Kenwood Reciever

stotty203

Hey guys, I have a Kenwood Dolby Digital Reciever that has digital auto sound, that is, it selects the correct mode based on the signal that is coming in. I recently bought a new DVD player that has Component Out for my new 47" Hitachi, but for some reason, the sound is not working as it should. On my DVD player I can choose Digital Out or Digital>PCM. Here is my problem:

- When it is on Digital PCM the receiver says Digital but it stays on Pro Logic even when the movie is in 5.1 or DTS.

- WHen it is on Digital, the reciever will say DTS and indicate the 5.1 mode, but it says "Downmix" which I believe means I am not getting all digital.

I hope this makes sense.

BTW, I have the Polk RM6000, and they are the best speakers I have heard for the money.

THanks in advance.

TheReaper

My guess:

DVD player set to Digital>PCM = the DVD player is either downmixing or using the 2 channel track, and just sending a stereo PCM signal (like a CD signal). Many DVD players have this mode so they are compatable with stereo receivers.

DVD payer set to Digital Out = you don't have 5 speakers, so your receiver is down mixing the 5.1 or DTS, for the number of speakers you have.

stotty203

Thanks for the reply. I actually have 6 speakers, left/right/center and l/r surrounds plus the subwoofer. I do not have the center channel hooked up, but I have that turned off within the receiver so it should not matter.

To be honest, I cannot tell the difference in sound between the Pro Logic and 5.1 modes. I guess I will just experiment and see.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Since you don't have the center hooked up, your receiver is running in Phantom mode, and that's likely why you're getting the downmix signal on your receiver...

That said, I don't know squat about the Kenwood stuff...

How do you have the DVD player hooked up to the receiver, optical or coax digital?

You never wanna use the Digital PCM conversion thing UNLESS your received doesn't have decoding for DD or DTS...so you wana use the digital out options, just makes sure you're using a digital cable...

Willow

I think with the 5.1 you will have dedicated LFE and not with PL
PL sound in the rears will be the same from both sides on 5.1 if a guy comes from walking from behind you in the left the sound will come from the left rear speaker with PL it will come from both it seperates your rears to function independantly or together depending on how it was mixed

stotty203

I have the coaxial digital out going from my DVD player to the receiver. The Pro Logic II actually has a separate Left and Right surround, so it sounds pretty good. I do not have the center speaker hooked up because of the advice I was given when I first bought my Polk's on how to hook them up. I am just running the left and right channels to the sub and then from there to the satellites. I am not using the LFE output for my sub. I tried them both and this way sounds much better. The only drawback is that I do not have my center hooked up, but IMO unless you have a really expensive Center speaker, it sounds better without it.

Willow

which kenwood do you have ??

there is a fantom mode for peeps who don't or choose not to have a centre.

Now there is a difference from PLII and DD. there should be a way to make the signal dig on your receiver. most receivers have an auto switch soo the receiver gets the signal and plays it accordingly if it's a dig signal it plays dig. if it's analoge it plays that.

DD will sound much better than PLII