Help please!

[wrigley]

This might be the dumbest question ever asked here. I am new to this surround sound/speaker/HD/blu-ray era and have a question. I just recently purchased a new receiver (Sony STRDH500) and a new pair of Polk Audio Monitor 60 speakers. I had an older pair of JBL N24 bookshelf speakers that I had been using by themselves. I hooked up the Polk as the front speakers, and the JBL's as the surround sound speakers. I cannot get any sound out of the surround sound speakers when watching the TV! Is everything on TV in surround sound or only certain things? I did do the test through the receiver that sends a signal to each speaker to see if it working.....and that test was good. Thanks for the help.

Mike

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by wrigley

This might be the dumbest question ever asked her. I am new to this surround sound/speaker/HD/blu-ray era and have a question. I just recently purchase a new receiver (Sony STRDH500) and a new pair of Polk Audio Monitor 60 speakers. I had an older pair of JBL N24 bookshelf speakers that I had been using by themselves. I hooked up the Polk as the front speakers, and the JBL's as the surround sound speakers. I cannont get any sound out of the surround sound speakers! Is everything on TV in surround sound or only certain things? I did do the test through the receiver that sends a signal to each speaker to see if it working.....and that test was good. Thanks for the help.

Mike

Most if not all of the tv shows you will only have the front speakers playing .

[Deciazulado]

If you have things hooked up correctly (TV channels -> multichannel receiver -> speakers) you should be able to get surround sound from 2.0 stereo TV channels using some form of Dolby Pro Logic or equivalent on the receiver.

(If the TV channels are mono maybe you can get some fake stereo ambiance with some setting, but probably might be best to leave mono mostly untouched in the front)

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

If you have things hooked up correctly (TV channels -> multichannel receiver -> speakers) you should be able to get surround sound from 2.0 stereo TV channels using some form of Dolby Pro Logic or equivalent on the receiver.

(If the TV channels are mono maybe you can get some fake stereo ambiance with some setting, but probably might be best to leave mono mostly untouched in the front)

Or maybe PLIIx . Never thought to matrix A TV signal .

[emoxley]

Are you using cable, satellite, or OTA programming?
If cable or sat, go into the set top box and set audio output to "Dolby Digital". If over the air from antenna, and built-in tuner, you'll need to use the digital output (optical?) of the tv. Don't know about setting in tv to output digital.

The only channels that broadcast in 5.1 surround are HD channels, some premium movie channels (HBO, Starz, etc.), and some PPV channels. All the rest can use simulated surround (Dolby Pro Logic II or Pro Logic IIx). I use Pro Logic IIx and it sounds pretty good. Some commercials sound very good.

If using optical or digital coax output from cable, sat, or tuner, you may need to assign the digital input you use, to what you plugged into it. Receiver's manual will tell you how.
Good luck!

[Fors*]

Make sure the receiver has recognized and acknowledged the surround speakers since it is new. I am not sure if your receiver has a calibration set-up (check the manual) but if it does, run it. It will recognize all speakers and then with the advice given above and the correct listening mode, you should get all 5 channels working like they should. Good luck!

[wrigley]

Originally Posted by emoxley

Are you using cable, satellite, or OTA programming?
If cable or sat, go into the set top box and set audio output to "Dolby Digital". If over the air from antenna, and built-in tuner, you'll need to use the digital output (optical?) of the tv. Don't know about setting in tv to output digital.

The only channels that broadcast in 5.1 surround are HD channels, some premium movie channels (HBO, Starz, etc.), and some PPV channels. All the rest can use simulated surround (Dolby Pro Logic II or Pro Logic IIx). I use Pro Logic IIx and it sounds pretty good. Some commercials sound very good.

If using optical or digital coax output from cable, sat, or tuner, you may need to assign the digital input you use, to what you plugged into it. Receiver's manual will tell you how.
Good luck!

I have DrectTv HD inputed by HDMI to the receiver. I have a blu-ray player inputed by HDMI to the receiver also. This particular receiver only inputs video through HDMI. Both audio inputs are through an optical cable(s).

Mike