540D V2
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ENGLISH
Dolby Digital EX
Also known as DD (3/3) or DD 6.1, this is an enhanced form of Dolby
Digital. In addition to the discretely encoded 5.1 channels, DD EX
provides an extra sixth channel (Surround Back, giving 6.1 or 7.1 with
mono rear surrounds) matrix encoded into the rear surrounds. Decoding
Dolby Digital EX requires a Dolby Digital EX-encoded DVD disc and a
digital connection from the 540D V2 to a suitable AV receiver that can
decode this format (the 540D V2 itself cannot decode DD EX). If a DD
EX-encoded disc is played on the 540D V2, 5.1 output will still be
created as DD EX is backwards compatible with DD 5.1 decoding. The
sixth Surround Back signal will be present in both Left and Right Rear
Surrounds (forming a phantom rear centre).
DTS 5.1, DTS-ES 6.1 Matrix, DTS-ES 6.1 Discrete,
DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24
Various DTS technologies provide (up to) 5.1/6.1 (and 7.1 with mono
rear surrounds) output from suitably encoded DTS material.
Some newer DVDs carry both the mandatory DD and an optional DTS
surround encoding on alternative audio tracks.
The 540D V2 cannot decode these optional DTS formats itself but is
able to pass them, via its digital outputs, for decoding externally by a
suitable AV receiver. Decoding DTS requires a suitably encoded DTS disc
and a digital connection from the 540D V2 to an AV Receiver capable of
decoding the appropriate DTS encoding type.
Video formats
DVDs are encoded using the MPEG 2 lossy video format giving over two
hours of high-quality digital video on single layer discs or over four hours
on dual-layer discs.
Note:
Dual layer discs always exhibit a small pause or delay in playback
when the layer transition is made.
As well as the video itself, DVDs are also capable of storing up to eight
alternative tracks of digital audio, 32 subtitle tracks and nine camera
angles (where used by the film producers).
DivX is an even more compressed (than normal DVD) digital video
format, rather like MP3 for video. DivX compresses the video data to a
fraction of its original size using the more lossy MPEG 4 Part 2
compression. DivX enhances the basic MP4 encoding by allowing extra
features on the disc and various levels of quality/compression to be
applied at the encoding stage.
DivX or basic raw MPEG 4 files are supported by the 540D V2 on either
CD or DVD discs.
The 540D V2
may
also be able to play MP4 type files created with
other CODEC programs (such as Xvid
®
), but
playback of these is not
guaranteed
.
Via its analog outputs, the 540D V2 can play back CDs in stereo, and
DVDs in either stereo or up to 5.1 output when they have been encoded
with Dolby Digital or Dolby Pro Logic/Pro Logic II formats.
Dolby Digital EX 6.1 discs can also be played but only 5.1 output will be
available (the sixth channel will be shared between the rear surround
left and right speakers).
The Stereo outputs of the 540D V2 always output stereo whether the
material is a stereo CD/DVD or multi-channel DVD.
The 5.1 outputs can be set for downmix (in which case the front left
and right only will be active) or 5.1 output (downmix off).
Note:
If Downmix is set to ‘Off’, the default playback system is Dolby
Digital. If Pro Logic II is preferred, set Downmix to ‘On’ in the 540D V2
Setup menus.
The optional DTS soundtracks on some discs cannot be decoded by the
540D V2; however, the machine is able to send a raw bitstream version
of any soundtrack via its digital outputs for decoding by an external
AV receiver — this is the preferred setup, even if just Dolby Digital
decoding is required. This allows the decoding of the many other
surround-sound formats available in 5.1/6.1/7.1 and beyond.
We naturally recommend our own AV receivers, which offer many
decoding options and other facilities for the processing of surround
sound.
A brief guide to common surround-sound formats you may encounter
follows:
Dolby Digital (5.1)
This is the mandatory soundtrack encoding for DVD movies. Also known
as DD (3/2) or DD 5.1, DD provides (up to) 5.1 output from suitable
encoded Dolby Digital DVDs. There are five main channels (Front Left,
Front Right, Centre, Surround Left, Surround Right) and a Low Frequency
Effects Channel for the subwoofer, all discretely encoded. Decoding
Dolby Digital requires a Dolby Digital encoded DVD disc (nearly all DVDs)
and either a digital connection from the 540D V2 to a suitable
AV Receiver (preferred method) or the 540D V2's own built-in decoder
can be used, in which case a 5.1 analog connection from the 5.1 Audio
outputs to a suitable amplifier/speaker package is required.
Note:
Dolby Digital and DTS formats can sometimes carry fewer
channels than their maximum, e.g. Dolby Digital (2/0), in which case a
Dolby Digital encoded signal is only carrying a two-channel stereo signal
(other channels inactive).
Pro Logic II
Pro Logic II is a Dolby technology where five channels (Front Left, Front
Right, Centre, Surround Left, Surround Right) are encoded into a Stereo
mix by an analog matrix process.
Dolby Pro Logic II is also compatible with the earlier four-channel
(Left, Centre, Right and mono Surround) Dolby Pro Logic system (the
decoding counterpart to Dolby Surround encoding) which was used
widely on TV material and earlier films. PL and PLII are present on many
early films, and often also in the stereo soundtrack available as
alternative alongside the DD 5.1 on many newer films.
The 540D V2 can decode PLII via its own decoder or an external
AV receiver can be used. Because the encoding process is analog, an
AV receiver can usually decode PLII from either an Analog Stereo or
Digital connection from the 540D V2 to the AV receiver. Consult your
receiver manual.
If it is desired to use the 540D V2's own built-in PLII decoder, a 5.1
analog connection from the 540D V2's 5.1 Audio outputs to a suitable
amplifier/speaker package should be made, Downmix should be set to
‘Off’ and Pro Logic II decoding set to ‘On’ in the 540D V2 Setup menus.
Surround-sound formats
