DVDs with a matrixed 6.1 soundtrack (1 Viewer)

[Brian Dobbs]

Does a DVD need to have a matrixed 6.1 soundtrack to experience a matrixed 6.1 surround? What I really want to know is, can't a 6.1 receiver take a 5.1 soundtrack and "matrix" the back surround channel?

My copy of Terminator 2: Ultimate Edition says there are two soundtracks - a DD-EX 5.1 and a DTS-ES 5.1 soundtrack. I'm pretty confused about that. Can't a 6.1 receiver derive a matrixed back surround channel from ANY DVD encoded with a 5.1 soundtrack?

It just doesn't make sense to me to have a movie encoded in with a matrixed 6.1 soundtrack. Can anyone elaborate on this and tell me what I'm missing? Thanks in advance.

 

[Jeff Kleist]

Theoretically yes, it can matrix a rear channel. However movies are specifically mixed so that the reciever extracts the RIGHT sounds to put in the center rear

 

[Chris PC]

That is weird. I was under the impression that EX and ES were both 6.1 formats. Whats up with that?

 

[Wes]

Brian, First off DD EX is not 6.1. Yes it will create a matrixed 6.1 but the source is 5.1. Now DTS has both a 5.1 Matrix and a 6.1 discrete sound tracks known as ES. I have a DIY EX/ES setup and I can tell you that most all 5.1 decodes and benefits from the ES matrix decoding. Some of the best EX imaging I have got on DVD are not even EX mixes. There are only a few 5.1 sound tracks I have that I have not cared for the EX decoding on. One I just got is the free BMW The Hire disc. It is in 5.1 but at least the first short episode on the disc the EX imaging was just wrong so I simply switched it to 5.1.

I think most EX receivers can decode 6.1 matrix from all 5.1 sources, not all EX receivers can decode 5.1 matrix and or discrete 6.1 DTS ES.

Wes