Hardware surround sound?

[mrpinkeye]

can i get full surround sound from the wii? or just faked surround sound from 2 stereo outputs?

 

[PsyBlade]

Yes, you can get sorrund sound from a wii.

You need a dolby pro logic II capable decoder to do it.

While the signal it encoded to be carried over a 2 channel link,
it is decoded to 5.1 sound (for backward compability,
eg you could use it to make 5.1 audio cd without replacing the players).

It is probably not what you mean by "full" sorround since LS,RS and C.
are limited in thier expression but it certainly is surround.

I don't see what would be fake on using 2 stereo connectors to transport (e.g. 4.0) sorround sound.
Using 1 stereo jack per 2 channels is actually the common way to connect speakers,
if the space is to thight for one mono connector per channel.
Even my 7.1 system uses it (4x 3.5mm stereo jack).

 

[mrpinkeye]

wow, great reply

i was sure id read somewhere that systems just fake surround sound when using the white and red outputs when compared with optical audio leads....

 

[PsyBlade]

Yes there is fake surround too.

But you can't really tell by the connector. It depends on the signal that is carried over that connector.
Whoever created that signal decided wether to include surround or not.

In general you can assume that a stereo connector does not carry a surround signal but it is possible.
The Wii for example can be set up to do it and some DVDs carry a analog sorround track too.
A better DVD player might even create one on the fly from the digital one should there be need to.

keywords to google:
Dolby Surround
Dolby Pro Logic