Question for the audiophiles on a 2 channel setup for TV and movies..

[HDTV-NUT]

Ok guys, I have a question that I can't seem to figure out on my own. I know you guys will be able to set me straight.

In a nutshell, I have a 2 channel setup. (Axiom M60's). I had the 5.1 setup but we did some remodeling and have a modern look going now. The 5.1 system made things look a little cluttered. The wife didnt approve and thus I now have a 2 channel setup.

What I have been doing is having my cable STB output Dolby Digital and getting the Dolby Digital signal through 2 channels.

Being more of a videophile and now just getting into the audio side of things, it was always my belief that anything Dolby Digital was just better. lol.

Last night I decided to set the cable STB to output 2 channel only (PCM) and all of the sudden my speakers came to life. Sound is much more clear and real sounding and the surround effects were much better.

One thing I noticed was a little loss in bass when setting the cable box to output 2 channel only as opposed to Dolby Digital. Why is this?

Last part of confusion for me is, I have my cable box and DVD player connected to my reciever via Toslink Optical Audio Cable. Is this the right connection for a 2 channel setup or should I use the analog connection?

Sorry for the long post. Hopefully this all makes sense. Thanks for any help.

 

[xboxweasel]

If all you have is a 2.0 system you might try using a standard Left/Right patch cord.

But since you are using toslink already...as long as your receiver is set up as a 2 channel system then it should decode the source material down to those two speakers only.

By using the Toslink you are letting the receiver decode the info. If you use L/R patch cordes, then your DVD player etc is doing the decoding. Depending on the hardware, one way might sound better than the other. It depends on the quality of the digital to analog converters (DACs) used in your equipement.

I tried this with my Onkyo DVD player. For this particular model there is no difference. Toslink and L/R patch cord sound the same.

Now, if the "extra" speakers are a no no...have you considered something like this.....The Yamaha YSP800? It's one unit with many drivers to simulate a 5.1 system by reflecting the surround channels off walls so that it sounds like it is coming from beside/behind you. I know there are more products out there like this, it's just an example.

 

[billy p]

Ok guys, I have a question that I can't seem to figure out on my own. I know you guys will be able to set me straight.

In a nutshell, I have a 2 channel setup. (Axiom M60's). I had the 5.1 setup but we did some remodeling and have a modern look going now. The 5.1 system made things look a little cluttered. The wife didnt approve and thus I now have a 2 channel setup.

What I have been doing is having my cable STB output Dolby Digital and getting the Dolby Digital signal through 2 channels.

Being more of a videophile and now just getting into the audio side of things, it was always my belief that anything Dolby Digital was just better. lol.

Last night I decided to set the cable STB to output 2 channel only (PCM) and all of the sudden my speakers came to life. Sound is much more clear and real sounding and the surround effects were much better.

One thing I noticed was a little loss in bass when setting the cable box to output 2 channel only as opposed to Dolby Digital. Why is this?

Last part of confusion for me is, I have my cable box and DVD player connected to my reciever via Toslink Optical Audio Cable. Is this the right connection for a 2 channel setup or should I use the analog connection?

Sorry for the long post. Hopefully this all makes sense. Thanks for any help.

"WAF" again coming between man and his toys.

 

[HDTV-NUT]

If all you have is a 2.0 system you might try using a standard Left/Right patch cord.

But since you are using toslink already...as long as your receiver is set up as a 2 channel system then it should decode the source material down to those two speakers only.

By using the Toslink you are letting the receiver decode the info. If you use L/R patch cordes, then your DVD player etc is doing the decoding. Depending on the hardware, one way might sound better than the other. It depends on the quality of the digital to analog converters (DACs) used in your equipement.

I tried this with my Onkyo DVD player. For this particular model there is no difference. Toslink and L/R patch cord sound the same.

Now, if the "extra" speakers are a no no...have you considered something like this.....The Yamaha YSP800? It's one unit with many drivers to simulate a 5.1 system by reflecting the surround channels off walls so that it sounds like it is coming from beside/behind you. I know there are more products out there like this, it's just an example.

Thanks for the help xboxweasel. I have seen the "all in one unit" by yamaha. From what I have heard, the sound is pretty good. I dont think I could ever get rid of my Axiom Towers though.

 

[HDTV-NUT]

"WAF" again coming between man and his toys.

haha. she is actually pretty good with most stuff. she puts up with alot. we are planning on building a house in a few years time and in the plans I have made plenty of room for a dedicated theater. i will have all my toys, plus some then.

 

[Audioholics]

My input would be that your receiver may not have correctly been setup to indicate that you now have only 2 channels. What that means is that you may have not been getting the right sound, at the right levels to your main speakers. Double check that your two M60s are set to "Large" and that your sub is set to "no" - and all center and surround speakers are set to "None". Your receiver may have different wording, but you get the idea.

Let us know. There isn't much reason for the cable box' analogue output to sound better than the receiver's, though this is a VERY general statement. If you get the settings right and still prefer the analogue out - then I'd go with that.

 

[agarwalro]

It sounds like a case of format vs settings error.

Here are a few pointers that should guide you to the solution,
1) All TV stations (even HD stations for some programs) broadcast stereo audio
2) By putting the STB to PCM, it will downmix to stereo or discard surround channel info depending on how it is designed
3) Receiver/ processor can detect source signal but cant change processing according to it
4) If your receiver/ processor crossover is engaged and you are in DD or DTS or THX or PL mode, it will cut the bass going to the mains depending on the crossover setting

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

In a nutshell, I have a 2 channel setup. (Axiom M60's). I had the 5.1 setup but we did some remodeling and have a modern look going now. The 5.1 system made things look a little cluttered. The wife didnt approve and thus I now have a 2 channel setup.

If I was you, I would have sold the wife, and kept the speakers. If she is so selfish & doesnt care enough about your needs, wants, or desires enough to "ALLOW" you to have surround sound in your own home, she probably isnt worth keeping around anyway.

 

[billy p]

haha. she is actually pretty good with most stuff. she puts up with alot. we are planning on building a house in a few years time and in the plans I have made plenty of room for a dedicated theater. i will have all my toys, plus some then.

They do have a way of getting their way buckeye in c-bus that's why we have WAF to keep us grounded!