Page 1 of What to buy for Dolby Digital 5.1

I would like to listen to Dolby Digital 5.1 sound with my DeccaVideo 2110 (Dansai 852 clone) DVD player. I`m not sure what I need to buy. I already know that I needed and amplifier or receiver thingies but then i saw on a site that my DVD doesn`t have a decoder. What is this decoder thing. Shouldn`t you just be able to connect a dvd to an amp with the rights speakers? If not what can I do if I don`t have a decoder?

Thanks in advance.

If you had a decoder in the DVD player you could attach it straight to some amplified speakers - such as those you get for PCs. This is not the way to get the best audio quality anyway.
What you need is an A/V amp (or receiver - this is merely an amp with a radio built in). These all have decoders built in, so you connect a digital cable of some sort (either an optical or coaxial - you will have such an output on the Decca) from the DVD to the amp, which then decodes the signal (i.e. splits it into the individual channels), amplifies them and sends them out to the speakers. Make sure that the amplifier is capable of decoding both Dolby Digital (DD5.1) and DTS. Newer amps will have Prologic2 decoding, which gives a near 5.1 sound from stereo sources (eg your TV and video).

I`m not going to start rattling off recommended equipment, as I have no idea of your budget, but here`s a guide:

You could buy something like the Yamaha VS10, which is a decoder, amp and speaker package, for £250-280 ish. This would be an "entry level" solution.

If you go to individual components, you would be looking at from £250 for a decent modern amp with prologic 2, and for a decent set of 5 speakers plus subwoofer (for the juicy rumbles) £400 ish, although there are cheaper "packages" that may be OK for you.

Hope this helps!

R

This item was edited on Thursday, 23rd May 2002, 07:57

cheers for replying m8.

Depending on how serious you are about your AV equipment, and just how big your room is, you could do a whole lot worse than the Yamaha VS10 which Richard referred to.

I`ve just bought one and it`s bloody marvellous - can`t believe just how much difference it makes over the Pro-Logic surround sound which I had through my TV beforehand. Unless you have a very large living room, or really REALLY crank up the volume, I`m not sure you would get enough of an improvement in quality to justify spending a lot more on separates.

Richard does describe the VS10 as a starter kit, and it undoubtedly is when compared with what you could buy in separates, but it`s pretty damned impressive in its own right and has the benefit of being ready to out of the box - an all-in-one solution.

Didn`t mean to denigrate the VS10 - I was really meaning that it was a good level to go in at, and that you shouldn`t consider anything lower down.
BTW, there have been reports of Dixons selling the VS10 at a reduced price - have alook in the bargain forum..

<<BTW, there have been reports of Dixons selling the VS10 at a reduced price - have alook in the bargain forum.>>

Indeed they are. A week after I paid £280 for mine online, my brother got one for £225 from Dixons in Walsall.

They`ve marked it down from £350 to £250 as it is now considered end of line stock, and there was for some reason a further 10% reduction applied on top of that. Bargain.....

So i am right in saying all you guys would recomend the yamaha as a good quality starter for 5.1? because after reading i think i might have to get myself one.

Go for it - nothing to touch it - particularly at that price!!

<<Go for it - nothing to touch it - particularly at that price!!>>

Seconded!

The Videologic Digitheatre DTS can match it, and is available cheaper.
It`s not as pretty, but in my opinion, sounds better. The speakers are better quality and the Sub is fantastic.

Not sure why it`s not mentioned anymore.

Neil.