LFE track on cable tv

[benoit hurtubise]

When I listen to a movie I get good bass but when I listen to cable tv for series or sports the bass is reduced by a lot
Is it possible that cable tv does not have LFE track like in movies
Thanks

 

[lovinthehd]

You'll have to check what you're getting show by show, it varies but I watch quite a bit in 5.1 rather than 2.0. Might depend if it is 2.0 what you're matrixing it with/how you've got your bass management setup....

 

[benoit hurtubise]

I have a 5.1 system with all my speaker set to small crossover all at 80hz and lfe at 120. How do I know what is the signal I receive?

 

[lovinthehd]

I have a 5.1 system with all my speaker set to small crossover all at 80hz and lfe at 120. How do I know what is the signal I receive?

That would depend on what gear you have. Most receivers can tell you the information you're receiving. Some cable boxes have the info in the guide show by show. If it is a 2.0 signal, are you matrixing it to 5.1 with a sound mode in your receiver (such as Dolby ProLogic, DTS Neo or similar program)?

ps It always helps to be specific about the gear (make and model) you're using

 

[j_garcia]

Not everything is broadcast in 5.1, aka; not everything has an LFE track.

 

[benoit hurtubise]

Hi am from the Montreal region Videotron is the cable company
My receiver is a new Denon avr-X3400H
The system detect automatically I think, and most of the time I see dolby digital

 

[lovinthehd]

Hi am from the Montreal region Videotron is the cable company
My receiver is a new Denon avr-X3400H
The system detect automatically I think, and most of the time I see dolby digital

Might also depend on how you have your set-top box audio output setup but if you see dolby digital (5.1 signal) on your avr it sounds like it's setup okay. Does it go to stereo mode with 2.0 content?

Your Denon can detect and use the native signal but if it's like my Denon (4520) it can also remember if you modify it with a sound mode for the next time (so if you play 2.0 in Dolby Surround, the next time with the same input and 2.0 signal it will play it in Dolby Surround). Do you still need to press down on the movie/music/game buttons on the remote for 5 seconds to get all the sound mode options?

Is there also in the setup menu an item labeled "general" where you can see the audio input details? Can you also setup the front panel to indicate what signal is input vs what is being output? I can do these things with mine....

 

[lovinthehd]

Not everything is broadcast in 5.1, aka; not everything has an LFE track.

Don't think I've run across anything that didn't have the LFE track when it has 5ch signal....but not really looking for it otoh, could be masked by my use of bass management.

 

[j_garcia]

Don't think I've run across anything that didn't have the LFE track when it has 5ch signal....but not really looking for it otoh, could be masked by my use of bass management.

What I mean is not everything is broadcast in 5.1. 2.0 don't have an LFE track.

My FireTV has a setting to pass everything multichannel as DD+ unless it is stereo, so the device can affect what the receiver sees too.

 

[lovinthehd]

What I mean is not everything is broadcast in 5.1. 2.0 don't have an LFE track.

My FireTV has a setting to pass everything multichannel as DD+ unless it is stereo, so the device can affect what the receiver sees too.

Yep 2.0 has a zero after the decimal, meaning no LFE. There is no such thing as 2.1 afaik altho I think that would be cool.

How can it pass as DD+ if it's just DD?

 

[benoit hurtubise]

Ok I think I understand
If the incoming signal is 2.0 my system treat it as a 5.1 (or 5.0) but there is no lfe and I will hear from all 5 speaker
Am I right?

 

[Montucky]

In my experience, even when there IS an "LFE" track or 5.1 on cable tv or satellite, it's utterly abysmal compared to a proper disc. The audio and video is so massively compressed that there is usually no comparison. Don't get me started on broadcast resolutions. Widespread SD (even on "HD" channels) in the year 2018...shameful.

 

[lovinthehd]

Ok I think I understand
If the incoming signal is 2.0 my system treat it as a 5.1 (or 5.0) but there is no lfe and I will hear from all 5 speaker
Am I right?

Your system would output 2.0 to the 5.1 speaker set due to the way you have bass management setup (to redirect your bass to your sub), but it doesn't manufacture LFE particularly. If you set all your speakers to large/full range then 2.0 would essentially become 5.0 as there would be no LFE to begin with nor any bass redirection to the sub.

 

[j_garcia]

Your system would output 2.0 to the 5.1 speaker set due to the way you have bass management setup (to redirect your bass to your sub), but it doesn't manufacture LFE particularly. If you set all your speakers to large/full range then 2.0 would essentially become 5.0 as there would be no LFE to begin with nor any bass redirection to the sub.

This. You can set your system to "simulate" surround with LFE when it receives other formats, including 2.0, but the results will vary widely depending on the quality of those tracks. Most receivers these days should have in the menus somewhere, the ability to set the default audio format used for a given detected audio signal. "Auto" will auto detect and choose one based on the signal found, but as mentioned before, most AVRs will default to "last used" for that input for a given audio type.