DTS/ES Matrix Question

[goldear]

Hi guys...I could use some help if you've got the time. On my old Halo C2, I could engage THX Ultra2 when I listened in "direct" mode from DTS/ES Matrix. While the default value is "Matrix" for ES encoded Matrix discs and Ultra2 can't be applied, by switching to Direct I could engage Ultra2. With my newer Halo, I can only engage THX cinema from the direct mode (while using a DTS/ES Matrix disc). I need to find out if this one is being buggy or if it was the original. If you have T2, you can check since this is a ES Matrix disc...just switch to direct mode and see if you can engage Ultra2 or if you only get THX Cinema. Ultra2 of course gives you 7.1 channels vs 5.1 for THX Cinema...and while ES Matrix gives you 7.1 as well, there are times when Ultra2 comes in handy. Thanks




Chris B

[Chris D]

Whoa, my brain goes "tilt!" trying to figure this one out. I wish I had my C1 hooked up right now to do some checking for you. Most appropriately, I wonder if it would be best to just call up Parasound tech support (good guys, BTW) and ask them.




CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"

[Scarp]

Turn to page 35 of your C2 manual:
THX processing will default to THX Cine for 5.1 and 6.1 channel speaker setups and THX Ultra 2 Cinema for 7.1 channel setups.

Turn to page 16: read that lower part. It says THX ultra2 only on 7.1 systems (two back surrounds) and normal THX on 5.1/6.1

Can it be that in your previous C2 you had accidently setup two back surrounds and that you now have the correctly set to none? Or do you have a 7.1 system and actually forgot to set it up correctly?

Its quite useless to do THX ultra 2 processing on a 5.1 system actually, since it really does require 7.1.

I tested this on my C2. With Terminator 2, I could only engage THX Cinema on my 5.1 setup. With selecting two back surrounds, I could also engage THX Ultra2 Cinema.

[goldear]

Thanks for checking, Scarp. Unfortunately, I'm not counting on the manual a whole lot since different people are getting different results (e.g. 7.1 Party mode and IR Zone input). I had all "3" Halo's set up the exact same way, and my first 2 allowed me to engage THXU2 even with a Matrix disc. It's not a big deal, but I think Parasound needs to get a consistent software version out to everyone. Different machines seem to be doing different things...with different software versions. On a couple occassions, I've had to cycle through the modes a few times before a mode that should be there, would eventually show up. This last unit was also suppose to be a newer one and it still has the mistake "label" over my S-vid-3 input, when my second unit didn't.




Chris B

[Scarp]

hey... i have that label over it too.

My unit runs firmware version 6.37. But if you take a look at the other thread of the firmware version, you will see that the last one is 6.42.
I contacted Parasound about that and they said there should not be any difference in the 6.37 and 6.42 version. It might be that you previously had an even older version.