Question about a dvd player and surround sound + sub?

[DaiShan]

I have an onkyo HT in a box (works well for my apartment size) but I decided a while ago that the provided sub was much too weak, so I bought a jbl 12" powered sub, and I was using this system off my breakout box from my computer's hercules GTXP, I could run sound to the receiver on the HT in a box for the 5 speakers and also on the sub out to the sub via component, which worked well, the bass shook the walls, and the sound was clear coming from the other speakers, well I moved into an apartment with some friends and we set up the system in the living room connected to the dvd/vcr player (samsung dvd v4600) The problem is, the player has outputs on the back in 2 sets, one set is for dvd/vcr and the other set is for dvd only, during movies everything sounds great, I can play the sub and speakers in conjunction no problems, the problem comes into play however when I want to play music via the inputs on the dvd player, in order to select the proper input I have to switch to vcr mode then select the L2 input, well since this is in vcr mode I can't use the second set of outputs which is labeled dvd only, so I have to choose between the speakers or the sub. Does anyone have any idea how I can still play music going into the L2 input but so that it will play on all of the outputs?

 

[tiap]

Your dvd movies are probably putting out 5.1. Try a music dvd (video) and test it. It will say on the dvd if it puts out 5.1. If you want to play a music cd that is just stereo, then the onkyo should have a 5.1 simulation mode called something like true surround sound that will fake the 5.1. Your hercules is a great little unit that can go up to 7.1. Maybe watch and listen through the computer again.

 

[DaiShan]

No, I mean everything plays fine when its in the dvd slot, but the player has rca inputs where I plug my 40gb jukebox into, was hoping to be able to play my music from mp3's and have it go through the speakers and the sub, a cd in the dvd drive plays fine, but mp3's don't play (even though the player is mp3 capable iirc) neither do mp3's on dvd's Yeah I really like the GTXP, although I'll probably be upgrading soon, the only problem is its hooked up to my primary computer which is in my bedroom and the speakers are all in the living room. Thanks for the help though

 

[tiap]

Google for a possible firmware upgrade hack for your onkyo. Some players have them available. There are also some audio websites that really get into this stuff. Ask there. It can get really complicated in a hurry.

 

[Matt155]

If you hook up analog connections like your jukebox via rca inputs, then you have to hook up the rca outputs from the dvd player to your receiver. I am assuming you only have digital connection hooked up from your dvd player to your receiver now.

 

[DaiShan]

no, the digital connection can only be used when the dvd portion of the player is in use, hence useless to me with my mp3 player, I have rca's running to my 5.1's (which has no outputs) and rcas running to my sub, I can use a digital cable for the sub, but its the same effect, the extra rca out and the digitals are both on the dvd only side of the player.