Just got a new Pioneer DV-656A. I'll be connecting it to my Philips FR975 receiver.

To take advantage of DVD-Audio, I'll be running cables from the player's six analog outs to the receiver's six analog inputs. So far, so good.

But that leaves me with the question: For sound with DVD-Video, should I just leave this setup as is? In other words, should I just use the player's Dolby Digital/DTS decoder and run the signal through the six analog outs? Or would I be better off connecting a separate digital cable and letting the receiver do the digital decoding?

I suppose it's a matter of which device has the better DD/DTS decoder. This I don't know. So any advice on these specific devices would be appreciated.

Second, if I do run a separate cable for DVD-V sound, how does my receiver know which inputs it should be looking for at the appropriate times? I can only assign one input per source -- in this case, the "DVD" selector on my receiver can be set only to "6 CHANNEL ANALOG" or "COAX," not both. If I assign "COAX," then that'll be fine when I'm watching a DVD-V movie disc. But when I then pop in a DVD-Audio disc, the receiver won't "hear" the signal coming into the "6 CHANNEL" ins -- unless I stop to manually reassign the whole shebang. Surely this isn't how this stuff is supposed to work.

To add a third element to what may already be a confusing post: If I do employ both the analog and digital outs of the DVD player, how does IT know which output to send the signal through? For instance, since most DVD-Audio discs include a Dolby Digital mix in addition to the DVD-A mix, how will it know which of the two to send -- since I'll have activated both the analog (DVD-A) and digital (DD) outputs? Or, because it's a DVD-Audio player, does it send the DVD-A mix by default and just ignore the DD mix altogether?

AAGGGH! I love this stuff, but it drives me nuts.

Help would be mighty welcome. Thanks!

I would use the DVD player controls to send either the digital output, or discreet analog outputs to your receiver for both your formats. Then, on your pre/pro, or receiver, select the proper input your looking to use.

A remote with macro capabilities will make this setup stuff have a higher WAF, if you don't have a wife, then just use the 8 remotes. ; )

Well, one can't use a digital out with DVD-Audio. The only decoder for DVD-A is in the player, so only the analog outs can be used to get the signal into the receiver. (This is the case universally with the DVD-A format -- as mandated by the record industry for copy-protection purposes.)

In other words, I have no choice but analog out with the DVD-A. My dilemma was whether to additionally run digital out for DVD-V.

I went ahead and did that, and just assigned each input to a different source on my receiver. Thus I'll now set the receiver to "DVD" when watching a movie, and to "TAPE" for listening to DVD-A. I wish there were a more elegant solution, but alas, my receiver doesn't offer one.

(As for the remote: An excess of toggle on/off's with my equipment prevents me from setting up many simple, efficient macros anyway. Gggrrr. So the WAF is gonna suck no matter what!)

There are ways around that...especially a TV.

Does the wife care about the higher quality DVD-A sound? If not, just let her listen to the compressed 5.1 surround version through the digital connection and you can switch to the analog input when you are there.

Well, your post raises a good question. Nothing will play through the digital connection on the DVD-A discs I've tried.

I was under the impression that every DVD-Audio disc included an additional Dolby Digital mix. But none of the discs I've popped into the player -- all of them major titles -- provide an option for playing the Dolby Digital version. In fact, they offer just two choices: "Surround Playlist" and "Stereo Playlist." You just click on "Surround Playlist" and it starts playing.

In other words, there's no indication which mix you're getting; you can only assume that, "Well, I've got a DVD-A player, it must be playing the DVD-A mix." I think this is a major oversight on the part of the disc makers. This stuff is confusing enough to the average joe; they should provide a very clear interface that specifies exactly what you can access and how to access it.

So how DOES one get to the Dolby Digital mixes on these things? I was looking forward to A/B'ing them, but it's apparently not possible on my player.

DVD audio disc, are called DVD audio for a reason. They are not dolby digital. Why do you think there are analog outputs on DVD audio capable players. And no such thing on regular players. DVD audio is it's own format.

Um, I understand that, which is the likely reason my post included the sentence, "I was under the impression that every DVD-Audio disc included an additional Dolby Digital mix." Note the word "additional."

Yes, DVD-Audio is indeed its own format. But to make the releases compatible with existing DVD players -- the majority of which are not DVD-A players -- Dolby Digital mixes have been included on DVD-A releases. And so my question was: How do I access these Dolby Digital mixes from my DVD-A player?

Normally, these are located on the DVD in the Menu setup. Otherwise, if you can't find the audio settings for the DVD there, they don't exisit.

And, you probably have to set your DVD player to output 5.1. Like my earlier post, you probably need to select two different things...the audio output of your DVD player, and the input format on your Reciever.

"If you can't find the audio settings for the DVD there, they don't exist."

That sounds like a confident answer, but it is not correct. Since my last post, I've learned that most DVD-Audio discs have two separate menus: One is displayed on DVD-Audio players, listing the DVD-Audio tracks. A different menu is displayed on regular DVD players, listing the Dolby Digital tracks. A player will display only one or the other menu.

That is why I can't access the Dolby Digital tracks of a DVD-A disc on my DVD-A player.

Never experienced that...all DVD Audio discs I've seen, you can select the output from the menu. If it states DD on the back of the case, you can find it.

That would be extremely smart software, and how can a DVD tell what player you have. It cant even tell what format to play in. IE it can't tell if you have a stereo system or a DD or a DTS capable system, you have to tell it that. So, I would assume, if you have your player in the DVD analog output, it may only read the analog output capable menu, switch the output to DD, maybe the DD only menu would appear. Since your player can reproduce both DVD Audio and 'regular' DVD DD or DTS, it should display both menus according to your statement.

I'm basing these thoughts on how other DVD Audio players I've used work. I think you may be overlooking a setting in the DVD players menu.

This message was edited by Matt on 01/06/03 23:11.

OK I have been pondering the same problem now for three days. Here is what I have found out. And it did put things into perspective for me. Hope it helps you as well. Look too this page first :
[Link: techtronics.com]

Then see this graphic from Monster Cable, It does help
[Link: monstercable.com]
and lastly:
[Link: bestbuy.com]
hope it helps.

This message was edited by Larry John on 01/07/03 00:50.

One thing, "MOST" is not all, nor is it part of the DVD audio standard.

From the link Larry pointed at [Link: techtronics.com]


"DVD Audio takes up enormous amount of storage capacity. Many album discs may contains only this format."

So I still stand by what I said. If you get another sound option on a DVD audio disc, it's a bonus, but not a sure thing.

Agreed...

It should say on the case. Read before you buy.

Come on guys... I didn't mean for you to poke each other in the eyes and yell, "SEE!" The format for DVD-Audio is different from that of SACD. SACD is proprietary to Sony and Philips so far, unless they sell the use of their license.

(And after paying $1000.00 for a Sony DVP-S7000 a few years ago, and now I discover they will not upgrade the unit to decode DTS – They would rather have me buy a new unit, of comparable quality for yet another $1000.00 don’t have to say this PISSES ME OFF GREATLY !!! )

I must up grade my DVD/Audio player as well. The very nature of DVD-Audio recording takes almost the entire DVD. Think of it as listening to the master tapes in the studio. The hook up for DVD-Audio means that you will have to use your player as the decoder source. If you only run the co-ax and Tosh Link, you'll only get CD Quality.

You will need to hook up the 5.1 Analog cables to get the full dimension of DVD-Audio sound. I mistakenly thought that was the original inquiry.

Sincerely - Larry