Upgrading from Prologic to 5.1

Smidget · 01-06-01, 09:26 PM

Hi! This is my first post on the DVDtalk forum even tho i've been a lurker for some time now

Great discussions you all have here and I learn a ton from just reading them (and getting great deals in other forums too). Problem here: I have an Apex 660 http://apexdigitalinc.com/ad660page.htm and a Pioneer VSX-D209 http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pi...22,195,00.html and i was wondering if there is something i can buy to get 5.1 sound out of this system which is just limited to ProLogic right now. I know ppl r gonna be like "What a crappy system!! Buy _____" but it's my first home theater system and I rather put some money away for college and crap but I just want some 5.1 sound for the cool suround stuff. In your opinion is it worth what I have to do to upgrade from there? I heard it's a world of a difference but would like some personal opinions. Thanks a bunch in advance for all your help.

stevevt · 01-06-01, 09:40 PM

You have a bunch of options that'll get you 5.1 sound. All of them mean spending a bit of money.

Since your receiver has a 5.1 output, you can get an external decoder (the least expensive of which are made by Technics); the signal path would be: dvd player-->decoder-->receiver
You also could buy a different dvd player that'd have onboard 5.1 decoding; unless you get one that decodes DTS (which is rare), you'd only have Dolby Digital
You can buy a new receiver that decodes Dolby Digital (or both DD and DTS)

Getting a new receiver (or an external processor with multiple inputs) will give you the most flexibility in the future. You'd be able to add other things (like a satellite dish) that output a 5.1 signal at the same time.

Welcome to the forum.

-Steve

[This message has been edited by stevevt (edited January 06, 2001).]

Smidget · 01-06-01, 09:55 PM

Thanks for the fast and informative reply. I have found on the BestBuy website a Pioneer VSX-D309 and it says it has a DD/DTS decoder card in it. http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...1&cat=3&scat=4 Will this work with my dvd player and allow me to have DD 5.1 and DTS?

Seems like a good deal too for only $230

[This message has been edited by Smidget (edited January 06, 2001).]

stevevt · 01-06-01, 10:55 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Smidget:
Thanks for the fast and informative reply. I have found on the BestBuy website a Pioneer VSX-D309...Will this work with my dvd player and allow me to have DD 5.1 and DTS?

Seems like a good deal too for only $230

Yes. That receiver will give you DD and DTS.

I'm not sure whether $230 is a good price for it or not, but you should go to www.audioreview.com and look through this forum's archive (search or just look through a bunch of pages) for review of it, and other receiver recommendations in this price range.

Good luck.

Smidget · 01-07-01, 07:26 AM

Looked on audioreview.com and got pretty good reviews, said it was the cheapest decent DD and DTS machine so I'm gonna go for it. Now hopefully I can return my old receiver and I'll be set

Thanks a lot for your help.

01-06-01, 09:40 PM	#2
stevevt DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Vermont Posts: 9,500	You have a bunch of options that'll get you 5.1 sound. All of them mean spending a bit of money. Since your receiver has a 5.1 output, you can get an external decoder (the least expensive of which are made by Technics); the signal path would be: dvd player-->decoder-->receiver You also could buy a different dvd player that'd have onboard 5.1 decoding; unless you get one that decodes DTS (which is rare), you'd only have Dolby Digital You can buy a new receiver that decodes Dolby Digital (or both DD and DTS) Getting a new receiver (or an external processor with multiple inputs) will give you the most flexibility in the future. You'd be able to add other things (like a satellite dish) that output a 5.1 signal at the same time. Welcome to the forum. -Steve [This message has been edited by stevevt (edited January 06, 2001).]

01-06-01, 10:55 PM	#4
stevevt DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Vermont Posts: 9,500	quote: Originally posted by Smidget: Thanks for the fast and informative reply. I have found on the BestBuy website a Pioneer VSX-D309...Will this work with my dvd player and allow me to have DD 5.1 and DTS? Seems like a good deal too for only $230 Yes. That receiver will give you DD and DTS. I'm not sure whether $230 is a good price for it or not, but you should go to www.audioreview.com and look through this forum's archive (search or just look through a bunch of pages) for review of it, and other receiver recommendations in this price range. Good luck.

01-06-01, 09:26 PM	#1
Smidget DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,129	Hi! This is my first post on the DVDtalk forum even tho i've been a lurker for some time now Great discussions you all have here and I learn a ton from just reading them (and getting great deals in other forums too). Problem here: I have an Apex 660 http://apexdigitalinc.com/ad660page.htm and a Pioneer VSX-D209 http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pi...22,195,00.html and i was wondering if there is something i can buy to get 5.1 sound out of this system which is just limited to ProLogic right now. I know ppl r gonna be like "What a crappy system!! Buy _____" but it's my first home theater system and I rather put some money away for college and crap but I just want some 5.1 sound for the cool suround stuff. In your opinion is it worth what I have to do to upgrade from there? I heard it's a world of a difference but would like some personal opinions. Thanks a bunch in advance for all your help.

01-06-01, 09:55 PM	#3
Smidget DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,129	Thanks for the fast and informative reply. I have found on the BestBuy website a Pioneer VSX-D309 and it says it has a DD/DTS decoder card in it. http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...1&cat=3&scat=4 Will this work with my dvd player and allow me to have DD 5.1 and DTS? Seems like a good deal too for only $230 [This message has been edited by Smidget (edited January 06, 2001).]

01-07-01, 07:26 AM	#5
Smidget DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,129	Looked on audioreview.com and got pretty good reviews, said it was the cheapest decent DD and DTS machine so I'm gonna go for it. Now hopefully I can return my old receiver and I'll be set Thanks a lot for your help.