Question for you Audio Experts

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wolvinator

Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 9:30 AM

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My parents refuse to use surround sound and their tv speakers sound like crap during movies. Right now they are using one of my HD DVD players. Eventually they will use a Blu Ray. What should I set either type player to for audio to best match a Samsung stereo sound tv.

Now for me. I have a 6.1 optical surround sound system. What should I set my players to for best sound results. I do not have a True HD sound system.

tony1569

Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 9:47 AM

says... Hell has no fury like a man with a broken big screen.

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Well Wolvi, first off let me say that I never use TV speakers for sound so I can't really advise you on that. I would guess 2 ch LPCM. The reason why I say 2 ch LPCM is because IMO I have yet to hear TV audio come close to a receiver's output. Second, what model 6.1 system do you have? I could do some research on your model and give some suggestions.

EDIT: If you only have optical then no you won't be able to take advantage of HD-audio codecs as you mentioned so therefore the standard DD 5.1 core which is in the DTHD codec will be the best that you can do. Now if you had the 5.1 analogs that would be another story.

[Post edited by tony1569 on Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 10:07 AM]

wolvinator

Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 10:13 AM

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I don't know what model surround sound I have but it is an Onkyo. I'll add the model when I get home from work. I should mention that my parents player is hooked up by hdmi to the tv. Possibly it would fix their sound problem by using component with the regular red and white audio connections? They would then lose the 1080P picture though

[Post edited by wolvinator on Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 10:16 AM]

tony1569

Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 10:24 AM

says... Hell has no fury like a man with a broken big screen.

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Wolvi, check your receiver for 5.1 analog inputs (eventhough you know your equipment the best) you might have made the same mistake I made. I made this discovery with my SONY just when this HD-audio thing took off but by the time I realized that I didn't need an HDMI capable receiver I had already bought an ONKYO.

CONTINUE TO USE THE HDMI CABLE.

After going back and reading your original post, I have a question for you. Who has a problem with the sound you or them? When it comes to our parents and technology we have to take baby steps. They maybe happy with the way they are listening to the TV.

[Post edited by tony1569 on Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 10:33 AM]

mvckalel

Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 11:14 AM

says... I now own UP and Monsters, Inc. on blu-ray!!!

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Wolvinator, just a little heads up, we might be OK with switching inputs, having to plug and unplug things, and using up to four different remotes (

), but parents don't think that the improvement in A/V or the upgrade to blu-ray or HD DVD merits the hassle...

Unfortunately, what I end up doing is (since I haven't had the chance to order a cheap HDMI cable from monoprice) making sure that the HTIB is hooked up to my TV so that my dad has no problems watching SD DVDs...

Now for your first question, make sure that you always choose the 2.0 audio track, since most TVs are 2.0...

InvisibleBiker

Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 11:16 AM

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Depending on the age of your TV, you may be able to set your TV at a Virtual Surround Sound, and this would be through your TV speakers.

John J. Puccio

Oct 17, 2008 - CDT 1:32 PM

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wolvinator,

Most older TVs (over ten-fifteen years) usually had only a single speaker. In the past decade or so, widescreen TVs, especially high-definition TVs, got two speakers. Now, many widescreen HD televisions have multiple speakers built in for all kinds of audio input. (I haven't heard any that sounded good, but that's beside the point.)

Usually, it doesn't matter what the HDMI input is piping into the TV because the TV will downconvert it, anyway. But to be safe, and assuming your parents' TV has built-in two-channel stereo, I'd set the disc player to PCM two-channel downconverting.

John

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