In mostly reading this forum for about a year now, I've noticed that the majority of concerns are directed towards HD, picture quality and programming in addition to talk about the latest receivers. What I don't see is much discussion of sound issues, unless it's a problem with some particular receiver.
Do most of you with HD gear also have a good sound system? At least a decent A/V receiver to take the Dolby Digital output and get 5.1 surround sound? Are there concerns that SD channels that boast about their DD sound are simple PCM stereo out of the receiver?
One of the reasons I bought a 4900 several years ago, and then upgraded to my current 625, is that both supported optical outputs for my A/V system. Even with SD, a good movie soundtrack can make all the difference. Yet the only DD content I see is on a select few PPV channels and Starz. I also have Cinemax and they have no DD on any channels. Even Starz drops the quality during the daytime to 2-CH Dolby, and this in on current movies that are definitely encoded with 5.1.
The situation is too fluid right now for me to consider upgrading to HD. But when I do, will the sound on HD channels be equal to the PQ? Will the move to MPEG4 allow for more DD 5.1 being passed through?
Just curious,
sigmtr
Do most of you with HD gear also have a good sound system? At least a decent A/V receiver to take the Dolby Digital output and get 5.1 surround sound? Are there concerns that SD channels that boast about their DD sound are simple PCM stereo out of the receiver?
One of the reasons I bought a 4900 several years ago, and then upgraded to my current 625, is that both supported optical outputs for my A/V system. Even with SD, a good movie soundtrack can make all the difference. Yet the only DD content I see is on a select few PPV channels and Starz. I also have Cinemax and they have no DD on any channels. Even Starz drops the quality during the daytime to 2-CH Dolby, and this in on current movies that are definitely encoded with 5.1.
The situation is too fluid right now for me to consider upgrading to HD. But when I do, will the sound on HD channels be equal to the PQ? Will the move to MPEG4 allow for more DD 5.1 being passed through?
Just curious,
sigmtr