Question about 5.1

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ceiling_fan

ceiling_fan

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ceiling_fan
[dumb question]

What exactly do I need to get in order to get PS2 games to play in surround sound? I have a 5.1 system, but I haven't had the space (until now) to set up all five of them. I also have a 5.1 sound card, but I think that's intended for computer use.

Can anybody steer me in the right direction?

[/dumb question]
 
In order to get Dolby Digital or DTS from the PS2 to your receiver you first need to use a TOSLINK fiber optic audio cable from the PS2 to the receiver.

Then you need to set the PS2 system’s Digital Out (Optical) setting to On:
  • Go to the PS2's Main Menu
  • Select System Configuration and press X
  • Select Digital Out (Optional) and press X
  • Select On and press X
Keep in mind very few games have Dolby Digital or DTS, but all DVDs will have one or the other. Also, if a game has Dolby Digital, DTS, or Pro Logic, you'll likely have to select it in the game's options menu, otherwise it is likely the default is set at stereo, so you would end up not getting the discrete multi-channel audio.

Now you can get a form of 5.1 surround without using the fiber optic audio cable and or without games that have Dolby Digital, DTS, or even Pro Logic audio support. You can feed a multi-channel receiver a standard stereo signal and it can "create" a non discrete surround sound by using Pro Logic processing, or better yet, Pro Logic II to create a matrix signal from the stereo signal, and feeding that to the surround speakers. You won't get any discrete bass or surrounds, but they will all get a signal from the receiver's Pro Logic processing.
 
I have a 5.1 as well. I got this thing, its a converter from the 2 audio cables from PS2, TV, Xbox etc to the 3 that the 5.1 speakers use. Dont know whether this is really relevent though...
 
turbo lag
I have a 5.1 as well. I got this thing, its a converter from the 2 audio cables from PS2, TV, Xbox etc to the 3 that the 5.1 speakers use. Dont know whether this is really relevent though...
Click to expand...
3 separate audio cables for one signal? Can you post a picture or have a link for that product?

I'm fairly certain that what you need to get multi-channel discrete audio from a player to a receiver or external audio processor is either an HDMI, a digital audio coax, or a fiber optic audio cable.

Of those three, the PS2 only has support for a fiber optic audio cable (TOSLINK).

Also, for those unsure on the difference between "discrete" and "matrix" multi-channel audio, as well as base management, Wikipedia has a pretty decent listing, and several links for further understanding of the subject.
 
I use(d) an optical cable from my PS2 to my system, which worked perfectly. However, the games I play are all in Pro Logic II, so now I just plug the bog standard phono cables into the back of my system and it does the rest. That will, in essence, work for anything you play on there. Obviously though, if you're playing a game that comes in Dolby Digital or whatever, you'll get better sound through an optical cable.

All I'm saying is, you don't necessarily need an optical cable for your PS2 as long as you've got a 5.1 system that'll decode a stereo input.
 
Okay, I got an optical cable. I have it plugged into the PS2, but where is the other end supposed to go? The speakers right? There are 3 headphone jacks on the sub though: green, black and orange. If it would help, I can take pictures.

Clearly, I have no idea what I'm doing.
 
I've got my ps2 and xbox linked by optical cable, it goes into the control panel with the volume knob etc. I suppose it depends where your system has the port, in the control panel or on the sub.
 
ceiling_fan
Okay, I got an optical cable. I have it plugged into the PS2, but where is the other end supposed to go? The speakers right?
Click to expand...
No. Speakers, unless they come with built-in amp and audio processors... can't accept a direct audio signal from a player.

PS2 -> Audio Cable -> Receiver or Pre-amp -> Speaker Cables -> Speakers

Please check out that link I posted to the Wikipedia listing for surround sound. You'll find clarification on all the questions you have asked, and that have been answered. 👍
 
Thanks D-N, and kikie who helped me too (over msn.) Tomorrow I will buy a decoder and hope for the best. 👍
 
Okay, I went to the store. I think I saw the right thing but it was $200. I was under the impression that this was around 50 dollars. I didn't buy it because the salesman was just about as clueless as I was.
 
I assume from your description you've bought a speaker system designed for PC use - in theory, you plug the 3 cables into your posh soundcard of the same make and it does the rest. I fell into the same trap as you when I got some a few years ago. I did a makeshift set up involving 2 headphone splitters, but that just (as you'd expect) pumped the same sound out of each speaker.

