"Official" Denon AVR 2809CI/989 Thread - Page 71

Thanks for getting back. That looks like plenty of juice to me.

Yes, having gone through several different speaker sets over the years, I've come to prefer full-range speakers and no sub on movies as well, for the reasons I stated above.

Your Samsung should do a pretty good job at conversion as opposed to the 2809. With the Samsung, you are right that with a single input you are limited to that input's settings. At least this is how it is with the A950. I suspect that the A650 is similar in this regard. I have the PS3 plugged into HDMI-1, Cable box into HDMI-2, and Computer into HDMI-3. This is nice in that each device has its own settings stored. I have the 2809 quick selects configured accordingly. This is still very functional and not that difficult though I do have to hunt for various remotes at times. I may look into a universal remote in the near future but so far I am pretty happy with the setup.

As MSGUSA pointed out, he has the 2809 doing a "conversion" of S-video to HDMI. The Samsung can "upscale" as good as or better the original resolution to 1080p.



Agreed. Which is why I run HDMI from my HD DVR straight to the HDTV and run the PS3 HDMI to the Denon.

Can't you just choose another mode within the TV's settings to get the picture you would like? On my Pioneer, I use Movie for DVDs and Standard for the FiOS box. Granted, you need to toggle between these with the remote, but it's not a big deal. The solution may be to run the S-Video to the Samsung, and keep the optical for sound to the receiver. I would imagine the panel would convert better than the receiver's solution, but that may not be the case. Why not update your cable to high def and get the better picture and the Dolby sound?

You could also use either a Harmony or the CALL feature of the 2809 remote to program the steps necessary to make those changes when the sources are started up.

Your receiver isn't "causing" anything, if you are using the same input on the TV then of course the picture setting will stay the same unless you change them yourself!! How is the TV supposed to know that you want to change picture settings, it's tuned to the same input the whole time!!

This is one downside of the persistent quest that some folks are on for the "one cable to the TV" solution.

If you desire independent picture settings for the different devices you use, your options are:

1. switch it manually yourself as suggested above
2. use multiple monitor connections and switch inputs on the TV and the receiver.

For example, you could run an HDMI cable and a component video cable to the TV, and have the inputs set up with different picture settings and switch as needed. Or you could do as suggested above and even bypass the receiver for video for certain devices that need a different video setup. With a good universal remote it is trivial to do the input switching on both TV and receiver and you can access a variety of different configurations if you so choose.

I find for all of my hi-def sources that my calibrated settings work fine for everything, so it doesn't bother me. I calibrated two settings on my HDMI input, a "standard" setting that I use most of the time and a dimmer "cinema" setting for when I watch movies with the lights off. I just switch manually when I want one vs the other as it's not always input dependent.

sorry, not trying to scold and yes, it is the most-often-complained-about aspect of the "one cable" solution.

Hi all - I have always loved Denon receivers and the 989 looks like a great choice. I did read a recent review of this receiver and have a question about the following critique:

"As with other receivers I have used, the 989 does not overlay receiver information such as volume changes, surround modes, etc. over video when only HDMI or component video inputs are used. I’m not sure if this is a design choice or a technical limitation but this is a feature I missed when I switched to an entirely digital signal path over HDMI from analog."

What does this mean? Do you guys see this as a problem or just a minor inconvenience with an HDMI only application?

Thanks

it means what it says -- when you are watching, say, an HDMI source, and you change the volume, the volume bar will not overlay on top of the video. And when you call up the on-screen menus, they will also not overlay on top of the video, but instead the video will blank out and the menus will appear. On older receivers with legacy 480i type connectors (composite and S-video), when you changed the volume the volume bar would overlay on top of the video, and if you for example changed surround mode from say, Stereo to Pro Logic, that would also show up on the screen as an overlay.

This is addressed in the 2nd question of my FAQ:
http://batpigworld.com/fadq.html

It's just about the last thing I would care about when making a receiver decision, personally. But if it will bother you, you may want to instead look into the 3808CI which has more robust video processing, with fancier on-screen menus and HDMI overlay.

When I am watching television via the cable box with sound into the 2809 via digital coax, I note that there is a delay in sound coming from the television or the 2809 (I'm not sure which one) I turn off the television volume when the sound is coming thru the 2809. But, if they are both on, then there is a definate delay/echo sound caused from having both devices on. How do you check to see just how much the audio and video are in sync. If there is a little bit of video lag then the receiver can be adjusted appropriately. How does one measure this to know just where to set the delay?

You probably wouldn't be able to measure it, but you could easily adjust it by synching it to the lip movement of the video.

Hi, didn't want to extend the debate (around page 61) about the Denons working overseas until Denon gave me a direct answer. Finally, after a couple of weeks Ean Levy from Denon Customer Service answered.
Here's my question:

Hello, hope you can help me with this question regarding the AVR-2809ci.
Here's the deal: I am moving overseas soon. I have noticed that, unlike many other electronics, AV receivers are not multi-voltage (120/240 VAC)
It's not a problem to use a 240->120 VAC transformer, but there is also the matter of mains frequency. US is 60 Hz, Europe is 50 Hz.
My question is if the 2809ci would work at 120VAC/50 Hz (instead of 120VAC/60Hz)

Here's the answer:
Response (Ean Levy) 02/12/2009 04:24 PM
Santiago,
I'm sorry for the delay in response to your inquiry. The hertz will not make a difference. It will be fine.

