Sunfire IV manual Surround Modes for Multi-Channel Sources, Dts Es

CHAPTER 5

Surround Modes for Multi-Channel Sources

For multi-channel sources, the TGIV will automatically select the cor- rect mode from one of the following:

DOLBY DIGITAL

DOLBY DIGITAL EX

DTS

DTS-ES MATRIX

DTS-ES DISCRETE

Dolby Digital and DTS are “5.1” surround systems with fi ve main chan- nels: left front, center, right front, left surround, and right surround. Each channel can play the full frequency range and is independent of the other channels. The “.1” denotes the subwoofer channel which plays the low frequency effects (LFE), also inde- pendent of the other channels.

Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES offer "Extended Surround." Both systems offer a surround back channel which effectively fi lls in the otherwise empty soundspace behind you.

If you want to try one of the modes on the previous page, you should se- lect a 2-channel output from your DVD player's options menu.

NOTE: In your DVD player's audio setup menu, set the digital output to BITSTREAM. If this is not set correctly, the TGIV cannot decode the digital information.

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DOLBY DIGITAL (5.1)

This mode is available if the TGIV automatically detects a Dolby Digital encoded source on the cur- rently selected input.

You should look for the Dolby Digital Logo on DVDs, LaserDiscs and other sources.

Many DVDs have the option of a Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital or Stereo soundtrack. You may have to follow the instructions in your DVD player's instruction manual for your player to output Dolby Digital bitstreams. Dolby Digital must often be selected from the Disc's menu.

DOLBY DIGITAL EX (6.1/ 7.1)

Dolby Digital EX mode is primarily for playback of Dolby Digital Sur- round EX encoded soundtracks.

One of its advantages over Dolby Digital playback is that it fi lls in the area behind the listener with a completely separate full-range channel.

The TGIV has the option of connecting one or two surround back speakers. The calibration and speaker size options allow a seamless surround fi eld to be created.

If you do not have the surround back speakers connected, then the extra information is sent to the standard surrounds and no mate- rial is lost. (Set the surround back speakers to OFF in the SPEAKER SIZE menu).

The TGIV will also create the surround back channel if you are playing a 5.1 source.

Note: Dolby Digital EX will play stereo in the surround back channels if the Dolby Back Sur- round option is set to PLIIx in the MODES OSD menu (see Page 33 for more details).

DTS (5.1)

This mode is available if the TGIV automatically detects that a DTS encoded source is present at one of it’s digital inputs. Look for the DTS Logo on DVDs, LaserDiscs, CDs and other sources.

Make sure that you set your player to output DTS bitstreams. DTS must also be selected on the disc's menu.

DTS ES (6.1)

All DTS-ES sources have the surround back channel matrixed in the left and right surrounds. Newer DVD releases also have a discrete surround back channel, in addition to the same information matrixed.

DISCRETE ES sources: the TGIV DTS-ES discrete decoder will decode the discrete surround back channel. It also removes the surround back matrix from the left and right surrounds, and restores them to be fully independent channels.

MATRIX ES sources: If there is no discrete surround back channel, the TGIV decodes the matrixed surround back channel from the left and right surrounds, and restores them to be fully indepen- dent channels.

User's Manual