Help me with 7.1 output

[Wood2395]

Sorry for the dumb question, but what setting do I use on my Denon 3803 to get 7.1 channel output for movie surround sound with 5.1 channel source material? I've never had the extra surround channel speakers until now with my new home theater. The Denon's have a ton of options. I've always used Dolby Digital EX but this seems to be 6.1 channel output. Can this receiver even do 7.1? What are the differences when upgrading to the 3805 or 3806?

[tonydeluce]

[QUOTE=Wood2395]Sorry for the dumb question, but what setting do I use on my Denon 3803 to get 7.1 channel output for movie surround sound with 5.1 channel source material? I've never had the extra surround channel speakers until now with my new home theater. The Denon's have a ton of options. I've always used Dolby Digital EX but this seems to be 6.1 channel output. Can this receiver even do 7.1? What are the differences when upgrading to the 3805 or 3806?[/QUOTE]


First thing you have to do is gets yourself some better AMPs then what you
have in a receiver, even your Denon receiver.

The Polk LC265is are 4 ohm speakers. Even with a powered subwoofer, you
are not not going to achieve reference levels comfortably.

I bought 3 Outlaw Audio 300 watt mono amps for my Left, Center, and Right
front speakers and and let my Denon AVR-4802 drive my surrounds ( LC265i ),
I recoomend you do something similiar...

HUGE difference.

P.S. The Denon 3806 would work out nice if you also bought a three channels of
amplication for your LCR speakers.

[Wood2395]

Yeah, I plan to get some additional amplification, and probably an updated receiver, but for now, my question is about getting 7.1 output from what I already have.

[tonydeluce]

[QUOTE=Wood2395]Yeah, I plan to get some additional amplification, and probably an updated receiver, but for now, my question is about getting 7.1 output from what I already have.[/QUOTE]

I understand but you just might find 5.1 more enjoyable :-)

[keepinitcool]

[QUOTE=Wood2395]Sorry for the dumb question, but what setting do I use on my Denon 3803 to get 7.1 channel output for movie surround sound with 5.1 channel source material? I've never had the extra surround channel speakers until now with my new home theater. The Denon's have a ton of options. I've always used Dolby Digital EX but this seems to be 6.1 channel output. Can this receiver even do 7.1? What are the differences when upgrading to the 3805 or 3806?[/QUOTE]

You need to have Dolby PLIIx mode to get 7.1 from 5.1.

[tonydeluce]

[QUOTE=keepinitcool]You need to have Dolby PLIIx mode to get 7.1 from 5.1.[/QUOTE]

He can get 7 channel stereo :-)

[sdurani]

[QUOTE=Wood2395]I've always used Dolby Digital EX but this seems to be 6.1 channel output. Can this receiver even do 7.1?[/QUOTE]The 3803 doesn't have 7.1-channel processing. For that you'd need to upgrade to a receiver that has Pro Logic IIx, which yields 7.1 output channels (different sound in each channel).

EX decoding is, as you said, 6.1 output channels. However, the surround-back (6th) channel is meant to be played back using 2 speakers spread apart behind you. See attached drawing of a proper EX layout.

Best,
Sanjay

[Wood2395]

Thanks, that's what I thought. I guess I need to decide between the 3806 and the 4306....