Assembling A Modest Home Theater System

[mguy]

Hey guys, I have the following onkyo components : stereo amp,preamp and surround sound processor with built in amp.

My question is: can I get a dvd player with built in dac to enjoy 5.1 processing or do I need additional equipment ?

Also, there isnt any input for a sub, but from what I gather from my earlier post, this shouldnt be too much trouble.

Sorry about the rambling.

[reyneman]

Understand upfront that I am not an expert on home theater equipment, so take that into consideration when reading this post (ie-be sure to check before you buy anything).

I believe ALL dvd players include DACs- may be some out there that don't, but would be rare.

Now, can you use them? This is the rub. Many DVD analog outs are two channel audio, meaning you lose the surround sound as contained in the movie. The SACD/DVD Audio players (Sony 755 is one I'm familiar with) DO have five channel analog outputs, so no external processor is needed (or useable).

I run one of my DVDs using a stereo system for sound, and can talk about that, but I am not familiar with your surround processor so can't address that.

Since you have a preamp/amp setup, I would run the stereo analog out of the DVD to the pre, go from the pre out to your subwoofer in (going on your last post), then from the active sub out to your amp in. This would give you your bass control for the front of your system. Sorry, no center channel using a stereo amp- I don't miss it on a smaller room, but a large room may differ.

Does your processor have a bypass mode for effects? If so, and if you get a DVD with 5 analog outputs, you could run the processor from the remaining three channels, using only its amp. This would work for a front LRC, but unless you feel its amp is as good as your main one, you would be using the inferior amp for the main sound. You would also lose the flexibility of your active sub crossover, being stuck with the set cutoff of the .1 output of your DVD. Could work, though

[michael w]

Yes, you can buy DVD players that have onboard DD/DTS processing , with analog outputs for each channel.

Does your surround processor have 5.1 analog inputs ?

If so then feed the DVD players into that and use the surround processor for volume control.

Feed the LR main outputs to your pre/power amp combo and use the surround processor's amps for the surround and centre channels.

All of which makes for a convoulted system that may not be very easy to use.

A better route would be to buy a cheap DVD player and AV receiver and do all your surround sound through the AVR.

It might even sound better than your existing pre/power amps.
If not, it's easy enough to wire the AVR into your existing system and get the best of both worlds.

A competent dealer in AV gear should be able to talk you through all these options in more detail.


cheerio

[gonefishin]

Hi mguy. It's really kinda hard to tell without knowing what exact components you have...and what inputs/outputs they have. Can you provide model numbers for your components? and better yet...maybe a link that shows the specs and pictures? If you can't find a link anywhere...do you have a digital camera to take a couple pics of the back of the amps?


If you want to do DD 5.1...you'll first need either a DD reciever or processor or a DD ready reciever. Either way...on the back of the rec. or pro. you should have at least RCA 5.1 inputs...and/or a Co-Ax input and/or a optic input.

If you could get some more details on your gear it should be easier to see what you need.

[mguy]

thanks for the reply everyone. My componets are onkyo m-501 power amp,150 wpc, -301 preamp, 600 es pro surround sound processor, it has built in amps with 50 wpc center speaker, 20 wpc surround speakers.Surround effects can be bypassed, but There is not any input for dolby 5.1 on the processor.

With typical dolby effects ; dolby pro logic, hall stadium etc. I've been leaning toward an add on dolby digital processor,such as on from Adcom, but it has been discontinued according to Adcom, so it may be hard to find.

[michael w]

Technics had a nice little DD/DTS unit, model SH-AC500D.

Pretty cheap (RRP was only $300), good sounding and plentiful.

No on-board amps so that my be a problem for you as discrete digital decoding likes high power all around.

And it may make for a mess of cables as you will need to daisy chain it into your existing system.

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/038/038313p1.html



cheerio