*Official* Denon AVR 2309CI/889 Thread - Page 92

Although there is a firmware update for the 889, in order to get it installed you would have to either drop it off or ship it to a Denon Authorized repair center. The update resolves a couple specific problems which you may not have and therefore would not require the update. Click on the 2nd link in my sig to learn more about the issues. For the OSD, make sure the i/p Scaler is not OFF and that the Resolution is something other than 480i.

I have an OPPO BDP-83 connected with my 2309CI via HDMI to HDMI 1 in.
I have a Phase Technology surround system using front "A" speakers
I have Canton GLE-490's that are on speaker "B" for stereo only.

Can I listen to a Blu-ray movie and a stereo CD with just one cable?
When I set DVD input to HDMI 1 - I can't set HDP or the other HDMI capable inputs to HDMI 1 also.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Jack

No, it's not possible under your current configuration for two reasons: (1) The A and B speakers are connected to the same amp so they must play the same audio, and (2) an input can only be assigned to one source label. You would have to connect the "B" speakers to the Zone2 SBL and SBR jacks to get independent audio.

So I need HDMI for Blu-ray playback and optical digital to Denon for stereo playback of CD's - assigned to different input?

Yes that is correct. Although if you want to listen to them at the same time only analog audio can be directed to Zone2, so you'll also need a RCA cable from the CD player to the AVR (if you want to use the optical for music directed to the main zone, otherwise just the RCA cable for both).

I'll never have them on at the same time but thank you.

I wanted the one cable and also be able to see both displayed on the TV screen when each one is being played independently

Do I have the wrong AVR?

Sorry, I misunderstood you, thinking you wanted to play BD's from the Oppo and CD's from another CD player. If you will be playing both BD's and CD's from the Oppo, then all you need is the single HDMI cable. When listening to BD's you would have "A" speakers selected and when to CD's, "B" speakers selected.

I want to share my experience in upgrading firmware in AVR-889. As you probably know, unlike 2309 it does not have external serial port, which can be used for firmware upgrade. Official word is send it to service center if upgrade is needed. For many it could be a right choice, but for me local service center wanted to see purchase receipt before accepting receiver under warranty. Unfortunately I couldn't find a copy in my archive, and service center refused to do work. Thus I had either pay for it or do it myself. I decided to go second way. I should warn everyone, that this task is not for regular person, who is not familiar with electronic devices and computers.

I obtained a copy of service manual (which actually covers both 2309 and 889 - they are almost exactly the same unit). I found that 889 has the same boards as 2309, just few part related to RS232 port are not soldered on the the main CPU board. But when I looked closer, it was clear that I still can connect computer to a receiver. Initially I thought that I can use service port on main CPU board CX901 (see first picture), but it became clear that this port only lets me talk to a main CPU. But upgrade includes firmware for main and sub processors and DSP. After I looked closer, I found that if I connect computer to port CY061 on digital board, I can imitate the way it works with 2309 model (see second picture). Circuits MO232CI and MI232CO are what I need to connect to. I also have to supply 5V power to 232C5V circuit.

Unlike regular RS232, to connect computer to 889, you need TTL level serial interface. You can buy one for $10-15. Since I do not have RS232 port in my computer I used USB to RS232 TTL converter http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Eva...s/TTL-232R.htm Make sure you get a 5V one, 3.3V version will not work. As I said, I needed to supply +5V to the port, I used VCC pin in CX901, and just connected it with wire to 232C5V circuit. I connected ground wire from RS232 converter to pin GND in CX901 (CY061 port does not have ground circuit). Then I connected receiver of RS232 interface to circuit MO232CI and transmitter to circuit MI232CO. See pictures 3, 4 and 5.

You can verify if everything is correct, using terminal program on your computer. In Windows XP it is Hyperterm. Connect it to the serial port with settings: speed 9600, 1 stop bit, no parity, no flow control. If everything is good, when you turn on your receiver you will see messages from it about current operation mode. It also reports when you change source or volume.

I want to warn you make all connections only when receiver it turned off (completely, not just in stand by mode), otherwise you can damage it!

When everything is ready turn on receiver, and start firmware update program. It runs for like 15 minutes, and upgrades main CPU first then sub-CPU and at last DSP. DSP step takes most of time.

When upgrade is complete, just turn off receiver, disconnect all wires and put cover back on. You are done.

WOW, thanks ap1! I was just looking into shipping my 889 to a service center to hopefully fix my boomy bass. This seems like a much better solution and I have just ordered my cable. I couldn't tell from the pictures, are those wires soldered to the digital board?

I didn't solder anything. I used heat shrink tubes to hold wires connected to service port on CPU board, and just squeezed wires under connector on digital board. See attached pictures. I used 24GA single strand wire. Always connect ground wire first! Make sure that you do not move wires when you are flashing firmware, connection has to be firm all the time or it may result in unrecoverable error.

Hi there,

I'm wondering if anyone here knows how to activate the audio output on the back of the AVR-889. The situation is this:

I have several components (cable box, DVD player, Game consoles) hooked up to my receiver via HDMI. Sound plays great and there are no problems.

Recently I picked up a wireless headphone set that can take an optical audio input. The AVR-889 has an optical audio output on the back, so I thought, great! However, plugging into this output generates no sound at all. Sound still plays through the speakers of course.

I've done the following tests:

1) Plugged the headphones directly into an optical audio source. This works and I get full sound through the headphones.

2) Tried to pass an optical to optical (rather than HDMI to optical) source through the receiver to the headphones using the receiver's Optical Out connector. This does not work, and I get no sound.

When I connect the cable to the optical out on the receiver it lights up (red on the end), but it appears it's not carrying any data. I don't know what to do now. I've read through the product manual, and tried to search for an answer but have found nothing.

