Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I asked VM why I still didn't have any HD channels yet and this was the reply: "Hi - the rollout is in progress and will take a few hrs to complete across what is a very big network, thx."

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

You really need to keep phoning up or report it on newsgroups as others have said.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

This was on Twitter, I've got back to them again as I think they though I just meant ESPN. I'm hopeful that if I keep posting they'll be able to sort it out (even if it does involve another phone call)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Looks like some Premier League stuff until the early hours when a live MLB game will be shown, which will also be on ESPN and ESPN America.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I just checked the schedules for ESPN and ESPN America between midnight and 9AM (the hours that ESPN will be airing US sports tonight) and at the very least it looks like they're not just going to simulcast ESPN America.

ESPN America
0:00 Live MLB: Cubs @ Reds
3:00 Live Baseball Tonight
4:00 MLB: Royals @ Rays
6:30 College Football Live
7:00 Around The Horn
7:30 Pardon The Interruption
8:00 NASCAR Now

ESPN
0:00 Live MLB: Cubs @ Reds
3:00 Live Baseball Tonight
4:00 NASCAR Now
5:00 The Sports Reporters
5:30 College Football Live
6:00 MLB: Royals @ Rays

The only thing they share looking ahead on VM's EPG is live events, apart from when ESPN shows MLS and UFC live.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I'm sure more they'll have different shows once the channel is a bit older.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Give ESPN some time as:

A) ESPN only got 50% of the rights to the sports they are going to broadcast on ESPN until last week.

B) ESPN did not buy an EPG Channel off Setanta until last week to keep ESPNA on air.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Actually I was making the point that they're not using a straight simulcast of ESPN America. That's actually a good thing as it means that we may end up getting the ESPN America Xtra that they used to show on Setanta Ireland. It'll be interesting to see what happens once the college football and NHL seasons start. Hopefully they'll show 2 different live events at the same time as we used to lose the late college football game when Hocke Night in Canada aired.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

If they get any more rights they may end up requiring and ESPN2, or a red button option similar to Sky.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

well I'll be moving to XL and getting my V+ installed in 2 weeks... I cant wait to watch all these channels :D just a bit of a off question is there any SD difference in the old V Box i have now compared to the V+ im getting ? I hear they "upscale" or something?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

All SD channels are upscaled with the V+ box when using a HDMI cable. The V+ box does an excellent job of upscaling them, you'll notice a big difference in picture quality. It's not quite as good as HD, but it's not too far off.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

ah cheers mate cant wait :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

ESPN is now broadcast telling you what is coming up. (It look like an Freeview hour on Sky before launch)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

nook, i'm pretty sure that the old virgin box doesnt have a hdmi or dvi port so you'd be using scart which is rubbish quality, that is why the picture quality is better, lots of people assume its upscaling where in reality its because its digital instead of horrible scart analog which is even worse that VGA analog. But yeah it will be less blurred with a digital connection. Don't believe the guys saying it will look near-hd like because it just doesn't!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

He was asking whether there was a difference in SD quality between the V+ and standard STB, which I answered, centering around his comment about upscaling. Just because it goes through a HDMI cable does not make it HD, BBC 1 is still SD, but upscaled. You're right though, SCART doesn't upscale.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

That old chestnut again? Oh boy.

Any HDTV will upscale an SD image, and there is nothing special about the V+'s upscaling. For good upscaling, try a PS3 or one of Toshiba's XDE DVD players, as they do proper intelligent interpolation and not just scaling/blurring but even that is a million miles away from HD.

At the end of the day, garbage in, garbage out.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

It is upscaled - as for whether it looks 'near HD' that is a matter of opinion, I think our 32" LCD looks nearly as good on SD as HD - the larger screens show up the difference more, though.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Showing promo video on ESPN /HD now

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

you must sit a long way from your tv :P

try comparing ESPN and ESPN HD tonight with some sports and sit 3m from the tv and then tell me there's very little difference :P

people think the v+ box and dvd players look amazing with hdmi whereas the v box and normal dvd players use scart which is analog. If you find a dvd player or cable box that has dvi or hdmi and doesnt upscale then the difference will be very little indeed.

