Help needed - 5.1 to tv to console - how exactly?

[Len]

Right here's the problem, just before moving into a friends place I was about to buy myself a nice 5.1 setup to plug into my tele but after moving in realised he already had 5.1 setup with dvd. The problem being I've got absolutely no idea on how exactly to hook it up and even if it's possible.

Now my m8 reckons you can't hook it up to the consoles and you will only get the 5.1 for dvd's so why then if you mess about with the remote can you get a 'Game' setting? He also managed to lose the instruction manual which was good but I should be able to track one down off the net hopefully.

The kit in qu is this:

Sony DAV-S300 Home Cinema (anyone got 1 and use it with their consoles?):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005Q3DO/ref%3Damb%5Fleft-2%5F24638/202-6488786-5353417

TX47PT10 PROJECTION TV (may be a few yrs older than the one shown below but has just about identical feature set):

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/projection-tv/tx47pt10/index.htm

So can anyone help me out and tell me if it's possible to hook up this to my tele and how my ps2/q/xbox fits into the equation?

All or any info for that matter much appreciated as it really doing my head in now...I've gotta at least have it ready for Halo 2 and I'm desperate to play all the other stuff with it!

[rjpageuk]

Using that setup you can get surround sound on both the XBox and PS2, but not on the GC.

The GC needs Dolby Pro Logic II, which it doesnt support.

In order to use 5.1 on the XBox, or DTS on PS2 you will need to connect them upto your receiver with an optical cable, exactly like the one you must be using to connect your DVD player upto the receiver (if you are getting 5.1).

The XBox needs the advanced scart pack, which costs about ?20 first though (and the digital cable plugs into this and then into the receiver).

You shouldnt need to mess about with the setting s on the receiver itself other than to pick where the input is coming from. Often these things only have 1 optical input, so you will either need a splitter, or you will need to manually change it from the DVD player, PS2 or XBox each time you want to use it.

As for hooking it upto your TV - your TV should ahve two phono outs on the back (red and white) you need to connect these upto the receiver.

Hope that helps!

[tankplanker]

Using that setup you can get surround sound on both the XBox and PS2, but not on the GC.

The GC needs Dolby Pro Logic II, which it doesnt support.

Not strictly true, you can still use the Pro Logic II output from your cube with a Pro Logic I amp, it just doesn't sound as "surround", while still being surround.

Also I had one of those Davs (plus I double checked the specs), and they do not have an optical or coax in, so you cannot hook up your xbox or ps2 to them for 5.1 or 4.0 (in the case of the ps2). Best you can hope for is Pro Logic from all three consoles - using phono cables.

To be honest, if you have the spare cash junk the DAV as its crap, and get a decent AMP & Speakers.

[rjpageuk]

Using that setup you can get surround sound on both the XBox and PS2, but not on the GC.

The GC needs Dolby Pro Logic II, which it doesnt support.

Not strictly true, you can still use the Pro Logic II output from your cube with a Pro Logic I amp, it just doesn't sound as "surround", while still being surround.

Also I had one of those Davs (plus I double checked the specs), and they do not have an optical or coax in, so you cannot hook up your xbox or ps2 to them for 5.1 or 4.0 (in the case of the ps2). Best you can hope for is Pro Logic from all three consoles - using phono cables.

To be honest, if you have the spare cash junk the DAV as its crap, and get a decent AMP & Speakers.

If you put a DPLII singal through a DPLI receiver all you will get is the same as if you put a stereo signal through the DPLI receiver (repeat of front two speakers in the back two) dont you?

Thus you arent getting any benefit from the DPLI at all.

I just checked on techtronics and you are right there is no optical input. This is pretty unbelievable.. it means as tankplanker says you will get no more than DPLI from any of your consoles unfortunately.

[mid]

DPL2 is backwards compatible with DPL1 - I get pretty reasonable surround out of both Rogue Leader and Soul Calibur 2 on my amp in DPL1 mode (it predates both DPL2 and DTS Neo6, which is the same basic idea). Actually, in THX Ultra mode on DPL1 its pretty darn close to DPL2-sounding anyway.

[tankplanker]

If you put a DPLII singal through a DPLI receiver all you will get is the same as if you put a stereo signal through the DPLI receiver (repeat of front two speakers in the back two) dont you?

I'm not sure what happens to the signal, I've not got a SPL meter to monitor what is coming out of which speaker

Thus you arent getting any benefit from the DPLI at all.

this I do disagree on, I watch all my TV (bar music channels) as pro logic (I or II depending on the content, I have more DSP settings for pro logic I) and the source is mainly stereo, but the voice always comes out of the centre, and the other affects come from where they should.

As I said you still get a surround sound image, just not as good - pro logic II is meant to be a 5.0 surround system, while pro logic I is 4.0 and not as discrete.

[rjpageuk]

I think I wrote what I meant wrong there.

Basically I didnt realise DPLII was backward compatible with DPLI, so you do get a benefit. I meant you dont get a benefit from putting DPLII into DPLI over stereo into DPLI but I was wrong .

I second your opinion that the thread starter should get a new receiver .

[Len]

Bugger... ft:

Ok thx ppl, you confirmed my worst fears. Oh well looks like my m8's setup is going and I'll have to invest a little cashola...

Was thinkin of either of these two, or am I better just buying a separate amp and speakers?

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/productdetails/SON-HTK250.htm

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/productdetails/SON-HTDDW750S.htm

Thoughts ppl...?

[tankplanker]

Of the two I would go for the Sony HTK250, its pretty good value for money.

[rjpageuk]

Why wuold you go for the first? The second has more power per speaker, and they both do 5.1, DTS and DPLII and they both cost about the same..

The second one is pretty similar to my setup, except that I have the receiver which is one up from that, and I have 100W speakers and 120W subwoofer and it is more powerful than I ever need.

The main problem with the receiver is that there is only 1 optical input, but you can get splitters I believe.