I have my A1 connected to a 7.1 speaker system via HDMI, as well as an Onkyo 605.
Whenever I watch HD DVD movies only the 2 fronts, the Center, the Woofer, and the 2 surround speakers work; the 2 back speakers do not (They only work on broadcast TV). :confused:

Is this normal? Is this happening because the player cannot output 7.1, and is set to only 5.1?
Or is there some adjustment that I could make?

It's not the player, but your receiver. The Onkyo 605 can't apply Pro Logic IIx processing to the soundtrack on your hd-dvd's, as such you only hear the channels specified/encoded on the dvd itself (i.e. 5.1 discrete) -- the receiver cannot matrix the PCM signal from 5.1 to 7.1. With an hd-dvd or dvd that has a discrete 7.1 soundtrack (not many...we were soldiers has one I believe) you should have all 7 channels working properly.

It's not the player, but your receiver. The Onkyo 605 can't apply Pro Logic IIx processing to the soundtrack on your hd-dvd's, as such you only hear the channels specified/encoded on the dvd itself (i.e. 5.1 discrete) -- the receiver cannot matrix the PCM signal from 5.1 to 7.1.
Can you explain what prevents the 605 from applying Pro Logic IIx to PCM sources? I looked at the manual and could not find any notice saying it would not work (maybe I missed it). This unit does have that ability to apply PLIIx to 5.1 sources, so it ought to be possible, on the face of it.

Can you explain what prevents the 605 from applying Pro Logic IIx to PCM sources? I looked at the manual and could not find any notice saying it would not work (maybe I missed it). This unit does have that ability to apply PLIIx to 5.1 sources, so it ought to be possible, on the face of it.

What should I do?

As far as I know, you can not matrix the sound. I have tried. I own the 605.

What should I do?

Upon further searching, I found that the table on page 62 of the manual shows that TX-SR605 cannot apply PLIIx to 5.1 PCM. However, the table on page 63 shows that PLIIx can be applied to 5.1 DD and DD+ sources. Seems strange that it can handle the more difficult case but not PCM that's already decoded.

Try complaining to Onkyo. Maybe they'll support it in a future upgrade.

Upon further searching, I found that the table on page 62 of the manual shows that TX-SR605 cannot apply PLIIx to 5.1 PCM. However, the table on page 63 shows that PLIIx can be applied to 5.1 DD and DD+ sources. Seems strange that it can handle the more difficult case but not PCM that's already decoded.

Try complaining to Onkyo. Maybe they'll support it in a future upgrade.

Well, is there a 7.1 firmware upgrade available for the A1 and A2?

Is there a way for the decoding to be done in the reciever other than the player? Is there a way to bypass that?

? Why would there be a firmware update for the A1/A2 - they decode the soundtrack (whether it be 5.1 or 7.1) and pass it as PCM over HDMI to your receiver as they should.

The "problem" is, again, with your receiver, not the player. I have the A2/605 combo as well, although I don't really have a problem with it, as I am hearing the movie soundtracks as they were meant to be heard -- if the source/hd-dvd movie has a 7.1 soundtrack, the 605 will replicate that. If the source has a 5.1 soundtrack, it will reproduce it, as it was meant to. All your are missing out on is an extra two channels (on hd-dvds...) of matrixed sound.

The 605 can matrix 5.1 to 7.1 on regular dolby digital/dts dvds, broadcast t.v., etc. -- the reason it cannot process/matrix soundtracks from hd-dvds is because it is receiving the data/audio in PCM from, and, for whatever reason, the 605 lacks the ability to apply processing to these raw PCM streams. This is not a "defect", so I would not expect a firmware update from Onkyo.

If you are determined to get 7.1. audio from your 5.1 hd-dvd/bluray sources, check out either the Yamaha RX-V661 (a little cheaper than the 605 online...) or the Onkyo TX-SR705 -- both of these models will be able to process the PCM audio for you...

