Need setup questions answered

[EtOH]

Ok guys, need some help from the AV geeks

Here is my current set-up:

Reciever = Panasonic SA-XR50
TV = Sharp LC-37D43U
DVD = Panasonic DVD-S52
Satelitte = DirecTV HR20-100

I currently have both Satellite and DVD hooked up to my Sharp LCD via HDMI. I have noticed that satellite sounds fine on the built in speakers, but DVDs are REAL quiet on voices and only loud enough to hear when there is music playing on the movie. Doesn't matter how high I turn it up. Any ideas what that is all about?

Nothing is hooked up to my receiver right now. My receiver will take a 6.1 speaker but sounds good on 2 channel audio.

What I am looking to do temporarily until I get new speakers is as follows:

- Leave the 2 speakers hooked up
- Run audio out from the tv to the receiver via Optical

My questions are this.

1) Will optical and 2 speakers work ok or does optical require a surround setup?

2) In my receiver manual it shows optical connections along with a red/white analog. Is the red/white analog necessary if you are running optical?

I believe since both units are HDMI to the TV, and then the TV would be optical to the receiver that audio for DVD and Satellite would run over the same cable to the reciever. Should mean I don't have to change inputs on the receiver when changing sources on the tv.

 

[PurdueRy]

1) Optical can carry more than just surround sound sources. So stereo is fine

2) The only case where this would matter if there are stations that are not digital and the satellite box were to only output analog when this occurs. Not sure if this happens still...but its more of a "cover all bases" type move.

 

[Nohr]

Stereo works fine over optical. In your DVD player settings make sure the surround speakers and subwoofer are disabled. This will downmix 5.1 content to stereo so you'll still hear everything.

Also your receiver should have a night mode you can enable if you still need help hearing voices.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Nohr
Stereo works fine over optical. In your DVD player settings make sure the surround speakers and subwoofer are disabled. This will downmix 5.1 content to stereo so you'll still hear everything.

Also your receiver should have a night mode you can enable if you still need help hearing voices.

You don't need to do that unless your using the analog outputs on your DVD player. Otherwise your receiver performs this operation

 

[EtOH]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Nohr
Stereo works fine over optical. In your DVD player settings make sure the surround speakers and subwoofer are disabled. This will downmix 5.1 content to stereo so you'll still hear everything.

Also your receiver should have a night mode you can enable if you still need help hearing voices.

You don't need to do that unless your using the analog outputs on your DVD player. Otherwise your receiver performs this operation

Right now it is HDMI from DVD to TV, no receiver. Could the TV only be playing 2 channels thinking it is a 5.1 setup? That could explain why some sounds (dialog) is so quiet, but effects and music are VERY loud.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: EtOH

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Nohr
Stereo works fine over optical. In your DVD player settings make sure the surround speakers and subwoofer are disabled. This will downmix 5.1 content to stereo so you'll still hear everything.

Also your receiver should have a night mode you can enable if you still need help hearing voices.

You don't need to do that unless your using the analog outputs on your DVD player. Otherwise your receiver performs this operation

Right now it is HDMI from DVD to TV, no receiver. Could the TV only be playing 2 channels thinking it is a 5.1 setup? That could explain why some sounds (dialog) is so quiet, but effects and music are VERY loud.

Yes that was my initial guess. Go into your DVD player menu and change Dolby digital and DTS from bitstream to PCM...see if that fixes things.

 

[EtOH]

Tried PCM instead of bitstream, and tried Night Sound Mode. Not any better on either.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

For troubleshooting, can you try using an analog audio connection from your receiver to your TV for now? (Just to make sure that works fine)