[Linksys 845c]

I have an Onkyo TX-SR605. It's a seven channel receiver, but I am only running a 5.1 array...my question is what happens when playing Dolby EX or DTS ES tracks through this amp? I don't have the back surround channel(s), so does that extra signal simply collapse to the two standard surrounds? Am I missing any important information because of this in the disc's soundtrack?

Under my 605's setup menu, there's a selection for "DOLBY EX" setup, and I have left this to AUTO -- but I'm not sure if this is correct, or even what it means...tonight, I popped in Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen which contains, of course, a Dolby EX mix...my receiver, however, doesn't display the "DOLBY D EX" lettering on the screen when playing back these tracks, nor does it display "DTS-ES" when playing back discs that carry these soundtracks, such as Gladiator; the display merely reads "DOLBY D" or "DTS"...is this because the discs aren't properly flagged, or is it because my 605 "knows" that there isn't the surround back speaker(s) and therefore automatically plays these tracks back in standard Dolby Digital or DTS?

Do I need to worry that significant soundtrack information is being "lost" by not having that back surround stage and playing EX/ES tracks?

[gene c]

Quote:

Do I need to worry that significant soundtrack information is being "lost" by not having that back surround stage and playing EX/ES tracks?

As long as you have turned off the Back Surrounds in the 605's speaker menu you shouldn't lose anything. I'm pretty sure all receivers would send that information to the rear surrounds so nothing would be lost.