Surround modes
DTS Digital Surround
DTS Digital Surround(also called simply DTS) is a multi-channel digital signal format which can handle higher data rates than Dolby Digital. Although both
Dolby Digital and DTS are 5.1 channel formats, discs bearing the “ 
” are generally thought to provide better sound quality due to
the lower audio compression required.
It also provides wide dynamic range and separation, resulting in magnificent sound.
DTS - ES Extended Surround™ ( 
)
This is a new multi channel digital signal format which greatly improves the 360- degree surround impression and space expression thanks to further expanded surround signals, offering high compatibility with the conventional DTS format. In addition to the 5.1 channels, DTS-ES Extended Surround also offers the surround back (sometimes also referred to as “surround center”) channel for surround playback with a total of 6.1 channels. DTS-ES Extended Surround includes two signal formats with different surround signal recording methods as follows:
DTS-ES™ Discrete 6.1
Because the signals for 6.1 channels (including the surround back channel) are fully independent, it is possible to achieve a sense that the acoustic image are moving about freely among the background sounds surrounding the listener from 360 degrees.
Though maximum performance is achieved when sound tracks recorded with this system are played using a DTS -ES decoder, when played with a conventional DTS decoder, the surround back channel signals are automatically downmixed to the surround left and surround right channels so that none of the signal components are lost.
DTS - ES™ Matrix 6.1
With this format, the additional surround back channel signals undergo matrix encoding and are input to the surround left and surround right channels beforehand. During playback, they are decoded to the surround left, surround right and surround back channels. Because the bit stream format is 100% compatible with conventional DTS signals, the effect of the DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 format can be achieved even with DTS 5.1- channel signal sources. Of course, it is possible to play DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 - channel signal sources with a DTS 5.1 - channel decoder.
When DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 or Matrix 6.1 sources are decoded with a DTS - ES decoder, the format is automatically detected upon decoding and the optimum surround mode is selected.
However, some DTS - ES Matrix 6.1 sources may be detected as DTS sources. In this case, the DTS - ES Matrix mode must be selected manually to play these sources.
In DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 or DTS -ES Matrix 6.1 sources, the surround back channel is monaural, but can be played through a single(in 6.1 mode) or two surround back speakers(in 7.1 mode) depending on the surround back speaker setting. (For details, refer to “SETTING THE SPEAKER SETUP” on page 38.)
DTS Neo : 6™ surround
This mode applies conventional 2-channel signals such as digital PCM or analog stereo signals to the high precision digital matrix decoder used for DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 to achieve 6.1-channel surround playback. DTS Neo : 6 surround includes two modes for selecting the optimum decoding for the signal source.
DTS Neo : 6 Movie
This mode is optimum for playing movies. Decoding is performed with emphasis on separation performance to achieve the same atmosphere with 2-channel sources as with 6.1-channel sources.
DTS Neo : 6 Music
This mode is suited mainly for playing music. The front left and front right signals bypass the decoder and are played directly so there is no loss of sound quality, and the effect of the surround signals from the center, surround left, surround right and surround back channels adds a natural sense of expansion to the sound field.
“DTS”, “DTS-ES Extended Surround” and “Neo : 6” are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems,Inc.
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is the multi- channel digital signal format developed by
Dolby Laboratories. Discs bearing the “ 
DOLBY ” includes the
D I G I T A L
recording of up to 5.1 channels of digital signals, which can reproduce much better sound quality, spatial expansion and dynamic range characteristics than the previous Dolby Surround effect.
Dolby Pro Logic
Dolby Pro Logic is a specially encoded two channel surround format which consists of four channels ( front left, center, front right and
surround). Sources bearing the “ 
” provide the theater - like surround sound.
The surround channel is monaural, but is played through both surround speakers.
Dolby Pro Logic II surround
This mode applies conventional 2- channel signals such as digital PCM or analog stereo signals as well as Dolby Surround signals, etc. to surround processing to offer improvements over conventional Dolby Pro Logic circuits. Dolby Pro Logic II surround includes two modes as follows:
Dolby Pro Logic II MOVIE
When enjoying movies, this mode allows you to further enhance the cinematic quality by adding processing that emphasizes the sounds of the action special effects.
Dolby Pro Logic II MUSIC
When listening to music, this mode allows you to further enhance the sound quality by adding processing that emphasizes the musical effects.
Dolby Virtual
This mode employs sophisticated digital processing to create the illusion of “phantom” speakers, this mode allows you to experience surround sound effects from Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround or 2-channel (recorded in digital PCM or analog stereo) sources, through just a single pair of front speakers.
Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.
“Dolby”, “Pro Logic”, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
MPEG Multichannel
This mode is a surround system which faithfully reproduces the ambience and dynamics of movie soundtracks and music alike. Though the number of audio
channels are same as Dolby Digital, discs bearing the “ 
” provides much better at locating individual sounds to the correct and stable position in the sound stage.
Extra Surround 6.1/7.1
This mode extracts the surround back (sometimes also referred to as “surround center”) signals from the surround left and surround right signals and reproduce it as well as the original multichannel signals during playback of multi-channel program sources recorded in DTS, Dolby Digital, etc.