EDIT: promo video is only on ESPN for me and not on ESPN HD. ESPN HD just says that the new espn channels are coming soon.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Considering SD through a V+ is excellent and not far off HD quality, and you saying PS3's and high end DVD players are considerably better, they must be the closest thing to HD that isn't true HD. That statement is therefore rubbish.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

nook, he's saying that the upscale processing engines in the ps3 and toshiba's xde are far better than in regular upscaling dvd player or the V+ box which is true, the algorithms are much better and there are many reviews out there to prove this.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I'm not saying they're not better than the V+ box, what I'm saying is his statement about them 'being millions of miles away from HD' is a load of rubbish. If it looks great upscaled through V+, and other gear can do it even better, then they must be very close to HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I really don't understand what you're trying to say.

Personally I see nothing special about V+ upscaling. It's as bog standard as it's possible to be. Therefore that the PS3 and a few other devices can do a far better job is not surprising to me. But I repeat, they are not HD, not even close, as there is only so much you can do with a low resolution image. You can't add detail that isn't there, you can just smear what is there a little more artfully.

Toshiba, of HD DVD fame, said upscaling (with their XDE tech) was the future, and it was as good as HD. Just a few days ago, they announced their first blu-ray player. Upscaling is a stop gap, a fudge to attempt to make picture technology from decodes ago look somehow acceptable on modern HDTVs. Fortunately the days of needing such a fudge are very nearly over. SD, please die now, you have overstayed your welcome by about 15 years.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Does anyone know a quiet time to call faults (but sensible)? Do you think it would be any quieter between, say, 22:00 and 00:00 than it is now because I've just been waiting for 20 mins whilst listening to music and I want to ring on a quiet time.

And btw I personally think the V+ upscales very well and certain programmes such as BBC1,2,3 etc look almost as good as BBC HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I'm not claiming that upscaled SD is as good as HD, but I'm saying it isn't as far away as you're claiming. I'd love for everything to go HD, but that simply isn't going to happen, and saying SD has outstayed its welcome by about 15 years is also rubbish. To me, the V+ does a great job of upscaling for something that cost just £49, and I'm sure more expensive equipment will do a better job. The fact remains the same, upscaled SD looks fantastic, regardless of whether HD is better, it isn't THAT far behind.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Its also a shame the sound does not match the quality of HD

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Very true, that is the most noticeable difference for me.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

ESPN HD running adverts now

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

ESPN HD is now up showing the Man Utd game in a sec.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

not in hd thoe espn hd only showing the match in a higher bit rate

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Mmm that's what I thought, it doesn't look like full HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Not a great picture, lets just hope that is because of the way Setanta recorded it and not how new live sport will look like. Hopefully the baseball at midnight will look better or be in HD.

Also noted that ESPN America is in 4:3, is this always the case or it depends what sport is on?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

notice it has just the logo espn no hd next to it must be when the basball tonight

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Nook29 - I totaly agree with you. I think that the quality of upscaled SD through the V+ box is great. Sure it might be better through some other platforms - bit the V+ box does a great job (IMHO)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

SD will go away, just as black and white and 4:3 ratio did before it. It's already happened in Japan, where HDTVs have been available for well over a decade and HD programming is simply the standard. In the US all the major networks have HD channels and the vast majority of US drama is now produced in HD. I don't know why you are having so much trouble seeing the way TV tech is trending.

If you think upscaling is almost as good as HD (which it technically clearly isn't) then you must either have a small TV, a poor quality TV, be sitting too far away from the TV, have poor eyesight, or any combination of those. HD on a good sized (50"+) 1080p HDTV from an appropriate viewing distance represents a huge leap in picture quality over SD. It's akin to going from VHS to DVD, more so in fact.

Ultimately this is a pointless debate because HD is where TV is headed and even Virgin recognise it now. Feel free to enjoy your upscalled low-res content though, knock yourself out. Personally I rarely watch SD now, months can go by without me ever having to see it.

Oh and the price of the V+ is subsided. When you agree to rent one you are locking yourself into a lengthy contract, which is where Virgin milks you. Same concept with mobile phones. (how else could you get an iPhone (which is a device with several hundred of pounds worth of tech in it) for a minimal charge)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

moroboshi - Let's just agree to disagree. This thread isn't for debates on upscaling quality, we clearly have different views on it.

