Official Pioneer SC-05 and SC-07 Owners Thread - Page 318

All,
Apologies in advance if this has been answered but a search yielded people who tried setting up, but no definitive answers (pun intended). This very informative thread has me pretty much paralyzed on how to set up my brand new SC-05. I'm pretty confused by much of the conversation around running the MCACC setup and then changing your speakers to small?

In my case, I don't have dedicated sub, I let the built in subs in the ST's do all the work which is more than sufficient for me. My question is, how do I set this up with all the different suggestions in this thread on speaker setup?

Should I:
1) Leave subwoofer gain on (half way up) and set front L/R and center to large after running the MCACC setup?
2) Leave subwoofer gain off (turned to zero) and set front L/R and center to small after running setup?
3) Leave subwoofer gain on and let MCACC do all the work and don't change a thing?
4) other?

At this point it's all a bit overwhelming

Thanks!
Hata

tlguapo:

Either use Midnight Mode or THX Loudness NOT both. They don't play well together. I would recommend you try THX Loudness Plus without Midnight mode. If that wakes the family turn THX loudness off, and use ONLY midnight mode. One or the other will do what you need, both produce what you are hearing. I personally use THX Loudness for low volume listening and never use midnight mode.

Sunny44:

Ok. Please post the settings for HDMI Control and all Initial Setup options on your BDP-51. You should have the following for each:

BDP-51:
1) HDMI Control = ON
2) PQLS = Auto
3) HDMI HighSpeed = OFF
(NOTE - this option is only available in initial setup (setup navigator menu) - time for a hard reset of the 51 if this does not work)

When my Display is off - still connected via HDMI my CD sound stops, then after re-negotiating it resumes and PQLS resumes.

Take a look at posts #8380 and 8429 (pages 280 and 281). I've had one each SC-05 and SC-07 fail two weeks apart. The SC-07 is now in the shop. I have a theory that these may not be manufacturing defects, but really caused by them being treated like pieces of luggage during shipping. Also UPS tracking showed they were shipped during the coldest winter in a long time. I'm real anxious to find out exactly which component(s) caused them to fail.

Hey guys I need some help with a HDMI issue with my SC07.
Today I connecyed the HDMI from my Verizon Fios Motorola QIP 7216 Home media DVR to the SC07.
It works fine for about 30m secs and then the screen goes green on the TV (Samsung 5687s 2 dlp with led lighting) but I can still hear the sound. if I cycle through the input and come back to HDMI1 the picture comes back for 30 secs and the green again.

I switched HDMI cables and used ones from Monoprice, Monster 1000 ultra hd, Monster M1000Ultra, Analysis Plus X-Factor( the best picture and sound come from this cable by far) and 2 HDMI's from Verizon that came with the boxes. All the cables work fine in all other aspects and on my other HD tv and box but when run through the SC07 the same thing happens. I tried 3 different HDMI inputs and changed/checked all the settings in the input menu and nothing.

while in the input setup menu sometimes the input it was plugged into would not show up and I had to pull and then plug it back in for it to show up.

All the cables are HDMI 1.3 and most of them are able to due the 1440p.

I also changed the output HDMI and it still happens and I have never had this issue with my PS3/Sc07 at all.

I cleaned all the cables with Deoxit and treated them with ProGold and tried again and I got bupkis.

So any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks and enjoy the weekend.

Mark

Eldithomaso's suggestions are good, but the fact that you have the same problem with only the HD cable box connected makes me think more that some setting is incorrect in your SC. Although a Cable box might need a display at the end of an HDMI chain, since video is its main purpose.

If you haven't tried it yet, and don't have a lot of settings/tweaking done, would it be possible to try a factory reset of the SC-07? (p.13 of the manual)

I might have a little more time on the weekend to see if turning off/on SC-07 looses the sound from BDP51 when no display connected, but not this morning, sorry.

Dan.

have you tried hooking up component (vs. hdmi)? this sounds like a classic case of a cable box hdmi solution not playing well with others...

it's not your cables...

#3.......your speakers will be set to large by MCACC. Not familiar with your speakers, but I'll assume the gain is only for the subwoofer portion. After MCACC finishes, it's up to you if you want to "tweak" the gain at that point. It will also "note" that you don't have a sub. Therefore, all LFE will be sent to your mains.

I'd also get a radio shack SPL meter to see how MCACC integrates the sub portion and match the gain accordingly.

Do a search in this thread for "green". I just had Fios installed and asked the same question a while ago and CHP linked a couple google searches with some answers. I had a similar Motorola box with Comcast and when using HDMI, I never had a problem. When I called Verizon, they said it was a known problem with these new Motorola boxes (the old ones worked fine) and it is only a problem when using HDMI. As a result, I had to switch to component and the optical cable Verizon gave me to run from the cable box to the SC-07 and the problem went away. The strange thing is you can run HDMI from the cable box directly to the tv and the problem does not exist. Supposedly Motorola knows about this problem but has not corrected it yet. These new Motorola boxes are problematic anyway, I am getting a video dropout every ten minutes or so on one of my boxes and it takes a while to sync back up which is not good for WAF (she gives me the evil eye everytime it happens).

