When the Model 1050 was developed almost 4 years ago the design team implemented format flag recognition software that was fully compatible with the then-current DD EX technology. We tested the unit with the discs and test material that was available at that time for certification purposes. Unfortunately, one of the down sides of being so ahead of our time was the fact that the first discs that had the final version of the flag were not released for almost three years after the 1050 was introduced, and during that time it appears that Dolby made some modifications to the original flag software in a manner that makes some EX discs incompatible with the Model 1050’s internal software.

This is not a fault of either Outlaw or Dolby, but rather an unfortunate by-product of trying to hit a moving technological target.

Since the Model 1050 is not, nor has ever been, advertised as upgradeable we regret that we are unable to revise the software to accommodate the changes that occurred after the product was certified and put into production.

Please keep in mind that this issue is only relevant when your system has a 5.1 speaker setup; systems with six speakers are not affected. For those with only five main speakers, the easiest way to get around any flag-related issues is to simply listen to the disc’s DTS soundtrack, as DTS discs do not produce this issue. Fortunately, virtually all of the discs that contain the EX flag also offer a DTS sound track. Of course, we might also suggest that you consider adding a sixth speaker so that you will not only resolve this issue but enjoy the full 6.1 soundfield provided on the disc. As such, we are now closing this thread.