Hope this helps other people in similar situations.

Thanks to JohnAV, Avliner, budwich all the other guys who helped me!

DSP question:

Do any of you have an opinion on the quality of the Virtual Surround mode that the 2809 offers?

I've heard all sorts of stand alone front only "surround" systems, and I'm wondering how favorably it compares.


I'm going to start pulling the trigger on some AV equipment in the next few months, and I already picked out my speakers, which are the Definitive Tech STS's. Unfortunately they're going to drain my budget enough that I won't be able to afford the center and rears for a while.

I'm not expecting miracles, but I'm trying to figure out if I should go with the 2809 (which appears to have every feature I want in an AV receiver) or a high quality stereo receiver; waiting to buy a surround receiver when I can afford the center and rears.

If there was an emoticon option for the little smiley face that turns purple and vomits on the floor, I would use that to describe the VIRTUAL mode.

Denon as a brand largely ignores the goofy fake "DSP" modes. Unlike on a Yamaha or Sony where you get like 30 DSP's to choose from, on Denon there are just a handful and they are all relics of the Pro Logic days. If you look on a 10-year-old AVR 2700 or something you will find the exact same options -- JAZZ, ROCK CONCERT, MATRIX, VIRTUAL. blech!!

I find them all to be fairly useless except for "ALL CH STEREO" mode.

I think Denon's marketing focus is more on the "purist" delivery of the soundtrack-as-intended, so they sound best with the "Standard" modes. I think most people who own a Denon try the DSP's like one time and then never look at them again.

yep

Agreed, I have an older Sony ES receiver with all those DSP formats, and the only one I used was the "Cinema" ones for movies. I'm sure I'll never listen to anything in the Denon's menu.

That really doesn't surprise me at all -- and I'm totally fine with that, I've tried several Yamaha DSP modes in the past, and they were certainly awful, so I honestly didn't expect much better.


I'll probably end up going with the 2809 anyway, in another year I'll have my other speakers, and I think I'll be extremely happy about that decision at that point.

Agreed, the Denon will act as a very nice stereo amp prior to you getting the extra speakers.

Batpig
I just want you to know how much I have enjoyed (as others) your informitive post. I was just having some problems a moment ago setting up Z2 so I can install a pair of "music only " speakers I'm driving out of town to get. Well when I had played around for about 45min or so I just said shhooot I'll go pull up Batpigs FYI on this and fix it. Thanks again Alls fine and ready now.

They should just get rid of the DSP SIMU button entirely. Who uses those modes? Seriously, they are a relic from like 15 years ago, it's time for them to disappear.

Then, you could simplify the remote and have a STEREO/ALL CH STEREO button that toggles between 2-channel stereo and All-channel stereo, a STANDARD button, and a DIRECT/PURE button. Boom!! Give me a job, Denon!!!

Awesome, glad to help

I agree 100% these DSP modes are a joke. As I have said before in this thread I upgraded to the 2809 from a 12 year old pro-logic Onkyo with all these DPS modes. I can tell you there has been no major improvements in the technology, it sounds as bad now as it did then

I have only made it through about half the posts so far.... I am close to pulling the trigger on either the 2809 or the Pio VSX-03txh. And really, the only reason I am still looking at the Pio is that is supposedly simulates surround sound from movies in the headphones. There are enough times I watch tv or movies using the headphones (to keep from waking up the house) that this is kinda interesting to me.

Questions:
1) is the Virtual surround listed for the headphones on the 2809 any good?
2) It's been a long time since I bought a receiver, so I don't quite understand how the Zone 2/3 thing works. I understand it uses two of the speaker connections and leaves you with a 5.1 setup - that is fine for me. What I need to know is if you can set the volume levels for zone 2/3 at a higher volume than the main zone? I have to turn my current amp up pretty loud to get a decent volume level on the patio using my B speaker connections. The problem is that the volume level inside the house is way too loud. The wire running to the patio goes through a wall mounted volume control (does not amplify the signal).

I am still reading through the posts to learn as much as I can but am getting the itch to go purchase. Anyone get BB come down off of their 999.00 price?

Thanks for all of the valuable info in here.

1) What headphones are you using?
2) Yes, Zones 2/3 have independent volume settings. One reason you have to increase the main sound too loud is perhaps the "patio" speakers you are using have a lower efficiency rating and/or perhaps have a lower impedence (ie. 4 or 6 ohm) than your main zone speakers.

Just standard headphones. I haven't really invested much in those yet. I have my speakers now, Tivo HD and the AVR is next.
Additional note: I just saw the posts at the top of the page about Virtual and I guess it is just kinda gimicky from what that poster said.

I believe you are referring to Dolby Headphone and according to the Denon website, only the high end models have it (eg. 5308). The posts you are reading refer to the DSP simulated surround via the regular 5.1 speaker setup.

Ok, thanks for clearing that up jd.