Good Luck

I have a denon receiver.It always matrixes 5.1 pcm to 7.1.I almost bought that onkyo too.Glad i didnt

? Why would there be a firmware update for the A1/A2 - they decode the soundtrack (whether it be 5.1 or 7.1) and pass it as PCM over HDMI to your receiver as they should.

The "problem" is, again, with your receiver, not the player. I have the A2/605 combo as well, although I don't really have a problem with it, as I am hearing the movie soundtracks as they were meant to be heard -- if the source/hd-dvd movie has a 7.1 soundtrack, the 605 will replicate that. If the source has a 5.1 soundtrack, it will reproduce it, as it was meant to. All your are missing out on is an extra two channels (on hd-dvds...) of matrixed sound.

The 605 can matrix 5.1 to 7.1 on regular dolby digital/dts dvds, broadcast t.v., etc. -- the reason it cannot process/matrix soundtracks from hd-dvds is because it is receiving the data/audio in PCM from, and, for whatever reason, the 605 lacks the ability to apply processing to these raw PCM streams. This is not a "defect", so I would not expect a firmware update from Onkyo.

If you are determined to get 7.1. audio from your 5.1 hd-dvd/bluray sources, check out either the Yamaha RX-V661 (a little cheaper than the 605 online...) or the Onkyo TX-SR705 -- both of these models will be able to process the PCM audio for you...

Good Luck

From what you are saying, if there were an HD DVD movie with a TrueHD or PCM 7.1 audio, my 605 would then process it at the original output of 7.1?

From what you are saying, if there were an HD DVD movie with a TrueHD or PCM 7.1 audio, my 605 would then process it at the original output of 7.1?


I don't think so. The A1 and A2 only have 5.1 decoding. Even if you have a 7.1 PCM track, the player wouldn't pass more than 5.1. If these players could pass bitstream, then I assume it could do anything. But as for internal decoding, you are limited to 5.1.


Furthermore, if you want "true" 7.1 sound (not matrixed by your A/V receiver), then you need a player with 7.1 decoding built in, or able to pass bitstream to a capable receiver.

I don't think so. The A1 and A2 only have 5.1 decoding. Even if you have a 7.1 PCM track, the player wouldn't pass more than 5.1. If these players could pass bitstream, then I assume it could do anything. But as for internal decoding, you are limited to 5.1.


Furthermore, if you want "true" 7.1 sound (not matrixed by your A/V receiver), then you need a player with 7.1 decoding built in, or able to pass bitstream to a capable receiver.

And this would be the A30 and A35?

And if I just wanted to have the audio decoded by the player on a 605 what do I do?

From what you are saying, if there were an HD DVD movie with a TrueHD or PCM 7.1 audio, my 605 would then process it at the original output of 7.1?

Are there any HD-DVDs available with TrueHD or DTS HD-MA 6.1/7.1 audio tracks? I know New Line is releasing one soon with Pan's Labyrinth, but I can't think of any out there at the moment.

As far as the Onkyo 605's handling of PCM 7.1 titles, I know it does output all 7 channels for Blu-ray discs such as Crank. Basically where it runs into trouble is if there's any decoding required.

And this would be the A30 and A35?

I think the A35, and XA2 will in the future. ;)

And yes, there are > than 5.1 tracks on HD DVD already. Paramount has used legacy DTS-ES, and there have been DD+ EX used as well. The upcoming T2 release will have a DTS-HD 7.1 track.

I think the A35, and XA2 will in the future. ;)

And yes, there are > than 5.1 tracks on HD DVD already. Paramount has used legacy DTS-ES, and there have been DD+ EX used as well. The upcoming T2 release will have a DTS-HD 7.1 track.

So if the movie has 7.1 already, the 605 will play all 7.1 right?

I have a denon receiver.It always matrixes 5.1 pcm to 7.1.I almost bought that onkyo too.Glad i didnt

Ditto. My Denon receiver applies PLIIx to everything including 5.1 PCM. If it didn't I would have returned it as I bought the HDMI receiver just so I COULD use my rear surround speaker that I already paid for the prior year. My Yamaha couldn't matrix the rear surround from the Analog input source.