TiVo Community Forums Archives - Question re: Surround Sound and TiVo

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Question re: Surround Sound and TiVo
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Posted by: Dajad

I'm finally getting into the world of Surround Sound and I'm on a steep learning curve. I essentially now understand the distinction between

- Dolby Surround Sound (analogue)
- Dolby Pro-Logic (analouge)
- Dolby Digital (5.1)

I want to buy a surround sound system mostly for my XBox and DVD player but, if I can get any kind of surround sount out of TiVo recordings I'd like that.

As I understand it analogue cable systems will broadcast Dolby Surround Sound (analogue) when available.

Do TiVo's record that and, if so, when shows are played back off of TiVo will that be something that comes out of the left/right RCA jacks? Can I plug that into my future surround sound receiver and it will decode it?

My SFA Explorere 3200 does have Dolby AC-3 (digital) outputs but it's pretty clear that TiVo cannot record that since TiVo has no digital inputs. Is this correct?

I have a Series 1. Has TiVo added any additional surround sound recording/playback features into the Series 2?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

...Dale

Posted by: JTAnderson

Dolby Surround and Dolby Pro-Logic are both derived from phase differences in the two-channel stereo audio. Should work fine with TiVo as long as you are feeding stereo audio into TiVo. (There is certainly the possibility of TiVo introducing a phase shift that would confuse the surround decoder, but I've not heard of that happening.)

You're right. You won't be able to record Dolby Digital unless you move back to the US and get a DirecTiVo.

Posted by: JimSpence

Standalone TiVos don't record DD 5.1. The combo Pioneer TiVo/DVD recorder model may, I don't know.

Posted by: Dajad

Thanks guys, that's pretty much exactly what I thought.

I will be moving back to the U.S. but I won't be getting a DirecTiVo. I'm waiting for TiVo to build a dgitial cable TiVo to the cablelabs standard. That will be my next TiVo purchase! That is unless TiVo doesn't build one (as it continues to suggest it won't), in which case I'll buy whatever the first competitive product that comes out that will!

...Dale

Posted by: rsnaider

I get Pro-Logic out of both my TiVo's connected to Home Theater Receivers with sound coming from all 6 speakers.

When I use the x-box or dvd player I get the true 5.1.

Posted by: dcheesi

On a related note: has anyone else noticed that the sound output from the TiVo is lower when using ProLogic? If I do plain-old stereo on my receiver, the volume level is fine; but when I switch to ProLogic, suddenly the TiVo's audio is much lower than live TV audio. I wonder if this is because my TiVo is mangling the phase info, or if it's just my particular system (both TiVo and live TV come in through the same analog input)?

Posted by: HDTiVo

The Pioneers do not have digital audio inputs.