Am I actually getting 5.1?

[RickH]

I own a Toshiba SD9000 dvd player. It has connections on the rear panel for front center and surround,(rca). I currently have each of the channells connected to three seperate integrated amplifiers...oh, it has a sub connection which I have connected to my sub. It sounds great but does the dvd player have an on board processor that is giving me true 5.1 sound? The dvd menu has an option for six channell analog or bitstream....Which should I use. The integrated amps I am using are older vintage amps. I guess if it sounds good it doesn't matter...I'm just curious. Anyone out there know the answer to this one?? Thanks.

 

[Adam]

That player decodes Dolby Digital, but not DTS (from what I've seen so far). The bitstream setting would be used if you were using a digital audio output and connecting to an outboard decoder (e.g. a receiver). So, stick with the six channel analog setting.

I'll see if I can find the manual for that to check on the specifics.

EDIT: Downloading the manual now...

 

[RickH]

am I really getting 5.1?

It shows a dts symbol on the front of the player so i guess it does decode that signal. If the movie was made using dts I assume that is the setting you would choose? Thanks for your info on the 6 channel analog setting!

 

[Adam]

Unfortunately, that player doesn't decode DTS. It is capable of outputting the bitstream for DTS through the digital audio jacks, but it can't decode it and output it from the analog jacks. That player is from 1998 near the beginning of DTS implementation. My player from the year before couldn't do DTS at all.

The owner's manual (available here if you don't have it) steps through the possible connections pretty well and gives the menu settings for each. Your set-up is covered on page 14.