5.1 audio on 7.1 system

[lancerev08]

Hi.

I'm new to all high tech audio and the Onkyo 6200 is my first home theater system.

Just wondering if it is normal when playing lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 movies, that the 2 rear speakers have no sound coming out.

Some discussion with other people, we all thought the side speakers would be off and the rear would be on.

Maybe it just depends on the make/model? Onkyo just does it this way (rear off)?

Or is that how all 7.1 systems work?

Thanks!

[un4gvn94538]

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/setup/...ide/index.html

check out the diff between 5.1 and 7.1. notice that the speakers are numbered in the pics so you can see where theyre placed

[lancerev08]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/setup/...ide/index.html

check out the diff between 5.1 and 7.1. notice that the speakers are numbered in the pics so you can see where theyre placed

Ah okay. So in a 5.1 setup, the speakers are kind of on the side already (instead of directly in the back). A 100/110 degree tilt vs. on the 7.1 setup which are at 100/90.

A noobish misconception that 5.1 has "rear" speakers when they are more side/rear/surround.

Thanks!

[tilallr1]

I believe you should be able to Matrix the Surrounds together. Basically streaming sound to your rears from your left and right surrounds. Personally, I find this sound better. But by default the receiver will not Matrix out to the rears. You must set your receiver to a Matrix mode. On my Onkyo 705 it would be PLIIx (Prologic IIx) Movie mode. I assume you would have something similar and it should be written in the manual in more detail.

Although sound purists hate the idea of Matrixing. So I might get backlash for this comment.

[lancerev08]

Originally Posted by tilallr1

I believe you should be able to Matrix the Surrounds together. Basically streaming sound to your rears from your left and right surrounds. Personally, I find this sound better. But by default the receiver will not Matrix out to the rears. You must set your receiver to a Matrix mode. On my Onkyo 705 it would be PLIIx (Prologic IIx) Movie mode. I assume you would have something similar and it should be written in the manual in more detail.

Although sound purists hate the idea of Matrixing. So I might get backlash for this comment.

haha. Great suggestion though! Yes, I have that PLIIx mode. I tried that out. I also tried out the Dolby EX. So many settings!

I guess it does come down to what everyone has said: "what do you personally like?" and just go with that setting.

[Sammy]

Mine's in PLIIex mode for 7.1 for any input, even stereo. I am not pure.

[progers13]

Originally Posted by tilallr1

I believe you should be able to Matrix the Surrounds together. Basically streaming sound to your rears from your left and right surrounds. Personally, I find this sound better. But by default the receiver will not Matrix out to the rears. You must set your receiver to a Matrix mode. On my Onkyo 705 it would be PLIIx (Prologic IIx) Movie mode. I assume you would have something similar and it should be written in the manual in more detail.

Although sound purists hate the idea of Matrixing. So I might get backlash for this comment.

Originally Posted by lancerev08

haha. Great suggestion though! Yes, I have that PLIIx mode. I tried that out. I also tried out the Dolby EX. So many settings!

I guess it does come down to what everyone has said: "what do you personally like?" and just go with that setting.

tilallr1 is right in that many purists don't like to matrix the sound. However, I found that it adds more presence to my setup so I use the Pro Logic IIx setting. Movies that are presented in 7.1 format will play AFD, and the 5.1 movies will play through all of my speakers. Give it a shot and see if you like it. What really matters is what sounds good to you.

[Rustmonkey]

I've actually set up my soundstage in one of the suggested DTS arrangements and it works quite well without the need to matrix because my side speakers are behind me and slightly angled toward the listening position. So you might give that a try and see what you think

FL......C......FR

......SEAT.......

SL.............SR
....RL....RR.....

[lancerev08]

Originally Posted by Rustmonkey

I've actually set up my soundstage in one of the suggested DTS arrangements and it works quite well without the need to matrix because my side speakers are behind me and slightly angled toward the listening position. So you might give that a try and see what you think

FL......C......FR

......SEAT.......

SL.............SR
....RL....RR.....

Ah yes. So even with movies that are 5.1 and RL and RR are off, you don't really miss it cuz SL and SR have you covered?

I'm still missing with all the positions.. I bought a bunch of ceiling mounts so the sound will change again when they go up there.

[HeManster03]

this topic reminds me of something ive wondered before....

I have an Onkyo 606 and have 7.1....if i want to watch a movie w/ 5.1 dtshdma/trudehd , how can I get that to play through all 7 speakers with the same quality, or am I just SOL on that? Not super important, but I may take down 2 speakers to save space and just curious.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by HeManster03

this topic reminds me of something ive wondered before....

I have an Onkyo 606 and have 7.1....if i want to watch a movie w/ 5.1 dtshdma/trudehd , how can I get that to play through all 7 speakers with the same quality, or am I just SOL on that? Not super important, but I may take down 2 speakers to save space and just curious.

Use Dolby PLIIx to matrix to all 7 speakers.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Use Dolby PLIIx to matrix to all 7 speakers.

+1 and make sure your rear surround speakers are recognized by the receiver and considerd "active". I had the 605, but I forget if the receiver setting for the rear surrounds needs to be considered active or not.

[brettallica]

I'm a PLIIx user here, and I love it. I use it for everything.

[sejanus]

There are some 5.1 tracks that sound incredible when played as 7.1 via PLIIx - one example is the roy orbison concert bluray.