Best 7.1 Audio setting - Blu-ray Forum

CLiPPeR · 01-15-2011, 05:14 PM

Hi all,

Just set up my first 7.1 system and just wondering your opinios on the best audio settings. Neo6 , Dolby Ex ,prologic II movie i not sure which option is best. Notice also not many blu-rays support 7.1 atm !

sptrout · 01-15-2011, 05:40 PM

There is no "best" in fact many folks (including me) do not use any of them. You will get replies from folks that like one mode or another(s), but it really comes down to you trying the different modes to see if you find one that you like. You may not, or you may.

You are correct that there are few real 7.1 movies; for a good reason, movies for theatres are mixed for 5.1 so to have a 7.1 movie for home the soundtrack has to be remixed. Not much incentive for any producer to spend the money to do that IMO in most cases. However, I have read that Dolby is working with theaters to help them upgrade their sound systems to 7.1. When that process is closer to complete then you will start seeing more native 7.1 Blu-ray movies IMO.

lojack1976 · 01-15-2011, 06:13 PM

Well, it really depends on the source. For Blu-rays I always want a Direct or Straight mode because I don't want it tampered with. I want to hear it just as it was meant to be. Some receivers won't even let you apply a DSP to lossless anyway.

As for music I personally like the PLIIx music mode a lot. That's what I used with my Onkyo and Pioneer receivers, but my Yammy has a 7-channel stereo mode which I like more than PLIIx on this receiver. For movies that I've downloaded I use the corresponding DSP. If the movie has DTS then I use Neo6 and I use PLIIx for movies with Dolby.

You can always play around with things to see you prefer most. Also, there are actually quite a few 7.1 movies now and they continuing to come. Like it was already stated Dolby is working with theaters to push the format more. Lots of DTS 7.1 movies have been coming for some time now. I own a number of 7.1 movies myself.

BIslander · 01-15-2011, 07:06 PM

I'd recommend using PLIIx. 5.1 soundtracks use imaging to create rear channel effects. Of course, effects that are imaged only work well for people seated in the sweet spot. DSPs that expand 5.1 to 7.1 take those same effects and anchor them in the rear speakers, which works for everyone in the room.

I suggest PLIIx because it produces stereo rear channels. DTS Neo:6, DD-EX, and DTS-ES produce a mono rear channel that gets played in both speakers.

But, try them all and use whatever sounds best to you.

turboLAZER · 01-15-2011, 08:39 PM

i personally prefer pro-logic IIx movie mode for TV, movies, and video games. For concerts and music i prefer leaving the surround matrix modes turned off.

raygendreau · 01-15-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLiPPeR

Hi all,

Just set up my first 7.1 system and just wondering your opinios on the best audio settings. Neo6 , Dolby Ex ,prologic II movie i not sure which option is best. Notice also not many blu-rays support 7.1 atm !

There are 194 7.1 lossless audio BDs:

http://www.blu-raystats.com/Stats/St...1&pSize=50&p=1

For 5.1 releases I use PLIIx

CLiPPeR · 01-15-2011, 09:11 PM

Thanks for all your help after a little playing i to like PLIIx Movie and Music and i shall look at the Blu-Rays again seem to be more than i first thought.....thanks again

Lee

frogmort · 01-15-2011, 10:08 PM

I use PLIIX on all movies. If the disc is in 7.1, it doesn't do anything to the sound, so I just always leave it on.

raygendreau · 01-15-2011, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogmort

I use PLIIX on all movies. If the disc is in 7.1, it doesn't do anything to the sound, so I just always leave it on.

Do you have A.F.D. set to Auto when playing a 7.1 disc?

See pg 61 and 62 of your manual:http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchf...158STDH800.PDF

If you have A.F.D. set to Enhanced and can hear no difference from your surround and surround back speakers with a 7.1 disc when compared to the sound when A.F.D. is set to Auto then it doesn't matter.

I prefer to listen to 7.1 without PLIIx processing. The processing is redundant with a 7.1 source.

gotmule · 01-16-2011, 12:21 PM

If you are watching a DTS Master Audio blu ray and your receiver is displaying Dolby Pro logic IIx, there is a good chance that your player is not set up correctly because your receiver is only seeing a stereo signal. You need to go in and make sure that your secondary audio track is turned off so that the player will output the DTS MA track. The receiver then should display something like DTSMA + NEO6 if you are matrixing a rear center from a 5.1 DTS MA track. If you are watching a Dolby True HD bluray, it should say something like Dolby True HD + PLIIx

You should not see DTS MA + Pro Logic IIx because Pro Logic is a Dolby codec just like Neo 6 is a DTS codec. Both accomplish similar tasks as they both grab any information that is common to both left surround and right surround and create a rear center channel. Neo 6 is a mono signal sent to your 6th and 7th channel whereas PLIIx sends seperate info to the 6th and 7the channel.

