Dolby 5.1

bigrodge
bigrodge Posts: 16
edited November 2006 in Electronics
I have a new system and I'm not that impressed with the surround sound. Is Dolby digital 5.1 a subtle experience or should I really be immersed in sound?
I have a Pioneer VSX-816 Receiver, Samsung HD 960 DVD Player. 4 Polk M50 monitors, CS2 centre channel and a PSW10 sub. I seem to get better sound when I set the receiver to the expanded or 7.1 settings. I seem to be adjusting settings constantly....Am I being to critical?
Post edited by bigrodge on
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2006
    What is your source, where is the signal coming from? How do you have this hooked up, RCA L/R, coax digital, or optical digital?

    Give us more details we like details. ;)

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • surfntomm
    surfntomm Posts: 185
    edited November 2006
    you are probably not getting real dolby digital but something along the lines of 5ch stereo. does your receiver say dolby digital on the front of the display? are you using a digital connection(coax/optical) between your dvd player and receiver? do you have dolby digital and dts enabled in your dvd menu (i know its stupid but it happened to me and several others upon getting a new dvd player).

    if you are actaully getting dolby digital 5.1 all the dialogue pretty much will come fromt he center and you will be able to pinpoint locations of event when they happen off screen for example when a someone knocks at the door offscreen you know where the door is even though you cant hear it. try using the matrix reloaded, it has a wonderful soundtrack and uses all of the channels extensively.

    hope this helps
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  • bigrodge
    bigrodge Posts: 16
    edited November 2006
    disneyjoe7 wrote:
    What is your source, where is the signal coming from? How do you have this hooked up, RCA L/R, coax digital, or optical digital?

    Give us more details we like details. ;)
    disneyjoe........
    I have DVD hooked up to a Panasonic Plasma with a HDMI cable, the audio is connected with component audio cables to the amp. The settings on the DVD player are....
    DIGITAL OUT - bitstream
    DTS - off
    DYNAMIC COMPRESSION - off
    PCM SAMPLING - off
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  • bigrodge
    bigrodge Posts: 16
    edited November 2006
    The receiver does say DOLBY PL...How about 'SAVING PRIVATE RYAN' ...Is that a movie that should test the system?
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2006
    Are you using the Digital output from the TV? If so this is your problem, run it from your DVD player. The Panny TV is not giving you DD5.1 from the HDMI cable, I know I have the same TV.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2006
    I think this setting is wrong also, but I understand why due to the TV thing. Anything else you'll get nothing.




    bigrodge wrote:
    The settings on the DVD player are....
    DIGITAL OUT - bitstream
    DTS - off

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • bigrodge
    bigrodge Posts: 16
    edited November 2006
    disneyjoe7 wrote:
    Are you using the Digital output from the TV? If so this is your problem, run it from your DVD player. The Panny TV is not giving you DD5.1 from the HDMI cable, I know I have the same TV.
    Joe...I'm not sure what you mean by using the Digital output from the tv..
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited November 2006
    Before you take any advice from the peanut gallery........;)

    Have you calibrated your system using an SPL Meter?

    Linky
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • bigrodge
    bigrodge Posts: 16
    edited November 2006
    Frank Z wrote:
    Before you take any advice from the peanut gallery........;)

    Have you calibrated your system using an SPL Meter?

    Linky
    I was hoping I wouldn't have to go that route
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  • bigrodge
    bigrodge Posts: 16
    edited November 2006
    What a dummy I've been !!!! I had it only hooked up to analog inputs, I thought the receiver would do the rest...just used the digital optical connection and now I'm happy...what a difference !
    Thanks for all your help and please feel free to ridicule me, that's what happens when you think you know it all......next time I'll read the manual a little more carefully.
    Hard to believe I'm an engineer ..heaven help us all.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2006
    Ok, happy you got it fixed. The digital optical from the TV doesn't give you DD5.1 output from the HDMI input, it gives you DD5.1 from antenna input only for HDTV local. I know this because I had the same problem.


    Frank Z, what you're saying the peanut gallery, you should give me a little more credit. :(

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited November 2006
    disneyjoe7 wrote:
    Frank Z, what you're saying the peanut gallery, you should give me a little more credit. :(
    You missed the winky.
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited November 2006
    You were getting a Dolby Pro Logic (DPL) downmix. You can get DD 5.1 out of the analog outputs if you have settings in your player to decode the signal then pass it along through the multi-channel analog outputs. Using the optical or coaxial digital connections uses the receivers decoders.

    Glad you found your problem.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited November 2006
    turn that DTS setting on if your receiver can decode it
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2006
    Frank Z wrote:
    You missed the winky.

    Sorry I missed it, I didn't know what winky was about. :eek:

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wallstreet
    wallstreet Posts: 1,405
    edited November 2006
    bigrodge wrote:
    ...
    Hard to believe I'm an engineer ..heaven help us all.
    You don't build bridges, buildings, or airplanes do ya? If so, which state?
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  • bigrodge
    bigrodge Posts: 16
    edited November 2006
    wallstreet wrote:
    You don't build bridges, buildings, or airplanes do ya? If so, which state?
    Only in Texas.
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