7 channels of sound from 5.1 discs

[gcmarshall]

hi,

i use a yamaha rx-v2500. up until now i have only been using 5 speakers (plus 1 sub). but, i am planning for a new house wherein i will have the ability to have 7 speakers in place.

for dvd movies that have a dolby digital 5.1 soundtrack, will i be able to actually get any sound out of and use my 2 back 6th and 7th speakers or are they useless until soundtracks have 7.1 encoded soundtracks? for example, can my receiver somehow create sound for the surround back (6th and 7th) speakers from a 5.1 soundtrack?

thanks...

 

[MDS]

Yes, ProLogic IIx does just that. It works on any 2 channel analog or digital source and as well will make 7.1 out of 5.1 or 6.1 Dolby Digital sources. Some receivers (eg. Onkyo) also allow you to layer PLIIx over DTS sources as well.

 

[zumbo]

My 1400 doesn't have PLIIx. It only has PLII. It is my understanding that you either use EX or ES discs with that software encoded on them(speakers connected to surroud back), or you sellect a DSP SUR ENHANCED mode that sends a signal to the speakers connected to the (presence) according to my 1400 manual.

 

[MACCA350]

zumbo, if you are talking about the Yamaha RX-V1400 7.1 receiver then you should have PLIIx, Yamaha state this on their website here

My Denon 3805 is set so that every 5.1 movie is played as 7.1

cheers

 

[The Chukker]

can my receiver somehow create sound for the surround back (6th and 7th) speakers from a 5.1 soundtrack?

Yes, and it can be very effective (as in not seeming contrived). I also have a 3805 and I AB'ed it with content that has lots of material generated in the SB channels and 7.1 (set up properly of course) sounds superior to 5.1
I used to think that DTS was better than DD but I have found that how good the source material is recorded makes more of a difference. I believe current processors matrix source material that is simultaneously played in the SL and SR channels and sends that to the SB channel(s). Depending on your reciever, use 2 SB channels instead of one if you can -- it gives you a wider soundstage that, at least to me, sounds more convincing and less susceptible to a small "sweet spot". Oh, and take the time to critically evaluate how dynamic your SB channels are especially if they are very close (say right behind the couch) or right at ear level -- it may take some channel level tinkering to get right. Sometimes less is more.
Some material that has GREAT SB matrixing: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (Dolby Digital -- anime, just wait till you hear the gunshots from behind you), Master and Commander (DTS), Band of Brothers (DTS), both Bourne Supremacy movies (Dolby Digital), etc. et al.
Good luck and have fun!

 

[zumbo]

zumbo, if you are talking about the Yamaha RX-V1400 7.1 receiver then you should have PLIIx, Yamaha state this on their website here

My Denon 3805 is set so that every 5.1 movie is played as 7.1

cheers

It is stamped on the front, but doesn't come up when changing surround modes on receiver. I guess I have to have 7.1 connected for it to come up. It's not in my manual.

Update. I have a supplemental manual. Thanks!

 

[MDS]

You don't have to have the rear speakers connected, but you do have to tell the receiver that they are connected. Of course it won't do any good if you don't actually have rear speakers connected, but at least you'll see that PLIIx is available. I lied to my receiver when I first got it to verify that PLIIx was included.

 

[jcPanny]

7.1 vs. Presence speakers

My 1400 doesn't have PLIIx. It only has PLII. It is my understanding that you either use EX or ES discs with that software encoded on them(speakers connected to surroud back), or you sellect a DSP SUR ENHANCED mode that sends a signal to the speakers connected to the (presence) according to my 1400 manual.

Don't confuse 7.1 audio which adds the "Rear surround" channels with the Yamaha specific presence speakers which are located to the sides of the "front" speakers and help widen the front soundstage. The Yamaha RX-V2500 can run 7.1 OR 5.1 + presence.

 

[BobbyT]

Yamaha can layer DPL2x over DD and DTS tracks.

 

[avliner]

Depending on your reciever, use 2 SB channels instead of one if you can -- it gives you a wider soundstage that, at least to me, sounds more convincing and less susceptible to a small "sweet spot".

Yeah, I totally agree with you, 2 SB's sounds much better.
I do have a 3805 also and DPLIIX is absolutely fantastic. Even with old recordings (vynils, tapes and even cd's), you got the impression that the original recordings (good & bad ones) have been remastered.

My setup gives me a real wide soundstage (see attached pic.).

Cheers / Avliner

 

[The Chukker]

Yeah, I totally agree with you, 2 SB's sounds much better.
I do have a 3805 also and DPLIIX is absolutely fantastic.

I would tend to agree with you, but I am completely h y p n o t i z e d b y...y u m m y...g r e e n...w a l l s...

 

[bobbydigital]

Has anyone here tried presence speakers in there HT? Yamaha says there are supposed to be good for dialog. I'm wondering how they stack up compared to 7.1.

 

[FramerPDX]

hmmm

I am using Klipsch THX Ultra 2 in 7.1 presence I guess I am kind of new to this but I really like them ....

Is there a way to set up the sound so it is 7.1 and not presence ... just curious...


-Ty

 

[RLA]

Is there a way to set up the sound so it is 7.1 and not presence ... just curious...

Yes, direct radiating speakers located behind the listening position for the EX channels That being said I have had much successes using In-ceiling speakers installed a few feet back from the listening position for the EX channel where direct radiators could not be installed on a back wall.

If the in-ceiling speakers are installed correctly and corrected delay time and spl level is implemented the rear soundstage sounds expanded and the delayed information gains a sense of height on extreme pans from front to back Like the Fly overs from X-men ect...

Recently I have been experimenting with a center height channel in conjunction with the rear mounted EX channels using an old prologic receiver. Signal is obtained using the pre-outs of the EX channel from an RX-V4600 so far the results are mixed but with meticulous delay times the effect can be dramatic