Been watching the football on ESPN HD (despite it not being in HD), and am enjoying it. It was a good game though, the second half should be great to see again.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

There is a review of the V+ upscaling? You dont have a link do you?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I think its only Nat Geo that has been broadcasting true HD since all HD channels have come on as its the only channel showing dolby digital on the amp, all others are pro logic as the SD channels. That was one of the things I was looking forward to the improvement in sound quality.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

or horrible, for me atleast

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

espn classic after 12 it say discontinued service any 1 else getting it

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

On my TV some of the SD channels look almost as good as HD. I bought my TV in July 2007 on the strength of a review which said that sometimes the SD picture was so good that initially they thought they were viewing an HD programme.

My TV is not poor quality. It's a 32 inch and cost £950 2 years ago.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

watched ugly betty on 4hd yesterday. Not my thing really but absolutely stunning in true hd. Whenever a program is broadcast in hd on 4 the 4hd logo appears, doesnt happen very often.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

4:3 hasn't gone away though. There's still plenty of stuff still made in 4:3 these days, and there's still a ton of channels that broadcast in 4:3.

SD isn't going to go away for a long time, there just simply isn't the bandwidth available for every channel to go HD, and for many channels the cost in equipment upgrades isn't worth it as they don't show anything worth being in HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I was shocked to find ther was sometihn mad ein black and white 4 or 5 years ago, just the peopel makign it could not afford a colour camera!!!!!! but 4:3 is still very widely used as you said

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

One of my favourite movies (Clerks) was made in '94 and it's black and white for that reason, and it's considered a cult classic.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Indeed Black and White can be used for Artistic reasons.

Remember you can have HD B&W ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

i was about to mention the same movie, was quite sad when clerks 2 turned colour

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Both FX and MTV are broadcasting in Dolby digital, and IMO MTV, especially live recordings, have looked stunning.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

live broadcasts do look especially good in hd, eurovision song contest on bbc hd was stunning, its a pity about the songs though

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Everytime I have watched they are pro logic, they may switch from dolby digital but each time I switched over its always been pro logic only nat geo seems continuous dolby digital until adverts, which I must admit I thought they would be digital also.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

All HD channels are always in Dolby Digital, however its not always 5.1 there are plentyof progs that are just Dolby Digital 2.0 as reported by my amp.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Remember allot of new SD programs are now down converted HD ones

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Outside of animated shows I am struggling to think of many US or UK produced shows that are still in 4:3 apart from the very cheap US talk shows. Everything else is 16x9

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The Wire only finished up last year and that was 4:3

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Probably as it started of in 4:3, shows don't like to change OAR during their run.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The USA has been very slow on the uptake for Widescreen. I was shocked to find that prime time programming, such as The Apprentice (their version obvz) was still in 'full screen'.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The majority of stuff out of the US has been in HD for at least 10 years, at least for drama and this has spilled over to sitcoms as well. Remember in the US HD and widescreen go hand in hand, there is no 16x9 SD over there.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

On Sunday night I watched "To the edge of the Universe" on Nat Geo-HD, it was absolutely stunning one of the best shows I've seen in HD.:tu:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Extreme makeover: home edition that is 4:3 if i really tohught about it could find plenty others, widescreen is not a standard i wihs it was bloody annoying watching 4:3 on widescreen tv dnt mind for old stuff btu new stuff i do

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

QFT. :D

It is was one of the best pictures I've seen, especially the Quasar and the nebula.

Closely followed by Oceans last night on BBC HD.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Tried to buy this on Blu-ray a few months back but its only available for the States. Glad they have shown it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I think you will find that it is Dolby Pro logic II which is what my amp says and not Dolby digital which is a 6 way signal, Dolby pro logic II is a stereo signal pushed through to 5 signals, IE a stereo signal converted to a 5:1 surround system, where as Dolby Digital is a natural 6:1 Surround signal with no conversions. Everything on the V+ is Dolby Pro Logic II with the exception of HD supposedly, but as stated earlier I am definitely only seeing Nat Geo so far broadcasting with continuous Dolby Digital which is good, but they may not have all programs that way, also BBC hd is mostly Dolby digital but it also changes back to pro logic II. Theoretically these HD channels should be sounding the same as a Blu-Ray and they are nowhere near the same sound quality.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

No It's not!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_D...configurations

Although most commonly associated with the 5.1 channel configuration, Dolby Digital allows a number of different channel selections. The full list of available options are:

• Mono (Center only)
• 2-channel stereo (Left + Right), optionally carrying matrixed Dolby Surround
• 3-channel stereo (Left, Center, Right)
• 2-channel stereo with mono surround (Left, Right, Surround)
• 3-channel stereo with mono surround (Left, Center, Right, Surround)
• 4-channel quadraphonic (Left, Right, Left Surround, Right Surround)
• 5-channel surround (Left, Center, Right, Left Surround, Right Surround)