Dan and Eldithomaso,

Thanks for your input!

The only difference on my 51 setup is I have
HDMI HighSpeed = ON so tonight I will try it set to off.

I also want to try the same test with the HD-DVD.

Its almost like after power up, the SC07 is not seeing any input devices
HDMI handshake unless I force it by cycling the HDMI OPTION or HDMI OUT
selections. Once I do this, I get sound from both the 51 and the HD cable box.

I will do the SC07 reset if all else fails.

I have a bit of a weird problem that I haven't been able to resolve which I would be very grateful if anyone could help with.

The issue:
I'm using dual HDMI output to display on a projector and a monitor. This works fine when showing a picture on both the projector and the monitor - however if I turn the monitor off the picture on the projector will dissapear.
However if I turn the projector off the picture of the monitor will remain.

If I change the HDMI output setting to HDMI 1 only, then the projector will display fine without the monitor being on.

Is there anyway to fix this so I don't have to change the settings on the LX-81 (SC-07) back and forth between HDMI all and HDMI 1 all the time?

Setup details (if relevant):

Projector (Epson 1080 UB) on HDMI output 1
Monitor ( Dell 2408WFP) on HDMI output 2

PS3 on BD source input
HTPC (Vista 64 bit - Nvidia GX 260 card) on HDMI in 1
Xbox 360 on HDMI in 2

Van der Hul flat HDMI 1.3a cables connecting everything apart from the HTPC which uses a Wireworld Ultraviolet 5 DVI-HDMI cable.

hmmm... a "guess"...

when the hdmi handshake is established, the monitor is acting as the sink... when you turn the monitor off, the handshake is broken, and nothing tries to re-establish it... so no picture on the projector... when you change the hdmi output setting, it forces a re-establishment of the handshake, and you get picture on your projector...

what happens if you switch the hdmi outs? i.e. monitor on output 1 and projector on output 2.

I'm assuming that only your L&R speakers have the built-in subs. So dial in the sub volume the way you like it playing stereo music. Then run MCACC and it should set the L&R to large and the sub to none. Leave those settings alone.

It may also set your center and surrounds to large if they make any bass at all. You can leave them that way if they truly have good bass capability or you can manually change them to small. Most people end up preferring small 80Hz for the center and surrounds but try it both ways and see which sounds best.

Can we operate Cable Box and TV without SC turn on because my tolders don't need to have SC to be on. Currently a HDMI Out from Cable Box to HDMI1 IN SC and then HDMI Out from SC to HDMI IN TV. I was thinking to run another S-Video, composit Out from Box to S-Video, composit IN into TV therefore when I turn off SC the Box will send Video and Audio to TV. But I'm worry/scare when SC on a TV will get Video and Audio from Box FIRST without giving SC a chance to upscale Video or Audio. Am I thinking right or wrong? Any other way to connect so that I can control both ways. Thanks

well, since the only way the display would "know" to look for the signal on the s-video input would be if you told it to (i.e. set the input to "s-video" instead of "hdmi"), you are worrying needlessly....

Setting your speakers to small just means that the base will be redirected form them to somewhere else. So if the center and rears are small and your mains are larger, then base other than LFE would go to them. Since you do not have a sub then all LFE will go to your mains as well. If you had a sub, then normal base would go to the mains and the LFE would go to the sub.

As a note, LFE can kill speakers. I would be careful how loud you play movies if you are not going to use a sub.

Isn`t there a provision with the STs to run sub out directly from the receiver to the sub portions of each speaker using a splitter? It seem to me I read a review from someone who mentioned such an option.

Can you make clearer where do I set the input to s-video? how to connect to tv, box?

if you run s-video to your display, you would need to select the "s-video" input on the display....

similar to how you have it set on an hdmi input now...

I definetly know your all trying to help.This site's always been great.I'm just frustrated and sorry for being sarcastic sometimes.I hope apology is accepted.
I just got back on,had to do a complete destructive recovery on my desktop,after removing that SP3 and putting back on.I then had all kinds of problems.
I'll leave things alone and next get the nll-modem cable.
Have a good wkend

Several people have already answered, but since I have the very similar Mythos STS's, I'll chime in as well.

You have three options, and all will give pretty much equal results:

1) Connect your ST's with speaker wire only and set them to Large in the AVR. Set the sub to No/Off. All LFE bass and all bass from other channels set to Small as well as the bass intended for the ST's channels will be directed to the ST. This is favored by many DefTech owners who post on AVS.

