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Techno Know How
MPEG-2
This is a standard audio format used on Video CDs, some DVD discs and, importantly, most digital satellite TV
broadcasting. It's advantages include a low bit rate that still affords good sounds quality for multichannel
soundtracks. This is a patented system in the USA.
PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)
This is an uncompressed 2 channel stereo format found on most CDs and DATs. PCM can be used as one of the
audio recording formats for DVD but as it's only 2 channel stereo. It is sometimes used for DVD audio discs (or
DVD-A).
Recording Formats
These are the recording formats. Determining what kind of playback format is being employed with any particular
recording format depends on three things: 1) how the signal is encoded and transmitted; 2) how the signal is
decoded; and 3) how the sound is actually heard through the speakers (where your speaker configuration and the
sound mode you choose have a big effect).
All the possibilities are listed below.
2 Channel Stereo
In this format the signal is recorded on two channels (i.e. stereo), left and right. Most music CDs use this format.
2 Channel Surround (Dolby Surround)
Used mainly for videotape, this is one of the original home theater formats and can be decoded by this receiver.
Because it developed over a time it is the most complicated system explained here. The developers had to solve
the problem of how to offer surround sound to the people who had the proper decoder but at the same time
deliver 2 channel sound to those without the proper decoder. Thus the Dolby Surround format encodes four
channels (left, right, center, surround) into two channels for storage and transmission.
This signal is decoded back into four channels (as above) by Dolby Pro Logic as explained on the right.
5.1 Channel Surround
This is a format with five channels (front left & right, center, surround left & right) and a channel for bass. (This
is called the LFE channel and is usually output from a subwoofer. Since it is only for bass sounds is and thus
expressed as .1 of a channel.) With this format you can get movie theater-like, powerful surround sound.