Toad

My DVD player doesn't have the '5.1 output' on the rear. It DOES have digital coax/optical outputs however.

On the receiver that I'm buying soon, if I just hook up the coax from the DVD to the coax on the receiver, do I get the true '5.1 sound'?

If so, then why does the receiver even have the 5.1 digital input on it?

Thanks for all of your help.

Toad

I guess I could have made my question easier --
Can I get the 5.1 Dolby Surroud simply by using the Digital Coaxial cable?

I'm just sort of nervous that I won't...

DigIt

This is true for any player without a built-in decoder.

Quote:

On the receiver that I'm buying soon, if I just hook up the coax from the DVD to the coax on the receiver, do I get the true '5.1 sound'?

Yes, any DD/DTS receiver will decode true surround sound from the digital coax or optical connection. If you are buying a digital receiver, you have nothing to worry about.

Quote:

If so, then why does the receiver even have the 5.1 digital input on it?

Those 5.1 inputs (or 6-channel inputs) are helpful for connecting an external decoder. In the past, with DD and DTS emerging, it allowed you to purchase a non-digital receiver and upgrade only the decoder as necessary. Nowadays, with the formats pretty well set and the cost of DD/DTS receivers minimimal, the 5.1 inputs are not used as often because the decoder is built-in. For all intents and purposes, you can ignore the 6-channel input.

Toad

Sorry to make this more painful and labored, but -- essentially -- the receiver I'm getting has the built-in DD/DTS decoders...therefore, am I okay?

Thanks so much for all of that in-depth stuff. I'm not too knowledeable about this stuff....YET!

edclem

Yep. You'll be fine with the digital connection to a DD/DTS receiver.

Ttiberius

What he said above is correct but another use for these inputs is the New "DVD Audio Format"
This different that normal DVD's in that it is more like a Very high quality 5.1 channel music cd..The only way to use this format is the six seperate inputs from the Source(Digital Audio player) although some Current Dvd players already have this capability