Your best hope is, as DN said, go get yourself a standalone decoder. I'm not sure of the prices in the US, but $200 seems a bit steep. The only cheap one I can think of is this Creative one (which is getting a bit long in the tooth):

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?product=9468&campid=20445

But y'know, it all depends on the quality of the speakers you've got. If they're not up to much, you might as well take the opportunity and upgrade to something with an integrated decoder. On the other hand, worst case scenario is that you find the speakers you have are crap and just buy some new ones to use with the same decoder. It's just a bit of a long winded way of doing it (although I'm the kinda guy who likes everything to come in one box).
 
Hmm. Well my system isn't that nice to get a $130 peripheral for it (Logitech Z-5300e)
I figured it would be much cheaper than this. My speakers were $110.
 
As far as I know, there are no games on the PS2 which actually output discrete 5.1 sound as Dolby Digital. Games might have Dolby Surround, which is an analog 2-channel matrix process, and only requires the regular analog audio left/right pair. The receiver decodes the rear surround and front center channels out of the stereo signal through phase encoding. (Basically, if the recording has identical signal in both channels, it belongs in the center channel, and if it's the same but exactly out of phase, it belongs in the rear channel. Otherwise, it's regular stereo.)

The TOSlink cable is for the DVD player portion of the console. It carries game audio, but NOT as discrete 5.1, simply as digitized Dolby Surround stereo.

If the game doesn't have a Dolby Surround audio option, then surround sound is not available from the game.
 
When I told you over msn to get a decoder, I thought that you were going to get the same as I have. You can clearly see what type it is on the photos I've sent you. The sheapest that I can think of is the one I have and it's a descent decoder. I don't know if you still have my photos of the decoder but it is a Creative DTS-100 (or something like that). It was a little over € 100.

If you have a surround systeme for your PC, you need a decoder or you can't use it with the PS2/3.
 
I was talking about it with Solid Lifters last night and I decided I'm going to hold out on it. It's just too expensive for me right now. But thanks a lot guys, now I understand what I need to look for. :)👍
 
wfooshee
As far as I know, there are no games on the PS2 which actually output discrete 5.1 sound as Dolby Digital. Games might have Dolby Surround, which is an analog 2-channel matrix process, and only requires the regular analog audio left/right pair. The receiver decodes the rear surround and front center channels out of the stereo signal through phase encoding. (Basically, if the recording has identical signal in both channels, it belongs in the center channel, and if it's the same but exactly out of phase, it belongs in the rear channel. Otherwise, it's regular stereo.)

The TOSlink cable is for the DVD player portion of the console. It carries game audio, but NOT as discrete 5.1, simply as digitized Dolby Surround stereo.

If the game doesn't have a Dolby Surround audio option, then surround sound is not available from the game.
Click to expand...
PS2 games can output Dolby Digital, but only during cut-scenes. In game it can only output Dolby Pro Logic II.

Dolby Pro Logic II doesn't require an optical cable, it works with the regular RCA cables. I recommend you plug the video (yellow) RCA cable on your tv and the audio ones (red and white) on your 5.1 system, ceiling_fan. It will work like a charm. :)
 
I'm not sure but I think you'll need a decoder as well to plug in the red and white (audio) cables. He has a pc 5.1 system and I guess that you can't plug in these 2 cables.
 
I have a connector that takes the red and white cables and puts it into a headphone jack. I can then put a double sided 1/8" cable and connect that to my speakers. That's how I get my sound. In stereo, just for clarification.
 
ceiling_fan
I have a connector that takes the red and white cables and puts it into a headphone jack. I can then put a double sided 1/8" cable and connect that to my speakers. That's how I get my sound. In stereo, just for clarification.
Click to expand...
Then you can do this with the PS2 cable too. Dolby Pro Logic is a 2.0 (stereo) signal emulated in 5.1.
 
My logitech 5.1 pc surround system came with a cable to connect the 2 rca cables into the front input on my subwoofer.
It has a matrix button to make the stereo sound into surround as well.
If you press the matrix button it just ignores the center and rear inputs.
 
Digital-Nitrate
3 separate audio cables for one signal? Can you post a picture or have a link for that product?

I'm fairly certain that what you need to get multi-channel discrete audio from a player to a receiver or external audio processor is either an HDMI, a digital audio coax, or a fiber optic audio cable.

Of those three, the PS2 only has support for a fiber optic audio cable (TOSLINK).

Also, for those unsure on the difference between "discrete" and "matrix" multi-channel audio, as well as base management, Wikipedia has a pretty decent listing, and several links for further understanding of the subject.
Click to expand...

I think he's talking about 3-stereo 1/8" plug giving you 6 channels of audio often found on 5.1 computer speaker systems. Usually a L/R front (green), L/R rear (blue), center/sub (black) is the usual configuration.
 

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