5.1 audio tracks playing as 7.1?

[trevrox]

I recently just upgraded from 5.1 to 7.1 (with two ceiling speakers for Atmos being added within the next few days).

Anyway, when I played a Blu-ray with a DTS 5.1 audio track, it was outputting in all 7 speakers without me changing the setting. Not that I mind, because I planned on doing so anyway, but I was under the impression if it wasn't mixed in 7.1 I would need to use Pro Logic IIx or something of the sort in order to get it?

My Blu-ray player is set to output unprocessed sound and I didn't mess with any settings on my receiver, it says that it is playing a DTS-HD 5.1 track yet I'm clearly getting sound out of all my speakers. It was my understanding that unless I tell it to, I will be getting the native audio track without any upmixing. So really I'm just curious how this is happening

[Opips3]

Originally Posted by trevrox

I recently just upgraded from 5.1 to 7.1 (with two ceiling speakers for Atmos being added within the next few days).

Anyway, when I played a Blu-ray with a DTS 5.1 audio track, it was outputting in all 7 speakers without me changing the setting. Not that I mind, because I planned on doing so anyway, but I was under the impression if it wasn't mixed in 7.1 I would need to use Pro Logic IIx or something of the sort in order to get it?

My Blu-ray player is set to output unprocessed sound and I didn't mess with any settings on my receiver, it says that it is playing a DTS-HD 5.1 track yet I'm clearly getting sound out of all my speakers. It was my understanding that unless I tell it to, I will be getting the native audio track without any upmixing. So really I'm just curious how this is happening

No way!

You can't 7.1 DTS HD Master will automatically on 5.1 audio. Only surround sounds like pro logic IIx or something...

If you use Atmos for only 5.1.2

Don't **** receiver is a boss

[trevrox]

It's definitely happening. I've cycled through every option - Auto Surround, Direct, Pure Direct, ALC... no matter what it's playing in all 7 speakers even on a 5.1 track. I find it very weird

[silentbob]

Make sure your sound is set to Bitstream HDMI and not Uncompressed sound. If it is set to uncompressed I think the receiver would see it more as a multi stereo like setup and not Discrete 5.1 or whatever format the movie is set too. Plus the added height speakers you might have a Pro-Logic, Dolby Surround or Neural:X added to your 5.1 track, but think going Bitstream will fix that.

[trevrox]

Originally Posted by silentbob

Make sure your sound is set to Bitstream HDMI and not Uncompressed sound. If it is set to uncompressed I think the receiver would see it more as a multi stereo like setup and not Discrete 5.1 or whatever format the movie is set too. Plus the added height speakers you might have a Pro-Logic, Dolby Surround or Neural:X added to your 5.1 track, but think going Bitstream will fix that.

The only four options I have on Blu-ray player are PCM, Bitstream (Unprocessed), Bitstream (Re-encoded DTS), Bitstream (Re-encoded Dolby D)

I've gone through the settings in my receiver and can't figure out any that would be causing this. I just threw in Iron Man which is a 5.1 TrueHD audio track and cycled through all the different audio formats on my receiver, even Pure Direct, which according to the manual "plays back unmodified sound from source"

I have a Pioneer Elite VSX-90

[BobbyMcGee]

Not familiar with Pioneer receivers but I own a Denon and it does something similar when set to "Auto" mode. As a result, I set it to "Direct" mode and when the audio track begins playing, I select "movie" from my remote control and select the correct audio mode for the disc playing. And, I check beforehand which audio mode is correct using this website as a reference.

But, yeah, not sure what the deal is with the up-mixing. I guess it is a nice feature to have on hand, but it is annoying that it tries to do it automatically instead of picking the correct audio mode.

[AnalogAperture]

If it's a Pioneer Receiver, there should be a button that says "SBch" if you select the SB mode from ON to Auto that'll fix it.

You're forcing 7.1 output by keeping the rear speakers on instead of setting them to Auto.

Happened to me before!

