OK.. I have tried to go through all theses threads and messages...

"IF" the receiver [The receiver is a Sony which claimed when purchased to have 7.1 but none of the audio connection formats support 7.1 unless DolbyEX does?] only has 5.1 {Analog or S/PIFT <Coaxial or Optical>} which setting is best audio connection and setting for 'MOST ALL DISCS <HD-DVD & Blu-Ray>'

While I think that it is great that settings can be changed I don't like having to change them for each and every disc...

:confused: Confused as per Wikipedia 'Dolby Digital (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_Digital)Surround EX' will do 7.1 via S/PDIF connections, yet many here in other messages have stated that their is no way for 7.1 via S/PDIF?

--David

I have been having similiar problems. Five years ago I purchased the Kenwood Sovereign line which consist of a receiver VR-5900 which has 6 channel input, the Sovereign MX-5000 rear two speaker amp to give me 7.1, The Sovereign Changer and Sovereign Entre hub.

These are the connections I am currently using but I am not able to control the rear speaker volumn with the MX-5000.

On the back of the MX-5000 there are 4 speaker wire posts. Two wires for a right (+&-) rear surround and two wires for a left (+&-) rear surround speaker.

There is also an RCA relay input from the VR-5900 to turn the MX-5900 on and off (I was sold the MX-5000 to make it 7.1).

There is also two RCA inputs for one left and one right RCA cable on the MX-5000 which I have connected to the VR-5900 "surround back" "preout jacks" (for lack of a better idea/suggestion/instructions).

The other 6 (of the 7.1) from the BR are sub. (connected to sub. of "6 channel input" on VR-5900), center from BR (connected to center of "6 channel input" on VR-5900), left and right surround of BR (connected to left and right surround of "6 channel input on VR-5900"), and left and right front from BR (connected to left and right front surround of "6 channel input" on VR-5900).

I don't like using the "surround back preout jacks" on the VR-5900 to drive the two rear surround speakers. I couldn't figure how else to do it considering I am trying to adapt the 7.1 analog outs on the BR to a system that is supposed to be 7.1 (VR-5900 [6 channel input] +MX5000 [2 speaker input]).

I've never used the VR-5900's "surround back preout jacks" before getting the BR. As (I guess) the receiver took a 7.1 DVD from the DVD player and did it internally.

Supposedly you are able with the VR-5900 to connect multiple cables to the same source at the same time ex: analogue, optical, etc. and the VR-5900 will decide which connection gives you the best sound. I have the BR optical as well as the BR 7.1 analog cables both connected. I tried disconnecting the optical and had a surprising loss of audio quality although there was some sound still coming through the analog cables. I didn't seem to have had a problem on old 7.1 disks (not HD DVD OR BR) as volume control worked on all speakers. Any ideas?? That is besides getting a new receiver.