7.1/5.1 setup question. Please advise

[mcwilson]

I've had my system for almost one year. I have posted my system in other threads, but for convenience, I'll do it again here.

Pre/Pro: ATI 8500.1

Amps: ATI 3006 to bi-amp the from 3
ATI 3004 for the 4 surround and rear

Display: InFocus SP7205, Da-Lite 110" Cinema Vision Screen, bla bla bla (don't remember all the different specs on the screen). Scientific Atlanta HD-DVR via Adelphia. Sony DVP 777-ES DVD player

Speakers: JAMO D870 front L/R
JAMO D8CEN Center
JAMO D8SUR x 4 Surround and Rear
JAMO D8SUB Subwoofer

That's a lot of background for what is basically a simple question:

For the first 9 months or so, I had my system set up for 7.1 sound. Problem is almost no movies support 7.1 (or even 6.1) yet. So, I decided to purchase two Y-splitters for my PrePro to Amp connections so my rear speakers would be utilized. In other words, I now have the surround signal going to my rear speakers as well. It was a cheap (< $25) upgrade for two XLR Y-splitters.

The sound is noticably fuller in the room. I just wondered if there was any other better way to utilize my rear speakers??? Is there a setting on my Pre/Pro to accomplish via signal processing what I did with cables?

BTW - HD football is awesome on this system. Any audioholics in the north Atlanta area interested in watching the Dawgs or Falcons, send me a PM.

Thanks for any responses!

Mark

 

[Spiffyfast]

Does your pre/pro have dolby pro logic IIx? I think its whole puropse is to convert 2 channel and 5.1 into a 7.1 matrix

 

[mcwilson]

According to the literature, it only support the following:

•Dolby Digital
•DTS
•Dolby Pro Logic
•DVD audio
•Dolby EX
•Dolby PL II
•DTS ES
•DTS NEO6

I guess wiring is the only way to accomplish the 7.1?

 

[Spiffyfast]

Thats what it looks like, Dolby PL II only expands a 2 ch. to a 5 ch. and DTS Neo6 only expands to a 6 channel so you can't take full advantage of your 7.1 system. Sorry man, good thing is there really isnt that much 6.1 channel content out and I think i've only heard 7.1 channel DVD-A ever mentioned

 

[Josuah]

If you _force_ ON DTS ES or Dolby Digital EX by setting that as the decoding option on your receiver, then the two rear surrounds will be used. In this way, you can almost duplicate the left and right surrounds in the rear surrounds. I use this when playing back a 5.1 movie when there are guests in the second row.

Of course, if you playback a movie that is encoded using DTS ES or Dolby Digital EX, then your rear surrounds should be used automatically. I believe some movies that use this encoding are LotR, later Matrix movies, and new Star Wars movies.