Is it as simple as a remote command that switches the receiver's output from speakers to Optical Out? Is the optical out bound only to VCR input (as the back panel labelling seems to indicate)? I have attempted to pass an HDMI signal through VCR and out the Optical Out jack, but with no success.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm stumped!

If you notice, the optical output jack is labeled OPT2. The only way to get output from it is to connect an optical cable to the OPT2 input jack.

unfortunately, the optical output on Denon AVR's is basically useless. For one thing, you cannot convert any audio types so you will never be able to output analog or HDMI audio via the optical output.

second, the function is cryptic. If you look on pg 15 of the 2309 manual, you see a note saying "Do not connect the output of the component connected to the AVR-2309CI's OPTICAL2 output connector to any input connector other than OPTICAL2." Basically corroborating what JD just said... (and FYI this note is in there for pretty much all Denon AVR's AFAIK)

What I take this to mean is that the function of this optical output is ONLY for a "loop" with a digital recording device..... but I don't think anyone has gotten this to actually work!

So, unfortunately, your best bet may be to connect the devices you want to use with headphones directly to the Optical input, maybe using a simple optical audio switch box to control which device, and just turn the AVR off when you want to use the headphones.

Ok gentlemen I have an interesting question. I own a 2309-CI and I just returned from vacation and noticed that there is no sound coming from my Surround speakers and that the sound coming out of the rest is very quiet until i get to the 50 range. when i left all was good and that when i was at 80 the sound was right there and all speakers worked. i have checked setting and can find nothing different. Can someone point me in the direction of what i should look at? What should my settings be at. Before anyone asks, i did take the Surround speakers and plug them in to the Front spots and they worked. So am I totally an idiot or what? Any and all assistance would be greatly appreciated. Even better, anyone live in the Naperville, IL area or somewhere around this area who would like a couple beers and can come by and look at my set up??

Did you have the AVR unplugged as is suggested? If so, how long? What changed in your configuration from the time you left on vacation to now? What surround mode are you using ....STANDARD? What does the front panel display read when you play audio? What kind of audio are you playing?

No I did not unplug since wife was home.
Nothing changed in configuration.
Where do I verify surround mode? I believe in Standard, but want to be sure.
I am actually watching TV through my Comcast HD box and the display you can see in the attached pic.
I just wish i knew what was wrong. It is so irritating to have nice stuff but it doesn't work correctly.
thanks for the response, i hope these are the answers you were looking for. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Check your source (BD, DVD whatever you are playing) settings, looks like its sending out PCM 2.0.

I do too. But it looks like you are in "5Ch stereo" mode. Push the std button and see what happens.

I use the 5ch stereo mode and it would sound the best for channels that were not in Dolby Digital. it is connected to my Cable box and as far as i know everything is good there. The audio settings are on Pass Through on the box, that is what i was told to set box to and then I should be all good. Nothing has changed in the last week and that is what makes me curious. Why would it suddenly change?

okay, still cannot find the problem or solution. why is it I have no sound at all coming out of my surround speakers just the center, front left, front right and my sub appears to be working as well. Why would this happen?? This makes no sense and is really starting to get to me.

Have you tried the Manual test tones to see if you can send them to the side surround speakers? If no joy then a board may have gone bad perhaps. Are the side speakers properly connected to the SL/SR posts rather than the SBL/SBR posts? If yes, then you might want to go ahead and reset the microprocessor (p. 64).

i did the test tone and no sound came out of them. i took the wires and plug them in to the front outputs to make sure speakers weren't gone and they worked fine. So should i try the reset then or am I S.O.L.??? how much would it cost to get repaired? and how long? i do not have original receipt either.

At the very least do the reset. Although your 2309 is likely < 2 years old, without a receipt it will be tough to get warranty repair work done. Perhaps you can get a receipt from the vendor or check your credit card statements? Repair work would probably cost $75-$100 minimum. Give one of the Denon Authorized repair shops in your state a call and see if you can get an estimate over the phone.

Posted the same thing at the front of the receivers forum. Not sure where it actually belongs... I apologize in advance.

Hello All,
I used to think I was pretty savvy with all this technical stuff, but I'm starting to wonder.

Anyway, I have a 2309CI and I have a HDMI running from a laptop to the V.AUX input on the back of the 2309 CI. What I was expecting was to be able to use my laptop on my big screen like used to with a vga cable. However I'm not getting anything because when I scroll through the inputs, I don't see a V. Aux to select. So I thought maybe I just have to go into the settings an turn that input on. When I went into the settings, I went through everything I could find and nothing showed V. Aux anywhere.

Does anyone know how I can get V. Aux to work with my laptop... or any HDMI device for that matter? I just don't see where I tell the Denon that I want to use that port.

Thanks,
Doug

Hi Doug, so in the Assign Input menu there is no V.AUX for HDMI-4, no V.AUX for OPT-3?

Maybe you need to reset the Microprocessor.

he doesn't need to reset, he just needs to learn how to assign inputs

http://batpigworld.com/setup.html

You are so right as always .

Is there a firmware update that would give us HDMI 1.4? Would be a shame to replace this receiver if I buy a 3d tv!

Sorry, but no. The first set of HDMI 1.4 capable Denon AVRs are the new 2011 models out now. You might be able to pass the cable/sat box 3D (eg. ESPN) which is less than 1080p.

AFAIK you need not replace the AVR, if you buy a 3D BRP with dual HDMI outs. And as cable broadcasts only DD 5.1 at best, run SPDIFdigital audio to the AVR and 3Dvideo as HDMI direct to TV as well. A Harmony remote would be nice to do all the switching.