XBox 5.1 problems

[clinically dozy]

I've just bought a 5.1 speaker set and 5.1 decoder, (packard bell 5.1 home theatre system) it's connected to my xbox with a fibre optical cable through a MS official rgb cable. I can get 5.1 in games fine but only in a select few of my DVDs (all have doldy digital features). Am I doing something wrong or missing something? I've been looking at some other 5.1 packages and they include an amp, which mine doesn't. Do I need an amp? Also I've tried using it with my ps2 to watch some dvds (this can use 5.1 for dvd movies, right?) but I can only get pro logic.

Any advice is much appreciated

[Adam]

Not sure if this will help but on the XBox menu screens, you have enabled dolby digital yeah? Also, what about the DVD menu's themselves. I've watched a film once thinking it was in 5.1 only after to see that the sound mode was ordinary stereo and that if I wanted 5.1 I had to choose it (before I watched the film DUH!)

[dgnr7982]

If your getting 5.1 from one thing and not others its must be the source thats the problem not the sound system - all items are connected by optical cables?

Yes PS2 does have 5.1 for films - you have to enable DD5.1 in the main menu though - some games have 5.1 cut scenes as well.

Post a link to the sound set-up you bought.

[clinically dozy]

Thanks for the replies

This is what I'm using. Long link but it works I think...http://www.dixons.co.uk/store/martpr...gory_oid=-9317

xbox
Yes I've enabled 5.1 sound in the xbox dashboard, I've tried loads of Dolby featured dvds (all R2) and it's hit and miss, ie, the matrix works but pulp fiction dont. Same most of my anime dvds apart from 2 of them If a dvd has options in the setup for 5.1 in it's menus i works, but most don't.

PS2
I've checked my PS2 for a dolby setting and ain't seen one, only thing I did do was enable optical imput mode (I'm using the optical imput jack at the back of my PS2) 5.1 refuses to work on anything.

Did I buy a nasty setup? or could it be the cables or something.

[amorenod]

About PS2 DVD movies DD 5.1, the option only appears when a DVD movie is loaded. Then stop playback, and enter the DVD menu with the remote (or pad, but since I've got the remote, I don't know the exact way with the pad, it should be in the manual). You'll find DD, DTS and Mpeg setup to activate.

[JRMacumber]

xbox
Yes I've enabled 5.1 sound in the xbox dashboard, I've tried loads of Dolby featured dvds (all R2) and it's hit and miss, ie, the matrix works but pulp fiction dont. Same most of my anime dvds apart from 2 of them If a dvd has options in the setup for 5.1 in it's menus i works, but most don't.

Woah there, Chester. Make sure that the DVD you're trying to play says that it is Dolby Digital 5.1. If it just says Dolby or Dolby surround sound, then more than likely it means it is Dolby's Pro Logic 2 audio, and that AIN'T DD 5.1. Pro Logic 2 sucks in comparison to DD 5.1.

Just a suggestion. If you have some movies that play right and some that don't, then I'd have to imagine that it isn't your Xbox or your receiver, but a misunderstanding of the DVD's audio. Give me an example of a DVD that plays right, and one that doesn't. We can work from there.

Oh, but check on that audio format. I'm betting that's what it is. Pro Logic 2 is NOT Dolby Digital 5.1. Trust me. They are both Dolby standards, but they do not sound the same. I think a lot of studios throw "Dolby Surround Sound" on the package, hoping that people will think it's 5.1, suckering them in.

[clinically dozy]

About PS2 DVD movies DD 5.1, the option only appears when a DVD movie is loaded. Then stop playback, and enter the DVD menu with the remote (or pad, but since I've got the remote, I don't know the exact way with the pad, it should be in the manual). You'll find DD, DTS and Mpeg setup to activate.

Thats the ticket Cheers

From looking at all my dvds they all have the same Dolby Digital logo with no mention to 5.1, for example my NineInchNails dvd has this logo and so does my The Office dvd but only one plays in 5.1. I always though this logo was a 5.1 standard. I think you're correct JRMacumber


Thanks for the helpfull replies

ps. Halo in 5.1 is a beautifull experience

[JRMacumber]

Does your received show what audio format it's playing when it plays it? Mine does, and that is helpful when I'm trying to figure out what standard the DVD has if it is ambiguous. It'll say "Pro Logic II" or "DD5.1" or "DTS" or what have you. Handy. And so, if you have that, or if has some other way to tell you what it is outputting, try a few DVDs, some that say in the menu what exactly it is and some that don't, and test it out.

[Hitcher]

[From looking at all my dvds they all have the same Dolby Digital logo with no mention to 5.1, for example my NineInchNails dvd has this logo and so does my The Office dvd but only one plays in 5.1. I always though this logo was a 5.1 standard.

Ah ha.

That's the problem mate.

The DD symbol only means sound is digitally encoded, not 5.1.

You can have mono and stereo DD signals.

[clinically dozy]

You learn something new everyday Been through my entire collection now and it's a shame as all my favourites aren't 5.1. Yes my decoder has a display showing what audio format it is using, it doesn't have pro logic2, just pro logic and it sounds a bit crap compared to 5.1...at least shenmue2 has 5.1 which will occupy my my entire day now

edit- sorry to hog your attension but how would I go about connecting my GC to these speakers? Or is it possible, I know the GC does DTS and not 5.1 but it does it handle pro logic? anything is better than my TV speakers

[dgnr7982]

Gamecube sound is via 2 phono cables - I think you will have to connect it that way and tell your amp to play the sound in pro-logic

[amorenod]

edit- sorry to hog your attension but how would I go about connecting my GC to these speakers? Or is it possible, I know the GC does DTS and not 5.1 but it does it handle pro logic? anything is better than my TV speakers

No, it doesn't handle DTS, but pro-logic 2 (game dependant, for example, Metroid Prime does PL2 output). Standard RCA L/R connection will do. Pro-logic 2 is backwards compatible with pro-logic, so that's the output you'll get with your non-PL2 decoder.

[clinically dozy]

How do I go about connecting my GC to my decoder? With the ps2 it's simply using the optical jack and the xbox adv scart has a optical jack built in. I have an official GC rgb cable and the only port free is digital av out, what cables/adapters do I need to get to connect my GC?

[amorenod]

That's the problem with the official RGB lead, you need and unofficial one with RCA connections or the bundled composite lead.

Other option is by using a multi-scart switch with RCA output, like the Argos one.

The easier option (if your TV has it) is to use the RCA stereo output found in the back of some TVs.

[Robin]

I've got a DVD with a Dolby Digital 1.0 signal kicking around somewhere