Official Cary Cinema 11a/11v Owner's Thread - Page 51

I bought Tony's unit, a '08 model, a few months ago. It currently has the 1.04 version of the firmware. I've been so busy with school that I never got to install the newer firmware versions. After reading the posts, I believe I will just stay with the unit's current version. I have a simple setup and I enjoy the sound. I don't regret the purchase at all. Thanks Tony.

For those that have experienced the 0db problem, were any of you in the room at the time it happened ?

Did the volume just jump to 0, or did it gradually climb to 0 ?

Even though v1.06 has a max volume setting, does anyone hold faith that it would actually intervene ...

- Andy

My experience was a sudden jump, but I was in a nighbouring room at the time (with an open door).

Sudden jump for me too.

Was that with 1.06 Jose ? In the back of my mind Extreman had it happen a while ago . Just for piece of mind

Haven't had the 11a since 2/09, so it was the FW that was available at the time.

Thanks mate ; the new max volume setting may well be tied to this speaker phenomenon ;certainly hope so anyway

For those that have had the 0db jump, did any of you report it to Cary ?
What was their reply ?

- Andy

The above problem occurs when the Edge HDMI output goes to your monitor/projector and the Edge HDMI Audio output goes to your C11a.

The following workaround allows the Edge to pass HD audio codecs to the C11a. This configuration runs the full video/audio signal to the C11a.

1. Disconnect the HDMI cable which runs from the Edge HDMI Audio output to the C11a.

2. Connect the Edge HDMI output (not the HDMI audio output!) to one of the C11a HDMI inputs.

3. Connect the C11a HDMI output to your monitor/projector HDMI input.

4. In the Edge Audio set up, configure the audio output to go to the HDMI output rather than the HDMI audio output.

The Edge will now pass the HD audio codecs (dts-MA, Dolby TrueHD) to the C11a.

Note that in this workaround configuration the Edge cannot "see" your monitor/projector - so the Edge's output settings may need to be changed from "Auto" to the appropriate specific settings.

Also note - this is a workaround. DVDO needs to fix this.

-Brent

Well the 0db just happened a 2nd time to me last night.
I'm still on v1.05 and will NOT use my 11A anymore until I put on 1.06, and pray that the volume issue has been addressed with it.

Fortunately, this time I was running a Karaoke player ( don't laugh ) into the 11A via analog inputs and I was standing right beside the 11A when it happened. Volume jumped to 0db ( no ramp up ) and I immediately turned down the volume knob ASAP. I doubt it was at 0db volume for more than 2 seconds, so I got lucky being right beside the 11A this time.

Here is a curious point -> someone's Blackberry rang/vibrated near the exact moment the volume jumped to 0db. You know how some cel devices will interfere with computer speakers, making them emit a buzzing/static sound. I wonder if that type of cel/radio interference contributed to the 11A going to 0db. It is a suspicious coincidence.

I will give v1.06 a shot. If 0db ever happens again, the 11A will be Audiogon'd with all haste.

- Andy

I have a Pioneer Elite DV-49a DVD player connected to the C11a HDMI2 input. I used the DV-49a as a music disc transport only to listen to CDs and SACDs.

The DV-49a can be configured to send SACD output over HDMI as DSD or LPCM. Playback works fine when the DV-49a is configured for LPCM.

When the DV-49a sends DSD, I get very loud pops coming through the speakers when using the player's controls to skip tracks forward or backward, go to a specific track by track number, pause or resume, etc. Even pressing eject will cause a loud pop. The problem occurs regardless of whether the SACD layer is stereo or multi-channel.

I don't have another device which can send DSD over HDMI so am unable to determine if this problem is caused by the player or the C11a. Has anyone else encountered DSD pops?

Thanks,
-Brent

C11a 08 serial #, FW 1.06

Hi Brent, I have the C11a 09 serial #, FW 1.06 using the balanced outputs to a Cary 7.125 amp. I am using the Oppo Bdp-83 Blu-ray player as a transport.

I have not had a problem playing SACD's with this system in the past but just to make sure I popped in Gary Allan's SACD "See If I Care". I played it through the HDMI 1 input. It showed DSD 5.1 being received by the processor. I had no problem with pops when pausing and resuming. I also had no pops when skipping tracks forward or backward. So I guess what I am saying is that I could not duplicate your problem in my setup.

Ditto Brent on a # 8 1.05 firmware with unbalanced interconnects also with a 83 .Only clicks pops occur when you hit the audio button and switch from dsd2.0 to dsd5.1 in the middle of a song but who does that ?

Did you still have the edge in line or bypassed ? Oppo has done a lot of work ridding the 83 of clicks/pops with sacd so may be a factor here .

jerbob and cwt, thanks for your replies.

jerbob, I'm glad to hear you can't recreate the problem. I, too, would like to be not able to recreate the problem. :-)

Btw, how do you like the Cary 7.125 power amp?

