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dvd player and dolby digital 5.1
nigelcraft
14-03-2001
hi im using a technics sa-dx940 dolby digital surround system and ive tried to connect my toshiba dvd player (sd-2109b) from coaxial output on the dvd player into the technics 6 channel input,ive had no luck getting any sound out at all and am thinking of getting a new dvd player,ive been told that you have to buy a dvd player with dolby digital 5.1 built in to get the 5.1 surround sound from the technics system but ive also been told that if i just buy a
dvd player with an optical or coaxial output signal i can get dolby digital 5.1 that way!!
can anyone help tell me which is correct as im going mad and am not sure which dvd player to buy and dont want to be ripped off again
Orbitalzone
14-03-2001
OK, firstly the single phono digital coaxial output from your DVD is a digital signal and will only go into an amp that has a single phono coaxial digital input, and not the 6 phono inputs your 940 amp has.

Your 940 amp has the option of connecting via an optical digital link to the DVD - this gives Dolby Digital AC3 surround sound.

Also the 940 has an analogue 5 phono input arrangement (which means you have 5 phono leads from the DVD player)BUT not all DVD players have this.. to do this you need a DVD that features an inbuilt Dolby Digital decoder which means it woud have 5 output sockets (ok 6 if you count the subwoofer).... All DVDs offers 'Dolby digital compatible' but this is not the same thing as an inbuilt 'dolby digital decoder'! ....

confused yet!!

Anyhow, if your DVD has an optical output as well as a coaxial type that you mention, then all you need to do is buy an optical TOSlink cable and connect the 2 units upvia the optical link, then on the 940 you need to select '5.1' digital input.

If you haven't got an optical output on your DVD then you're stuck I think!
nigelcraft
14-03-2001
thanks for reply im still a bit confused can i only get 5.1 via the phono or do i get it via the optical link too? sorry im a bit thick
Orbitalzone
14-03-2001
Ideally with the amp you have, you need to use the optical input socket on it, and of course you need a DVD player with an optical output socket. This lead sends a digital signal through a fibre optic lead into your amplifier which decodes this into Dolby Digital 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround sound.

Some DVD players have this Dolby Digital decoder built in to the DVD player and in this case you need a more basic amp with only the 5.1 phono socket inputs (six analogue phono sockets)

Your amp has both options- 6 phono inputs and digital optical input, so if your current DVD player has an optical output (not coaxial digital output) then it should all work with an optical lead.

If your amp has a digital coaxial single phono input (I'm sure it doesn't though) then you can use that with your DVD player.

If your DVD doesn't have an optical output then I think you're a bit stuck and may need another DVD player. I think that generally most DVD players all have an optical digital output.

I personnally think it better to have a Digital Decoder built into the amplifier as you have, rather than a DVD player with it in, but I dare say there are reasons for and against both options.


Hope this helps.
nigelcraft
15-03-2001
yes that clears it up thanks i was jut unsure whether it would be a 5.1 signal or not through an optical cable ,which it obviously is
thanks a lot
Nikhil
15-03-2001
Yeah, i've had that amp for a while an basically there are a few options.
1. If you want the DVD player to decode the sound to dolby digital, use the 5.1 audio outputs (the 6 cables going from your dvd to the amp)
2. If you want your amp to do the decoding then use the optical or coaxial cables.

Personally i'd go for the optical cable and let the amp do the business. It also reduces cable clutter at the back of your unit!!
Orbitalzone
17-03-2001
Do you think there is any advantage using a DVD player with the inbuilt digital decoder with it's 6 outputs compared to using an amp with digital decoder built in like the Technics 940?

I'd have thought it better to use a decent amp with multi inpiuts / Digital decoder inbuilt than the other way around.... comments anyone?

le hutch
20-03-2001
I would have thought its better to use the DD decoder on the amp/reciever, I would have thought they are better quality/higher spec than the one in the DVD player.

Also you are better off using the coaxial digital connection as although a optical is, in theory, less susceptable to interferance, the signal has to be converted form electrical to optical to electrical, which could lead to losses.
Nikhil
20-03-2001
I would've thought that using the amps dd processor would be better than using the players one.
Darth Sidious
03-04-2001
The AMP is better, don't bother with the DVD decoder.

I have the Technics, great machine, and speakers are nice for a small room. Worth the money.

As others have said, connect the player via Optical. The Technics doesn't have Coax connection.
Skysurfer2000
03-04-2001
The Tosh 2109 only has a co-ax digital out. Which was the pathetic excuse I used to treat myself to a new sony player. The Tosh was a great machine in every respect though.
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