I've noticed the same drop in volume as well as other timbral differences between DD and DD-EX. Obviously, activating DD-EX is doing MUCH MORE than just creating a center back channel. It is also impacting the front soundstage in a significant way.

I've also noticed that the sound of my DTS encoded audio disks becomes anaemic when I switch from DTS to DTS-ES. That is: a loss of volume level and a loss of bass output.

Does this make sense to any of the DD/DD-EX and DTS mavens out there? I thought that the only difference in these decoding schemes was related to surround playback and the front soundstage shouldn't be affected at all. That certainly ISN'T the case with my 950.

And for those that think it may be an acoustical issue, I can turn off amplification to my rear channels and clearly hear the difference in the front channels switching between the 5.1 and "6.1" modes.

[This message has been edited by bobliinds (edited May 29, 2002).]