Video Asylum

Posted by BWM (A) on August 04, 2002 at 22:34:57

I listen to all my video DVDs in 2 channel stereo. Do not have multichannel setup. My player's default setup is 2 channel stereo.

Whenever there is an audio selection choice on the video DVD which includes 2 channel stereo as an option, and if I select the 2-channel-stereo mode on the DVD, it always sounds worse than any of the other audio choices. This occurs when even when 2 channel stereo is my default mode on the player.

If I try 4 channel or 5.1 or whatever else is offered on the DVD, it always sounds better than the 2 channel stereo selection. Why is that?

I contacted the DVD player manufacturer and THEY said that since 2 channel stereo is my player's default mode, and since I'm using the 2 channel stereo analog outputs, then it doesn't really matter what audio mode I select when playing the DVD...it will always be 2 channel stereo output. I disagree.

Does anyone else hear inferior sound when selecting 2 channel stereo audio option on a video DVD? Am I doing something wrong? I have owned 3 DVD players so far (2 Toshibas and 1 NAD) and have same issue with all of them. Currently I use a NAD T550.

Thanks for your comments.