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DVD sound via audio-only sound system?

Can I physically connect a DVD player (not yet bought) to my stereo pre-amp? I want to run only the sound portion of movies through my stereo if possible. Also would like to play CDs on it (if I buy one).

Today I saw a Consumer Reports review of DVD players, which seemed to imply that your pre-amp needs to have either a coax or optical digital input in order to accept the sound from a CD player.

Is this true? Or do DVD players have "conventional" (i.e., unbalanced RCA-type jacks like most CD players use) interconnects? Is the digital input only required for "multichannel" (i.e., more than 2 channels), which I don't have?

Thanks for clarifying this!

- Eric
ehart
s2k_dude
78 posts
 
yeah, that'll work fine. i do it with my dvd and it sounds damn good, even through "only" 2 channels. it's amazing how stereo spatial info can be recorded out-of-phase etc. to sound like it's all around you.
dwpc
27 posts
 
If you connect using the DVD player's 2 channel RCA line outs to the preamp's L/R line ins, the preamp shouldn't care what the source is. The info you read applies if you want to use home theater multichannel decoding in the preamp. As long as you'll be satisfied with 2 channel audio you'll have no problem. Be sure to check your DVD setup for the suitable audio out setting. If its set for Dolby and you connect to a non-Dolby preamp, it could cause damage.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I do not believe there is any such thing as a Dolby audio out setting on a DVD player. There are settings for the type of digital out, but the wrong one will not cause damage, the decoder just will not understand the signal. There are separate composite audio and video outs on many DVD players. These are the wrong ones for your purpose.
dwpc
27 posts
 
Sugarbrie: My Sony s300 DVP has a specific Dolby setting selectable in its onscreen audio setup menu and the manual has a clear warning that equipment damage may result if that setting is used with an amplifier without the Dolby circuit. Just passing it along; never hurts to err on the side of caution.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
DWPC, I learned something new today. Thanks for the info. You are talking about the analog outputs?
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