Video Asylum

Posted by rico (A) on May 31, 2004 at 07:20:32

In Reply to: Dialog clarity with Dolby Pro Logic vs: ProLogic II vs: Dolby Digital posted by DickW on May 30, 2004 at 21:26:09:

First, you need a quality center channel speaker, ideally one from the same manufacturer as the right and left fronts and voiced the same or very similarly.

Pro Logic matrixes 4.1 sound out of stereo (the ".1" is a sub output). Pro Logic II matrixes 5.1 sound out of stereo (i.e., the rears are separate). Dolby Digital 5.1 (and DTS 5.1) are RECORDED in 5.1 and thus are discreet and do sound better (music, effects, and dialog). Newer processors also have:

Pro Logic IIx which matrixes 6.1 or 7.1 sound from stereo; DtS Neo 6
which does the same thing, only better (each of these has different codecs for music and for movies) and even newer circuits which matrix 6.1 out of 5.1 and also have discreet 7.1 capabilities.

All speakers should be equi-distant for the sweet spot in an arc and all channels should be at the same level, ideally set with a sound level meter calibrated to 75db. There should be no need (or rare need) to boost the center channel.