Did upgrade, but now I have detection issues...I think

[Chris CRt]

Well, I did the upgrade today and everything went well according to the instructions. Nothing failed, and I followed everything down to the last page.

I did the check at startup on my C1, and the firmware took. Yes!

So, it was time to do some testing. Keep in mind I uploaded my saved config, and double checked everything including the number of speakers, sizes, etc. Everything went back to where it was before the upgrade. Check!

Next up was The Incredibles. I watched it on release Tuesday and know what settings I had enabled. The packaging says it has a DD 5.1 EX track. When the disc started, it defaulted to Dolby Pro-Logic IIx. Hmm. I then pushed it to Dolby Digital EX and we were good. Or so I thought. I usually move OFF of DDEx and put it in Direct with THX Ultra2 Movie for playback, so I gave it a shot. Well, I can't find Ultra2 ANYWHERE now on my settings! And if I hit the THX button on the remote more than once in Direct Mode, it kicks over to DPLIIx. Huh? Where have the Ultra2 settings gone?

By the way, I also have the auto-detect to off (always have) so I can choose what I want per disc.

Any ideas what's going on?

[nicholtl]

You could always try reinstalling the software?

[Chris CRt]

I reinstalled the software, and it appears to be fine.

I just viewed The Chronicles of Riddick and was able to select THX Ultra 2 Movie, THX Ultra 2 Music, THX Game modes. Not sure what the cause of the problem was, but I think it's fixed.

Does anyone know if there is an DD 5.1 EX flag on the disc if it prevents you from hitting THX Ultra 2? I need to throw my Incredibles disc back in to see if it is still not allowing me to select.

[goldear]

Chris, this indeed may be the case. When I had my first C2, I could get THX Ultra2 for almost everything. However, after I replaced that for another C2, THXUltra was only available under certain conditions. A call to Parasound indicated that the latter C2 was the correct version...and that THXUltra was only available under these conditions.

I don't have my manual any longer...but the manual has a section somewhere near the beginning that lists all the formats that THXUltra should be available for (if it didn't change with the new upgrade). On a personal note...PLIIx should be much better than Ultra2.

[Dave0604]

Maybe I missed something somewhere along the line. Isn't it incorrect to compare THX Ultra 2 Cinema processing with Dolby PLIIx? The Ultra 2 processing only applies to 5.1 signals, while PLIIx applies to 2 channel sources. It seems they should be mutually exclusive.

[Chris CRt]

The Ultra 2 processing only applies to 5.1 signals, while PLIIx applies to 2 channel sources. It seems they should be mutually exclusive.

Nope. You can apply PLIIx to a 5.1 or a 6.1 mix as well. I watched a couple of things with it on and a couple of things with Ultra2 and I'm starting to like the PLIIx!

As a matter of fact, the Dolby website is actually recommending using PLIIx on multi-track mixes such as 5.1 and 6.1

[goldear]

"The Ultra 2 processing only applies to 5.1 signals, while PLIIx applies to 2 channel sources. It seems they should be mutually exclusive."
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This was true for DPLII but like Logic-7, DPLIIx can be applied to 2 channel or any number of the discrete multichannel playback systems...including 6.1. Unlike Ultra2, which was a relatively simple matrix for consumers to get use out of all 7 speakers, PLIIx employs a much more sophisticated process of logic-steering. Dolby even suggests using PLIIx on 5.1 material. While Ultra2 filled a gap for non-EX/ES material at that time...Fosgate's matrices are some of the best in the world. Heck...I'm still using 6-Axis in some applications because it can sound better depending on the source.

[Dave0604]

Thanks for the info on PLIIx.

[Chetk]

I thought THX Ultra2 was for 7.1 systems. No?

[Brian]

What are you guys seeing on the display when applying PLIIx to DD?
Haven't tried this yet on my system but on other systems, I've liked the combo.

[goldear]

THX Ultra2 is for 7.1 (speaker) systems. It is similar to DPLIIx in that it produces 4 channels of surround/rear output from 5.1 material. Unlike DPLIIx, it does not work with 2 channel material. As I mentioned, though...because DPLIIx uses a more complicated steering-logic, I prefer it handily over THXU2, which sometimes sound as if it's doing nothing more than decorelation as it spreads the sound over 4 speakers. Of course, YMMV.

[Chris D]

Well, all I know is that my ears can tell an improvement of DPLIIx over THX Ultra2

[Brian]

I tried to apply DPLIIx to a DD signal but it doesn't work. The choices are direct, stereo and mono. Anyone else get DPLIIx to apply on top of DD? If so, how?

[Chris D]

Hey, Brian, I just turned on DPLIIx and left it on with the DVD player input. It stays on whether I send it PCM, DD, DD EX, and I think even DTS. I can cycle with the "Mode+" and "Mode-" buttons on the MX700 remote while any material's playing, and DPLIIx is an option. Is that not the case for you?

In any case, with DD, you should have more options available that direct, stereo, and mono. Check the manual to see all the modes that should be available.

[Chris D]

Ah... have you made sure that you have the rear speakers enabled for a 7.1 setup? That's something I just thought of.

[Hirogen]

Ah... have you made sure that you have the rear speakers enabled for a 7.1 setup? That's something I just thought of.

I think you are right, I also cannot choose DPLIIx since I do not have rear speakers enabled because I don't have any. The Halo does not show these modes when rear speakers are disabled I think.

[Brian]

I have 6.1, so I only have 1 rear speaker enabled.
I'll have to enable 2 this evening and see if that makes the other choices available. I guess it makes sense that it would only work for 7.1 but I thought I read that it would also work with 6.1.

[Brian]

Did some testing last night.
When set to 5.1, the choices are direct, stereo and mono (I had inadvertently turned off the 1 rear speaker when I thought it was still set to 6.1 in my post above)

When set to 6.1, it adds DPLIIx music, but not movies.
When set to 7.1, it adds DPLIIx movies.
Something doesn't seem quite right with that.