Digital Cable and 5.1

[BBigJ]

moved from beginners forum

I'm about to move to a new appt. and I'm trying to decide which cable package to get. The choice is between the basic analog cable (~80 channels) and the intro digital package. I don't have HDTV, so there is no benefit there, but I do have a decent 5.1 setup that the good people on this forum helped me put together (Accoustech, Xsub, HK630). The question is: just how much (if any) 5.1 content will I get with digital cable? Obviously, everything from South Park to the 11 o'clock news is going to be in stereo, but what about MNF (which has always advertised "5.1 where available"). Even more importantly, what about the movie channels (particularly the On Demand offerings)? How much of this content is 5.1, and how does the quality compare to DVD?

I'm interested in experiences from all over, but particularly from RCN subscribers in the Boston market.

 

[MDS]

I use Time Warner in Austin but also setup my sister's system in FL and she has Comcast. The various cable companies differ slightly in what they broadcast and when but hopefully this will at least give you an idea of what you could expect if RCN is similar.

Time Warner Austin:
- ALL of the movie channels (HBO, Cinemax, Starz, Encore, etc) broadcast digital sound. Most movies are Dolby Digital 5.1. Every once in awhile they are DD 2.0. Same for movies from On Demand.
- All of the Music Choice channels are DD 2.0. They simultaneously broadcast an analog signal but if you have configured the cable box to use the digital out and the receiver to use the digital input, you get DD 2.0.
- The networks are hit and miss. Mostly they are analog but sometimes movies or specials are DD 2.0 or DD 5.1. Depends on the show and time.
- Some of the sports channels and occasionally other non-sports channels are 48 kHz PCM.

Comcast in FL:
- Mostly the same as Time Warner here except that *all* of the channels broadcast 48 kHz PCM (except for the ones using DD). This is slightly different than Time Warner because as I said above for the networks, they are almost always analog whereas Comcast always uses PCM for the same stations.

As for the Video, the channels in the basic tier are always analog. I assume but have no way to verify, that the same channels which are duplicated in the digital tier would be sending digital video (MPEG2). Without an HDTV, that is of no consequence as the box will do the decoding and conversion to analog anyway.

Digital cable is worth it IMO if you want digital sound although in my case not every channel broadcasts a digital audio signal at all times. YMMV.

 

[BBigJ]

Thanks, MDS. How would you compare the sound to DVD (I'm mainly talking about the movie channels here.)

I'm still curious whether MDS's experiences are typical for cable providers, so more input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[MDS]

The channels with digital audio sound as good or better than DVD. The only thing I have noticed is that the level is typically higher than a DVD so it will be louder for a given volume setting than a DVD played at the same volume setting.

 

[JVC]

I'm with Time Warner in eastern NC. The only pay channels I get are the Encore channels, and Flix and Sundance. Some movies are 5.1, and some are not. I haven't seen any broadcast networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, etc.) yet, with 5.1, for anything. I also don't do the pay On Demand channels. The free On Demand channels haven't been in 5.1 either.

The Encore channels do sound pretty good, when they broadcast a movie in 5.1, but to me, they aren't quite as good as dvd. At least they are in 5.1. When I had satellite, the Encore channels were never in 5.1 surround.

 

[jcPanny]

Cable packages

Since you can't get HD, you might consider a smaller cable package and netflix the movies you want to see. You will get better video and sound and take full advantage of your HT system.

 

[BBigJ]

Since you can't get HD, you might consider a smaller cable package and netflix the movies you want to see. You will get better video and sound and take full advantage of your HT system.

Not a bad suggestion. Also there are a Blockbuster and a Hollywood video about a half mile from my house.

 

[BBigJ]

I was killing some time today and I wandered into the Cambridge Soundworks showroom. It turned out they also use RCN and the people there said that basically all movies and sports were 5.1. Of course, everything they show there is going to be from the HD channels, so I'm not sure how much that carries over to the regular channels.

 

[BBigJ]

I just thought I'd place one more post to wrap things up here. I eventually decided to get the digital package. However, when the technician from RCN came to install everything I noticed that the cable converter box only had stereo outputs. Fortunately I noticed this before he wired it up, so I declined the digital cable on the spot and saved myself some $$ every month.

 

[JVC]

If you tell them you need a box with digital output for audio, they'll give you one. They automatically take the one you saw, because most people don't have a need for the digital audio output. If you want it, that is..........

 

[Blundaar]

The channels with digital audio sound as good or better than DVD. The only thing I have noticed is that the level is typically higher than a DVD so it will be louder for a given volume setting than a DVD played at the same volume setting.

Not here in San Diego ("Cox" Cable). DVD is better and low levels via cable. Unless you're going to get a bunch of movie stations, save your money.

 

[BBigJ]

If you tell them you need a box with digital output for audio, they'll give you one. They automatically take the one you saw, because most people don't have a need for the digital audio output. If you want it, that is..........

I gave it a shot, but the tech support person said she didn't see any boxes with digital outputs.