I always matrix a rear center from 5.1 tracks, but the key is to make sure your channel levels are set right. I have heard a couple of systems where the rear center will drown out the side surrounds, instead of all working together.

01-15-2011, 05:14 PM	#1
CLiPPeR Junior Member Member since:Dec 2010 Blu-ray collection:21	Best 7.1 Audio setting Hi all, Just set up my first 7.1 system and just wondering your opinios on the best audio settings. Neo6 , Dolby Ex ,prologic II movie i not sure which option is best. Notice also not many blu-rays support 7.1 atm !

01-15-2011, 06:13 PM	#3
lojack1976 Blu-ray Guru Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Aug 2008 Location:7 Cities, VA Home Theater Gallery:62 Blu-ray collection:203	Well, it really depends on the source. For Blu-rays I always want a Direct or Straight mode because I don't want it tampered with. I want to hear it just as it was meant to be. Some receivers won't even let you apply a DSP to lossless anyway. As for music I personally like the PLIIx music mode a lot. That's what I used with my Onkyo and Pioneer receivers, but my Yammy has a 7-channel stereo mode which I like more than PLIIx on this receiver. For movies that I've downloaded I use the corresponding DSP. If the movie has DTS then I use Neo6 and I use PLIIx for movies with Dolby. You can always play around with things to see you prefer most. Also, there are actually quite a few 7.1 movies now and they continuing to come. Like it was already stated Dolby is working with theaters to push the format more. Lots of DTS 7.1 movies have been coming for some time now. I own a number of 7.1 movies myself. Last edited by lojack1976; 01-15-2011 at 06:16 PM.

01-15-2011, 09:11 PM	#7
CLiPPeR Junior Member Member since:Dec 2010 Blu-ray collection:21	Thanks Thanks for all your help after a little playing i to like PLIIx Movie and Music and i shall look at the Blu-Rays again seem to be more than i first thought.....thanks again Lee

01-15-2011, 05:40 PM	#2
sptrout Active Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Spring, TX	There is no "best" in fact many folks (including me) do not use any of them. You will get replies from folks that like one mode or another(s), but it really comes down to you trying the different modes to see if you find one that you like. You may not, or you may. You are correct that there are few real 7.1 movies; for a good reason, movies for theatres are mixed for 5.1 so to have a 7.1 movie for home the soundtrack has to be remixed. Not much incentive for any producer to spend the money to do that IMO in most cases. However, I have read that Dolby is working with theaters to help them upgrade their sound systems to 7.1. When that process is closer to complete then you will start seeing more native 7.1 Blu-ray movies IMO.

01-15-2011, 07:06 PM	#4
BIslander Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Bainbridge Island, WA	I'd recommend using PLIIx. 5.1 soundtracks use imaging to create rear channel effects. Of course, effects that are imaged only work well for people seated in the sweet spot. DSPs that expand 5.1 to 7.1 take those same effects and anchor them in the rear speakers, which works for everyone in the room. I suggest PLIIx because it produces stereo rear channels. DTS Neo:6, DD-EX, and DTS-ES produce a mono rear channel that gets played in both speakers. But, try them all and use whatever sounds best to you.

01-15-2011, 08:39 PM	#5
turboLAZER Active Member Member since:May 2007 Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:63	i personally prefer pro-logic IIx movie mode for TV, movies, and video games. For concerts and music i prefer leaving the surround matrix modes turned off.

01-15-2011, 10:08 PM	#8
frogmort Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Mar 2010 Location:Frogmorton Blu-ray collection:- Blu-ray reviews:27	I use PLIIX on all movies. If the disc is in 7.1, it doesn't do anything to the sound, so I just always leave it on.

01-16-2011, 12:21 PM	#10
gotmule Power Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Feb 2010 Location:Lewes, Delaware Home Theater Gallery:1 Blu-ray reviews:17	If you are watching a DTS Master Audio blu ray and your receiver is displaying Dolby Pro logic IIx, there is a good chance that your player is not set up correctly because your receiver is only seeing a stereo signal. You need to go in and make sure that your secondary audio track is turned off so that the player will output the DTS MA track. The receiver then should display something like DTSMA + NEO6 if you are matrixing a rear center from a 5.1 DTS MA track. If you are watching a Dolby True HD bluray, it should say something like Dolby True HD + PLIIx You should not see DTS MA + Pro Logic IIx because Pro Logic is a Dolby codec just like Neo 6 is a DTS codec. Both accomplish similar tasks as they both grab any information that is common to both left surround and right surround and create a rear center channel. Neo 6 is a mono signal sent to your 6th and 7th channel whereas PLIIx sends seperate info to the 6th and 7the channel. I always matrix a rear center from 5.1 tracks, but the key is to make sure your channel levels are set right. I have heard a couple of systems where the rear center will drown out the side surrounds, instead of all working together.

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