I am setting up a new home theater and want to see if I can expand my current 5 channel Denon AVR 5700 system set up to 7 channels with the proper decoding, etc. I have an excellent Nakamichi CA-5 pre amp and a Nakamichi PA-5 2X100 power amp, so I think that I have the horsepower, but need the new intelligence to decode.
Of course, I could not find anything on the Denon site- HELP! Am in Montreal, Quebec and will visit the local dealers here, etc.
Many thanks.

Gary, I use a simple stand-alone Dolby Pro-Logic decoder in 3-channel mode to extract a rear-center channel. The normal surround speakers are side-mounted, and the new channel becomes a rear. Let us know if you want a diagram.

Larry

Larry, I would like to get a diagram if I could .

Will a verbal diagram do? If not, email me (author's profile), and I'll attach a drawing.

It's really simple: run the left-rear and right-rear preamp outputs into the main inputs on the extra decoder. Then connect the left-front and right-front outs to your rear amp. Get it so far? The rear outs basically 'pass through' the decoder on the way to the rear amp(s). Now, connect the decoder's center out to your rear-center amp.

What we've done is what normally happens with a 3-channel setup, one that only has 3 front speakers. You get left, right, and an extracted center channel, which reproduces what is common to both channels. The left and right signals pass through mostly unaffected. The only difference is that we're doing this behind you instead of in front of you.

I said "mostly unaffected" because the pro-logic steering actually exaggerates the stereo from the surrounds a bit, which is okay when you have a center speaker. Some people don't like this setup because sounds that would normally be reproduced in mono, not stereo, by both surrounds now come ONLY from the rear, not the sides (which is where the surrounds should now be positioned). To me, this sounds natural. However, since I have two rears, I still get an enveloping sound, even when the sides are silent.

If you want to try the 'other' method, connect the rear outputs to a pair of Y connectors, with one leg of each Y continuing to the rear amp inputs as before, and the other leg of each Y into the decoders main inputs. Now, the sides will receive the exact same signal as you have now, and the rear-center will receive the same center output as above.

Hope this works for you.

Larry

Let me re-phrase that: I have two rear SPEAKERS!

Larry