"Dolby Digital 2 ch Downmixed Audio Out" - Meaning??

[pupupuchi28]

Hi,

I have a LG DVD player , model # LG DV 552. I recently realised that it has got the same set of left and right outputs for both Stereo and 5.1 set-up. Also it mentions "Dolby Digital 2 ch Downmixed Audio Out". Not sure what that means. Kindly help.

I'm setting up a stereo set-up and would like to know if this would reduce the quality of output that otherwise I would have expected from a Stereo set-up.

 

[ontherocks]

Its not clear from your description how many outputs you have for each type. Better post a picture of the connections.

"Dolby Digital 2 ch Downmixed Audio Out" means that it will downmix(convert) 5.1 channel audio to 2 channel and send it out from the output connector. So you will lose details.

 

[sam9s]

Hi,

I have a LG DVD player , model # LG DV 552. I recently realised that it has got the same set of left and right outputs for both Stereo and 5.1 set-up. Also it mentions "Dolby Digital 2 ch Downmixed Audio Out". Not sure what that means. Kindly help.

I'm setting up a stereo set-up and would like to know if this would reduce the quality of output that otherwise I would have expected from a Stereo set-up.

It wont reduce the quality, if the source is native stereo. use the L+R Audio out to set up stereo speakers. If you have a 5.1 setup as well then use Digital Co-axial audio out to get the surround sound.

 

[pupupuchi28]

@ Sam: When you say 'native source', do you mean the format of the music?
Unlike other DVD players where you have a different set of connections (5 sets of speaker connections and a sub apart from the set of stereo connection) for the 5.1 channel output, this one uses the same stereo connection for front left and right and additional three connections for the rear left, right and sub. Not sure if thats good in terms of quality for a Stereo set-up.

I will post a pic tonight for your better understanding.

 

[sam9s]

By native stereo I meant the original recording is in stereo and not 5.1 or 7.1. The quality might reduce if a 5.1 source is downmixed to stereo and then given to the speakers.

Also most of the low-mid range DVD players use the same front and left for 5.1 and stereo output. As you go higher the connections are segrigated .....

Dont worry as i said somewhere in the other thread the sound quality is more dependent on the quality of speakers then the source and the amp itself. Get a decent set of stereo speakers. Also what are you getting for the amp ..???? or do you have an AVR ..??

 

[pupupuchi28]

Native source: Ah got it. Since I'm planning for a stereo set-up certainly the 'native' source would be stereo and not jazz up things from a 5.1 tracks.

I've two floor stands from yamaha. Not the best of the lot but serves well. Also it reaches till 35hz (actual testing). Now planning for a Norge 2000. My towers are already filled with bass not sure if 2000 would be too boomy. Mostly for music.

 

[dillihifi]

Now this terminology is essentially for DVDs with 5.1 encoded audio channels. Now in case of DD 5 channels are recorded separately and connecting only the L + R speaker out terminals will not bring out the center and the rear channels (these audio is lost) unless these are downmixed i.e. the 5.1 is now output as 2 channels containing all the audio information recorded and nothing is lost.

On the other hand if you use the player for stereo downmixing is not necessary as the original sound is encoded in only 2 channels.

Hope the above is clear.

 

[anuragn]

Another doubt:
I have Oppo 980 connected to Denon 1611 through HDMI. Currently I have a 2.1 setup (to be extended to 5.1 later).
So whether setting audio out in DVD player as Downmix or L+R affect the output going to the AVR through the HDMI cable? For 5.1 movies? For stereo music?

 

[sam9s]

^^ As i said till the time the source is native stereo, setting the audio setup in DVD as downmix would not degrade the quality.

I would suggest for stereo listening use the R+L analogue out (RCA) to R+L analogue in (RCA) of your AVR and play it on "Direct Audio" Or "Pure Audio" (what ever Denon uses for no equalization audio in)

 

[dillihifi]

Even if the source is multi channel the downmix option would not degrade the quality as all the audio information will be processed and nothing would be lost.

 

[sam9s]

^^ I defer to this opinion, when we downmix 5.1 to stereo, the native recording aint 2 channels, so logically there is bound to be some audio loss. Now when I say audio loss does not mean the quality itself will go down, but the collation of 5 distinct channels to just two will loose out certain parts form the original recorded channels (6), resulting in the loss of dynamics and SPL.

the very prominent loss is the LFE which is thrown away when a 5.1 source is down-mixed to stereo, specially when the DVD player is connected via analogue stereo out.

Try that by yourself play a song that is recorded in stereo via stereo speakers and play the same song recorded in 5.1 down mixed to stereo via same stereo speakers, the difference is easily noticeable.

 

[dillihifi]

Generally the downmix does not include the LFE hence the audible difference. I was just trying to point out that all the audio info is output to the speakers so you do not lose any audio encoded in the mix.

Obviously there is bound to be a difference in stereo material and a 5.1 tracks. Just compare the bit rates on the source material.