7.1 channel surround

[jshannon]

This may be a dumb question, but I have a 7 channel surround system set up. My question is, if I am playing a 5 channel blu-ray disk, will only 5 speakers put out sound? My rear surround speakers do not put out any sound while playing movies. Is this just how it is, or am I doing something wrong?

[zak313]

If ur receiver is capable of matrixing than that works. If u have listening modes like PLIIX or NEO6 than ur good. Theres some other thx listening modes but im not sure what they are.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by jshannon

This may be a dumb question, but I have a 7 channel surround system set up. My question is, if I am playing a 5 channel blu-ray disk, will only 5 speakers put out sound? My rear surround speakers do not put out any sound while playing movies. Is this just how it is, or am I doing something wrong?

it will play whatever the movie is. if its 5.1 then it will be 5.1 UNLESS, you use a listening mode on your receiver to matrix the audio from 5.1 to 7.1

[Hoser59]

I have the Sony STR DG-720 set on PLIIX and it does a good job of matrixing 5.1 sources to 7.1. As was mentioned, if you haven't set the receiver to matrix then you will only hear what is recorded on the mix.

[raw nerve]

What happens if your playing truehd or dts hdma?

[solarrdadd]

if you've got a 7.1 system and your playing a 5.1 movie then of course you shouldn't have any sound coming from your rear 2 speakers. try playing a 7.1 movie and see if you have sound then. in most cases on blu 7.1 is going to be DTHD or DTS HD MA rent or buy (unless you already have it like i do) sleeping beauty and play the dragon encounter there is incredible 7.1 sound usage in this segment, trust me!

[Beta Man]

I prefer playing the intended 5.1 track rather than matrixing with the receiver to a 7.1, but that's up to you..... but to answer your question, "YES" it's normal

[GunZenBomZ]

Matrix all the way, 7.2 for the win!

[ckenisell]

Ok, so let me bring this thread back up. For those that are matixing 5.1 into 7.1...

What surround mode are you using to the 5.1 to 7.1 matrix? THX Surround EX? Here's the thing...since the PS3 outputs the lossless surround modes in uncompressed multichannel PCM, if the course is 5.1, will the pre-pro ONLY take the surround channels and matrix them into the rear surround speakers? In other words, will the L C R channels remain lossless/unaltered in the decoding all the way to the speakers? I don't want THX to re-eq the LCR channels. They should remain pure.

Also, does THX Surround EX take the two surround channels, matrix them into a mono channel and send that mono channel to each of the rear surround speakers?

[JJ]

I add EX to PCM/DD/DD True HD sources, and ES to DTS/DTS HD MA sources. No Pro Logic here.

[acen01947]

It is my experience, thus far (and still learning), that my receiver ( a Pioneer VSX-94TXH), when I engage the THX setting, will play as follows:

IF the source IS 7.1, then THX CINEMA will be in the display window

IF the source IS 6.1, then THX SURROUND EX will be displayed

IF the source IS 5.1, then THX SELECT 2 CINEMA will be displayed

Translation: 7.1 and 6.1 are native; hence NO matrixing

5.1 will be matrixed (meaning a contrived signal to the SB L/R)


Examples: Star Wars EP. 4;5;6 are 6.1 (THX SURROUND EX)

Star Wars EP. 1;2;3 are 5.1 (THX SELECT 2 CINEMA)

any movie with 7.1 native will be THX CINEMA

If you want the original audio, and your receiver can matrix a signal,
do not engage it, just enjoy the audio as is (no matter what flavor it is)