[geargrrl]

OK, we've got this mid-low range sony ststem with Dolby pro logic II surround.

The question is, when watching regular TV, is it normal to just have center/main speaker? And the full range of speakers ( 5 plus subwoofer) only engage when watching surround encoded movies?

The big discussion at our house is how many speakers should be engaged at what time. Center would = regular TV, then there's stereo broadcasts, and then surround, correct?

The geek child presumable has it all hooked up right, and I will be the first one to raise my hand and say "upgrade, please...".

input?

 

[ridiculous]

For most tv what you are saying is correct. You will only get sub, ctr and main speakers. Unless the broadcast is encoded for surround sound. You can disable that by just switching profiles on your receiver to 5 channel stereo and you will get output form all of your speakers.

 

[IH8Rice]

OK, we've got this mid-low range sony ststem with Dolby pro logic II surround.

The question is, when watching regular TV, is it normal to just have center/main speaker? And the full range of speakers ( 5 plus subwoofer) only engage when watching surround encoded movies?

The big discussion at our house is how many speakers should be engaged at what time. Center would = regular TV, then there's stereo broadcasts, and then surround, correct?

The geek child presumable has it all hooked up right, and I will be the first one to raise my hand and say "upgrade, please...".

input?

Dolby Pro Logic will turn any 2 channel input into a "simulated surround sound." you need to make sure that you are using a digital audio input of course tho.
In Pro Logic, all the speakers should be working w/ more of a emphasis on the center/left/right speakers. running a true Dolby Digital (DD) or DTS input will yield typically higher outputs from the rears since its 6 separate channels of audio.
when watching a stereo tv broadcast, if you want all the speakers to function, make sure Pro Logic is turned on. if you just want the front two main speakers, then use Stereo.
I typically leave all my receivers on "auto surround" which switches to Pro Logic II if its a stereo broadcast, but itll then switch the DTS or DD if it gets that signal

if you are looking at new receivers, they will all do more than your current Sony receiver does now.

 

[geargrrl]

kewl thanks.
I know an upgrade is somewhere in the future...

 

[IH8Rice]

onkyo, denon/marantz and yamaha are all great choices and relatively cheap

 

[geargrrl]

yeah yeah, we are shopping. There are some pretty cool ones that some how get into your home network for all the stuff you can stream off the web...