How do you connect the Wii to a 5.1 speaker setup?

[venom743]

Just got my Wii and just like the GC it doesn't have an Optical Out socket!
So how you hook it up to a 5.1 speaker set up?

[sj33]

It's analogue Pro Logic II.

You need to make sure your setup has a Pro Logic II capable decoder, and connect through the normal Red/White analogue.

Pro Logic II is a wierd way to achieveingv 5.1 sound through 2.0 channels using matrixing.

[in5ane]

Pro Logic II is a poor way to achieveingv 5.1 sound through 2.0 channels using matrixing.

Seriously, this decision sucks, I was annoyed at the time they released the news, and I'm still annoyed!

The Wii is still computing all the directional info needed to create a nice clean 5.1 signal, so to dumb it down to 2 channels is bizarre. Maybe something to do with the GameCube support?

So yeah, the only option you have of hooking your Wii up to a stereo or AV amp is via the two red and white analogue cables

[NekoFever]

Pro Logic II is a wierd way to achieveingv 5.1 sound through 2.0 channels using matrixing.

[pedantic] PLII only allows for four channels, not a full 5.1. [/pedantic]

[3x3cut10n3r]

[pedantic] PLII only allows for four channels, not a full 5.1. [/pedantic]

Incorrect, it is the full 5.1, when used refering to a games console.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/techno...ologic_II.html

Dolby Pro Logic II also enables video game consoles to encode five-channel surround sound information into a stereo signal..

This is very sad indeed, I mean this is no longer the analogue age.

[in5ane]

So that's 5.0 then? 5.1 is actually six channels of information isn't it?

Either way, DPLII is a poor mans surround in this day and age.

[sj33]

Would it be 4.1 or 5.0? o_O Could they choose?

The appeal of Pro Logic II is that it's very little load on the CPU, so it's not entirely hard to understand, but obviously annoying. Still should have had some kind of digital audio out though.

[3x3cut10n3r]

So that's 5.0 then? 5.1 is actually six channels of information isn't it?

No. It is 5 channels. The .1 is not a channel, otherwise it would be 6.0.

Would it be 4.1 or 5.0? o_O Could they choose?

It would be 5.1 as the .1 is classed as a given and not included. The .1 refers to the sub which only amplifies the bass from the 5 channels. This is why you can use a sub for any audio type including normal Stereo.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/techno...y_digital.html

Check that link and you will find that Dolby Digital only has 5 channels, the .1 is not included.

Either way, DPLII is a poor mans surround in this day and age.

Indeed. I mean the Xbox had Dolby Digital and that was last gen, it is a very disapointing decision by Nintendo.

[in5ane]

The appeal of Pro Logic II is that it's very little load on the CPU

Is it really? As I said before, if surround info is coming out via DPLII, the Wii is already computing all it needs for positional sound. Outputting that at a digital level can't be that hard can it?

[in5ane]

No. It is 5 channels. The .1 is not a channel, otherwise it would be 6.0.

I'm not a big sound buff or anything, but from the very link you gave me, it is six channels:

"The sound information contained in each of the six available channels is distinct and independent."

It's just the .1 is a reduced bandwidth channel, as obviously it only deals with low freqs.

I could well be wrong, but thats the impression I got from that page

[3x3cut10n3r]

Because of the reduced frequency of the 'channel' that is used, they don't class it as a channel.

If you look at the picture at the top of the page it only shows 5 channels, this is also why the DPLII only has '5' channels.

Although this is a 'channel' it is not classed as such in the specification.

My statement before...

The .1 refers to the sub which only amplifies the bass from the 5 channels.

Only applys when there is no seperate information specified in the LFE 'channel'.

[in5ane]

Ok, you sound pretty convinced so I'll believe you!