1068 7.1 processing

[Nolan B]

I am thinking of going from 5.1 to 7.1 in the near future for two reasons.

1. My room is good for it and my surounds are 10 feets behind listening position.

2. Lord of the Rings in HD will be released in 7.1 TrueHD come Nov.


I have a couple of questions:

1. For content with Dolby Digital (5.1) will the 1068 process PLIIx to the 7.1 analog outs?

2. In theory if Dolby Digital Plus (5.1) and TrueHD (5.1) can be sent via HDMI (PCM) does PLIIx process high res (24 bit as an example) audio into 7.1? This question is important to me becuase IF the 1058 or next SSP from Rotel can accept audio via HDMI I would like to know if Dolby has a solution to take higher res/lossless 5.1 audio tracks and make them 7.1.

I will post the second question in the next gen audio thread too.

[Kevin D]

1. My room is good for it and my surounds are 10 feets behind listening position.

So those would be your back surrounds and you will be adding two new ones to the sides right?? I've found the best 7.1 experience to be pretty close to Dolby specs, with two on the sides and two more behind (and closer together).

If you were planning on adding two more between the current rears (and keep all of them 10' back) I don't think you will be satisfied.

1. For content with Dolby Digital (5.1) will the 1068 process PLIIx to the 7.1 analog outs?

Yes, with great results. You can even apply it to DTS signals. I find it much better then even EX or ES tracks (both with mono center rears).

2. In theory if Dolby Digital Plus (5.1) and TrueHD (5.1) can be sent via HDMI (PCM) does PLIIx process high res (24 bit as an example) audio into 7.1? This question is important to me becuase IF the 1058 or next SSP from Rotel can accept audio via HDMI I would like to know if Dolby has a solution to take higher res/lossless 5.1 audio tracks and make them 7.1.

Ooooh, good question. I know on the current line you can't apply PLIIx processing on top of a DTS 96/24 signal (it defaults to XS mode, which is just a summed mono rear). Of course that's asking the DSP chip to decode the high-res signal and apply PLIIx. If it's fed a decoded signal it may be possible.

Kevin D.

[Nolan B]

So those would be your back surrounds and you will be adding two new ones to the sides right?? I've found the best 7.1 experience to be pretty close to Dolby specs, with two on the sides and two more behind (and closer together).

yes that is correct. Two speakers behind and on on each side. My biggest problem is the side to the left is about 3-5 feet further away from the listening position then the side on the right. Hoping it shouldnt matter to mech.

Ooooh, good question. I know on the current line you can't apply PLIIx processing on top of a DTS 96/24 signal (it defaults to XS mode, which is just a summed mono rear). Of course that's asking the DSP chip to decode the high-res signal and apply PLIIx. If it's fed a decoded signal it may be possible.

Kevin D.

Many of the lossless signals in the new formats are not as high as 24 bit, all are better then regular Dolby digital. Ill have to do some investigating. So you are thinking if the signal is decoded in the player and sent via PCM then PLIIx should be able to do it?

Ill check the dolby site and see what I can find.

[Nolan B]

an industry insider over at the AVS forum commented on my question. Here is the result. Looks things should work.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10644337#post10644337

post #83. By the way for those of you who are not aware the industry insides thread is by far the best thread on AVS.

[AngelEyes]

Assuming your source player has 8 analogue outputs (an HTPC for example that can decode HD) and the source disk has a 7.1 HD soundtrack, can the 1068 process these as 7.1 or will they just be interpreted as 5.1 and mixed to 7.1 by PLIIx?

Sorry for the nubelet question

Adam

[Kevin D]

Using the 8 multi-channel inputs, there will be no processing of the signal at all (aside form the optional bass redirect).

Kevin D.

[AngelEyes]

Thanks Kevin,

I ask because I only have 5.1 speakers at the moment but have 8 analogue connections from my HTPC to the Rotel. I currently have 2 disconnected as I can't seem to work out whether to tell the PC I have 8 speakers and let the Rotel down mix to 6 or what... very confusing ops: ops:

[Kevin D]

Ah, I see. It's a 1:1 input, so if the HTPC is decoding to 7.1 and you only have 5.1, you are missing some sound. Set the PC to 5.1 and you should be good.

Kevin D.

[AngelEyes]

That is how I have it now, I just wanted to be sure, thanks