DD and Marantz 4200
 

I have a Marantz 4200 and I use all the digital inputs for a Panasonic RV32
DVD Player, a Pioneer CD File Changer, my cable box (S/PDIF out) and my
Audigy Soundcard. I'm not convinced I have a Dolby Digital receiver because
I do not hear a discrete channel in the rear speaker on either side. In
fact, there isn't a mode that says Digital Dolby on the 4200! The best I
seem to get is Dolby Pro Logic II which I have to manually switch in order
to use the rear speakers. I was led to believe that this was a Dolby
Digital decoder which I was also led to believe different from DPLII. I
always set the software to play DD 5.1 but the Auto Function of the 4200
remains in stero. The only discrete surround mode that works is DTS which
to my ears so far is much more realistic. Am I over looking something or
did I get fooled!

"Eddie J" wrote in message news:[email protected]
I have a Marantz 4200 and I use all the digital inputs for a Panasonic RV32
DVD Player, a Pioneer CD File Changer, my cable box (S/PDIF out) and my
Audigy Soundcard. I'm not convinced I have a Dolby Digital receiver because
I do not hear a discrete channel in the rear speaker on either side.

Do you have any DVDs with discrete (separate) rear channel signals?
(It's possible that your DVDs might have similar or identical rear
channel soundtracks.)

What about when you use your Marantz's Dolby 5.1 test signals (which I
assume the Marantz has)?

Do you have a special DVD of test signals you can use or borrow?

In
fact, there isn't a mode that says Digital Dolby on the 4200!

It might say something like "Dolby 5.1," which would mean the same as
Dolby Digital. The gist of Dolby Digital is that it provides 5 main
channels of discrete sound and 1 subwoofer channel for the bass.

The best I
seem to get is Dolby Pro Logic II which I have to manually switch in order
to use the rear speakers.

Dolby Pro Logic takes two channels and synthesizes surround sound. In
contrast, Dolby Digital accepts 5.1 channels and handles each channel
discretely.

I was led to believe that this was a Dolby
Digital decoder

I don't have your receiver, but here are some user reviews that might
be helpful:

http://www.audioreview.com/A/V%20Rec...0_2718crx.aspx

http://reviews.cnet.com/4852-6466_7-...ml?legacy=cnet

which I was also led to believe different from DPLII. I
always set the software to play DD 5.1 but the Auto Function of the 4200
remains in stero.

My guess is that for some reason, even though you're using the digital
connection from your DVD player, your receiver is defaulting to
stereo.

Is your manual any help?

This might also help:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/art...article_id=462

Have you asked your Marantz dealer or a technician for help?

The only discrete surround mode that works is DTS which
to my ears so far is much more realistic. Am I over looking something or
did I get fooled!

The above are my guesses. You could also search web and newsgroups via
Google.com for previous comments.

"Eddie J" wrote in message news:[email protected]
I have a Marantz 4200 and I use all the digital inputs for a Panasonic RV32
DVD Player, a Pioneer CD File Changer, my cable box (S/PDIF out) and my
Audigy Soundcard. I'm not convinced I have a Dolby Digital receiver because
I do not hear a discrete channel in the rear speaker on either side. In
fact, there isn't a mode that says Digital Dolby on the 4200! The best I
seem to get is Dolby Pro Logic II which I have to manually switch in order
to use the rear speakers. I was led to believe that this was a Dolby
Digital decoder which I was also led to believe different from DPLII. I
always set the software to play DD 5.1 but the Auto Function of the 4200
remains in stero. The only discrete surround mode that works is DTS which
to my ears so far is much more realistic. Am I over looking something or
did I get fooled!

More info:

See the bottom of this page:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4852-6466_7-...ml?legacy=cnet

And:

http://reviews.cnet.com/Marantz_SR42...tml?tag=subnav

Also:

http://www.marantz.com/hifi/america/main.html

From:

http://www.marantz.com/hifi/america/main.html

"Eddie J" wrote in message news:[email protected]
I have a Marantz 4200 and I use all the digital inputs for a Panasonic RV32
DVD Player, a Pioneer CD File Changer, my cable box (S/PDIF out) and my
Audigy Soundcard. I'm not convinced I have a Dolby Digital receiver because
I do not hear a discrete channel in the rear speaker on either side. In
fact, there isn't a mode that says Digital Dolby on the 4200! The best I
seem to get is Dolby Pro Logic II which I have to manually switch in order
to use the rear speakers. I was led to believe that this was a Dolby
Digital decoder which I was also led to believe different from DPLII. I
always set the software to play DD 5.1 but the Auto Function of the 4200
remains in stero. The only discrete surround mode that works is DTS which
to my ears so far is much more realistic. Am I over looking something or
did I get fooled!

Here's your manual:

http://www.marantz.com/pdfs/u_sr4200_man.pdf

Thanks for your input and directions to above resources. I am not any
further ahead. I am taking my A/V receiver back to where I bought it and
we'll go over the functions together. I am very suspicious I don't have a
DD Decoder despite the label.
"Neil" wrote in message
m...
"Eddie J" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
I have a Marantz 4200 and I use all the digital inputs for a Panasonic
RV32
DVD Player, a Pioneer CD File Changer, my cable box (S/PDIF out) and my
Audigy Soundcard. I'm not convinced I have a Dolby Digital receiver
because
I do not hear a discrete channel in the rear speaker on either side. In
fact, there isn't a mode that says Digital Dolby on the 4200! The best
I
seem to get is Dolby Pro Logic II which I have to manually switch in
order
to use the rear speakers. I was led to believe that this was a Dolby
Digital decoder which I was also led to believe different from DPLII. I
always set the software to play DD 5.1 but the Auto Function of the 4200
remains in stero. The only discrete surround mode that works is DTS
which
to my ears so far is much more realistic. Am I over looking something
or
did I get fooled!

Here's your manual:

http://www.marantz.com/pdfs/u_sr4200_man.pdf

"Eddie J" wrote in
news:[email protected]:

Thanks for your input and directions to above resources. I am not any
further ahead. I am taking my A/V receiver back to where I bought it
and we'll go over the functions together. I am very suspicious I
don't have a DD Decoder despite the label.


i think that's unlikely. make sure that your dvd player is outputting DD
or DTS bitstreams, and not downsampling to PCM. the marantz is a good
unit, and unless you got a dud, it's likely a problem with a setting
somewhere.

I have this unit also and it has DD.

There is a feature on the unit that you can press to by pass any signal in
order to get only 2 channels. Check it out with you supplier or give you
manual a good read.

When the receiver is in DD mode you will see the DD symbol on the receiver.

The SR4200 won a bucket full of awards for best receiver in its price range.
don't quit on it you will have your work cut out to get a better one for the
price.





"Eddie J" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
I have a Marantz 4200 and I use all the digital inputs for a Panasonic
RV32
DVD Player, a Pioneer CD File Changer, my cable box (S/PDIF out) and my
Audigy Soundcard. I'm not convinced I have a Dolby Digital receiver
because
I do not hear a discrete channel in the rear speaker on either side. In
fact, there isn't a mode that says Digital Dolby on the 4200! The best I
seem to get is Dolby Pro Logic II which I have to manually switch in order
to use the rear speakers. I was led to believe that this was a Dolby
Digital decoder which I was also led to believe different from DPLII. I
always set the software to play DD 5.1 but the Auto Function of the 4200
remains in stero. The only discrete surround mode that works is DTS which
to my ears so far is much more realistic. Am I over looking something or
did I get fooled!