DTS NEO:6 or ProLogic IIx?

[Cygnus]

I don't have surround speakers yet. I just have a center, and two mains. As shown in my " My New System!". For movies, I use DTS Neo:6. But I'm wondering, for when I get surround speakers, should I use ProLogic IIx? Because I looked on the DTS website and it seems that Neo:6 just ghosts the two stereo channels. Does prologic IIx have 6 descrete channels as opposed to DTS? Which would be a better mode? I mean, when I get a DVD player, I'll of course use the mode that comes on the disc. But for TV and VHS, whch would be best?


Thanks.
Travis.

 

[MDS]

Not sure what you mean by 'ghosts the two rear channels'. If you mean that it simply copies the left and right front channels to the rear (like 5/7 channel stereo modes), then no it doesn't work that way.

Neo:6 is a matrix decoder that takes any 2 channel source and creates 5 or 6 channels from it. The rear channels are created in the same way as other matrix decoders - it takes the out of phase information from the front channels and steers it to the rear.

PLII can take any 2 channel analog or digital (including DD 2.0) and turn it into 5.1 channels. Its algorithm is different than Neo:6 but conceptually does the same thing. PLIIx can do the same but converts to 5, 6, or 7 channels, including DD 5.1 to 6.1 or 7.1. Some receivers will let you layer PLIIx on top of DTS 5.1 tracks as well.

Which is better? Whichever one sounds the best to you. I prefer PLII.

 

[Cygnus]

Basically a personal preference thing I guess.

 

[nova]

Me,... I like Neo:6 for television programs and PLIIx for DVD movies.

 

[supervij]

When it comes to TV, I find that PLIIx gives me a better feeling of being surrounded by the sound, with better detail and better highs/lows. With two-channel DVDs such as TV shows sound great with PLIIx. Of course, all of that could be just my imagination. My ears are far from golden, and it's tough because the two (PLIIx and Neo:6) do sound very similar.

Strangely, I find that when I try either PLIIx or Neo:6 with stuff I've taped on the VCR, everything comes out the centre channel. There's absolutely no information coming out the mains nor the surrounds. So I usually just leave it on 7 channel stereo mode for VCR stuff.

With DVDs that are in 5.1, for some reason, I'm unable to switch to PLIIx or Neo:6. The option is just not present on my receiver when I try to enable it. It's not that big a deal for me, though.

cheers,
supervij

 

[korgoth]

yeah i erased what i was going to say

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

DTS Neo 6 has a lower compression ration than DLPIIx. They both also sound very different through the center channel. Each has three separate modes (at least on my Denon). Cinema, Music, and Game. I think that's what the "x" stands for. I prefer Neo 6 due to the compression issue. I hate compression. It's not as obvious as DTS vs. DD, but it's there.

 

[MDS]

Neither Neo:6 nor PLII(x) have anything to do with compression. They are matrix decoders that look at the signal, extract some information according to the decoding algorithm, and route that information elsewhere.

You may be thinking of the 'bitrate' of DD vs DTS. DTS is 'less compressed' by virtue of the fact that it has a higher bitrate (1.5 mbps) than DD (640 kbps). A higher bitrate does not automatically mean better sound, although many do believe DTS sounds better than DD. I'm not saying that thinking is wrong, but if it does sound better it's not due entirely to bitrate - it has more to do with the efficiency of the encoding algorithm.

P.S. - the 'x' in PLIIx simply means 'extension'. The PLII algorithm, which can only convert 2 channel to 5.1 was extended to allow for converting 2 channel (and DD 5.1) to 6.1 or 7.1.

 

[cgk]

matrix surround

Here's a link about surround sound that includes a discussion of the analog matrix surround and how to set up a analog matrix surround system without a surround receiver. I've not tried it, but it seems like it would be fun to play around with it on a rainy weekend.

http://kantack.com/surround/

 

[shokhead]

I'm on DPllx. It seems to have more speaker adjustments.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

PLIIx explained

Although I'm a bigger fan of DTS, Dolby has a nice explanation of their PLIIx here:

www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/prologic_IIx_faq_1.html

 

[av-man]

From my experience the 2 formats sound different with each system. When you figure in different room acoustics, speakers, and equipment it's really a matter of what sounds the best in each situation.

 

[algernon]

Here's a link about surround sound that includes a discussion of the analog matrix surround and how to set up a analog matrix surround system without a surround receiver. I've not tried it, but it seems like it would be fun to play around with it on a rainy weekend.

http://kantack.com/surround/

I did this about 15 years ago while in college, with my roommate. Used his guitar tube amp as our rear speaker. We only used it for music, and the sweet spot was very small, but it definately works. Used it later on movies with varying degrees of success. Some movies sounded great, others horrible. The reciever was a 70's era JVC 50wpc. It was a sad day for me when it gave up the ghost.