the "right" sound mode for all my BDs

[brad1138]

I have a 7.1 system. I recently upgraded to a preamp with HDMI. Some of my BDs are DTS-MA others are DD TrueHD. Some are 7.1, more are 5.1. If I want my rear speakers to have sound with 5.1, I need to use some sound processing. I have been told to just use PLIIx for everything, but PLIIx is a "Dolby" format, is it right for DTS-MA movies?

I have been reading about PLIIx and some places say it is just for turning 2.0 into 7.1, other places say it is basically for anything that is not 7.1, to turn it into 7.1.

Basically, there is a lot of confusing and contradictory info out there, I am just trying to get the "real" answers.

thanks

[bigshot]

5.1 has rear speakers. It doesn't have side speakers. Are you wired properly?

[crackinhedz]

http://www.dolby.com

Dolby Pro Logic II transforms traditional stereo audio into 5.1-channel surround sound

Dolby Pro Logic IIx expands stereo or 5.1-channel audio to 6.1- or 7.1-channel sound, and lets you customize audio playback with listening modes designed ...

[Nada]

Originally Posted by bigshot

5.1 has rear speakers. It doesn't have side speakers. Are you wired properly?

A proper 5.1 setup should have the surround speakers on the side and slightly behind the listening area. A 7.1 setup would add speakers directly behind the listening area firing forward towards the screen.

[bigshot]

Ah. I never knew that! I always thought the two additional channels in 7:1 were on the sides, not the rear. I guess the extra two fill in more to bridge the phantom center in the back. I have a 5.1 system, and my rears are to the side and just behind the listening position. No room further back for another set of mains behind that. I guess I don't have the space for 7.1 in my room.

I've seen lots of diagrams of people's theaters on this site that get it wrong I guess.

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Ah. I never knew that! I always thought the two additional channels in 7:1 were on the sides, not the rear. I guess the extra two fill in more to bridge the phantom center in the back. I have a 5.1 system, and my rears are to the side and just behind the listening position. No room further back for another set of mains behind that. I guess I don't have the space for 7.1 in my room.

I've seen lots of diagrams of people's theaters on this site that get it wrong I guess.

Unless by "side" you didn't read up...first.

DSX width is speakers around 40° from center.
DSX/IIz height is on the wall above your main front around 12" from the ceiling, slightly outside the main pair.

[Jawaburger]

Just set the surround mode to "auto" if you have it, then you should not have to change anything. If your receiver/Preamp gets a DTS HD MA signal, that is what it will use, if it gets a 2 channel stereo signal, then it should use ProLogic. At least that is how it works on my Marantz.

[Count Orlok]

When I was running my speakers as a 7.1, I used PLIIx for the rears. In May, I had Jeff Meier come and calibrate everything. It's running as 5.1 now, but he recommended Dolby PLIIx as it creates stereo rears instead of mono and with good results. My Onkyo will play stereo as Pro Logic for 2.0 sources, but not for mono. I currently have everything set to 'straight decode' without processing.