5.1 OR Dolby Stereo on CD Singles?

[Cmitchell]

Hi Folks, a technical question (though I want an easy answer as I'm not that technically minded!).

We have a 5.1 surround sound theatre system on the DVD player and this DVD player also plays CDs. My question is this, with a CD single that plays "stereo" in the car, can it -or if so how does- it play through the 5.1 surround sound system?? My fella recons that it is "written on the disk differently" so CD sound is just not coming out of all 5 speakers. We're assuming that music companies don't bother to put both sets of the data (to produce either "2 stereo" OR the "5.1 Surround Sound") on CD singles.

By the way I've just read the bit on Wikipedea on 5.1 surround sound and I'm none the wiser!

Cheers in advance for your comments

Mitchell : )

[Whickerman]

If it's any help - bet it's not! - they do put both on dvds, and it takes very little extra memory to do so, so if the music is recorded in 5.1 it's probable.

[Bob A Job]

In a simple answer, audio CD's can never give out true 5.1 sound, only stereo.
SACD's can hold 5.1 sound and also play in CD players, although these are rare as the cost more to produce.
Most decent 5.1 amplifiers/decoders do a pretty good version of 'simulated' 5.1 sound by making parts of the sound appear from the rear speakers, although its not how the music was intended to sound.