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PCM vs Dolby 5.1


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Old 01-07-2007, 19:06
guitardave
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A bit of a noob question, but what is the difference between PCM and Dolby 5.1? And any other audio formats for that matter! I have a surround sound setup at home, so when given the choice on dvd's/blu-rays, which is the best to have on?


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Old 01-07-2007, 19:15
chrisjr
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By and large PCM tends to mean plain vanilla stereo. Dolby 5.1 means true surround sound.

So if you have a surround sound system and want the full surround experience select Dolby 5.1.

You may also have come across DTS which is a competing format to Dolby for true surround sound.

Dolby ProLogic is a lower grade surround sound format if you like. ProLogic can be used to encode surround information down to two "tracks" which makes it possible to transmit it over a stereo system, such as TV.

ProLogic can also be used to generate a surround effect from a stereo source. So you can use it to enhance normal TV sound, though the effect can vary somewhat depending on the type of sound track you are feeding into the decoder.
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Old 01-07-2007, 19:28
Ash_735
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He mentions Blu-Ray, which come with a PCM surround track, which is by far the better sound option, in the same league as DTS, maybe even better.
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Old 01-07-2007, 19:38
guitardave
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He mentions Blu-Ray, which come with a PCM surround track, which is by far the better sound option, in the same league as DTS, maybe even better.
So... if I'm watching blu ray, I should listen in PCM, but if I'm watching dvd I should listen in DTS, or Dolby Digital 5.1 if DTS is not available?...




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Old 01-07-2007, 23:12
Kojack
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Hmmm ive always known PCM to be 2 channel & only good for prologic surround, unless this has changed with Blu ray.

If not either 5.1 DD or DTS would better than PCM if you have the equipment to output 5.1
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Old 02-07-2007, 02:20
Jarrak
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PCM comes in many favours and if I understand it in terms of Blu-ray soundtracks it's similar to the spec used on multichannel SACD/DVD-A audio disks.

As always you choose the soundtrack which sounds the best on your particular amp/speaker setup
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