Onkyo PR-SC886P Pre/Pro Official thread - Page 105

Anyone know where I can find all of the Hex Codes for the PR-SC 885? I am programming my Pronto with the RFX 9600 and want to use the RS-232 port, but can't find any of the hex codes. I did find a few one-off's, but I need them all.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark

Another newbie question. Is the whole remote back lit or just the remote mode buttons?

And yet another question...

Is there an internet page that gives like a family tree of the Onkyo pre/pros?

What changed from 885-886-5507-5508-5509...
I'm impressed with my 886 already but the upgrade bug has me wondering what changed and how much better the new ones are! Actually I know the 886 is plenty of pre/pro for my setup but curiosity still lingers...

I can tell you I was underwhelmed after using Audyssey. It was fairly disappointing after reading all of the rave reviews. I had been using a Parasound Halo C1 and needed something that was more HDMI friendly. I chose the Onkyo because of the good feedback about this unit. I tried several calibrations with the same results. I thought the dialog lacked some clarity and the low end wasn't very tight.
I had a pro come in to calibrate my entire system including the video and the difference was unbelievable. I can't say that Audyssey didn't do some good but it was night and day from what a pro could do. Of course he had more than an SPL meter. Audyssey is turned off on my system and the sound has never been better.

I ran Audyssey and then double checked the settings using a SPL meter. I had an issue with Audyssey because I am using Emotiva amps and XLR. The gain of the XPA amps using XLR is higher by about 6db than RCA. So what was happening was Audyssey would set the rear channels to all -12db which is the max. I had to raise each speaker level to match the loudest one at -12db in order for the levels to match. In other words one speaker remains at -12db and I had to raise the remaining channels to match that speaker level.

I asked about this in the Audyssey thread back then. According to the pros in that thread that is the only way I could do it with my setup because of the unusual high gain of the XPA amps. I wish the XPA amps had adjustable gain but they do not.

In terms of sound quality in stereo I have no issues whatsoever. I am very happy with it and with surround sound.

When you say Audyssey is off do you mean the pro that did the calibration did it manually or did he use Audyssey Pro?

Mark,

I'm not positive but I do not believe there are no hex codes for the 885. I believe the ability to use the hex codes for the 886 was due to a FW update specific to the 886. Its been awhile since I upgraded the FW for my 886 but I do believe it can not be used with the 885. There are a few members on AVS that would have a more definitive answer on this but I'm not one of them.

Bill

I would say the pro did a manual calibration with Audyssey completely disabled from No Clue's post.

Bill

He was using a program on his laptop and using his own microphone hooked to the laptop. All changes to the 886 were made with the remote control while in the settings menu.

Attached to my post at the top of page 35 of this thread is the Onkyo document with the complete IR code set for ALL models through the xxx8 series, including the 885. Whatever codes the 885 supports should be listed there.

The 1.04 FW update for the xx6 series only added a very few commands, albeit useful ones for Audyssey and ISF modes. Discrete DSP modes, Zone 2/3, resolution, HDMI out, etc were always there.

jcalabria,

I was hoping you would post and give some accurate information. I was mistaken as I thought it was from the 886 up. Thats excellent as 885 users can take advantage of all the hex codes as well. Thanks once again for posting the codes originally as it makes using my 886 so much easier.

Bill

I found this when I was google searching the other night so I was hoping this many years after the release of the 886 the IR codes had be long done:

http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Harmon...86/td-p/337454

When I asked Bill for examples of the remote codes that doing the firmware update would add I was going to try them before upgrading and I figured if they worked now with version 1.01 then I wouldn't update the firmware. I figured by now Harmony has the codes, I was just afraid the 886 wouldn't reconize them until I did the update to 1.04 or 1.05.

I have added my 886 to all the activites that I will use it in, but I have not really spent any time customizing the buttons. At this point I'll assume all the commands are there for Harmony and they'll work with 1.01 since I called Onkyo again this morning and got someone else. They said other than adding Audyssey Pro stuff the only thing the firmware did was fix a delay problem when using zone 2 which I never do. I would gain nothing as far as IR codes. If anyone knows if this isn't accurate let me know what IR codes I'm missing out on and if its something I can't live without I'll update.

Sorry the answer was right in front of me, I just missed it until now!

886 rack mount kit / ears

Anyone looking to unload some?

Thanks for the advice guys. Keep em coming!

I have Klipsch RF-7 (with the crossovers modded by Dean G) main speakers and the RC-7 center speakers (also modded by Dean G). I dont remember exactly what the speaker level settings are after running Audessy, but -12 or -10 sounds about right. I have not done a test tone check afterwards with a SPL meter to verify.

