1 ch which I assume is the proper way it is supposed to work.

Even though it was playing in 5.1 channel when I hit the "Audio" button on the DVD remote it still says that it is playing in 2 ch but I think it is actually playing in 5.1 but I don't know why the DVD player thinks otherwise. I wonder if anyone else who has a Pioneer DV-563A DVD player has seem this same problem.

I did hear a difference between the Dolby Digital and the DVD-Audio. The Dolby Digital played louder but with less clarity than the DVD-Audio. On the DVD-Audio the surround speakers were more detailed on the musical tones.

Thanks!
Robert

HBombToo

Dou you hear surrund content when you playing dvd-a or sacd? The SACD seems to have less surround content than the dvd-a's. I'm really unclear why you pioneer would say 2 channel unless its a 2 channel recording? If it is a 5.1 track I would imagine the pioneer should show that but never got to play with your model just took a harl look at it from best buy.

Outside of that how does it sound? redbook CD should sound damn good from what I have read about the unit.

HBomb

gyver65

HBomb,

Yes, I do hear surround sound while playing DVD-Audio discs even though the DVD player says that it is 2 channel. The DVD-Audio discs that I have allow me to choose between surround sound and stereo while in 5.1 channel mode. While in digital mode it only allows the DVD to be played in Dolby Digital or DTS.
The DVD-Audio sounds really good. The ones that I have are:

Fleetwood Mac: Romours
America: Homecoming
Faith Hill
Carly Simon

I only have one SACD title at the moment. It is "Aerosmith Oh Yeah" SACD but it only plays in 2 channel. It sounds OK but I plan to buy some SACD's that play in 5.1 so I can hear the difference.

Thanks!