Question for the audiophiles on a 2 channel setup for TV and movies..

HDTV-NUT

Ok guys, I have a question that I can't seem to figure out on my own. I know you guys will be able to set me straight.

In a nutshell, I have a 2 channel setup. (Axiom M60's). I had the 5.1 setup but we did some remodeling and have a modern look going now. The 5.1 system made things look a little cluttered. The wife didnt approve and thus I now have a 2 channel setup.

What I have been doing is having my cable STB output Dolby Digital and getting the Dolby Digital signal through 2 channels.

Being more of a videophile and now just getting into the audio side of things, it was always my belief that anything Dolby Digital was just better. lol.

Last night I decided to set the cable STB to output 2 channel only (PCM) and all of the sudden my speakers came to life. Sound is much more clear and real sounding and the surround effects were much better.

One thing I noticed was a little loss in bass when setting the cable box to output 2 channel only as opposed to Dolby Digital. Why is this?

Last part of confusion for me is, I have my cable box and DVD player connected to my reciever via Toslink Optical Audio Cable. Is this the right connection for a 2 channel setup or should I use the analog connection?

Sorry for the long post. Hopefully this all makes sense. Thanks for any help.

AudialDelta

If your receiver is also set to 2 channel output you should be fine using the digital inputs. When you had it set to multi-channel output, but only using two channels you didn't have the center channel info. The center channel can be simulated with two channels. But not very well if the info isn't there.

__________________
Audial Delta, Hear the difference!

maicaw

For many DVDs the dialog is only on the Center channel when using the digital surround - I found that out the hard way when my Center speaker wire came loose and I had no - zilch, nada dialog on many DVDs when using Surround - but ok with Stereo - conversely all the ambience seems to come from the side and rear speakers - so IMO the center speaker doesn't really need to produce anything but speech for movie audio and most any good speaker will sound ok for a center (no woofing or tweeting required) - I have an Advent tower Center 2-6" mids +twt which sounds ok to me along with 4 hunky old JBL 4311s at the Side and rear -
If you set your receiver to small front speakers they should get more bass - likewise if the subwoofer is turned off on the receiver they get more to compensate for not using one - usually -
I think 2 channel sounds best for classical and folk music CD - unless the CD was mixed for surround - some SACDs use only a stereo mix even though the format has normal multichannel connections for 6 discrete channels

__________________
--------------signature -------
My HDTV equipment is certified organic - mostly plastic
No genetically modified electrons or photons are used in it's operation
RocketMan -- Tambourine Man -- Lucy {userName=1},{P/w=1}

HDTV-NUT

I was under the impression that setting your fronts to small gives them less bass?? Setting them to large will allow the fronts to recieve all of the bass.

Keep in mind I dont have a sub anymore. So setting my fronts to large is best correct? Maybe I misinterpreted what you said?

maicaw

My sony DVD player agrees with you - If you have the subwoofer on - but if you have it off - it is supposed to improve the "surround effects" -(Dolby bass Redirection??)- The more bass thing I remember from the AVIA HT Setup disc - supposed to send more bass to the small speakers - but without a transcript of the disc -- I don't know what the subwoofer context was - Samsung says it activates the Dolby Digital bass redirection and does what I claim for the front speakers- (in the case of the "small surround speakers" their explanation seems to have a typo) - I suppose using the test tones from the receiver or a setup DVD would answer any ambiguity. - Actually my receiver Sony DE885 doesn't have that actual setting itself -uses traditional discrete adjustments for room and speaker matching -and I use "large" surrounds with 2x -10" subs so I never set it up that way from the DVD and STB sources- sorry for any confusion I caused

__________________
--------------signature -------
My HDTV equipment is certified organic - mostly plastic
No genetically modified electrons or photons are used in it's operation
RocketMan -- Tambourine Man -- Lucy {userName=1},{P/w=1}

rbinck

You should be able to tell by listening where to set them.

Probably too late for this, but you might want to check out this link:
Speakers, Speakers and More Speakers!

Not having the 5.1 surround sound is really a detriment, imo. The artwork speakers may be a way out.

__________________
www.highdefinitionblog.com
www.BlogOfHawaii.com

AudialDelta

Sending more bass to smaller speakers is equivalent to swapping a 3 cylinder for a V8 and installing a larger fuel pump to restore lost power. Just as you would flood your tiny engine, you would "likely" send more low frequency energy to the speakers than they can handle without distortion. Some DSP units may adjust FR and harmonics to simulate larger speakers.

__________________
Audial Delta, Hear the difference!

rbinck

From http://www.artcoustic.com/download/D...0Optimiser.pdf:

Quote:

The DBO-1 is a cost-effective solution to enhance the bass performance of any Artcoustic loudspeaker or subwoofer. Based on the remarkable MaxxBass® technology and drawn from the latest research in auditory perception (psychoacoustics), the DBO-1 increases the perceived level of bass by adding harmonics to the original frequencies. This remarkable processor can extend the apparent depth of the bass by as much as 1 1/2 octaves, without requiring the speaker or subwoofer to actually deliver those signals, and without requiring additional amplifier power. This allows you to improve the bass performance of your existing system, or purchase smaller speakers and amplifiers in the first place. The DBO-1 offers a ready made way to experience outsize bass from smaller Artcoustic models, such as the Diablo Monitor, the DF65-50, and the Diablo Tech+1 Subwoofer. When used with larger Artcoustic speakers, such as the DF75-55, the DBO-1 can potentially eliminate the need for a separate subwoofer, depending on room size and the listener’s expectations. Using the DBO-1 with Artcoustic’s range of on-wall subwoofers will reduce amplifier power demands, while at the same time enhancing total bass output. The DBO-1 is as easy to install and use as a conventional equalizer. Just connect it between your audio source and power amplifier, then adjust the input, frequency and output controls to taste.

I have heard this optimizer and the results are nothing short of remarkable. Not cheap though.

__________________
www.highdefinitionblog.com
www.BlogOfHawaii.com

AudialDelta

I believe the retail on the home audio MaxxBass processor is $299. Not cheap but it compensates for not having enouch space and or money for larger speakers and amplifiers.

http://www.maxx.com/Content.aspx?id=157

__________________
Audial Delta, Hear the difference!