Set-up Assistance Request

[kujka]

Hi,
When I play DVDs I don't get any of the voice sounds through the centre speakers...only the backgorund sounds. CDs work fine but I can't hear any dialogue when playing movies. Please help!

 

[racquetman]

Dialog is overrated. Just enjoy the background music.

Just kidding.

How do you have the DVD player hooked up?

Make sure that Dolby Digital and DTS are set to bitstream in your DVD player menu if you have an optical or digital coax audio connection to a receiver.

 

[kujka]

Thanks....

Thanks for the reply....but it's all foreign to me! I only have one set of wires running from the DVD player to the amp (red, white & video). Could I have hooked these up incorrectly?

Thanks again!

 

[racquetman]

Since you are trying to get sound from a center channel, I assume you have a surround sound setup. Is it 5.1?

Please give me the model of your DVD player and your receiver (you said amp, but I'm guessing you meant receiver or pre-amp). The hardest part is getting the terminology down!!

 

[kujka]

Hi again,

My receiver/amp is a Pioneer VSX-815 which is 7.1

Does that help at all?

(By the way...thanks for your help! It's very much appreciated!!)

 

[j_garcia]

There could be a number of problems. First, in your receiver, you may need to tell it that you have a center. If it already knows that, then you may have it's level adjusted too low. There is always the possibility that the center is not plugged into the correct spot on the back of the receiver (I've done it).

If you are only running the R&L (red & white) you cannot get discrete surround sound. You should be able to select a DSP mode, such as Dolby Pro Logic or PLII, that will give you simulated surround from a stereo signal.

If your DVD player and your receiver both support using a digital connection (optical or coaxial), this would be the recommended method for connection.

If you can answer Alan's questions, someone on here should be able to help you.

 

[racquetman]

Ya, that helps. Please tell me what type of DVD player you have also.

I can tell you now that by only having a red and white stereo connection made for audio, you are not going to get a discrete center channel sound. You will need to engage Dolby Pro Logic II or IIx or DTS Neo:6 to get a matrixed center channel. You don't want that for most DVDs.

You want a digital audio connection to your receiver. Let me know about the DVD player and I'll get you specific instructions.

 

[j_garcia]

My receiver/amp is a Pioneer VSX-815 which is 7.1

Yes. How about the DVD player?

 

[kujka]

Hi again,

The DVD player is a Panasonic DVD-F87

Thanks again!

 

[racquetman]

Looks like you have a digital coax output on your DVD player. Connect a cable from there to the digital coax in on your receiver. On the far left of your receiver. You may have to go into your receiver menu and tell it that the digital connection is coax, not optical for input 1 if that is where you hooked it up.

Make sure you set dolby digital and dts to bitstream in your dvd player menu.

let us know if this resolves your problems.

 

[kujka]

Thanks for all your help.....I'm going to go and try out your suggestion.

 

[kujka]

Do I need something special to connect the DVD & Reciever via the coaxial hook-up?

 

[racquetman]

No, just a cable that is terminated with an RCA connector. You can buy a higher quality digital coaxial cable, but I doubt you will hear any difference in the sound.

 

[j_garcia]

If you have a spare composite (RCA) video cable, that will work, since the specs for the two are basically identical. Audio analog cables do not have to conform to this spec, so a random cable may or may not work consistently, so I recommend using either a cable that is specified as a coaxial digital or a generic video cable. Coaxial digital cables can get expensive, but they (or a cheap video cable) can also often be found for about $10 at most stores that carry electronics.

I just recently gave my F87 to my dad. It's a nice player.

 

[kujka]

Just wanted to thank you both for trying to help out. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to work for me.

However, tomorrow I am going to buy a coaxial digital cable and try again.

Thanks again!

 

[jaxvon]

Might I suggest that you stay away from Monster cables. They're good, but expensive. You'll be served just fine by something like Phillips Gold or Acoustic Research.

 

[markw]

Might I sugget you curl up with a good book.

Your receiver's owner's manual in particular. IT seems to me that you simply need to "tell" your receiver what type of signal it's looking for. In your case, whatever input (orange jack?) that DVD player is connected to should be told to be looking for a coaxial digital signal.

I know my Denon didn't know digital from diddly until I told it what to look for, and the only way I was able to figure this out was to read the manual.