If I am watching a non-digital (non-5.1) source such as certain old DVDs or a VHS tape, and I use my Pioneer receiver in surround but not digital 5.1 mode, the 2 front speakers cut out almost completely. All front sound comes from the center speaker only, and the sub and rear do work. I don't understand this. Any ideas? thanks. (P.S. Digital 5.1 works just fine.)

My guess is that one of your analog interconnects is bad, loose plug, etc. That would cause the pro-logic to assume a mono source, which normally steers to center, even though it would seem that collapsing to the good side would make more sense. Try another known cable, and a known sound source that has good stereo separation.

Larry

That's a very strange problem. If it was a bad or loose interconnect, the 5.1 would exhibit the same problem.

We had a similar problem with a JVC 5.1 receiver; the FM station always came out of the centre channel. Turns out the stereo signal was just too weak for the receiver to process, and for some reason it fed it to the centre. I thought at the time that this was a design flaw, because I have two other surround receivers that don't exhibit this tendency. ... Mike

Greg, I should have asked: Is the digital hookup the only one you use, or did you connect analog L & R also? If digital only, then Mike is correct. However, you said "certain DVDs". If some DVDs do it, and others play properly, then it's not the receiver.

Make sure your surround mode is set properly. The only reason Pro Logic would put out center-only is if it is not receiving a stereo signal. The steering logic uses channel differences to steer left and right; no differences, then it all goes center.

Have you tried stereo FM or a CD? Something with a definite stereo-sound source. Obviously, the VHS is analog only. There could be a problem with the receiver circuitry between the source selector and the surround decoder.

Larry

This message was edited by Larry Fine on 09/21/01 11:33.59.

One other possible thing to check...although not too likely is that you have the center and rear levels turned all the way up in Pro-Logic.

I know on my system I can adjust the levels for DTS, DD, Pro-Logic and their own DSPs fields.

In Pro-Logic though the majority of the front channels track is distributed to the center channel speaker. If the left and right are non-exsistent then check out the stuff mentioned above.