All of these configurations can optionally include the extra Low Frequency Effect (LFE) channel. The last two with stereo surrounds can optionally use Dolby Digital EX matrix encoding to add an extra Rear Surround channel.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

while were on the topic of sound has any one else noticed that the hd channels have a low volume ?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Dolby Digital, or AC-3, is the common version containing up to six discrete channels of sound. The most elaborate mode in common usage involves five channels for normal-range speakers (20 Hz – 20,000 Hz) (right front, center, left front, right rear and left rear) and one channel (20 Hz – 120 Hz allotted audio) for the subwoofer driven low-frequency effects.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_D...#Dolby_Digital

My point was you should be listening to Dolby Digital as it was made for and that is a 6:1 sound system, and not in stereo which is what we are getting

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Finally got HD channels working last night - got a more helpful person on customer support. All they had to do was turn them on for my account since for some reason they weren't, took them about 3 minutes :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

:rolleyes: Did it look like excellently upscaled SD? :rolleyes:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

BBC HD has always been lower than other channels for me. Irritating but i just ingore it now.
Same on ne channels too.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

IMHO ...

Apples and pears.

I would imagine that 50"+ sets will not be the norm in the average household. Some early adopters and technophiles will have large flat panel displays now and may well be a high proportion of the current HDTV owners but most of us will opt for something that doesn't obscure the light of day from the bay window! ;)

I wasn't aware of any programming being broadcast in 1080p so surely we're comparing the quality of picture between upscaled SD and either 720p or 1080i HD.

Just to put things in perspective (so to speak!).

This was my theory on why some people insisted that sports were only watchable in HD. They've got huge screens and need the higher resolution so that every pixel isn't individually visible. However, it seems as though the ESPN HD content does not meet that criterion yet.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

It would be interesting to know how many of us have 50" screens or above, to be honest I would have said 50" would soon be average size if not definately 42". They hang on a wall perfect and take up so much less space than on a stand or tucked in a corner. Your theory on sport could be correct, I watch quite a bit of football in SD and it is very blurry on the screen compared to HD which shows it very sharp.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Aresnal TV Closedown

Aresnal has today closedown their TV Channel - but it may relaunch that an later date.

Aresnal TV was on Virgin Channel 542.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

They probably sold it to Man city

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Anyone with a 50" TV in their house has a serious social defficiency.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

As an Arsenal fan it's a shame to see it go, but this year all their pre-season friendlies were exclusive to the online channel, so I'm not too sad to see it go.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Lol nice 1

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

or a bl**dy big house!!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

No. I don't accept that. TV is TV, house size doesn't matter, you don't buy a big TV and sit 50 foot away do you! You buy a TV and sit 8-12 foot away regardless of screen size.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Just joking! Personally, I only have a 26" HD set and I'm very happy with that!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

I have a 50" sont bravia, i dont have a big house or social defiency, the price was rihgt at the time of buying it which was £800 as had problemd was previous tv's that empire sold me in the end i wanted a lg one which again was out of stock.

so they offered me the 50" sony, as orginally i had bought a toshiba rptv that went faulty, then a samsung 42 that wasnt hdready and they swapped it for a sony bravia rptv, which was about 3 years ago now, brilliant set!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Setanta Sports UK fall out: Arsenal axe their TV Channel & An Racing UK update.

For Arsenal TV news go to post 2972.

Racing UK said that it is in advanced talks with Virgin Media about continuing to supply a premium channel (Media Boy: at £20 per month) on its cable TV service.

Full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009...tanta-relaunch

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

My 50" pioneer plasma takes up less space than my old 36" tv, It only sticks out 3" off the wall where the tv was about 60" in depth, If size made no differance we'd still have 12" portable's, Go for it and get one you'll never look back .:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Anyone know when ESPN HD will be showing in the TV guide? So far its just ESPN, I want to record the UFC in advance but cannot do this as ESPN HD is not showing?

TIA

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

No, anything bigger than 32" just looks ridiculous. I will stick with my 32" plasma thanks.

I watch TV for about 2 hours per day.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

why not do it on the channel? you can set thing to record on the guide on screen

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

It's showing in my guide on channel 530 ESPN HD

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Yes you can but not 3 - 4 days ahead!

