Dolby Digital Surround Sound
This article aims at providing you with all the necessary information so that you can understand more about it.
For many people that are buying a home theater receiver or system, the receiver will come with a surround sound processor. Most people will notice the Dolby digital surround sound logo on their receiver and there are actually many different types of Dolby digital surround sound. Here is some information on what Dolby digital surround sound does and the many varieties available.
Dolby digital surround sound processing allows your receiver to read the audio component of your DVD or CD and process the sound digitally, breaking it down and sending parts of the sound to distinct channels. You might find that in a movie, the dialogue of the characters stays up front, while an explosion is heard from the rear speakers depending on the action. This sound processing is done through the Dolby digital sound processing component in your receiver.
There are many types of Dolby digital surround sound processing available, most notably, Dolby Pro Logic II which allows the processor to split sounds into a 5:1 ration. (one center channel speaker, front right, front left, surround left and right and subwoofer). Dolby DTS which is the same configuration as Dolby Pro Logic II except less compression and the surround speakers are discrete and receive their own sound processing.
There is also higher Dolby digital surround sound such as Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Digital EX, etc. These varieties add a sixth channel so you can have multiple surround sound speakers, one in line with your ears on the right and left and one set of rear speakers behind your head.
Consumer Reports – Home theater : http://www.reports24.com