5.1 channel discrete analogue audio outputs? (1 Viewer)

[DarrenO]

Hi all. I am looking at buying a low end dvd player that has inbuilt dolby digital and DTS decoder.
Below is one of the features of the player I am looking at, and I am just wondering what exactly does this mean?
5.1 Channel Discrete Analogue Audio (RCA) Outputs - so you can connect this player directly to a Home Theatre System which has 5.1 Channel discrete analogue audio (RCA) Inputs, and utilize this player's built in Dolby Digital/DTS decoding capability
This is the URL for the player. http://shop.store.yahoo.com/dse-au/g1602.html
Thanks in advance
Darren

 

[AaronJB]

This means that the player has a set of analog outputs on the back of the player. Each output corresponds to a speaker and is hooked up to the input on a "digital-ready" reciever. You will need 6 analog audio cables.


There are a lot of "shelf systems" out there or older home theater systems that are "digital ready", meaning that the reciever/system doesn't have DD/DTS decoders of its own, but will take the signal that is decoded by the DVD player and passed to it through the 6-channel analog output.

This is not the optimal way to listen to these soundtracks (that would be a straight digital connection to a reciever that would do the decoding - a lot of recievers likely have better internal decoders than the DVD players), but it certainly works.

 

[Jesse Leonard]

Here is some info taken from the HomeTheaterForum Primer:

6 channel outputs on DVD players:

There are some DVD players that come with 6 channel RCA outputs in addition to the standard stereo connectors and the digital audio outputs.

In the early days of dolby digital, many budget receivers did not include onboard DD decoding chips- so you couldn't send them digital audio from the player and expect them to turn them into 6 analog channels, instead these receivers offered 6 channel analog inputs allowing them to be used with DVD players that did the DD/DTS decoding internally.

So these DVD players have internal decoders for DD and/or DTS audio and turn the 6 channel digital signal into analog inside the player and pass the already decoded 6 channel signal via 6 RCA output jacks on the player.

These 6 channel outputs are also useful on DVD-A or SACD players, as most modern receivers don't have internal decoders for a digital stream in these formats. To do DVD-A and SACD, you have to have a receiver with 6 channel inputs and connect the 6 analog lines from the player to the receiver.

Technically speaking, you could also connect these 6 channel outs on the dvd player direct to amplifiers and bypass a preamp if you chose (as these players tend to have internal level controls and other preamp features)-- but most people don't usually do it that way.


6 channel inputs on receivers:

Well, as stated above- some receivers offer 6 channel inputs to allow connections of outboard 6 channel devices for which they might not offer intenal convertors.

Some source devices (like the ones outlined above) have internal audio converters which allow them to pass multiple channels of analog audio to the receiver- instead of an encoded digital signal. The source device does all the digital decoding internally, and passes 6 (or more) analog channels out to the receiver- and thus you need to be able to accept 6 input channels. This is similar to a CD player- which does the digital to analog internally and passes 2 analog channels to a receiver-- only in the case of DVD it's usually more than 2 channels.

Older receivers didn't have DD or DTS converters built in- so 6 channel input on a receiver allowed you to still get DD/DTS on your old receiver if your dvd player could convert the digital signal internally and pass 6 analog outputs.

Also, many modern receivers are unable to internally convert the type of digital audio information found on DVD-A or SACD, so receivers have 6 channel input to allow connection of SACD or DVD-A players that have internal conversion (or any other new format which might arise).

By having a 6 channel input- you have mad eit possible to listen to future 5.1 sources, even if your receiver has no internal converters to handle them.


6 channel output on receivers:

Some receiver have 6 channel preamp OUTPUTS to allow you to bypass the internal amplifiers that are inside the receiver and feed the 6 channel signals to your own amps.

This allows you to only use the preamp and processing stages of your receiver- which will decode the 6 channel stems of DD/DTS/Pro Logic or even simple stereo- and then pass them outside the receiver to allow you to use higher power or higher grade amps, while still getting conversion and switching functions of your receiver.

-Vince

 

[DarrenO]

Thanks for the information.

Am I correct in saying that because the unit has internal dolby decoding, that it does not need to be connected to an amp/receiver? But just need to be connect to speakers that have the appropriate RCA connections (using the amp in the subwoofer) ?

Or alternatively I could use the Optical Digital Out on the player to connect it to a receiver if I wanted too?


Thanks again

Darren

 

[AaronJB]

No, you still have to connect it to some sort of digital-ready shelf system or reciever, which is what you need to connect the speakers to.

 

[DarrenO]

So what is the advantage in having a dobly decoder in-built into the dvd player? For receivers that don't have a dolby decoder? These would have to be few and far between.


Darren

 

[Bob McElfresh]

But just need to be connect to speakers that have the appropriate RCA connections (using the amp in the subwoofer)

Nope. There are 2 levels of signals in your system:

- Line Level/Pre-Out/UnAmplified: These are very weak signals and cannot be directly connected to speakers. (The exception might be some self-powered speakers like the ones sold for computer systems. And Subwoofers often have their own internal amp as you pointed out. But it only drives it's own driver, not all the other speakers.) The connections are usually cables with RCA-male connectors at each end.

- Speaker Level/Amplified: These signals are ment to feed MOTORS (yes, speakers are motors). They carry WATTS of power and the connections are usually binding posts or spring-clips for speaker wire.

Another point: A DVD player with built-in decoders are typically more expensive than the units that dont. (The receiver typically does this.) So while I dont recognize the brand, this unit does not qualify as 'low end'.

My advice: Look into a XBox system. With the DVD controler add-on it will play-games, play DVD/CD's and act like a music server (You can copy tracks from your CD's onto the hard-drive and play them back.) The best part is it will play DVD's and send the sound & video to your TV, or you can add a receiver later and feed it the digital sound.

Good Luck.

 

[ChrisWiggles]

So then my question is... why? Why would you get one with built-in decoders? If you have an old system that may have 5.1 inputs for an outboard decoder, this would make sense, but it doesn't seem as if you have this. Bob rightly pointed out that you CANNOT just send the output from your DVD player to an array of speakers, as that signal needs to be amplified. Hope that explains things, or shoot out some more questions. BTW, what kind of setup/equipment do you currently have? That will help us help you better.

 

[DarrenO]

Hi all thanks to all the replies, I've learned a fair bit from this thread all ready.

I am really only just starting to look at getting a home theatre system and my original thought was that I could purchase a dvd player with on-board decoder and then hook the speaks and subwoofer directly to the player using the analouge RCA connection points. I had thought that the on-board decoder would negate the need for a receiver, I now know better.

I think what I will end up doing, is that instead of buying a complete rock bottom price system in one hit, I will rather spend a bit more, and buy the different components of a system as I save and can afford them. May take a little longer to complete the system, but will be better in the long run.

Firstly DVD player, then receiver, then speakers and sub, oh and a new widescreen TV somewhere alog the way as well ;-)

Again, thanks for the help guys, no doubt you'll be seeing more questions from me in hte near future ;-)

Darren