Not TV guide its the Planner?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

:rolleyes: No, house size definitely does matter. The sofa goes along one wall and the TV goes along the wall opposite. So, if you have a big living room, you need a big TV screen to be able to see it at that distance (or use binoculars). Conversely, in a standard sized living room, sitting too close to a huge screen would be like sitting six rows in front of the first row at the cinema. You'd strain your neck scanning from left to right and up and down and still miss some of the action. :rolleyes:

---------- Post added at 13:07 ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 ----------

Ah! More apples and pears!

We're talking about screen dimensions here, the diagonal or viewable area, not the depth, which is the difference between having a CRT and a flat panel display. In your case that's almost 60 inches - five feet - are you sure your old set was that deep?

Of course a flat panel will be a bit further away if it's mounted on the wall so a slightly bigger screen might be of benefit. If you go for a projector screen then you can save on several rolls of wallpaper too! :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

It was huge took two to lift, i shall try and remember model, all I remember was how deep it was from front to back, also could not get it in the car

---------- Post added at 13:44 ---------- Previous post was at 13:17 ----------

This was the model, got my inches and centimetres mixed up it was 58 cm not inches
http://guildford.gumtree.com/guildford/39/40539139.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

No Dolby Digital can have any configurtion between 1.0 - 7.1. YOu are using Pro logic two on your amp which which will take any two channel source and do a better hob of making a 5.1 signal then old pro logic.

My amp does not have pro logic two so reports the raw signal and it is Dolby Digital 2.0. Only the non HD channels show up as pro logic. Pro logic and Pro logic II are just sound mixing formats.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

My amp is picking up its raw signal and its not Dolby Digital, its Pro Logic II, the only time it changes is on the HD channels where it then recieves a Dolby Digital 6:1 signal, That is what I was saying that its a stereo signal converted to Pro logic II

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

isnt broadcasted Dolby Digital usually 5.1?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Aha! I should have guessed that. I found it alien to quote feet and inches in my reply postings. Personally I think we should all be talking metric here.

Anyway, I doubt you'd get a 50" flat panel display into a Smart car or a Nissan Micra either. It's beginning to sound like tail wagging dog. To own a 50"+ flat panel you need a bigger car to get it home and a bigger home to view it in. ;)

I have a 5" B&W set that can operate from batteries, mains or the car lighter socket. You can watch it comfortably in 'the smallest room in the house' with the telescopic aerial or a co-ax feed from the RF out of the VM STB. It's not HD, it's not widescreen, it's not stereo, it's not even colour but you never have to miss a programme! ;)

It was a mixup between imperial and metric that caused the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Sort of but really its 6 as you add a sub bass or sub woofer, to take the low frequency from your main speakers. So usually you would have Two front speakers, Two Rear Speakers and a Centre speaker for 5:1, but 6:1 you have a seperate speaker to deal with low bass levels and 7:1 is two seperate speakers for low bass. You would be surprised how much difference in sound quality is lost from not having a speaker that can deal with the low frequencies.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

urm the .1 is the LFE the 5 is the front L/R, centre and rear L/R

---------- Post added at 14:32 ---------- Previous post was at 14:31 ----------

6.1 adds a rear centre.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

That is because you are using Pro Logic II which will take a stereo source and upconvert it. My amp clearly shows the Dolby Digital light lighting up. DD can be any one of the following 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1

Keep in mind that "Dolby Digital" does not necessarily equate to "Dolby Digital 5.1 DD is just an encoding system.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Mines saying DD and its changing from 5.1 or 2.1. MTV is on 5.1 the most with all the live sets

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

Exactimondo :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

But the raw signal is not pro logic II, that's just the processing technology your amp uses to make a stereo signal into surround. The Pro Logic II light is just saying "I'm getting a stereo signal, and I'm converting it to surround sound".

The raw audio signal on HD channels is always Dolby Digital, it's just not always surround sound, and your amp only tells you it is DD when it's surround, else it just tells you that it's using PLII to recreate surround sound.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

:) I find that any audio in 2.1 is very quite im having to increase the volume by 25%

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2009)
 

The raw signal is stereo being converted to Pro Logic yes I agree, and that is the signal we are all getting right. Not Dolby Digital that signal is only on the HD channels if your lucky. As for Dolby Digital 2, I cannot find any reference to that signal on the Dolby website. Or am I confusing myself