Can I simulate THX-EX or DTS-ES with a DD / DTS receiver and a DPL receiver? (1 Viewer)

[Javier_Huerta]

I read David Ranada (?) once did it, and many people thought it wasn't worth it. The idea is simple. Run the signal through a Dolby Digital / DTS receiver, then take the rears output and decode it with Dolby Pro-Logic 3 mode. That way you end up with 3 front channels (discrete) and 3 rear channels (matrix decoded).

I doubt that's the way THX-EX is recorded, but I guess I could try it if it's worth it.

Thanks!

Javier.

 

[RichardMA]

If you end up with the L-R surrounds being matrixed
instead of discrete, that's a point against trying it.
Three mediocre channels in place of two good ones is
not an equitable trade off. But it won't hurt
to experiment.

 

[Dan Hitchman]

It just does not compare to real DTS-ES Discrete, DTS-ES matrix, and Dolby Digital EX matrix decoding. Not as precise.

Dan

 

[Javier_Huerta]

Thanks for your thoughts, they do make a lot of sense.

What do you think about adding extra speakers to the rear without the system being 6.1? Does that help or destroy the soundstaging? I did a search, and I am surprised there aren't many opinions about doing such a thing.

Thanks again!

 

[Steve K.H.]

What do you think about adding extra speakers to the rear without the system being 6.1? Does that help or destroy the soundstaging? I did a search, and I am surprised there aren't many opinions about doing such a thing.

That's a good question with a lot of intangibles that need to be answered...

... I suggest you close this thread and post that as a new thread.

-some thoughts I have before you raise the question...

-current speaker configuration (distances and location)
-type of speaker at the rear currently used (direct, bipolar, dipolar)
-dimensions of room
-are your mains (front end) overpowering the rears right now?
-processor/power source (model)
-are you considering placing additional speakers adjacent to the current rears or distanced from the left and right respectively

 

[Wes]

Well, I have both! I have a PL receiver processing my EX/ES channels and I have 4 surrounds (2 Left and 2 right) as well as my 2 EX/ES speakers and I love the results! Don't be afraid to try something new!
See my site for more details!Link Removed
Wes

 

[Javier_Huerta]

Wes, thanks so much for the link, it'll be very useful. I'll try a couple of things. After all, I think the most important thing of all is for me to like the system, no?

 

[Jeff Hipps]

Javier:

What you are describing is exactly the way Dolby Digital Surround EX is decoded in the movie theater. Although DTS ES Matrix uses a slighlty different decoding matrix, use of a pro logic decoder was officially sanctioned by DTS when the first receivers with DTS-ES decode capability came on the market. Only DTS-ES Discrete cannot be decoded by this method. However, DTS-ES Discrete is a redundant system and the rear center channel information is also matrix encoded, so it can be recovered through the use of a pro logic type decoder.

Jeff Hipps
Sherwood America

 

[Javier_Huerta]

Jeff, thank you so much for your answer. It was most helpful! Do you know if Dolby's scheme is similar to that of DTS? I seem to remember it isn't, but it won't hurt to experiment, I'm sure.

Javier.

 

[derek]

See my faq on home ex setup.

 

[Javier_Huerta]

Thanks Derek! Much appreciated!

 

[Wes]

Derek, I have noticed all of your links for homebrew EX setups are no longer working! Just thought you might like to know.

Wes

 

[JerryW]

What do you think about adding extra speakers to the rear without the system being 6.1? Does that help or destroy the soundstaging? I did a search, and I am surprised there aren't many opinions about doing such a thing.

I wonder about the danger to the receiver's amps by running more than one speaker off each channel... if you're using 8ohm speakers it effectively makes them 4ohm if you run them in parallel, 16ohms if you run them in series.
Considering that not a whole lot of information gets sent to the rear channels in most movies (there are some exceptions) I would say it's fairly safe. Remember, impedances are dynamic and change quite a bit (manufacturers' published ratings are a nominal rating)... but it wouldn't be nearly as stressful as running 4ohm mains or center channel.
To sum it up. For movies it should be fine, but probably not for multi-channel music (5/7ch stereo or multi-channel SACD) where more information is sent to the surrounds. Now, whether movies sound "right" is another matter and would depend on speaker position and your source material.
And as always, YMMV and don't blame me if you blow something up.

 

[Arthur S]

Javier

I read a David Ranada article and came away thinking he thought it was a good thing to do if you had an extra ProLogic receiver laying around. I basically ignored it for a year or more then decided I wanted to hear for myself what it had to offer. Set up was pretty simple with help from some of the people who have already responded to you. I had another speaker to put behind the couch.

Let me tell you, I played Gladiator and haven't considered changing back to 5.1. The only think I have to remember is when I play a VHS or watch TV in stereo, I have to change the mode of the DPL receiver to stereo from ProLogic.

For me this has proven to be an excellent use of equipment that was not being used and isn't worth much in the market place.

I can get all the volume I want out of this set-up and have taken a load off my main receiver.

Artie

 

[Aaron Garman]

Hello all. I've thought about doing this myself. However, I have the Yamaha htr-5280 that has the EX/ES decoding but with no output for the surround back channel. If I engage this decoding along with this quasi-6.1 setup, will it yield better results? Thanks.

Aaron Garman

 

[Wes]

Aaron, I looked up a site about your receiver and came up with this!

*Built-in Dolby Digital and DTS (also
compatible with new Dolby Digital Matrix 6.1 and DTS-ES) *Yamaha Digital ToP-ART *32 Bit DSP
with 39 music and theater modes *6 Channel processing capability (pre-out for center rear channel)

So it looks as if you have a rear center channel preamp out put on the back of your Yamaha htr-5280 to connect to a amplifier and then to the new EX speaker and your set! No need for additional processing!

Wes

 

[AVspec]

I used one of these (which I am selling over in the 4-sale section) for about a year with very good results.

(click here for thread in 4-sale area)

 

[Aaron Garman]

Hello all. Actually the dumb thing about this unit is that there is NO PREAMP out for the back surround. If I had that, I'd be all set. Grrrrrrr.

Aaron Garman

 

[Javier_Huerta]

Arthur, thanks for your insights! I'll definitely try and set up my system just like you described. I'm pretty much convinced by now to try it.
I just need to get some extra speakers for the center channel