Page 1 of A Rugrat query on Amplifiers....

Okay,

If I have a DVD player with BUILT in Dolby Digital or DTS or both, presumably I need an amplifier to amplify the sounds coming from the DVD player.

Now, I guess I wouldn`t need an amplifier/receiver with built in DD or DTS so what one do I get? So that I can connect to all 5 speakers in my set up. Do I need a normal intergrated amplifier or one built for the purpose of connecting to 5 speakers (can you recommend amps for this purpose). Would I use an optical connection or an analogue connection(DVD player to Amplifier) - Whats the Deal????

Rugrat.

Here in lies a bit of a snag, as very few amplifiers have 5 phono inputs for this sort of thing. My brother owns a Yamaha ProLogic amp which supports this, so its worth buying a player with built in decoder if you already have the amp. But if not, for not much more than the current price of his amp, you could buy a full DD one anyway.

DTS however is handy to have on board, because most people who have DD amps do not have DTS amps, and can sometimes utilise the inputs to gain DTS capability.

One thing you could do with DD, but its kind of messy, is to connect the DD outputs to a number of external amps. Doesnt make turning the volume up and down on all of them simultanoeusly easy however, and you do loose the all important test tone function for calibrating levels.

Hope this makes some sort of sense. ;-)

Thanks Robert,

I guess if I do upgrade DVD players, I`ll buy one without DD and ensure the Amplifier has DD decoding instead. DTS well thats another story for now.

Anyway I hear Amplifiers with built in DD decoding work slighty better sound wise than DVD players with built in DD decoding.

Rugrat.