DrPyro Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 I a bit confused on the USE of Dolby formats.... But first, let see if i understand the formats correctly Dolby - 2-channel???? Dolby Prologic - 3 channels (LF, RF, C) encoded into two-channel soundtracks, then recovered on playback by means of a Dolby Surround Pro Logic decoder (ie Matrix conversions) Dolby Surround - 4 channels (LF, RF, C, and Surround) are encoded into two-channel soundtracks, then recovered on playback by means of a Dolby Surround Pro Logic decoder (more matrix conversions) Dolby Digital (often called Dolby 5.1)- 5.1 discrete channels Dolby Digital Surround EX- 6.1 (matrix or discrete?)channels Okie....now here is the question. When watching cable TV (no decoder box) i can use my Denon 3801 reciever set to "Dolby ProLogic" and listen to the show in either Prologic or Suround (depending on what the show was encoded in) but more and more show's are encoded in Dolby Digital how can someone listen to a show that was encoded as Dolby Digital?? Or are the cable companies changing the format due to bandwidth restrictions and limiting to Dolby Surround? -Thanks ------------------ Receiver: Denon AVR-3801 DVD: Denon DVD-1000 Front: RF-3's Rear: RS-3's Center: RC-3 SubW: KSW-12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewzter Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 i'm not sure how your denon handles the difference between 'dolby surround' and 'dolby pro-logic,' but pro-logic is actually the 4-channel format. some receivers add some digital processing to the front 3 channels to produce a 'phantom surround,' kind of fooling your ears into thinking that there are 2 speakers behind you when there are none... does your manual give any hints? as far as 5.1 through cable, you'd have to have a cable box with a digital output to hook into your DD processor to be able to enjoy 5.1 cable broadcasts. ------------------ Front: dbx Soundfield V - 15" woofer, 8" mid, ribbon tweet, 3.25" mid & dome tweet on top Center: KLF C7 Rear Surround: Polk f/x bipole/dipole Amp: Yamaha RX-V990 100x3; 25x2 DVD: Yamaha DVD S795 (built-in DD Processor) CD: Yamaha CDC 575 5-Disc VCR: Toshiba M752 6-head TV: Mitsubishi 40" Tube DirecTV Sony Playstation w/ s-vid & RCA to V990 for awesome gaming picture & sound! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD2 Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 I am fairly new to home theater, but I have found that the Dolby website has a lot of good information on the various formats. Specifically, see the link below for a good summary of the various Dolby formats for consumers: http://www.dolby.com/company/is.ot.0011.TechOverview.05.html As far as your question about watching Dolby Digital shows -- It is my understanding that you would have to have a receiver capable of decoding Dolby Digital, as well as a pure digital source, such as DVD, Digital Satellite, or digital cable. But I thought I read somewhere on the Dolby website that Dolby Digital is backwards compatible, so that if you only have a Dolby Pro Logic Receiver, then you could get the Dolby Pro Logic channels out of a Dolby Digital Broadcast. By the way, does your KSW-12 make a big difference? I just purchased a KSW-12 to go with my Legend towers, and I can hardly tell the difference. See my post in this forum under "correct configuration for subwoofer in large room" if you like. Just wondering how you like yours. ------------------ Front: KLF 10 Towers Center: KLF C7 Sub: KSW 12 Rear Surrounds: Bose Bookshelf (temporary) Receiver: Sony STR-DE845 DVD: Sony DVP-S360 VCR: Sony TV: 27" RCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrPyro Posted July 9, 2001 Author Share Posted July 9, 2001 The KSW-12 is an "ok" addition to the setup.... The problem (IMHO) is that the RF-3's don't produce nearly as tight of base nor as balanced with the Mids & Highs as i would like. (Going to try Bi-wiring to improve the tightness of the base....but thats down the road). The KSW-12 does little to fillin the RF-3's and I often find it muddled and dull. However, if your mainly watching movies...it will be "ok". From other postings in the forum's your going to have more trouble