DVD Sound Formats question...

[spudz2]

Here's something I have always wondered....

A lot of DVD's have a AC3 2.0 track as well as the AC3 5.1 audio track... and then others have a AC3 5.1 audio track only. Do you lose any sound with discs that have AC3 5.1 tracks only when playing them on a Stereo TV or say just a straight Stereo Receiver? I have an AC3 setup myself so it's not an issue for me but I'm just wondering if I rip a DVD whether I should be choosing the AC3 2.0 track as well..

I've always been confused about this.. Are sounds that would be going to the other 4 channels in 5.1 not being heard on straight 2 channel system?

Spudz

[BJ_M]

you would not be losing any sound ... going that way ..

but dvd players are required to ONLY output a blended L and R analog signal if there is only a ac3 5:1 mix (on dvd players with no on board decoder) .. so in that case - yes you could lose some sound in that paticular case .. in real world , most dvd players sum the channels going to the analog stereo output ..