Keep your player on Bitstream (Uncompressed)

I have an Elite VSX-92TXH

Here's an Excerpt from my manual:

Using surround back channel processing
• Default setting: SBch ON
You can have the receiver automatically use 6.1 or 7.1
decoding for 6.1 encoded sources (for example, Dolby
Digital EX or DTS-ES), or you can choose to always use
6.1 or 7.1 decoding (for example, with 5.1 encoded
material). With 5.1 encoded sources, a surround back
channel will be generated, but the material may sound
better in the 5.1 format for which it was originally
encoded (in which case, you can simply switch surround
back channel processing off).
The table below indicates when you will hear the
surround back channel when playing various kinds of
sources (=Sound plays through surround back
speaker(s)).
• Press SBch (SBch PROCESSING) repeatedly to cycle
the surround back channel options.
Each press cycles through the options as follows:
• SBch ON – 6.1 or 7.1 decoding is always used (for
example, a surround back channel will be generated
for 5.1 encoded material)
• SBch AUTO – Automatically switches to 6.1 or 7.1
decoding for 6.1 encoded sources (for example,
Dolby Digital EX or DTS-ES)
• SBch OFF – Maximum 5.1 playback



hope this helps!

Btw, if you are having issues with DTS Tracks in 7.1 (colloquially known as the DTS bomb) please let me know, I have the means to assist with upgrading the firmware if needed as I am familiar with that ELITE series! I may be able to help you further!

[trevrox]

Originally Posted by AnalogAperture

If it's a Pioneer Receiver, there should be a button that says "SBch" if you select the SB mode from ON to Auto that'll fix it.

You're forcing 7.1 output by keeping the rear speakers on instead of setting them to Auto.

Happened to me before!

Keep your player on Bitstream (Uncompressed)

I have an Elite VSX-92TXH

Here's an Excerpt from my manual:

Using surround back channel processing
• Default setting: SBch ON
You can have the receiver automatically use 6.1 or 7.1
decoding for 6.1 encoded sources (for example, Dolby
Digital EX or DTS-ES), or you can choose to always use
6.1 or 7.1 decoding (for example, with 5.1 encoded
material). With 5.1 encoded sources, a surround back
channel will be generated, but the material may sound
better in the 5.1 format for which it was originally
encoded (in which case, you can simply switch surround
back channel processing off).
The table below indicates when you will hear the
surround back channel when playing various kinds of
sources (=Sound plays through surround back
speaker(s)).
• Press SBch (SBch PROCESSING) repeatedly to cycle
the surround back channel options.
Each press cycles through the options as follows:
• SBch ON – 6.1 or 7.1 decoding is always used (for
example, a surround back channel will be generated
for 5.1 encoded material)
• SBch AUTO – Automatically switches to 6.1 or 7.1
decoding for 6.1 encoded sources (for example,
Dolby Digital EX or DTS-ES)
• SBch OFF – Maximum 5.1 playback



hope this helps!

Btw, if you are having issues with DTS Tracks in 7.1 (colloquially known as the DTS bomb) please let me know, I have the means to assist with upgrading the firmware if needed as I am familiar with that ELITE series! I may be able to help you further!

Don't have this button on my remote. Looked all throughout the menus for it too. Nothing! Very strange

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by trevrox

Don't have this button on my remote. Looked all throughout the menus for it too. Nothing! Very strange

I have a different Pioneer receiver, but assuming it's the same:
Press RECEIVER on the remote
Press HOME MENU
Select SYSTEM SETUP
Select MANUAL SP SETUP
Select SPEAKER SYSTEM
Make the appropriate selection.

[i007spectre]

My Onkyo outputs 7.1 on 5.1 as well.

[trevrox]

One other question - I'm installing in ceiling speakers for Atmos. Will have it done in the next day or two. Just saw in my manual it says that it is not possible to produce sound simultaneously from the surround back speakers and the top middle speakers. What's the point of having 7 speakers and adding two more up top then?

[i007spectre]

With a 7.1 system capable of atmos you have to choose between 7.1 or 5.1.2 it cant do both at the same time. For that you would need a 9.1 or 11.1 system.