I have a few questions that I thought I knew the answer to. When I set my DVD to play DD 5.1 my DD decoder in my sound system auto kicks in Pro Logic II and it sounds great. But when I push the button on my DD decoder(my sound system) to goto strait DD 5.1 then it kills the center channel and surrounds. I thought Pro Logic was a feature to help with stereo signals and wasn't really applied to a true DD 5.1 sountract. Its confusing me because I thought DD 5.1 was the purest form of the signal but my system auto jump to Pro logic and it sound to me like what DD 5.1 should "really good effects" but shouldn't I get center channel in DD 5.1 if I turn off the pro-logic?, and is pro-logic I and II made for DD 5.1 or something else, I thought pro-Logic was made for some of the old VCR tapes to make them sound more like DD 5.1?

From your description, it sounds like you're listening to a DD 2.0 track.

Dolby Digital is lossy audio compression technology, which reduces the amount of data in the soundtrack. Think of how MP3 works. DD can be any number of channels, from 1 to 5.1 (depending on the number of channels in the original soundtrack).

Pro Logic II is surround processing, which converts 2-channel material to 5.1 channels. It can be used on any 2-channel material: PCM, DD, DTS, analogue, etc. While DD and PLII are two different types of technologies, they can be used together (e.g., applying PLII surround processing to a 2-channel DD track).

Are you sure the DVDs you're playing have a 5.1-channel soundtrack? If they do, are you sure you're selecting it from the DVDs menu?

Sanjay

When I set my DVD to play DD 5.1...............What do you mean by this, exactly?


.............my DD decoder in my sound system auto kicks in Pro Logic II and it sounds great. But when I push the button on my DD decoder(my sound system) to goto strait DD 5.1 then it kills the center channel and surrounds.Are you using a digital connection from your DVD player or not?

Yeah, it totally sounds like it's hooked up with analog audio cables and not any digital connection. That would explain why the center and surrounds drop out when not in ProLogicII mode.

Either that, or the DVD player isn't outputting to "bitstream."

Or you're getting the sound from optical output on the tv.

You guys are great for responding so fast.


Yes The DVD "A Simple Plan" clearly has DD 5.1 and I'm positively selecting it from the menu. I'm using Optical connection from my OPPO 981HD. I have a Klispch GTX 5.1 DD system designed for PC but but works with any DD source. If I tun it on, the DD light comes on and the GTX selects on of the 2 pro-logics and I clearly get a true center channel. When I manually try to remove the PRO-Logic it only comes out of 2 speakers and since its a 5.1 it shouldn't do that. My OPPO is set to RAW like it should be. A true DD 5.1 sound form Optical or Coaxial shouldn't need pro-logic to have sound in the 5.1 channels. Its just odd really but the fact that my system is jumping to pro-logic is telling me something, if that was that I'm only getting DD 2.0 then why is the center channel so correct contain only voice for the most part.

If I tun it on, the DD light comes on and the GTX selects on of the 2 pro-logics and I clearly get a true center channel.If it is applying PLII, it is not a "true" center channel, but that is beside the point.


............if that was that I'm only getting DD 2.0 then why is the center channel so correct contain only voice for the most part.If it is applying DPLII to a DD2.0 signal, you WILL get center channel output. That is what DPLII does with DD2.0. It is just not truly discrete center channel output that DD5.1 will provide from a DD5.1 soundtrack and signal. Are you certain all the settings in the OPPO are set correctly? Are you certain that your Klipsch setup is DD5.1 capable? And don't you mean "GMX", not "GTX"?

According to THIS (http://www.klipsch.com/products/discontinued/details/promedia-gmx-d-5-1.aspx) description, if this is your system, it is not clear that it necessarily supports DD5.1. I'm checking the MANUAL (http://www.klipsch.com/media/products/owners-manuals/GMXD51_manual.pdf), now.

Yeah, it sounds like a setting is missing (what is RAW on the Oppo? Is that bitstream?) or the surround sound system isn't truly DD capable, or something got wonked up.

If raw = pcm, there's only enough bandwidth on optical for 2 channels. Pick 'cooked' instead.

RAW = bitstream

Make certain the "Downmix" setting in the OPPO is set to "5.1CH", although this setting, according to the OPPO manual, shouldn't affect the optical/coax output. Turn "off" the OPPO's DPLII capability.


Although it is not entirely clear, the manual for the GMX system seems to suggest that it is capable of DD5.1 decoding.

And try another DVD just to make sure there isn't a fluke somewhere.

Yes it the GMX in the link above and not GTX like I said. I have the down mix in my OPPO set to 5.1 and Raw(which is not PCM) I will try another DVD and the GMX is known for being a bitch to work with but that was because it was sold as a PC 5.1 but did not accept standard PC inputs, but I'm pretty sure it was supposed to decode DD 5.1 if the GAME supported it Some did buy it for a small home theater. I'll try another DVD. I have a $1,500 SONY 777ES that just sits there unused, the Klipsch system is low wattage even though it rocks pretty hard. I'm a little worried about going direct to my 200 watt high current Sony when the GMX speakers are rated at about 15 watts that and the GMX subwoofer has a proprietary input and the sub can't accept a signal from a RCA jack, but I could coax out the back of my Sony into the GMX to activate the sub. Realistically the GMX should be doing the DD 5.1 like it was designed if another DVD doesn't work, the the GMX is broken or only does 2.1 and sice theres 5 sats that would be odd.

Wow Sorry guys, I usually try a second disk but its been a weird few days. I popped in "Insomnia" and it was in DD 5.1 instantly and my GMX switched automatically between PLII and DD5.1 at the beginning of the DVD then when the movie started it went DD5.1 and worked "Perfectly". The "A Simple Plan" DVD clearly states 5.1 in the menu but I guess its not "A Simple DVD" anyway its rocking and I'll deal with the no remote issue down the road. Again thanks a TON.

Who da man? :D (Although admittedly Sanjay said it first.)

Pretty much troubleshooting these things is to look at everything in the chain and start eliminating the suspects. And take nothing for granted. :) In your case, it was determining what could be sending a stereo signal instead of DD5.1, which is just about everything, including the DVD itself.

U da Man, All U guys da Man, and now with my new OPPO in DD 5.1 the chicks think I'm da Man......................................................Ok I'm by myself but its 92" DLP 5.1 tonight for Me.

..........and now with my new OPPO in DD 5.1 the chicks think I'm da Man..........................................Ok I'm by myself but its 92" DLP 5.1 tonight for Me.Yeah, um, sorry, I hate to break it to ya, but chicks actually dig a few other things beside 5.1 AV systems. ;) :)

But it makes a damn fine mood enhancer if you pick the right movie. :)

A rumbling bass makes them horny.