Connecting DVD Player to 5.1 surround sound system.

[Tyler2000]

I have a Entiveo DP3220 dvd player and this surround sound system:
http://www.x-tremegeek.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?T1=190+0375

Will my dvd player connect to my surround sound system for 5.1 surround? Or do I need a 5.1 reciever? If I need a 5.1 reciever, where can I get a cheap one?

Thanks

[feenix]

Yep - providing your DVD player has 6 channel analogue output

[Tyler2000]

I don't think it has 6 channel output, but thats what I am asking. It only has one audio output in the back.

[OmegaSupreme]

Since you have a set of amplified speakers, your best and cheapest option would be to get a DVD player with a built in Dolby Digital decoder and 5.1 audio outs.

Check out this $99 Philips unit.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=290574...#goto_itemInfo

[louthewiz]

Ok here is the bad news when you go cheap you will get cheap sound/when you go with godd quality you will get good sound. If your sys tem is like that piece of crap then hey go for it,to get good sound you will need to invest at least $450.00-$5.000 . remember you get what you pay for. And finally I am not trying to be a party pooper I am just being realistic with you. if you want to save some bucks try www.ecost.com they have alot of good discount gear.. 8) 8) 8) 8)

[Tyler2000]

I would rather keep the dvd player I already have.

Is this what I need?

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplash/shop/detail.asp?action=techspec&dpno=191293#scroll

[louthewiz]

Yes see what I mean? But before you make the plunge make sure your dvd player has a digital sound out put either optical or coaxial digital so you can enjoy the 5.1 or 6.1 which many dvds are encoded with,because if it doesnt you can still get dolby prologic 2 until you do get a dvd player with digital out. And finally get that unit because it is a STEAL!!!!

[Tyler2000]

Would this dvd player plug directly into the surround sound speakers?
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5...Fid=16%2D3274#

What would I look for that would tell me that a dvd player would plug directly into the surround sound system?

[Tyler2000]

I have been reading some things but now I'm even more confused. Do I need an A/V reciever no matter what dvd player I have?

[louthewiz]

Yes you do now to get surround sound you need an a/v reciever some dvd some systems are intagrated all in one unit but if you just have a dvd player you need something to amplify and decode the surround sound and speakers to hear it. So go with the kenwood it is a great value and a very good model.

[chotoboto]

Buy a reciver with prologic II, it is great very near to dolby digital and you can transform stereo signals to 5.1 signals with a great quality.

[rcguy]

I just bought a Yamaha RS-V640, a 6.1 digital av receiver for $290.00 on line. It's a great receiver that puts out a clear 85 watts per channel. It is connected to my dvd through an optical cable in order to obtain the surround sound signal. While not cheap but really not expensive for great quality sound.

[Tyler2000]

Thanks for all the feedback. Just so I'm sure I understand everything correctly, I have a few more questions.

I have this 5.1 speaker system:

http://www.x-tremegeek.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?T1=190+0375

I have an Entiveo DP3220 dvd player. I couldn't find a good webpage with a description of it. It is a $30 dvd player with a Digital Out-Coaxial and Audio Out.

I was able to connect the speakers and subwoofer to my dvd player to get stereo sound. I assume this means I don't need an amplifier.

So if I want to get 5.1 dolby digital surround sound, I need this a/v receiver: http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplash/shop/detail.asp?action=techspec&dpno=191293#scroll

And this receiver is the cheapest I can get for what I need?

Does this a/v receiver have its own tv tuner so I can listen to broadcast television in stereo, and stereo surround for the shows that use it? I am asking this because the tv it will be connected to just has mono sound.

I'm considering not getting a receiver and just using the front speakers and subwoofer for stereo sound. If I do that, are there stereo speakers I should buy instead of wasting the 5.1 speakers for around $30?

Thanks for the information. If you can clarify which questions you are answering as you answer them that would be very helpful.

Thank you.

[Tyler2000]

I hope this doesn't stop my other questions from getting answered, but I think I found what I need.

http://www6.tomshardware.com/video/20040120/index.html

This is a decoder that connects 5.1 speakers to a standalone dvd player, which is exactly what I have. I found it selling for $122.

Should I buy this Creative Labs DDTS-100?

[c_hernandez32]

Seeing what you've bought, it seems that you bought something for a PC with 5.1 audio. You will either need a SACD DVD player which has the 5.1 audio output or you need to buy an antique Dolby Digital decoder that has an optical/coaxial input and 6 channel RCA output. But you are much better off buying a cheap surround sound system for $88 at Walmart. Some people spend $5000 per speaker, but my cheapo system sounds great.

Also you will need a TV with audio output to hear TV in stereo or Pro Logic. Most new TV's have it or your doesn't, just hook a VCR and connect the audio out to the reciever. Even the Walmart brand allows for multiple audio hookups, but no video switching.

I'm sure you'll hear that anything under $100 is crap, but its just right for using it in your living room. If I could devote a complete room to my home theater, I wouldn't even dare think of buying anything less than $1000, then again I make less than that in 2 months. Just depends on budget and location. This doesn't make sense to have $5000 speakers in a family living room with 3 noisy kids.

[c_hernandez32]

When it comes to optical versus coaxial connection, coaxial is the best choose. I know people will say other wise, but when you connect via optical it adds the possiblity of error because the DVD player must convert the digital audio to light signals, then the AV reciever must convert the light signals to digital info. But many DVD players and AV reciever have more optical inputs/outputs than coaxial because of the simple fact that you have to buy pricey optical cables, and gain bigger profits. Go into any big name brand store and they instantly suggest $80 optical cables from Monster cables.

[anglia]

if u have a good music center / hifi - u can use this as ur reciever. 2 fore speakers , 2 back speakers go in to ur subwoofer , then from ur subwoofer into audio out on ur hifi , audio in on ur hifi from ur dvd player