6.1 using a DPL receiver
05-20-01, 04:15 PM
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Has anyone done the trick of getting 6.1 from 5.1 sound by feeding the two discrete surround channels into a Pro Logic receiver and obtaining a center surround channel? Any pluses/minuses to doing this? What type of receiver did you use? Any suggestions on what to get? If I were to do this, should I get something that would match my main receiver (Pioneer VSX-509s)? Let me know how things worked out. Is it easy to turn the 6.1 off by just switching the PL receiver into a 2 channel mode? Thanks for the advice/insight.
05-20-01, 04:19 PM
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Also, one more question...
What did you do for a speaker? I always see surround sold in pairs, and I would only assume you wish to purchase a speaker identical to what your other surrounds are. Did you split the signal then between two more speakers?
Thanks!
What did you do for a speaker? I always see surround sold in pairs, and I would only assume you wish to purchase a speaker identical to what your other surrounds are. Did you split the signal then between two more speakers?
Thanks!
05-21-01, 03:45 PM
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I did this to decode DD-EX matrixed material. DD-EX discrete and DTS-ES (matrix or discrete) won't get decoded this way. DTS ES discrete is decoded by higher end Denons (3801,5800)
I bought a Lexicon CP3 processor (for $100) and a Rotel amp. There are a few separate decoders on the market
(eg SmartDevice CircleSurround?) in the $200-$300 range. The Outlaw 1050 runs 600. The upcoming Kenwood 51X series receivers will give you DPLII and some 6.1 formats for under $400.
A pro-logic receiver w/give you all in package for $100-$200. The major disadvantage w/the pro-logic receiver approach is during a viewing, rear center decoding may have to be manually controlled. A true DD-EX decoder picks up on a signal flag that activates decoding ONLY WHEN NECESSARY.
Setting the speaker levels for RL/RC/RL w/ pink noise is quite cumbersome and tedious. W/a cheaper pro-logic receiver you can't tweak the surround parameters.
Here's a FAQ link:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/P...urroundex.html
There are a couple of older Pioneer PL receivers out there. Kenwood or Sony would work about as well.IMO, Voice matching the PL receiver to your 509 for the isn't critical. It just the rear field, not Chesky quality recordings. The receiver need to good enough to drive the speakers.
Even though the rear center is mono, DD-EX is supposed to use two speakers for the the rear centers. All four rear speakers are the same bookshelf speaker in my set-up.
Some people (including Dolby labs) recommend using dipoles for the sides and direct radiators for the rear center. Depends on the source material.
Having an additional pair isn't necessarilly bad: there is 7.1 on the horizon.
IMO, a single rear center speaker works for a smaller room.
[Edited by BEC on 05-21-01 at 01:58 PM]
I bought a Lexicon CP3 processor (for $100) and a Rotel amp. There are a few separate decoders on the market
(eg SmartDevice CircleSurround?) in the $200-$300 range. The Outlaw 1050 runs 600. The upcoming Kenwood 51X series receivers will give you DPLII and some 6.1 formats for under $400.
A pro-logic receiver w/give you all in package for $100-$200. The major disadvantage w/the pro-logic receiver approach is during a viewing, rear center decoding may have to be manually controlled. A true DD-EX decoder picks up on a signal flag that activates decoding ONLY WHEN NECESSARY.
Setting the speaker levels for RL/RC/RL w/ pink noise is quite cumbersome and tedious. W/a cheaper pro-logic receiver you can't tweak the surround parameters.
Here's a FAQ link:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/P...urroundex.html
There are a couple of older Pioneer PL receivers out there. Kenwood or Sony would work about as well.IMO, Voice matching the PL receiver to your 509 for the isn't critical. It just the rear field, not Chesky quality recordings. The receiver need to good enough to drive the speakers.
Even though the rear center is mono, DD-EX is supposed to use two speakers for the the rear centers. All four rear speakers are the same bookshelf speaker in my set-up.
Some people (including Dolby labs) recommend using dipoles for the sides and direct radiators for the rear center. Depends on the source material.
Having an additional pair isn't necessarilly bad: there is 7.1 on the horizon.
IMO, a single rear center speaker works for a smaller room.
[Edited by BEC on 05-21-01 at 01:58 PM]
