Surround Sound not very Surround!!

fwor

sahun wrote: »

then ports for the inputs (stereo and AC-3)

The Ebuyer specs are (not for the first time) very confusing. If it has an AC-3 input then it does seem to have a decoder of some form built-in. However, the Ebuyer specs say "1 x digital 5.1 channel audio line-in ( RCA phono x 6 )", which suggests that they don't know!

The only way to find out is to try it. IIRC Dolby Digital uses the AC-3 format, so if you have anything like a DVD player which supports Dolby Digital you should find that it can decode that.

For short distances an ordinary phono lead from the the digital output of the DVD player to the AC-3 input should work ok. Over longer distances you'll probably need to get a cable with the right impedance, but that shouldn't be an issue for testing. Disconnect the Line-in lead while testing to avoid any possible confusion from having two inputs active at the same time.

sahun

It is currently used in my desktop (which is then connected to a TV, as its bigger than my comp screen) So the stereo jack for the speakers are in the PC
I currently have all 6 speakers working and it does seem kind of 'surround' but sadly this is out of my expertise.
Its only a smallish room so the distance isnt a problem with the speaker cables it comes with.

The AC-3 input doesnt seem to be working properly, that must need the decoder that comes with the DVD players then. I guess stereo just means it plays through all speakers....

aliEnRIK

The AC3 input (Just realised what you ment now) needs a 'single' DIGITAL coax cable from a dvd player or suchlike. You cant just plug in any old phono lead, it MUST be digital to work properly (ebay do some mega cheap)
Technically speaking, stereo should be ONLY 2 speakers. Any more and it probably means that each speaker is in MONO (all playing the same sound)
Which is nothing like 'surround sound', and nowhere near as good as proper stereo would be.
Perhaps youve set it wrong? (Most av amps have all sorts of 'modes')

sahun

It doesnt say anything about modes, it just seems plug and play (so i thought) didnt come with any major instructions, just a diagram for setting up.
Listening to it much more carefully it be mono, doesnt seem to have left or right influence that normally does!! with the volume being higher closer to the tv, but it is deffinatly all 6 speakers working.

The set-up came with 3 of the red/white cables (i take it as these are phono cables then) it didnt come with any other cables.

aliEnRIK

Yes, standard phono cables

fwor

aliEnRIK wrote: »

You cant just plug in any old phono lead, it MUST be digital to work properly

That's not true. There's nothing "digital" about the coax cable that you use to connect - for example - a DVD player to an AV decoder. It's just a standard 75ohm coaxial cable, though there are plenty of companies that sell expensive "digital" cables that would have you believe otherwise.

Like I said, for short distances and for test purposes you don't even need to use 75ohm coax. Any old phono cable should function acceptably - the tolerances are so wide you almost certainly won't notice any difference. It certainly works for me - I use short (home made) phono cables and they are perfectly ok.

aliEnRIK

Fwor. ok ~ 'technically', ANY phono would 'work'. But probably not too well. I certainly wouldnt use a bog standard one anyways.

"A digital coaxial lead is similar to a standard phono to phono but it uses special 75ohm cable which enables full range digital signals to use just a single connector. You may have noticed an option for digital connection on the back of your amplifier, DVD or CD player. Connecting any of the latter equipment together with a coaxial lead will give far better sound quality than standard analogue connectors and is essential if you have a Dolby digital or DTS equipped amplifier."

sahun

Ok after having a play with the system today, its looks like I need an AV decoder (with the 6 outputs for the seperate speakers) As you all said all along.....

Any idea where I can pick one of these up reasonably cheap??
Have looked on 'Richer Sounds' but it keeps showing me these whole packages for well over £300. I just need the decoder with 2inputs and 6outputs, ohh and a cable for the inputs.

aliEnRIK

You need a dvd player with onboard decoding that has 6 channel OUT phonos to go into your 6 channel IN amp

aliEnRIK

Something like this
http://whathifi.com/Review/Toshiba-SD-370E/