But I do know that for music, I prefer listening to the Klipsch Kg4s in my living room, which is about 12x12, with one side opening up to the kitchen/eating area. The theatre room in the basement is about 14x25, and the couch is about 15 feet back or so, and there is a small bar area on one side that is about 12x10.

Hi guys and girls. This question makes me feel really stupid. I just got my 886 back from the repair shop and just hooked it up. The speaker indicators on the front panel just show the left and right front speakers even though the DVD disc says Dolby. I have a 5.1 setup. Is there something in the setup menu that I am missing? Thanks for any help. Don

Did you try cycling the Surround modes with the Surr button on the remote? If that does not give you DD 5.1 go to page 107 in the 886 manual. Section 5 is for Listening Mode Presets. Select the DVD input and set each audio format to the specific format. For example set Dolby Digital to Dolby Digital, DTS to DTS, TrueHD to TrueHD, DTS-MA to DTS-MA and so on. If all the settings are defaulted to Last Valid or other settings then when you play a DD 5.1 DVD it could just play in 2 Channel Stereo.

If you have a Bluray player and you play a Bluray which has DTS-MA it will play DTS-MA when that audio format is chosen in the discs audio menu. If the 886 setting for DTS-MA is Stereo and not DTS-MA you will only get Stereo. Which will only show two speakers on the 886's speaker icon display. So it is important to assign the correct default for each audio format in the Listening Mode Preset. Its easy as you just scroll down through each format and assign them.

Bill

Hi Bill: Thanks a lot for trying to help. I did all that and I still get only left and right front illuminated on my front panel. I also selected from the front panel "all channel stereo" from my Tivo. Don

I've looked in the manual and see that I can get the audio info with the display button but is there anyway to see what video signal is being received by the 886?

Meaning if it is being sent 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i or 1080p?

That is a very good question. I don't believe there is but I could be wrong. Maybe someone else will answer with a more concrete response.

Press and hold the [Display] button on the front panel. It will display both the current input and output resolutions. This does not work with the [Display] button on the remote.

Thank you jcalabria!

Anyone know how much the rack mount kit costs for the 886?

Going to upgrade to the 5508 and looking to sell my 886. PM me if any interest.

Nick

Hi,

If I recall correctly it cost me about $100 new.

Larry

Talked to my integra dealer...

He called on it and was informed that it was discontinued ~3yrs ago.

Well I guess out of luck and will have to go with a generic rack shelf or maybe something fancier from middle atlantic.

Best audio settings (general/not system or room specific).
Any way too set mains too full (no crossover setting)?
Best video settings (general/not system or room specific).
How too best take advantage of HQV playback?

BIG thanks!

Looking for any percieved improvements. I have searched this thread and see more questions about using the balanced inputs. I am considering nixing the RCA's and going with balanced for connecting to the amplifier. After going balanced with my other gear, there was in fact a nice difference in the clarity. I am currently using some monster 1000 component cables as audio cables since I no longer need them. It does sound very nice, but hey i'm down for an upgrade. But does the 886 sound worse in balanced mode? Im assuming that there is more crap in the signal path when using the balanced out and I might be actually better off using the RCA. Who's used both?

What is the length of your cables ? If it is anything less that 10 feet do not even bother. Balanced connection is only needed if you hear some hum or noise from you system when it does not play anything. Otherwise there is zero value from balanced cables.

I have used both. I prefer balanced only because of the more secure connection. I like hearing it click in. LOL.

One issue I ran into using XLR balanced had to do with my amps, Emotiva XPA-2 and XPA-5. The gain using balanced is @6db hotter than rca. That caused an issue with Audyssey. It set my surround speakers all at -12db, which is the max. All I had to do was set each speaker level using a radio shack meter to compensate for the unusually high gain. I left the loudest surround speaker at -12 db and then adjust each other speaker using the meter to match it.

I didn't notice any sound quality difference between the two. My setup is dead silent with nothing playing. I don't hear any hiss or hum at all. I am using monoprice XLR cables and I am very happy with the quality for the money. If you have some free time on your hands order a set from Monoprice and do your own comparison. Just remember that you will have to calibrate your speakers when you swap them.

They are cheap enough to try out: http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...t=1#largeimage

Forgive my noobness, there may be an obvious answer.

I bought a new bluray player tonight and am demoing it side by side against my old one that I think is dying. For some reason the on screen display isn't showing up on screen. The volume, etc that showed up on my old bluray are not showing up now.

the movie is 1080p/24, not sure why that would matter, just putting as much info as I can out.

any idea why my on screen display isn't working??