Surround Sound Config Questions

[Mad4Sax2]

I just got a set of Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 speakers today and had a few questions about how to maximize sound quality on a 5.1 system for various activities. I use an Audigy 2 ZS.

1) What settings on the Creative Graphic Equalizer do people find most effective for DVD playback, gaming, and music (mostly rock & jazz for me)? Or do you turn it off for such activities? What about the EAX Advanced EQ Effect?

2) Is using both the Windows Media Player 10/Intervideo WinDVD 7 Graphic Equalizers and the Creative Graphic Equalizer overkill?

2) If I am watching a DVD encoded in Dolby Digital 5.1, will using the Dolby Pro Logic 2 Movie Mode in Intervideo WinDVD 7 improve sound or is the Pro Logic 2 mode unnecessary for Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio?

3) Does running a DVD in Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS ES 5.1 produce better sound quality?

Thanks for any answers.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

The equalizer would be best used to make up for deficienices in the speakers. If you want to put a lot of effort into it, you could get an SPL meter and run frequency sweeps to map out the response and then change the equalizer accoringly.

Or you could just adjust it until you like it.

You should probably just stick to one equalizer. If you use several, they're all doing to be changing and distorting each others output even more.

Pro Logic II is faking surround sound from a stereo source. If you have real Dolby Digital output available, use that.

You should use DD or DTS for the output from DVDs. Which one is better depends on the mixing quality, but DTS is usually the better bet.
http://www.spannerworks.net/reference/10_1a.asp