Sony DAV – DZ310 Home Theatre 5.1 Channel Surround Sound Modes

I am now a proud owner of a wonderful 5.1 channel home theatre that is, Sony DAV – DZ310. It’s not too pricey when you think about the performance it offers and clearly it outruns many competitors for that price range.

I was also thinking about getting a Yamaha, but it was a bit more expensive than Sony. In any case, now that I have this sound system, I have only few things to say about it.

Let’s start with surround sound modes in this home theatre. DAV – DZ310 features 6 surround sound modes and here they are:

1. AFD Multi – Auto Format Direct Multi

With this mode activated you don’t have to worry about the source. The system plays the surround sound depending on what type the source is providing.
Means, if your source is providing 2.1 channel then it will be played likewise. You’ll still be able to hear all speakers except for the front one.

Since, this mode enhances the compressed audio source, it provides loudest sound or I should say that you should choose this mode if you are playing some recorded media, like by mobile, pc (with 3.5 mm jack and not with HDMI), etc.

2. Pro Logic
3. Pro Logic II Movie
4. Pro Logic II Music

As the name suggests, these 3 modes are from Dolby Pro Logic technology that provides amazing sound. It doesn’t shriek and make your heart fail; in fact it slowly fills up the room with surround sound.

Pro Logic is for actual 5.1 channel source, so you should only enable this mode if you are absolutely sure that your source was encoded with 5.1 channel recorder. There is a catch however, if you have connected the system to your pc or laptop via 3.5 mm jack (by composite to 3.5 mm jack cable, it’s way cheaper than other options), then you would not hear other speakers, only front one works and outputs the sound.

That’s why it becomes seriously suppressed and dull. So, in this case, where you can’t connect your theatre with pc via HDMI or composite cable for digital output, you should always select AFD Multi mode because it enhances the suppressed signals coming from your 3.5 mm jack.

Pro Logic II Movie mode provides excellent bass effect and outputs every dialogue with great clarity. Obviously, you need to play your source file via CD/DVD, USB drive, HDMI cable or composite/component cable.

Pro Logic II Music is optimized for music playback and only differs in bass effect. Rest is the same.

Again, for best sound, you should choose any of these except composite/component cable.

5. 2CH Stereo

This should be your least favorite option, because it is only worth activating when you don’t plan on installing surround sound speakers. Because, when you select this mode, the sound (even Multi-channel) is down-mixed to 2 channel and you will get output with only your front speakers and subwoofer.

6. AFD STD – Auto Format Direct Standard

This is a version of Auto Format Direct mode that does to enhance the sound; it presents the sound as it is. If it was recorded dimly then you won’t hear ‘wow’ sound. In fact, I prefer to use the first mode (AFD Multi), because for one thing, I have my DAV-DZ310 connected with 3.5 mm jack and for other, I don’t have to worry about the sourc

This mode auto adjusts the sound and delivers the best there is, even if means enhancing the original source’s sound.

However, you won’t hear your surround sound speakers; the output comes from only front ones and subwoofer, just like 2CH Stereo.

In any case, I still recommend that you grab an HDMI cable or at the very least a composite or component cable for digital output and have fun with Dolby Pro Logic.