DAC with Blu-ray

[manicm]

Hi

I watch movies in stereo with my Blu-ray player connected via its analogue outs to stereo amplifier. The big problem is with dialogue. If I get a DAC and then use the digital coaxial/optical out from the player, and choose the '2-channed downmix' option from said output will I get better dialogue results?

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Are you sure that your blu ray is set to stereo mode? That should downix correctly. I have used a blu ray player with 2 channel output using a stereo amp and it sounded better than the dolby digital through an old receiver (without havign benefit of surround sound of course!).

 

[The_Lhc]

What blu-ray player is it? If it has multi-channel analogue outs are you sure you're using the correct stereo outputs and not the front L/R outputs?

 

[manicm]

Sony BDP-S360, it's setup correctly - I have set the stereo analogue outputs as the primary audio choice.

I just wanted to know if using stereo through the digital coaxial/optical through a DAC would give better results.

 

[FunkyMonkey]

manicm:

Sony BDP-S360, it's setup correctly - I have set the stereo analogue outputs as the primary audio choice.

I just wanted to know if using stereo through the digital coaxial/optical through a DAC would give better results.

The point is, you SHOULD NOT be having trouble hearing dialogue using a stereo amp. I never had this with DVD's OR Blu Rays when I used to use a stereo amp.

 

[manicm]

I've had numerous DVD players and now a Blu-ray player with various hifi systems and I always had to crank up the volume to hear dialogue with DVDs, which was tolerable.

With Blu-rays however it is worse.

And my setups are correct - and my problem certainly isn't unique - after all in a stereo system one is losing the dedicated centre channel for dialogue/midband in movies.

 

[professorhat]

manicm:after all in a stereo system one is losing the dedicated centre channel for dialogue/midband in movies.

True, but that doesn't mean the dialogue isn't output - if you have correct setup, the centre channel is just sent through to the right and left speakers instead so certainly shouldn't be any lower in the mix than if you did have a centre speaker.

 

[manicm]

professorhat:

manicm:after all in a stereo system one is losing the dedicated centre channel for dialogue/midband in movies.

True, but that doesn't mean the dialogue isn't output - if you have correct setup, the centre channel is just sent through to the right and left speakers instead so certainly shouldn't be any lower in the mix than if you did have a centre speaker.

Ok, so what could I be doing wrong?

 

[professorhat]

I'll be honest and say, no idea as I haven't used a stereo setup for movies for quite a few years now! However, being that I've been all bullish and so blatantly said all should be well and it clearly isn't, I'll try and get my setup in stereo tomorrow to see if there's a setting somewhere which might be the cause - I have the BDP-S550 rather than S360, but hopefully not much has changed when it comes to selecting a stereo output.

 

[manicm]

Thanks prof, what I'm hoping is that the digital outputs do better stereo downmixing than the analogue ones.

 

[The_Lhc]

Don't you have the 370 now? Is that any better?

 

[professorhat]

Didn't get time Friday and now away for a while, will try and do something on it late next week. Apologies!

 

[Anonymous]

Get a centre speaker

 

[The_Lhc]

Prime Cuts:Get a centre speaker

He's only got a stereo amplifier...

 

[Saigon-ch]

Hi All,

New to this forum and I have the same issue, did the use of a DAC solve the voice issue?

Thanks,

J