componant vs. composite???

[skoobydoobiedew]

I just purchased a new 20" flat screen TV with s-video, componant, and composite inputs, and composite audio outputs. I also just purchased a DVD player with s-video, componant, and composite outputs. I have had my same Yamaha RX-V492 for a couple years. It is a 5.1 surround receiver. Link:
http://dealtime.net/xPF-Yamaha_RX_V492
It has only composite inputs. What my question is.. how can I get true surround sound out of my dvd player?? The guy at sears said that all I need to do is run 2 (left and right) composite cables from my dvd player into my amp. But how does the amp know where to send the information (to what speakers?) if there is no video signal coming in??? I think you need to have some sort of video signal for the amp to encode right??? (sorry im a total newb!) So if I can get that taken care of... can I still use a componant signal from my dvd player to my tv? I'd like to use those if I can, but I still want to be able to have 5.1 surround from my amp... any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! thanks!!!

 

[claudermilk]

First of all, the composite & component is video, not audio so is not relevant here. For best viedo performance, you will wnat to use the component connection directly from the DVD player to the TV.

It looks like the receiver only has stereo RCA inputs, so that's how you would connect the audio from the DVD. I have no idea how it can possibly get the full surround signal that way.

Anyway, the audio signal is not dependant on there being a video signal (how could it deal with a CD player then?).

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

I know that audio isnt dependant on video... cd players wont play surround anyways. What im saying is... how can i get full surround from this receiver???

 

[BMXTRIX]

I believe dolby surround is carried on the analog rca audio interconnects. So, if a source is encoded in dolby surround, then the receiver can pick that up and send surround information correctly.

It is not the same as digital surround and you will likely have a somewhat lower overall quality, but you will have surround.

Not sure what price you are getting on the receiver, but if the price is right, then it is a fair 'starter' receiver. That's about it.

FYI: Here is the owners manual - search the word 'surround' - it does look like Dolby Pro Logic (DPL) surround is supported.
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/customer/manuals/PDFs/02RX-V49.PDF

 

[j_garcia]

I know that audio isnt dependant on video... cd players wont play surround anyways. What im saying is... how can i get full surround from this receiver???

Composite is a video term, not audio. "Standard" audio connections (red & white) are simply referred to as analog audio.

If you do not have a digital connection or a multichannel analog audio input (and a DVD player that has a corresponding output), then you cannot get true surround. The best you will be able to get is Dolby Pro Logic.

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

so the receiver can encode the surround signal from the left and right (RCA) red and white cables??? i guess it just doesnt make sense to me how surround information can be encoded from a stereo analog signal...

If you do not have a digital connection or a multichannel analog audio input (and a DVD player that has a corresponding output), then you cannot get true surround. The best you will be able to get is Dolby Pro Logic.

So if there are no digital inputs to my receiver.. then why is it a 5.1 surround receiver? the multichannel analog audio input... i think i have that... on the back it has multiple sets of red, white, and yellow RCA jacks. so if i plug my dvd player into that will i get surround??? im so lost! any help would be great!

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

So the receiver can encode the surround signal from the left and right (RCA) red and white cables??? i guess it just doesnt make sense to me how surround information can be encoded from a stereo analog signal...

If you do not have a digital connection or a multichannel analog audio input (and a DVD player that has a corresponding output), then you cannot get true surround. The best you will be able to get is Dolby Pro Logic.

So if there are no digital inputs to my receiver.. then why is it a 5.1 surround receiver? the multichannel analog audio input... i think i have that... on the back it has multiple sets of red, white, and yellow RCA jacks. so if i plug my dvd player into that will i get surround??? im so lost! any help would be great! Im sorry for all the newbie questions.. but that is why im asking for help... i was hoping that i could figure out the best way to hook up my receiver... thats all...

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

sorry for the double post!!! i messed up!

 

[MDS]

so the receiver can encode the surround signal from the left and right (RCA) red and white cables??? i guess it just doesnt make sense to me how surround information can be encoded from a stereo analog signal...

Dolby Surround encodes 4 channels into a 2 channel analog signal. It is technically only 4 channels because the left and right surrounds are identical. This is known as 'matrix encoding'. A Dolby ProLogic decoder extracts that encoded information and sends it to 5 speakers. The ProLogic decoder can work on any 2 channel analog signal - even if it wasn't surround encoded - but if it isn't surround encoded then it effectively simulates the surround [it takes out of phase information from the left and right channels, delays it and sends that to the rear and also sums the left and right channels to mono and sends it to the center].

So if there are no digital inputs to my receiver.. then why is it a 5.1 surround receiver? the multichannel analog audio input... i think i have that... on the back it has multiple sets of red, white, and yellow RCA jacks. so if i plug my dvd player into that will i get surround??? im so lost! any help would be great!

It is a 5.1 receiver because it includes a matrix decoder that can take a 2 channel signal and turn it into 5.1. When people say that you aren't getting 'true surround' its because if you play a disc with Dolby Digital 5.1, the player has to convert that to 2 channel analog and send it to the receiver. The receiver can then use a matrix decoder to turn it back into 5.1 - but the 5.1 you get is not the original 5.1. It may still sound good but it is not quite the same. If you use a digital input, the player sends the bits exactly as they are and the receiver decodes them directly.

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

thanks!!! that sounds great!

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

Thanks for all of your help!!! I found this link to a site that explains everything. For anyone that may care... heres the link. It gives a great explaination on the whole thing. Here ya go!

Link: http://www.5dot1.com/articles/pro_logic_vs_pro_logic_2.html