Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
How is the sound handled when I play a stereo audio CD on a Sony Dolby Digital 5.1 receiver and speaker system? My "A" speaker switch on the receiver sends sound to the 5.1 speaker system, and the "B" switch to another pair of traditional speakers in another room. Each sounds OK by itself (although I can't really decipher how the sound is divided between the 5.1 speakers). But when I set the switch to send to both speaker systems (AB), the sound is notably poorer in both rooms. I'd appreciate any tips you could offer for maximizing sound quality. Thanks!
Tom
Answer -
Dear Tom,
When you switch on both sets of speakers you increase the load on the amplifier (called "impedance"), which causes the strength of the amplifier to be split between the two series of speakers. It's because of this (the amplifier is really working hard), I generally recommend against running A and B speakers simultaneously. The only way to get the volume level back up is to install another amplifier between your receiver and the "B" speakers.
Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!
Kindest regards,
Kevin
Thanks, Kevin. In hindsight, it sounds pretty obvious. But now a follow-up: How is the stereo sound split up when sent to a 5.1 system? I thought it would be to the two front side speakers, but I seem to get sound from one front speaker and a little bit from the two rear speakers. Question #2: Should I set up the receiver to think there are no rear speakers, no center speaker, and no sub-woofer?. Thanks again for your help!
Tom
AnswerDear Tom,
You could have a future in this business...
Your receiver has a number of listening modes--not to be confused with digital signal processing (DSP--which are equalization algorithms designed to make your room sound like something else: orchestra hall, club, and so on). Common modes are stereo, all channel stereo, mono, and a number of weighted stereo options. Your receiver should also have DVD decoding capabilities: Dolby Digital EX, DTS, Dolby ProLogic, and so on.
For music listening I suggest you experiment with Dolby ProLogic II. It is designed to play back stereo recordings through the front channel speakers (traditional left and right stereo), but it also arithmetically combines portions of the two signals to emit a signal through the center channel. The theory is that a center channel sound will reinforce the stereo image generated by the stereo speakers. On some recordings, it's actually kinda cool. Otherwise, stick with stereo. Your user manual will tell you how to get there.
BTW, if you set the receiver to stereo, you should hear sound only out of the front channel speakers; all channel stereo = all speakers; Dolby ProLogic II = front channel and center channel speakers.
Unless you have full range front channel speakers that can reach down to at least 40-45Hz, integrating a subwoofer into your stereo or ProLogic II mix will strengthen the reproduction of the low end. Then again, that may not be to your liking. But by all means experiment. You can always reset everything!
Have a great time.
Kindest regards,
Kevin
