About VM6.1.....

 

This soundfield (aka DSP) should only be activated when playing 6.1 dvd soundtrack. Originally our receiver (777ES) was designed for true 5.1 amplification. Which means if we play any movie encoded with 5.1 sound it will amplify 5 channels and pass the 6th (.1 channel to be amplified) to the subwoofer.

Now there are two methods using which 5.1 are encoded. Two companies that made these two methods are Dolby and DTS. The 5.1 encoding method used by Dolby is called "Dolby Digital (5.1)" where the other method is called "DTS (5.1)" These two methods are very similar but from my experience I like DTS over Dolby Digital. DTS feeds all channels without discrimination whereas the Dolby Digital, by nature, is light on the rear ones. Anyway, that's all about 5.1.

Now the question is when do we use our new VM-6.1 DSP??? The answer is when we play movie DVDs with "DTS-ES" and "Dolby Digital-EX" soundtracks. What's that? Both companies came up with new method of encoding. They added a new channel to 5.1 and called it 6.1. The new channel is "the rear center speaker" If we had a true 6.1 amplifying receiver, then we physically need a new Center speaker for the rear position (between two rear speakers). But 777ES only amplifies 5 channels. So Sony came up with a DSP(Digital Signal Processing Method) called VM6.1 - which simulates the new 6th channel through the rear two speakers and gives you a virtual Center speaker (without having an actual speaker). Technically, the whole "rear setup" is just like having the "front setup" of a Dolby Prologic. There are a few DVDs out there with 6.1 soundtracks. I have two of those - "Gladiator" and "T2 (Metal Case Edition)" Gladiator comes with both "Dolby Digital 5.1" and "DTS 6.1" sound.

Anyway, So VM6.1 should only be activated when playing one of these 6.1 encoded DVDs. "Screen Depth" feature which can only be set to "On/Off" when you activate VM6.1, is a part of the firmware upgrade. You can set it on/off when playing 6.1 and see what you like. I haven't yet tried this out so don't take my word on Screen Depth. I am not sure if it works with other DSPs. One more thing, when kept on A.F.D (Auto Format Decode,) 777ES will NOT automatically activate VM6.1 when playing DTS-ES or DD-EX. You will have to manually activate it from the new remote or from the front panel of the 777ES.