[KeithyT]

Hi there,

I have a Thomson DSI 4210 Sky digibox and a Panasonic SA-XR15 amp with SB-TP10 speaker set. At the moment the amp is only connected to my Panasonic DMR-E95H DVD recorder via an optical cable for DVD movie surround.

I was wondering if it's possible to connect the Thomson digibox to the amp to get surround from satellite broadcasts? Last night I had a peek behind the digital interface panel but that just gives you access to an interface slot. Were there ever any digital interface modules released for this digibox? The Thomson Europe website was no help and a google search did not return any relevant results either? The back panel of the Thomson just has a Left and Right speaker connection (presumably for 2 channel stereo to a midi hi-fi?).

Thanks in advance.

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by KeithyT

Hi there,

I have a Thomson DSI 4210 Sky digibox and a Panasonic SA-XR15 amp with SB-TP10 speaker set. At the moment the amp is only connected to my Panasonic DMR-E95H DVD recorder via an optical cable for DVD movie surround.

I was wondering if it's possible to connect the Thomson digibox to the amp to get surround from satellite broadcasts? Last night I had a peek behind the digital interface panel but that just gives you access to an interface slot.

I don't think that would be possible.
I believe that slot was for a cam..but not too sure.

[KeithyT]

Hmmm thanks. I wonder if I can contact Sky to ask about swapping the Thomson for a different digibox that does allow connection to an amp? It seems pointless to me to have an amp that I can only really use for watching DVDs, especially as more and more TV programs are broadcast in Dolby Digital (like Sky Movies for example).

[Starburst]

All SKY hardware have had the interface and none have been able to make any use of it outside the factory. If you want to access the DD audio on SKY movie channels then you need SKY+ (whose sub is waived if you have the movie package).
The twin RCA phonos supply stereo which most of the time will contain embedded surround sound which your amp using ProLogic and PLII can use to create a decent surround sound experience.

[KeithyT]

Originally Posted by Starburst

The twin RCA phonos supply stereo which most of the time will contain embedded surround sound which your amp using ProLogic and PLII can use to create a decent surround sound experience.

I might try to connect those Stereo ports to my amp. I went the DVD recorder route rather than Sky+ (as my main reason was to transfer mini DV camcorder footage to hard drive then DVD-R). Cheers.

[SamRadford]

AFAIK Pace demonstrated a plug-in digital audio interface at an exhibition about 10 years ago but they either decided there was insufficient demand or else BskyB politely asked them if they would mind not producing it (my guess since it could have affected sales of the SKY+ Digibox).

So the only answer is to buy a SKY+ or a SKY-HD box.

[KeithyT]

Originally Posted by Starburst

The twin RCA phonos supply stereo which most of the time will contain embedded surround sound which your amp using ProLogic and PLII can use to create a decent surround sound experience.

Well I connected the twin phonos to my amp and the Pro-Logic II light came on and sound came out of all my speakers.

Good sound from my centre, sub-woofer, and front left and rights, the surrounds left and rights were not so good though - especially on TV shows that were predominantly dialogue (all was cool on the music channels). I put my ear up against the rear speakers and people talking sounded a bit like Harry Potter when he talks parselmouth (all hissy and distorted).

My SA-XR15 remote has a Dolby Pro-Logic II button that flicks pre-set sound modes between Movies, Music and Panorama. It seemed to work best on Music even on non-music channels.

Anyone have any idea if this is all normal for Pro-Logic or can I tweak anything a bit more?

(sorry if this is veering towards an amplifier/receiver territory rather than a Sky digibox query now).

[Nick_UK]

If you listen to ordinary stereo through a pro-logic decoder, it will pick up phase changes and sound "hissy and distorted". It's perfectly normal.

[KeithyT]

Originally Posted by Nick_UK

If you listen to ordinary stereo through a pro-logic decoder, it will pick up phase changes and sound "hissy and distorted". It's perfectly normal.

Just had a thought. How can you find out which Sky broadcasts (if any) are transmitted with Pro-Logic (or is it only Sky Movies that sometimes transmit on Dolby Digital)?

[Nick_UK]

Press the Info button. On the info page (top right) there are letters - DD is Dolby Digital 5.1, DS is Dolby Surround. If you see neither, assume it's stereo.

[Starburst]

You'll find most US programs (and some UK) even from as far back as the mid 1990's have surround sound info in the stereo soundtrack, it is just not listed as a feature by most channels on the EPG.