Unable to decode Dolby Digital from laserdisc player...

[kaos]

I am using a Yamaha CDV-W901 laserdisc player which features an AC-3 RF Out. I am able to listen to PCM and DTS tracks on the discs just fine but whenever I put in a Dolby Digital disc I can't get any sound. I have tried both optical and coaxial connections and nothing works. I am using the Yamaha RX-V1500 receiver for the decoding and in particular am trying to listen to the Star Wars Episode 1 and Saving Private Ryan laserdiscs, both THX certified. Does the THX feature have anything to do with not being able to access the surround tracks? The receiver is THX certified. But do I need some type of Dolby Digital external decoder or something? Shouldn't the player pass the audio through to the receiver to decode like it does with the DTS discs? Is there something wrong with my coaxial cable?

 

[dponeill]

You need an RF demodulator to convert the RF signal for use with the current coax or optical inputs. The inexpensive ones that used to be available were around $100.00. You may be looking at something in the neighborhood of $300.00 these days.

Dennis

 

[kaos]

Why won't the receiver just decode the signal? I don't understand. I don't need a demodulator for DTS yet I do for Dolby? There isn't any other way? I would have imagined the new receivers take care of all the decoding, even for old school laserdisc players?

 

[Privateer]

Star Wars Episode 1 and Saving Private Ryan laserdiscs

I had no idea that they produced movies for laser disc this late.

 

[dponeill]

Why won't the receiver just decode the signal? I don't understand. I don't need a demodulator for DTS yet I do for Dolby? There isn't any other way? I would have imagined the new receivers take care of all the decoding, even for old school laserdisc players?

It won't decode it because it's the wrong kind of signal. Standards change and there were never enough Laserdisc players with AC3 sold for more than a handfull of receivers to have had an RF input. Many, if not most, recievers don't have a phono input anymore and, therefore, cannot decode a phono album. There were a lot more turntables and albums sold than Laserdisc players!

Dennis

 

[kaos]

So, simply put, the RX-V1500, as well as any other receiver, can't decode Dolby laserdisc sources without the RF Demod? There's NOTHING I can do?

Thanks for your help, btw.

Got any demodulators for sale?

 

[mtrycrafts]

There's NOTHING I can do? :

Sure there is.
Get into the 21st century with a DVD player. Problem solved

 

[kaos]

Well, I've heard from so many people that the Dolby versions of Episode 1, Matrix, and Saving Private Ryan are noticeably better than their DVD counterparts. I listened to the Jurassic Park DTS laserdisc and compared it to the DTS Superbit DVD (better sound than standard edition and Japanese exclusive) and was surpised to find out that the laserdisc was noticeably better. Laserdiscs, for the most part, run at full bitrates while DVDs are usually half. Most Japanese discs, however, are full. For example, we get Blade on DVD here in the states in standard Dolby 5.1 while it comes out in Japan in full bitrate DTS. That's one awesome sounding disc, by the way! This is why I'm so interested in lasers.

 

[dponeill]

So, simply put, the RX-V1500, as well as any other receiver, can't decode Dolby laserdisc sources without the RF Demod? There's NOTHING I can do?

Thanks for your help, btw.

Got any demodulators for sale?

Well, the short answer is, no.

You have three choices:

1. Find a demodulator on eBay
2. Find an old receiver that has an AC3 input (but won't handle the newer formats)
3. Don't buy anymore Laserdiscs

The most practical thing would be 1 & 3. You will be able to play what you currently have and you won't be sinking any more money into a dead format.

Dennis