DVD vs Receiver Dolby/DTS

[Qwackertoo]

Just got the HDTV (Mitsubishi WS65611) - now trying to setup the rest of the system. The Panasonic CP72 DVD looks like a good deal, as well as JBL SCS150 speakers. But with this setup, I think I need an AV receiver to combine TV/DVD audio and drive the speakers.

This brings up the question. If I buy a new AV receiver, it will certainly have Dolby5.1/DTS support. So what good is the Dolby/DTS in the DVD player? Seems like a feature which will never be used (= wasted money).

What are other options? I am only concerned with TV/DVD audio - tryng to get a decent system as cheap as possible ( <600). I thought I was there with the DVD and speakers, but then realized I probably need a new receiver too. Trying to avoid "HT Box" systems.

One last question - when I do get the surround setup, do I leave the TV speakers on or off? On one hand, seems like more speakers should be better ( I know them IMAX theaters have a whole bunch). But then, surround sound is probably an integrated system, and unintegrated (TV) speakers are probably bad.

[57U]

Originally posted by Qwackertoo 1. If I buy a new AV receiver, it will certainly have Dolby5.1/DTS support. So what good is the Dolby/DTS in the DVD player? Seems like a feature which will never be used (= wasted money).

2. What are other options?

3. When I do get the surround setup, do I leave the TV speakers on or off? Deana:

1. None, wasted money, correct.

2. Check out the FAQ section, see the post "If only I'd have known" (at the bottom). That should help when you go shopping for your A/V Receiver. You can then purchase a "5.1 speaker system" separately.

3. TV speakers off. The TV speakers are no use in a surround system. Since you are starting from scratch, the speakers should be "timbre matched" and if you go with a "5.1 system" you will have no use for the TV speakers.

Lastly, $600 for receiver and speakers is a little on the low side. See if you can afford a little more... For example, many of the features listed in the FAQ only start once you spend a bit more money for the receiver.

Happy Hunting.

[pcoffman]

If your DVD player has the DD/DTS decoder built in you can always by a receiver that is just DD/DTS ready and doesn't have the actual decoder built in the receiver. Just a suggestion. :)

[billw]

what if another source such as an STB does not have a decoder?

wouldnt she back to square one?

[pcoffman]

Yeah in that case she is back to square one.

[57U]

She's looking at the appropriate receiver, no worries. I don't think there are that many home theatre receivers that don't have DD5.1/DTS decoders, that's why I'm somewhat puzzled why DVD players have decoders these days.

[pcoffman]

I agree the only ones that I could see to have them are the DVD players that do DVD-Audio or SACD. I have heard you still have to use there decoder to get it to play the Audio and SACD tracks. I was hoping it would work the same as all the other 5.1 movies and music. I don't see why it can't use the decoder in the receiver as long as the receiver handles the 24/96 signal. I am not very knowledgable in that catagory though I could be totally wrong.

[billw]

Is there any direction on SACD and DVD-Audio. Is either one "taking off"?

[spaceman_spiff]

Most of the DVD players that I have seen have DTS out, no decoder. So you need a reciever that does DTS decoding, almost all surround recievers will do that.
Again, there could be a different way of doing this.
Good Luck :)