Video Asylum

Posted by Joe Murphy Jr (A) on February 18, 2005 at 23:20:06

In Reply to: Re: true 5.1 surround sound posted by Sam M on February 18, 2005 at 14:10:01:

Just so there's no misunderstanding...

When you use the L/R (aka 2-channel) analog outputs from a DVD player, you are getting a down-mixed to 2-channel version of the (usually 5.1) soundtrack. Technically, it's not the L and R channel. As such you won't actually be "...missing the other 3.1 (Center, Left Surround, Right Surround, Subwoofer)..." channels, although most down-mix programs do leave out the LFE/.1 channel.

Provided you have a DVD player that offers 5.1 analog outputs, you can verify this by connecting only the L and R analog outputs of the 5.1 section of the DVD player to an input on your receiver and connecting the L and R analog outputs of the 2-channel section to another input on your receiver. Play a DVD with a 5.1 soundtrack and you'll immediately hear the difference when you switch the receiver between the two inputs.