2) Connect your ST's by speaker wire and coax cables with RCA connections ("Subwoofer Cables"). You'll need a "Y" connector to the sub out on the AVR. Set the subwoofer to Yes/On in the AVR. Set the front speakers to Large. This will give the same effect as (1) above, but allows MCACC to balance the subwoofer levels to the rest of the system, which it can't do in (1). It also allows you the flexibility to boost the LFE by 2-3dB in the AVR which will give you a little boost for movies without affecting the tonal balance when playing stereo music. This is the option Definitive Technology recommends.

3) Same hookup as (2) but set the ST's as Small. This is essentially the way most people set their system if they have freestanding subwoofers. The results are essentially the same as (2), but any adjustments you make to the sub levels in the AVR will affect stereo music as well as multichannel and/or LFE sources.

After making your connections, run MCACC. The first two won't require any adjustments in MCACC after it has run, at least for the ST's; the third requires that you manually change your ST's to Small, as MCACC will set them to Large.

Assuming you aren't using a powered center, set all your other speakers (non-ST's) to small if MCACC doesn't already. All the above require that you have the ST subwoofer gain on, generally in the 11:00 to 1:00 range, but it will vary by room. Turning it off effectively leaves you with an expensive Mythos Ten.

As I said, any of these will work. Pick the one that makes you most comfortable and enjoy a great speaker/AVR combination.

Edit: For those with a separate sub, generally the same options apply, but in addition, the standalone sub would be connected to the Sub Out terminal and the AVR would always be set to Yes/On. In this case there would also be the additional option of connecting the DefTech's by speaker wire as in (1), but setting them to Small instead of Large, if preferred.

It's all good, duggy40.
Windows computers can make a person crazy.
Hope the null modem cable works.
In the meantime enjoy the holiday weekend!

Oh! I see now. So when I turn SC on I select HDMI1 on display and the SC.
When I turn SC off. On display(TV) I need to select Video1, or Video2 on display (TV) right.
Thank you so much for clear up.

One caveat: the first option (referenced above) will be effective on only those inputs subject to digital bass management. It will not be effective on 5.1/7.1 multichannel analog inputs.

AJ

graphicguy, catapult, snownut, wiwavelength and macfan424.

Thanks for all your help!!! I was hoping to avoid the RCA connection for LFE (currently using the speaker wire inputs) so I wouldn't have to fish any wire (AVR in different room than speakers). I think I'll do it eventually when I find the time, but for now, thank you so much for the help and I'll just run it as you described without the RCA's for now.


Hata

Hi Macfan; What center are you using with your STS's?

i second that method. Im getting some def tech 7004's and most of the posts ive read, plus the def tech rep i e-mailed recomended this setup if you dont have a dedicated sub

well guys im locked into the setup im getting, except for a sub, maybe i can get some sugestions?

heres what im going for,

Room setup is 18X 13, heres a diagram
http://home.comcast.net/~kenshindono/room51.jpg
or possibly
http://home.comcast.net/~kenshindono/roomdraw251.jpg
which would be better acoustically? the first is better i think because in the 2nd one id be very close to the tv (60"), like 5 or 6 feet

Use: GAMING GAMING GAMING. seriously, gaming. 90% games 10%movies 0% tv/music. there isnt even cable hooked up to it, i watch tv on a seperate 32" on the side of the room

gear
Pioneer elite sc-05
front L/R: Definitive tech bp7004's
Center: clr2002's
rear L/R: BP2x's
Sub:here im not sure.. thinking martin logan ABYSS


the thing im not sure on is the sub. I'm hoping i can get some sugestions. I wasn't going to get one but the sound was a bit underwhelming without one. i tried the supercube II and it was ok but a bit muddy and gunfire wasn't that crisp. then i tried the abyss and it sounded really good. The plasma weapons in fallout 3 floored me, deafining with no distortion, regular gunfire sounded crisper too in COD. Thats where the confusion began, looking at the specs you would think the supercube is better. its got more wattage, and the frequency response is lower. but there was no question, the ABYSS was far crisper, louder, better.

the rep said it had something to do with the fact that the abyss uses a single 12".. dont know the term, cone?, and that its just a large sealed one, whereas the cube uses 2 smaller open ones or something. Does that make sense? maybe someone can explain that better to me.

i would just get the abyss but most of the threads ive seen about them claim theyre not that great for the price you pay. It is overpriced, the lowest i could find it for was about 900 bucks. I see a lot of people recomending an SVC, HSU, or Elemental Design, those range around high 500-almost 800 bucks. Id like to pay around 700 for one.

can anyone recomend something that will go good with that setup and reciever for gaming? or tell me what im realy looking for. Im very confused on the frequency response, i always though lower first number was better but maybe thats not the case? whats the deal with the single large sealed cone (or whatever its called) do those brands mentioned have that? help!

i may just get the abyss since I KNOW it sounds good but i feel like im overpaying. Im just worried that i'll get one of the other ones and wind up with a muddy sound for al that gunfire and explosions then be boned =(