Playing 5.1 sound on a 2.1 speaker system?

Question

If I play a video that only has 5.1 sound encoded on it on a system that only has 2 speakers and a sub, would the system automatically correct itself and play all of the sounds from the front two speakers? (like, does it automatically send the sound from both left speakers of the 5.1 to the single left speakers of the 2.1, the same with the right, and the split what the center speaker should play between the 2).

Answer 1

no. the dvd has a stereo channel, and it will play that. the receiver will not be able to decode the dolby digital or dts soundtrack. plus, you probably have it hooked up with stereo cables (the red and white wires) and not a digital coax or optical cable, so the dyd player wont have a choice but to send a stereo signal.

you wont get a 5.1 soundtrack out of 2 speakers, you'll get a stereo signal.