Best sound setting for Sky TV content

Phonesis

Phonesis

Phonesis

Associate
Joined
25 Jan 2009
Posts
1,903
Location
UK
I've just upgraded to a nice surround sound setup. Use a Sky+ HD box at the mo. Might upgrade to Sky Q one day.

Just wondering what the best receiver setting is for TV content? Direct? My old receiver allowed for Pro Logic 2 but I don't seem to get that with new one. Instead, I get Surround Enhancer mode which I think is similar. Someone I know suggested I just use All Channel Stereo for TV though as it's generally not worth expecting TV content to have decent 5.1?

Guessing the Direct mode kinda automatically sets the best output?
 
What receiver do you have? Generally you want Direct or Multichannel, anything like Pro-Logic means it's trying to turn a 2-channel source into a 5.1 channel output, which is fine for stereo content.

Make sure you've got the Sky box outputting the correct format also and that's it connected directly to the receiver because most TVs don't passthrough a 5.1 signal.
 
TheVoice said:
What receiver do you have? Generally you want Direct or Multichannel, anything like Pro-Logic means it's trying to turn a 2-channel source into a 5.1 channel output, which is fine for stereo content.

Make sure you've got the Sky box outputting the correct format also and that's it connected directly to the receiver because most TVs don't passthrough a 5.1 signal.
Click to expand...

Thanks yeah got the Sky box set to output Dolby 5.1 via HDMI which goes into receiver.

It's an Onkyo TX-L50 (guide is here: http://www.eu.onkyo.com/downloads/3/0/1/9/4/Manual_TX-L50_EnFrEsItDeNlSv.pdf)

According to that, it used to do Pro-Logic 2 but now replaced that via firmware update (which I have) to some new Dolby standard called Dolby Atmos (page 33).
 
Set the Sky Box to Dolby D over HDMI. On both the Onkyo I had and the Sony I now have I then set the Amp to PLII Movie. Then anything coming in stereo the amp improves and anything coming in 5.1 the amp just leave alone.
 
That's weird, because PLII and Atmos have nothing to do with each other really so I wonder why they removed PLII?

To be honest, you just have to try the different modes until you find what you like. Direct or Multichannel (never figured out what the difference is on my Onkyo) will deliver 5.1 as intended, and the receiver should switch to a different mode (mine goes to PLII Movie like pepp) for 2-channel sources. Takes a bit of fiddling and trial and error, but the Onkyos usually have a way of displaying on the screen what format they're receiving which helps figure things out.
 
signs said:
Atmos brings two more s


you will need two ceiling or upward fireing speakers (along with your 5.1 setup) to make the most out of Atmos
Click to expand...

And also an Atmos capable amp. Given that the OPs amp only has outputs for 5.1, I don’t understand how Onkyo can claim to the amp supports it.

I think Surround Enhancer produces a similar effect to DPII so I’d stick with that. All Channel Stereo is generally for music. Direct mode doesn’t apply any effects to the sound input and only uses the speakers required by the input ie stereo only uses two speakers, 5.1 will use them all.
 
It reads to me like Dolby Surround is the option I should go with to basically get the equivalent of Pro Logic 2. Seems odd they did away with it.

Guess I will experiment with that and Direct modes and see what I like the best.
 
I believe I have my SKY+ HD box with the HDMI going to my A/V Denon Amp along with the Optical cable from the Sky Box to the AMP for audio.

Is optical any better than HDMI for audio?
 
I have TV audio set to stereo/direct or sometimes I just use the TV speakers. They're actually pretty good, but then they should be considering the cost of the TV.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom