I just got a PVR501. I has just optical audio connection so I of course used it. Problem is my reciever only has one imput and that is what my DVD was using. So I got some RCA's to hook up the 5.1. I am pretty sure this is the better option anyway. There is also the digital connection, but I'm hoping to save it for a game system. Anyone know how they connect for sure? Anyway, my reciever used to give me some feedback that it was actually in dolby digital mode. Since I switched the cables around it doesn't. Sorry this is so vague. You can comment I guess if I did a no, no.

I assume you mean you connected all 6 of the DVD's discrete audio output to the 6 discrete preamp inputs on your AV receiver? With this setup, the only way you'll know if you are in digital mode is when the DVD player tells you, because essentially you are now using the DVD player's Dolby/DTS decoder rather than the one in the receiver.

The "digital" connection you talk about provides the same type of interconnect as an optical hookup, except it uses coax instead of fiber.

Graham

Hammy, to agree with Graham and to explain a bit more:

The multi-channel inputs on the receiver will merely pass whatever is fed to them. It's a purely analog connection: the digital-to-analog and surround decoding is done in the player. The receiver is seeing no digital signal at all. That explains the loss of the indication.

Is it better or worse? Most likely, it will sound the same, the only difference being you have less signal-manipulating ability. Your control is dependent upon the player's controls.

As for the game connections, it depends on the game console, so you'll have to see what it needs.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com