with the KLF-10's since, if I remeber corectly, they have even less base Just TRY SEVERAL PLACEMENTS....it makes a HUGE difference in quality ------------------ Receiver: Denon AVR-3801 DVD: Denon DVD-1000 Front: RF-3's Rear: RS-3's Center: RC-3 SubW: KSW-12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willjam Posted July 11, 2001 Share Posted July 11, 2001 quote: Originally posted by JD2: As far as your question about watching Dolby Digital shows -- It is my understanding that you would have to have a receiver capable of decoding Dolby Digital, as well as a pure digital source, such as DVD, Digital Satellite, or digital cable. I have a Denon AVR-3300 and a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2001 cable box that has a coxial digital output. When Denon set to Auto, the receiver switches between Dolby Logic and Dolby Digital depending on the signal. All movies on HBO, Showtime and Max are being broadcast Dolby Prologic, however I have gotten an occasional Dolby Digital signal. The Denon 3300 has only one coaxial output for this purpose which I am utilizing. The sound is terrific. Bill J. ------------------ Bill James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD2 Posted July 12, 2001 Share Posted July 12, 2001 Bill, Out of curiosity, are you able to receive any of the major network's prime time broadcasts in Dolby Surround (Pro Logic or Digital)? One of the things I was looking forward to when I purchased my home theater system was being able to watch some of the major network shows, such as C.S.I., X-Files, etc. in Dolby Surround. But apparently either my local cable company or my local networks (I don't know which) is not broadcasting any of those shows with Dolby Surround. Just curious if anyone out there is actually getting to watch the "prime time" TV shows with Dolby Surround. ------------------ Front: KLF 10 Towers Center: KLF C7 Sub: KSW 12 Rear Surrounds: Bose Bookshelf (temporary) Receiver: Sony STR-DE845 DVD: Sony DVP-S360 VCR: Sony TV: 27" RCA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewzter Posted July 12, 2001 Share Posted July 12, 2001 I have direcTV, without local channels (to be added SOON!)...so I watch the local channels through bunny-ear antenna. It depends on your local station whether or not they broadcast the Dolby audio. Here we have 2 CBS's, 1 ABC, 1 FOX and 2 NBC's. You can tell which ones broadcast the surround audio and which ones don't - huge difference when the surround speakers kick in. If you notice at the beginning of shows, the Dolby Surround logo comes up, and underneath there's a disclaimer: (where available) ------------------ Front: dbx Soundfield V - 15" woofer, 8" mid, ribbon tweet, 3.25" mid & dome tweet on top Center: KLF C7 Rear Surround: Polk f/x bipole/dipole Amp: Yamaha RX-V990 100x3; 25x2 DVD: Yamaha DVD S795 (built-in DD Processor) CD: Yamaha CDC 575 5-Disc VCR: Toshiba M752 6-head TV: Mitsubishi 40" Tube DirecTV Sony Playstation w/ s-vid & RCA to V990 for awesome gaming picture & sound! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Jett Posted July 13, 2001 Share Posted July 13, 2001 I have Dish Network and true DD or DTS is far and few between. That is the main reason I was so quick to jump on Dolby Pro Logic II. It makes a huge difference for a lot of the shows broadcast in Pro Logic I. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted July 13, 2001 Share Posted July 13, 2001 I believe the original Dolby Surround System (matrix) could use 5.1 speakers. The "surround" used 10 mS of delay plus Dolby spec noise reduction. (My brother-in-law has a 4 channel Yammie.) But there was no reason to not have a center and a sub to make it 5.1. The matrix system had to be called "Dolby" because it used his spec for noise reduction in the surrounds. Pro-logic put in a bit more processing. The circuit would direct the sound to the calculated correct speaker. E.g., this signal just appears in the left channel input; so keep it out of the center. (Center would be L+R in the crude matrix.) Or, this signal is very much out of phase; let's send it to the surrounds (L-R) only. As you point out, still two channel input. Dolby Digital is form of digital multiple