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General discussion

No Surround

Jun 19, 2005 8:31AM PDT

Ok, here's the deal I have an old 27" 1994 magnavox tv. It has audio outs which i have plugged into my sony HT-DDW670. I can't get the surround speakers to emit much. I know this is because my tv is not emitting a 5.1 channel signal. I was wondering if there was a way besides buy a new tv to get surround. Yes I have a VCR but it does not have the surrround function either, only stereo. So I'm stuck with a dilemna here any help would be greatly appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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Cable Box and Surround
Jun 19, 2005 10:56AM PDT

If you have cable and upgrade to a digital cable box, it will have a digital audio out that you can send to your receiver. These boxes, such as Sony and Scientific Atlantic, have every kind of video and audio out. Hope this helps.

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Maybe
Jun 20, 2005 12:31AM PDT

Yes I have thought about this but because our cable bill is already extremely high, I don't think this is an option. Is it possible to buy a new VCR maybe that has the surround feature?

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Excellent Idea
Jun 20, 2005 2:04AM PDT

Yes, the VCR should have the ability to output at best Dolby ProLogic Surround using the 2 RCA audio outputs to your receiver. Then use your VCR's Tuner to watch TV or just tune the VCR to the same station you are watching on the TV. Please note, that any shows broadcast in DTS or Dolby 5.1 will be decoded as ProLogic.

Regarding the cost of a digital cable box, Cablevision's non-HDTV digital box is about $5.00 a month, about $2.00 more a month than an analog box. I am not sure what other cable providers charge.

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No Surround Sound....
Jun 20, 2005 3:13AM PDT

Hello,

You mentioned you knew that you are not getting 5.1 surround sound because the TV is not outputting a 5.1 surround sound signal. Unfortunately there is no way to achieve 5.1 surround sound if the source that you are acquiring the signal from is not sending a 5.1 surround sound signal.

If you are interested in getting sound out of all your speakers (not 5.1), then you can switch your DSP modes on your receiver to kick out sound from all speakers. Of course, this will be stereo and not 5.1.

Even if you have a cable or satellite receiver capable of sending 5.1 surround sound signals, it is still dependent on the programming you are watching as to whether you will get 5.1 surround sound.

Also, you will want to send all audio through your receiver then to the TV. If the TV has the ability to decode 5.1 surround sound either in Dolby Digital or DTS, then you would be able to output to your receiver from your TV and achieve 5.1 only if the original signal coming in to the TV is truely 5.1.

Hope this helps.

Shawn Mosqueda
WireSmart LLC.
www.wiresmart.com
shawn@wiresmart.com

How To Build A Home Theater PC ebook coming soon! visit www.wiresmart.com

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OK
Jun 20, 2005 4:03AM PDT

I think i will either buy a new VCR for now or i will save some money for perhaps a 30" HDTV. Thanks a lot