Check if 5.1ch AC3 uses all 6 channels

[NDMMackay]

Just bought a BD Home Theatre. Checking with DVD that says 2ch and 5.1ch audios. But I don't get any rear-channel sound. Is there something (preferably simple, don't want a huge 5.1ch editing app.) that I can use to check for rear-channel info in audio track? Even something that shows waveform in all channels, or something along those lines.

Trying to check if new BD player is OK, or if that DVD actually only has 3.1 audio. Can't detect a difference if I witch player between 5.1 and stereo modes.

[pandy]

Buy calibration DVD (BD), check with help of signal from calibration disc all connections.
Perhaps amplifier require to configure speaker configuration (most amplifiers especially with 7.1 with HDMI input need to be configured how many speakers are connected)

[NDMMackay]

Getting a calibration DVD is not such a simple task in South Africa. Will see what Amazon say.
Speaker config is fine, BD player has setup procedure, and all 6 speakers working. HDMI input doesn't come into it as BD player has built-in 5.1 channel amps.

[pandy]

http://www.tfm.ro/ac3/
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=40167

record AC-3 as WAV on CD (use http://ac3filter.net/wiki/AC3Filter_tools#spdifer to put AC-3 in WAV container), play CD as normal CD, BD player should be connected to amplifier with S/PDIF (coax or TOS link)

Or try to search for original Dolby file used during conformance tests "acmswpvo.ac3" (in past easily available on Dolby FTP, nowadays you need to sign pact with devil for this file)

[jagabo]

Look through your DVD collection for a "THX certified" DVD. They usually have calibration videos. http://www.thx.com/consumer/home-entertainment/thx-certified-releases/