channel storage and transmission. Hence the processor doesn't have derive the 5.1 outputs from 2 channel input. Of course, "Dolby" refers to Ray Dolby. He worked on video recording for Ampex. Then designed and marketed several noise reduction systems. The most familiar is Dolby B which is used in cassette recording. Dolby C was used in studio tape machines. Gil This message has been edited by William F. Gil McDermott on 07-13-2001 at 09:00 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willjam Posted July 15, 2001 Share Posted July 15, 2001 quote: Originally posted by JD2: Bill, Out of curiosity, are you able to receive any of the major network's prime time broadcasts in Dolby Surround (Pro Logic or Digital)? No, not at this time, I only receive digital sound from cable broadcasts in my market area. I am aware of one local station that HDTV capabilities, but I have not watch any of the broadcasts to see if I would even get a digital signal. I think I need more equipment than what I have. ------------------ Bill James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted July 15, 2001 Share Posted July 15, 2001 the only stations i've ever gotten dd 5.1 broadcasts on select movies from my digital cable is showtime & starz (so far). don't have a hd tv so can't say on those channels. from my understanding, everything else on the digital channels is encoded in dolby surround or 2.0. pro-logic is what your receiver's decoder does w/ a 2 channel/stereo signal such as an analog stereo signal from a non-digital channel. ------------------ Klipsch KLF 30 (front), KLF C-7, Cornwall I (rear) Velodyne HGS-18 sub woofer Monsterbass 400 sub interconnect & Monster CX-2 biwire & Z-12 cable Marantz SR-8000 receiver Sony DVP-C650D 5-disk cd/dvd player Sony Trinitron 27" stereo tv Toshiba hi-fi stereo vcr Technics dual cassette deck Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000 digital cable box Boa's Listenin Lounge: Klipsch RF-3 (front), RC-3, cheap little Technics (rear) Monster MCX Biwires Sony STR-DE935 a/v receiver Kenwood KR-9600 AM/FM stereo receiver (vintage 1975) Russound AB-2 receiver switch to RF-3 Teac PD-D1200 5-disk cd changer Technics SL-1950 turntable/AT LS500 cartridge Sega Genesis game player Sub: None yet rock on! This message has been edited by boa12 on 07-15-2001 at 12:29 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted July 21, 2001 Share Posted July 21, 2001 good news! just got dd 5.1 from "battlefield earth" on HBO so looks like another station is now getting w/ it. makes even this movie worth watching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seb Posted July 21, 2001 Share Posted July 21, 2001 i'm sorry to say, but NOTHING, even the greatest DTS mix, would make this movie worthwile. the ONLY thing I liked was that no camera angle was straight, they were all crooked. creative... but thew rest wasn't even good enough for my mom's cat to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted July 21, 2001 Share Posted July 21, 2001 yea that seems to be the critic's consensus too. i only watched about 10 min. actually. how'd they ever get travolta to do that 1? $ i guess. also, on HBO right after, "road to el dorado" was also in dd 5.1. girlfriend's 5 yr. nephew really liked it. though was a lil scared of the monster scenes ------------------ Klipsch KLF 30 (front), KLF C-7, Cornwall I (rear) Velodyne HGS-18 sub woofer Monsterbass 400 sub interconnect & Monster CX-2 biwire & Z1 cable Marantz SR-8000 receiver Sony DVP-C650D 5-disk cd/dvd player Sony Trinitron 27" stereo tv Toshiba hi-fi stereo vcr Technics dual cassette deck Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000 digital cable box Boa's Listenin Lounge: Klipsch RF-3 (front), RC-3, cheap little Technics (rear) Monster MCX Biwires Sony STR-DE935 a/v receiver Kenwood KR-9600 AM/FM stereo receiver (vintage 1975) Russound AB-2 receiver switch to RF-3 Teac PD-D1200 5-disk cd changer Technics SL-1950 turntable/AT LS500 cartridge Sega Genesis game player Sub: None yet rock on! This message has been edited by boa12 on 07-21-2001 at 09:56 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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