Question about 5.1

I got the Love DVD but I am not quite sure about 5.1. I have an older
Kenwood receiver that DOES have connections for center speaker,
surround speakers, powererd subwoofer, and 2 more sets of speakers. It
has the features of :

Dolby Pro Logic & Dolby 3 Stereo
DSP Logic & DSP Presence
SRS 3D Stereo

Rich Clark...

These are not systems that can render true 5.1 digital surround, such as is
contained on "Love." There are "surround" receivers that have connections
for all these speakers, but can only process encoded analog surround systems
(like the ones you list), not discrete digital multichannel. But see the
final paragraph below.

Simply put, if I hook up a surround sound system to all of these
inputs, does that automatically give me the 5.1 sound?

Rich Clark...

Please keep in mind the difference between an input (signal goes in to the
unit) and an output (such as speaker connections, where signal goes out of
the unit).

A digital audio receiver would normally say something about Dolby Digital
(and often DTS), and probably list something like "built-in digital surround
decoder" among its features.

It sounds to me like your receiver may not be a digital 5.1 unit - a unit
with its own Dolby Digital/DTS decoders. If it lacks either optical or
coaxial digital audio inputs, then it's not. If it does have digital audio
inputs, then it is, and by connecting the five speakers and subwoofer to the
speaker and subwoofer outputs, and a DVD player to one of the digital
inputs, you will be able to hear 5.1 channel sound from any DVD that has it.

Some older surround receivers were sold as "Dolby Digital Ready." They
lacked internal decoders, but had inputs labeled "5.1 channel" or
"multichannel." This would be a set of six RCA jacks labeled left, right,
center, left-surround, right-surround, and subwoofer or LFE; plus there
would be a way to select the 5.1 inputs on the front panel. With this, you
can connect a DVD player that has its own built in decoders. You can
identify such a player by the presence of a set of six RCA jacks on the rear
panel, labeled as above. Some such players also include the ability to play
high-resolution DVD-Audio and/or SACD, but most don't. So if you have a "DD

mdspiro...

I have a brand new Polaroid DMR 2001G DVD Recorder that has the 6 RCA
jacks on the rear panel, and an on-screen option of outputing either
"2-channel" or "5.1" analog audio. I'm assuming by this that it has a
built-in 5.1 decorder. Are you saying that if I hook those 6 outputs
up to an amp that simply powers 6 speakers, it still may not be able to
play the full 5.1 mix of "LOVE"?

whosbest54...

If it has a built in decoder and you hook it up as you describe, then you
should be able to hear the 5.1 mix.

Based on the specs found here, it does have a 5.1 analog out, but doesn't seem
to support DVD-A or SACD. The specs say nothing about a built in decoder, but
to support a 5.1 out, one can assume it has one. Perhaps the 5.1 out is
for a digital TV tuner only and not the DVD player. Check the manual.

Alternatively, you can hook up the digital audio out to a receiver that has a
decoder and hear the 5.1 mix that way. That's what most folks do.

Rich Clark...

No, I would say that it will, by virtue of its ability to decode the Dolby
Digital multichannel audio track on the DVD-Video layer of the disc. You
would not need a receiver with its own decoder, although you would still
need five speakers, a subwoofer, and six channels of amplification.

The unit probably does not have the ability of decoding the high-resolution
multichannel audio on the DVD-Audio layer of the disc.

mdspiro...

So ... is the 5.1 mix on "LOVE" available on the "DVD-Video layer of
the disc" or only on the "DVD-Audio" layer? In other words, will my
Polaroid 2001DMR 2001G be able to reveal the discreet 5.1 channels, or
would I still need an additional decoder on an external receiver?

rdclark2...

There is 5.1-channel audio on both layers. On the DVD-V layer it is
Dolby Digital and DTS (your choice), both of which are very compressed
lossy formats, but still sound very good. Your unit would appear to be
capable of decoding one or both of these formats.

On the DVD-A layer it is high-resolution DVD-Audio, which (along with
SACD) is the highest of high-fidelity formats. Your unit probably can't
even see this layer of the disc.

Rich Clark...

So what? Experts have been debating the fidelity of the two formats since
their introductions, and while no definitive conclusions have been reached,
there is no evidence that sample size or sampling rate alone determine
accuracy of reproduction.

whosbest54...

From the Beatles web site:

"The 5.1 disc is a DVD-Audio/DVD-Video hybrid. The audio is presented in
high-resolution 96/24 5.1 surround on the DVD-Audio part of the disc. The
DVD-Video part carries 5.1 surround in DTS and Dolby Digital as well as a PCM
stereo mix. This DVD album is designed to be played on DVD video equipment but
will carry no video component."

You should be able to hear the 5.1 mix in DTS or DD from the video part if your
player doesn't support DVD-A. If it supports DVD-A, then you could hear the
high res 5.1 mix, provided you hooked up the analog 5.1 outs to separate
channels of amplification and have the proper speaker setup.

See my previous post to this thread about your player and how to hook it up.

D'grooter...

Both

"Special Limited CD / DVD Edition contains 78 minutes of music on the
CD, with the entire album on DVD Audio, clocking in 81 minutes. The 5.1 disc
is a DVD-Audio/DVD-Video hybrid. The audio is presented in high-resolution
96/24 5.1 surround on the DVD-Audio part of the disc. The DVD-Video part
carries 5.1 surround in DTS and Dolby Digital as well as a PCM stereo mix.
This DVD album is designed to be played on DVD video equipment and carries
no video component."

Ready" receiver *and* a DVD player with its own decoders, you can add the
necessary speakers and get 5.1 sound.

I know it sounds silly but I'm not a technical person when it comes to
this.

Thanks for any help!