Is it possible to get an amp/decoder that will decode DTS, Dolby pro-logic2 and Dolby ES and EX, or all formats of sound?
I ask as i read that if you want a futureproof amp it should have Dolby ES and EX but i cant find one which has also got DTS and DPL2 which are the most widely used sound formats.

Specialist home cinema companies like Denon are the people to go to buy amps that have several different sound systems on them but they are at a price. If you buy a magazine like 'What Video & TV' there are plenty of adverts to look through.

Your normal high street electrical store will only stock 5.1/dts systems which are all you need at the moment. I think there are only a couple of dvds produced in 6.1 sound at the present time. The 5.1 systems involve having 5 speakers plus a sub woofer attached to your tv. The next one 6.1 ES or EX has an extra rear centre speaker though there are no home cinema kits offering a complete 6.1 package you would have to make the kit up yourself.

Dolby Prologic II is on a lot of amps but I have only seen these on amps in magazines. This takes existing sounds and gives them a pseudo 5.1 sound.

I wouldn't really worry about buying a 'futureproof' amp, I would just go out and buy a 5.1/dts one and up grade in the future. The higher you go means more and more speakers which for a home setting can become a bit ridculous. The highest system I have read about is a 10.2 (10 speakers and 2 sub woofers) which I don't really think a normal lounge could take.

You won't regret jumping on the home cinema bandwagon because the sound just brings the dvd life, it is amazing.

Hi Wicket, a 10.1 system does sound a bit over the top, the wiring would be a nightmare.
I read in Home cinema choice about getting Dolby ES and EX, in the mag it has the Yamaha DSP-AX1 which decodes ES and EX but says it has no 6.1 decoding, but then on the opposite page there's an ad from richer sounds that has the DSP-AX1 and says it has DTS so i'd assume it's a 5.1 amp, all these formats confuse things, the problem is once i've bought an amp and got together some speakers and a new it's got to last me quite a while.

Looking at a copy of a Home Cinema Choice magazine it says the amp decodes DTS ES and DD EX - these are 6.1 systems. Have you had a look at Yahama's website to see if there is any more info on it? I can see how you are getting confused because when I look at the adverts for it some say conflicting things.

If you can afford it, I would definitely go for a 6.1 amp with DP II if you wanting to future proof yourself for a while but you will be paying for it. I bought my first amp in 1996 which just had Dolby Prologic, five years it broke so I bought a new one, this one has DD 5.1 and DTS and is a lot more advanced. However, I paid the same for this one as I did for the Prologic one so prices do come down and formats become standard.

There is no guarantee that people are going to want to have more and more speakers in the home. I could manage the extra one for the 6.1 system but going any higher than that could look silly. DVDs may not be produced in anything higher than 6.1, the majority now are in 5.1 (and dts if you are lucky) with occasional releases in 6.1. Please remember that everything is backwards compatible so a 6.1 dvd will just down mix its sound if it is played on a 5.1 system.

Right then i've got my eye on the Pioneer VSX-909RDS which has DTS-ES & EX will that decode DTS 5.1 dvd's?

Yes. 5.1 is just an earlier format. Have you considered buying an amp with Prologic II on it as well? On another thread someone was saying it was really good and gave old prologic material a new lease of life.

Thanks wicket, yep i would consider PL2, could you suggest an amp for me to look at

If I had the cash I would be looking at getting a Denon amp. This company always seems to be rated highly amongst home cinema enthusiasts. There will be models in your home cinema mag you have. Another thing to watch out for is these amps are incredibly big. I saw one up at the Metro Centre the other week and was amazed at the size of it, I think it would have taken a complete shelf to itself under the tv which would have made problems for the other stuff to go.

The amp I have got is a HTK 215 (dts/5.1) which I am more than happy with. It is also incredibly small about the size of an old Playstation One. So keep a check on the space you have under your tv.

I'm saving cash up for the MARANTZ 5200 or something equivilent to it. A 6.1 system apparently with 90 watts per channel (sounds cool I've read).

Has all the formats you mentioned.

That does look like a nice amp but i've sold myself on the Pioneer VSX-909RDS, although it has no Pro-logic 2 it makes up for it by having 7D-theater