Seperate Surround Sound decoder.

[Combwork]

Hi,

Is it possible to get a seperate Digital Surround Sound decoder? This would drive front speakers via a receivers AUX input and rear speakers via a seperate pre/power amp.

Regards,

Jim.

[RichPA]

Hi, Jim - Yes, it's possible. You could get a home theater preamp/processor, or a separate stand-alone processor. Stand-alone processors aren't very common new anymore due to the popularity of home-theater receivers, but they're easy to find on ebay. If you give a little more information on what you have in mind (price range, whether DTS is importatnt to you, etc.), it would be possible to suggest some specific models.
Rich

[subdermis2000]

I've considered this approach as well since I've got 2 integrated and 1 receiver that would do nicely for this kind of set-up. DTS is a wanted in my books. Please do share your wisdom Rich :thmbsp:

[starkiller]

i too was trying to figure out how to use my vintage stuff for h/t and finally got a easy to understand answer, well, at least from the dvd manufacturer...i had been hearing and reading great stuff about a dvd player by Oppo...best this and best that..has won all kind of awards etc...so, got in touch with their technical department and they told me...yep, i can use my yamaha ca 2010 for the fronts(polk 10's), sansui au-999 for the rears (polk 7's), to be announced amp for the polk center channel...with the dvd player taking care of what sound goes to what amp, taking care of the balancing in volume, and doing this all by remote! it decodes dd and dts of course with all kinds of other stuff and features i dont understand :) needless to say, i will be purchasing this in the near future to be used in our new house with a real nice h/t system which of course will be two channel when it comes time for stereo :D

dont know if all or any of the other dvd players have this capability but it was refreshing to actually talk to and get email from a real person that speaks in laymans terms ...

alan

[pioneernut]

You can also look at a Pioneer Elite SP-99d Processor. Its an add on DTS/AC-3/Dolby Digital, Dolby ProLogic II processor. It has a couple of Digital inputs on the back to hook up to a DVD player to decode the Dolby Digital track. Its also a 5.1 surround unit, so 2 front, 2 rear, 1 center and a subwoofer out.

Just connect it to an existing Reciever and a second amp for the rear along with a powered sub and your in business. I see them on Ebay going around 75~150 dollars, maybe a little more.

BTW the SP-91 is the older version, it does not do Dolby Digital.

- Mike

[RichPA]

I've considered this approach as well since I've got 2 integrated and 1 receiver that would do nicely for this kind of set-up. DTS is a wanted in my books. Please do share your wisdom Rich :thmbsp:

Wisdom, huh? :scratch2: Well, I can tell you what I've done:

One way to do it is get an inexpensive stand-alone processor (like the Pioneer that Mike mentions, or a Technics SH-AC500, which might be cheaper) or an inexpensive pre/processor (as HT fans upgrade, these are starting to be available) and just think of its front L/R outputs as another input to an aux or tape input on your main receiver. Plug video sources for which you want surround into the processor, and 2-channel-only sources into other inputs on the main receiver. Set the receiver volume to some easily repeatable position (e.g., 12 o'clock), and adjust the processor for appropriate levels. This is what I do in my HT setup - much of the time, only the 2-channel system is being used, but when I want surround I turn on the rest of it. I also use the analog outputs of my DVD player/recorder into another input on the 2-channel system for when I want to hear video without surround.

[subdermis2000]

Thanks for the valuable input.

I bought the X-men trilogy last night and watched the first movie Friday night with just TV pseudo stereo sound. Tonight, part 2 with stereo using a new to me Rotel RA-870BX driving a pair of Telefunken RB46. Now the (rhetorical) question is, do I wait to watch part 3 (which I have not yet seen) and buy a HT receiver or just go for it?

Movie time it is. This time with my new to me fxi30 just for fun on the B channel.