******

cwt, Could you please elaborate on your statement about pressing "the audio button?" Is this a button on the Oppo player or remote?

To answer your question, the Edge does not pass DSD. I have the DV-49a HDMI output connected directly to the C11a HDMI2 input.

Though this is not relevant to my original question... The Edge is currently on the sidelines, replaced by the Denon DVP-602CI. All of my video source components are routed through the VP; the VP's primary HDMI output is connect to my projector; the VP's second HDMI output is connected to the C11a HDMI1 input.

-Brent

Yes Brent its a one use button that cycles between the audio tracks on the disc via the oppo remote . I think my old pioneer 989 universal had one if yours does ? Saves burying into menus..

Maybe swap out the 602 and see if the pio does the same through hdmi 1 ;hdmi ports have lots of traces to put out of whack ;not very robust This would have been a lot easier if the edge had been the culprit . I wonder if its got something to do with setting the video resolution to 720p or more to get multichannel sound ;cant be it because lpcm is fine though .

cwt,

I've already tried connecting the player directly to HDMI1 - same problem occurs.

The DV-49a is a little buggy. Certain irrelevant output settings (like video resolution) are required to get multi-channel audio working for SACD. I haven't found any settings that make a difference on this popping problem.

I may try to borrow or rent another SACD player to see if I can find one that works better with the C11a.

Thanks again for the response.
-Brent

Brent, I like the 7.125 a lot but if you are considering purchasing it be aware that the manual states that you may hear some relay clicks (which is normal) when it changes sound modes or during startup. I did experience some relay clicks when I used this amp with a Pioneer Elite receiver. I was using the receiver as a pre-amp. Since I added the 11a to my system I almost never hear any clicking.

I do find that I am listening to a lot more music since I added the 7.125 and the 11a to my system.

Does anyone know a remote control sequence to get the serial number of an 11A? Or do I need to pull it out of the rack?

Thanks,
--Carey

I've been scared away from an 11a by all the posts here, but now the posts seem few and far between. Does this mean there has been a fix for the 11a and that everyone is happy, or that those with the most severe problems (e.g. the attenuator resetting itself to zero) have given up. I find it an attractive item; too bad it's been so buggy.

db

I think you can take it 2 ways db ; the number of individual posters that have reported the attenuator problem is enough to scare anyone [quality control perhaps ?] . Or the number of posters that have problems is only a small subset of the number of units extant ie only natural most threads tend towards problems and not praise .

The few 11a owners I know down here are all happy with theirs ; it used to be very buggy with the 1st firmwares . A good dealer down here will let you try at home [if your lucky] so would be worth asking maybe

I'm still around but haven't given up yet.
I recently updated to v106 but never hooked it up as I just moved into a new house.
I'll have a month+ of downtime while I work on my inwalls, cabling, PJ setup, etc, but I'll report back once I get rolling. It is as very nice piece in many respects -> sonics, simplicity of interface, build & aesthetics.

- Andy

Keep in mind that most of this thread is from just a few people, most who don't even own an 11a any more. I have been enjoying my unit for 2 years.

I am also enjoying mine and have had it since it was released. I have upgraded to version 1.06 and the unit is working absolutely perfect.

I've got some static hiss in my SR for gain <-11,5dB.
If I set it to -11.0 the hiss is gone (no signal fed from source).
I need to set a a low gain because I use a power amp with no gain control for SL & SR (fixed at 0dB).

Anyone?

Is that the same channel was giving grief on an earlier firmware Extreman ? I just tried mine on an unused input and no hiss .Actually discovered something that may have been there on an earlier firmware than 1.06 ? ie any db volume stop above 0db reference I hear a small click ; not that I go above -10db as a norm; nice warning nevertheless

The 11v is just around the corner btw Ive been in contact with our distributor and he's been in contact with cary The manual is now up ;

http://www.caryaudio.com/products/cinema/cinema11v.html

I think now was the time to replace 'coming soon' with the actual manual before HDMI 1.4 becomes standard on all new products. Hopefully Cary has spent the time well to avoid a new C11a case.

I also got the clicks you mentioned, but have never taken this as intentional.

Our distributor has been in contact with an isf calibrator to check out the 11v so cautiously optimistic I dont like hdmi 1.4 much ; too much interference with a ethernet cable in the mix and not enough 3d material out there ..

I just thought the clicks were too precise to be too much of a coincidence -1>0 db none ; 0>1db click ; hard to say though never had this on any other avr or pre

has anyone tried the 1.07 update? What does #1 mean?

The new v1.07 software for the Cinema 11a has revised the following:


(1) Monitors all non-audio signals and mutes them in the HDMI board.

(2) Changes the Maximum volume out factory default from +15dB to 0dB.

(3) Fixes the AV SYNC delay settings.