Need some help with 5.1/4.1 decodeing

[Sniper82]

Hey I am just now getting into DVDs and need some help/info. I dont have a set top player just a Creative Encore 6x DVD-Rom with DXR3. Right now I have a set of Altec ACS56's which I maybe wrong but I think is 4.1s. I Plan on upgrading to 5.1s soon but what do you all recommend? I was thinking DTT2500s.

Anyway do I need a certain sound card to get 4.1/5.1 sound like the newer 5.1 sound blaster lives? Also how would I go about hooking a 4.1/5.1 speaker system up and what settings do I need to use in DXR3 and stuff?

 

[mikef208]

I don't know the answer to all your questions, but I will do what I can. First if you want 5.1 speakers i think you need a 5.1 card such as a SB Live 5.1. Secondly the best speakers ultimatley depend on what you like. Go listen to the speakers themselves don't go with what other people like, cause you may not like the same things. But i will give you my 2 cents anyway. If you are still think 4.1 then the klipsch pro media 2.4's are like the coolest sound set of speakers i have ever heard. If you are looking at 5.1 then how much you are willing to spend really factors in. If money is no obeject i would recommend setting up a home theater system from the klipsch website. If you have a slightly limited fund. I really like the Videologic Digitheater DTS, they are the best set of speakers i think i have ever heard( for under 1000.00 dollars anyhow) they run about 600.00. I don't know what to suggest if you can't afford those, cause I haven't really researched anything other than that. Hope it helps.

 

[Sniper82]

k thanks for the info

anyone know how to hook 4.1s up? I aint sure if my Altecs are hooked up right. Do I need to set my SQ2500 to quad speakers when in DVDs?

 

[Sniper82]

anyone?

 

[Comp10]

You do not need to have a 5.1 soundcard to get Dolby Digital/DTS from your computer assuming the speaker system you buy has a built in Dobly Digital decoder, all you need is a soundcard with a digital output. First thing you need to do is connect the Digital out from either your soundcard if your using a software DVD decoder (which is what I would suggest if you have a CPU over 400mhz) or connect the digital out from the DXR3 board into the speaker systems digital input. Then all you need to do is enable the Dolby Digital output from either the software decoder or your DXR3 software.

 

[Shockwave]

I use the DTT2500, very sweet! They come with a DD 5.1 decoder box, so you dont need a card which supports it. Anyways, the directions are great and straighforward, and like I said, I think they sound very nice! I do wish they had a little better bass, but (for the low price of 300 or something) you can buy an 8" or 10" subwoofer. Make sure you try before you buy, everyone has different ears......

 

[GustySoul]

Hey ^Sniper^

I used to have a RealMagic Hollywood+ (Pretty much the exact same thing as Dxr3) and I used it with
the Creative / Cambridge Soundworks DTT2500s.

Comp10 is correct. If you have a speaker system with a built in Dolby Digital 5.1 Decoder and
a coaxial SPDIF input, you can plug the SPDIF output from the Dxr3 directly into the speakers.

(This assumes that you are using the Creative DVD Player that makes use of the Dxr3.)

You actually don't even need a soundcard at all for this case since the AC-3 audio stream
is just pulled from the DVD and passed to the Dxr3 card, which then sends the digital stream
right out to the speakers for decoding - no sound card involved.

If your going the 4.1 you just need any old soundcard that has either a digital output (like SPDIF),
or just 2 minijacks (1 jack for both front speakers and the second for both rear speakers). Then just
set the setting in your DVD or soundcard software for four speakers. This type of setup is often referred
to as Dolby Pro Logic. The audio is sent to the four speakers and low frequency bass effects are automatically
sent to the subwoofer.

I'm 95% sure about all this but if anyone knows I'm wrong please correct me.

Oh yeah - I think the DTT2500s are great, but like everyone says, listen to them first. And remember that the
DTT2500s have just been replaced with the newer DTT3500s that have a slightly more powerful center speaker and
sub-woofer along with some other fancy stuff. (The 3500s have a special Digital DIN input for use with the Creative SB Live!
5.1 series. The 2500 has a similar Digital DIN input, but the DIN has less pins, being designed for use with
the non 5.1 SB Live! cards.


Hope that helps,
obispo21

 

[GustySoul]

Wait a miunte, I was checking it out - I'm not sure about the 4.1 speakers being referred to as Dolby Pro-Logic. I'm pretty sure Dolby Pro-Logic is 4.1 channels, but they are a
discrete left, discrete right, discrete center, and a single discrete channel for both left and right sattelites (along with the sub). I think 4.1 computer setups are different as they have no center but 2 discrete sattelites.

Anyways, you still set up everything the same way.

obispo21

 

[Zucchini]

Dolby prologic is not digital. Its a center channel and a mono very low quality rear channel.

4.1 on computers is a downmix of dolby digital 5.1. The only change is that the center channel is mixed into the left and right front channels. The reason there is 4.1 is that in computing enviroments the front speakers are not far enough apart to justify a center speaker.

and as another poster has said, no 5.1 soundcards are needed for dvd 4.1 or 5.1 playback.. its pretty much a gimmic at this point. Most 5.1 speakers come with decoders meaning you only need the raw output from the soundcard. I'm currently using a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz that has 5.1 output. I don't use it, instead i run my promedia's 4.1 I used to have the dtt2500's, although they are good speakers, they can't touch the raw power/clarity of the klipsch.

Very important for movies. The klipsch sub has 2 6.5" woofers, and the system is 400watts +THX Excellent for movies.. in saving private ryan the tanks just shake your room hehe.

 

[Sniper82]

what does 5.1 decodeing really do over 4.1? I mean does stuff just seem louder when using 5.1 or can you hear alot mor effects with 5.1? Whats the difference really?

 

[Zucchini]

Its for large living room home theaters with speakers far apart enough to require a center speaker for voices etc