Cannot get Dolby Digital on Receiver and DVD player Audio Setup

[petertwelves12]

Gday. I have just bought a Kenwood SAT5100 reciever and speaker package. It works fine except that I cannot get the Dolby Digital 5.1 to be displayed on the receiver and thus I think I am not getting Dolby Digital during playback even though the discs and DVD player support it. I discovered this article on the web: and it helped out heaps, however I am confused as to what I need to get working.

Can I only get Dolby Digtal working if I buy a coaxial or optical cables to connect between the DVD player and Receiver?

Also. In my DVD player setup menu I have many confusing audio terms.
Please could you tell what settings to choose for my Home theatre system set-up?

Note: My DVD player manual isnt helpful.

In the Downmix Setup, I have LT/RT, Stereo, V Surr, OFF
In SPDIF OUTPUT, I have SPDIF OFF, SPDIF /RAW, SPDIF /PCM, Manual.

In the SPDIF setup I can see a greyed-out Dolby Digital menu, aswell as DTS and others (CD, MPEG, PCM Chanel), but can only access these in Manual.

 

[dloweman]

Yes, you do need a coaxial or optical cable in order to achieve a digital connection. when you get one, then you will have to turn on your dolby in the dvd menu. hope this helps

 

[Audioholics]

In the Downmix Setup, I have LT/RT, Stereo, V Surr, OFF

These options seem redundant and incorrect, but basicaly you want to set to Dolby Pro Logic or Surround

In SPDIF OUTPUT, I have SPDIF OFF, SPDIF /RAW, SPDIF /PCM, Manual.

You want RAW.[/quote]

In the SPDIF setup I can see a greyed-out Dolby Digital menu, aswell as DTS and others (CD, MPEG, PCM Chanel)

This is likely because you don't have RAW enabled. Don't be afraid to play around. I believe there are about only 9 permutations in total, though what I've stated above shoudl get you DD. If your unit is DTS-capable, make sure DTS is enabled as well (RAW).

 

[j_garcia]

First, get a digital cable, and tell the player you are using it. Then go into the digital audio settings and turn DD and DTS ON and set them to bitstream, which in your case looks like /raw as Clint said.

NEXT, you need to take a look at the receiver and make sure that it is configured correctly to accept the digital input on the source (DVD, etc...) that you want to get DD/DTS on. This may or may not be automatically detected.

 

[petertwelves12]

thanks for replies. Could you recommend some Coaxial cable to get that isn't too cheap and isnt too expensive?

 

[j_garcia]

thanks for replies. Could you recommend some Coaxial cable to get that isn't too cheap and isnt too expensive?

If you have a spare sheilded RCA video cable laying around, you can use that. The cables are built to the same spec basically. If not, Radio Shack variety should work fine.