connecting dstv to home theatre

[Neil]

i have connected up my home theatre in my fiance's house. she has a pvr, it is currenlty connected up using the analog outputs of the pvr into my yamaha amp, and i am using prologic IIx movie as the surround sound program - i used this when i had dstv at home and it worked quite well (full surround sound with csi etc)

now i see the pvr has optical and coaxial digital outputs - would it sound better using those as i see lots of the programs are now broadcast with dolby digital so to me it would sound better than i can make the amp do the digital to analog conversion and get true dolby digital sound - am i correct in saying this?

thanks
neil

[Shonver]

Yes.

[Mike M]

I suspect the answer lies in how good the DAc is in your AV receiver vs the DAC in the PVR. I would like to believe that the DAC in the AVR is superior and you will benefit from connecting the PVR to the your AVR via coaxial.

I have my own system set up with audio via coaxial and I think the sound quality is pretty good.

Once again just borrow a coaxial cable (if you don't already have one) and try it. If you hear an improvement, do it.

Regards
M

[Shonver]

For one, you will be able to get Dolby Digital 5.1 when available. That is a step up from Dolby Prologic. I have not compared sound quality of the PVR DAC to anything else.

[GearSlave]

I'm with Shaun here. I would connect it up digitally as a rule. It's got nothing to do with the SQ (I mean, the source is compressed with the MPeg2 video stream so who cares), but with the fact that you'll get 5.1 where available.

[dotVIBE]

2 things to do for better PVR quality.

1. Use the digital coax for audio to your AVR
2. Get a SCART to S-Video converter, plug that into the back of the PVR, set the PVR output to S-Video, run S-Video to your AVR.

makes a notable difference.

[stereo247]

Better than RGB? You kidding right Dot?

[Viagara]

i am using prologic IIx movie as the surround sound program - i used this when i had dstv at home and it worked quite well (full surround sound with csi etc)

Really I suppose you mean simulated "surround sound"

Your best way would be to use any of the digital outputs from the PVR into your AVR and I think your AVR will switch to proper 5.1 if it is fed with the correct signal, else it will default to the simulated surround sound.

[Hi-Phibian]

o

Better than RGB? You kidding right Dot?

Not many tellies take RGB, S and component are quite standard.

[Kevin99]

o
Not many tellies take RGB, S and component are quite standard.

But most AVR's do have RGB, so it would be the better option if available.

[Hi-Phibian]

RGB or component? not seen ones with RGB....

[Viagara]

RGB or component? not seen ones with RGB....

Common mistake that one AS you say most TVs and AVRs have Components connectors, but VERY few have RGB. I cannot recall having seen any TV with RGB yet, monitors yes, particularly some of the older 22" CRT monitors.

[handsome]

i have a samsung crt tv that takes component/rgb (not sure if there is a difference). the dvd player uses the rgb/component input on the telly with no problems.  i got a scart to rgb/s-video adapter for the dstv but cannot get any rgb/component working with the tv. the s-video does work though. does the dstv actually output rgb? is the adapter at fault? or is the telly funny. i assume cos it works with the dvd player it is not at fault.

[KenMasters]

Common mistake that one AS you say most TVs and AVRs have Components connectors, but VERY few have RGB. I cannot recall having seen any TV with RGB yet, monitors yes, particularly some of the older 22" CRT monitors.

That's interesting, I didn't realise it was that uncommon. Component RGB (RGsB) works on both my Sony CRTs (the one even accepts RGBHV). Maybe with flat panels it's limited to RGB over HDMI only.

i have a samsung crt tv that takes component/rgb (not sure if there is a difference).

Although in the end they are the same signal, there is a difference and they are not directly compatible.

[Hi-Phibian]

RGB refers to a system where red green and blue are sent along individual signal lines with a separate h and v sync signal. sometimes the syncs are combined to one line. It is thus typically a 4 or 5 signal system.

Component video uses a differential equation to superimpose one of the colours on top of the other two. the syncs are also carried one one of the colours, this is a 3 signal system. the confusion is that component uses a Red, Green and Blue connector making folks think it is RGB...

RGB is typically found as 4 or 5 BNC connectors or on a scart connector.
Component mostly uses RCA.