Official Cary Cinema 11a/11v Owner's Thread - Page 10

Barry, Adidino is right in my case.
I have a 6ch. preamp that are fed from the C11a (input 2). Input 1 is coming from my multiplayer analog outs. Still if I do not have theatre through I know that pre-level '11' on my Remote means 0dB.

All the important issues mentioned by adidino is under control.
What I will try first is to recreate the noise on the C11a RCA outputs. I have a headset that are surround and want to check if I can hear any noise on this one.

Extreman, I am still confused. You are feeding the output of 11A into a 6 channel preamp, or a 6 channel preamp is feeding the Cary on input 2 as a 2 channel stereo signal (analog connector). I guess what is conusing me is the statement "... 6 ch. pre amp that are fed FROM the Cary..."

I have been playing with manual setup, balance manual. The only time I get a test tone is when something is playing on an input port If I start the cary up (power on) and no inputs are active then no tone is heard in manual setup.

This device (Cinema 11A) is the most confusing oiece of gear I have ever dealt with. Not being able to separate what is a bug and what is a correct opeation is very frustrating.

Does any one know of a 5.1 or 7.1 encoded test "CD" (could be a DVD or BR Disc) that has a set of accurate tones that play in all channels?

From my experience, the 11a is hit or miss when trying to get a test tone with a balance setup. Sometimes I switching inputs does the trick. I'm guessing it's a bug since I've never had to do this with any other pre/pro.

I probably have written at least 10 posts addressing this issue - your experience is a completly normal reading to me.

My pre is in the front of my power amps.
The chain is:
1) Source (BD player) - Edge - TV (Picture)
2) Source - Edge - C11a - Pre - Amps - Speakers (Audio & Home Cinema) or
3) Multiplayer - Pre - Amps - Speakers (High End 2ch. & multichannel SACD)
My power amps has only 1 input for each channel.
To be able to select between 2) and 3) above I need the 6ch. preamplifier.

I think Avia & DVD essentials (DVE?) both have 7.1 (5.1 for sure) I think this was mentioned earlier in the old 11a thread.

I'm sure if you search the forum or the web you'll find many results. It looks like there are new versions of both discs how for HD. They both allow for setup & tuning of both audio and video.

-Chris

I am using HD Basics. It has 7.1.
Audio Test Signals:
Full Bandwidth Pink Noise - Stereo
Frequency Sweep, 15 Hz to 22 KHz
Band Limited Pink Noise - Stereo
440 Hz Calibration Tone
Subwoofer Phase Check
Multi-Channel Levels & Balance
Pan Around The Room
Buzz & Rattle Check

Thanks on the disc info guys I am going to play with it tomprrow

So far I have been lucky with my unit regarding never losing sound from any speakers in the middle of watching something.

I am also probably the only one in this thread still with Auto Eq engaged. I guess it never worked positively for any one else!

I don't know what is a new number from Cary regarding complainers from this thread. It was 30 units a while ago out of 300 units sold. I hope our number is growing.

Peter

My guess is that it should be much higher than the 30/300. I think most just can't tell or doesn't know that it doesn't sound right. I find it hard to believe that only "we AVS guys" have the problems.

I think the SW upgrades speaks for itself. The issues are not 'nice to have' flaws/bugs.
- Where are the C11a reviews? (the answer is that it is devastating to do a review of this unit in the current state).
- Where is the C11v?
People with complex setup are probably the ones who suffer the most.
They probably also care the most.

Damn right! I'm guessing if 300 units were actually sold, another hundred or so just put a movie on beginning to end, and are happy to just get sound out of their speakers.

Last evening I watched Quantum of Solace bitstreamed to my 11a and with The DTS HD MA, I was pleased with the sound I got. I have nothing else connected to my processor and I put the FR & FL through another pre via it's bypass. As a stand alone setup, I felt that I finally was getting what I paid for. When I have some time, I will get out some of my library and test further the HD codecs and see if I can get the same with some Dolby True HD.

I am also hoping that Cary is putting some magic into the next firmware update, that will end the issues that we all are facing with it.

As a side note, I can't believe that anyone who has spent the kind of money on one of these is oblivious to it's flaws. If they are, then I would say that there is just too much prosperity in some homes.

I consult for several high end installers/dealers. You would be surprised what people will pay money for and at the same time have no idea if they are getting their moneys worth. Most of them are not AudioPhiles or Videophiles. They want something that impresses and that is it. They definately do not frequent BBS's especially AVS.

I am right now in the process of ripping about 90 tracks of Female Jazz vocalists to flac. When that is done I will go read the book I started and start the music playing. It will sound good... or else!

I have a cinema 11a and it is rittled with flaws. I am done dumping money into Cary and there buggy non lasting products, every Cary product I have has been in for repair with obscene repair bills or has flaws I live with. the Cinema 11a is no different, however my dealer tells me they will fix the flaws I have now had it 3 months and sound continually cuts out during a show my wife is furious, she will deal with my hobby, but not if a 3K piece of equipment doesn't work any better tan my old 300 receiver to her. Anyhow sorry for the rant this is going back to my dealer if the next firmware release doesn't work. I'm sure they sold lots of units but now allot of dealers own them and getting rid of them is going to be a task, the dealers that sold them should keep there fingers crosse d they don't come back. As for the 11v I canceled my order it will be another 2 years anyhow knowing cary by then the 11a will need a upgrade.

I tried two CD306 SACD players from Cary and recognize the same kind of problems on those, i.e. static and sudden problems occurring that could not be explained. However, the problems I had with these does not even come close to the never ending problems I have with my C11a. Except for this, the CD306 was great.
Let's hope the new firmware upgrade comes before Easter holiday.

I know I've said it before, but by the end of the week, I'm going to have a new processor.
I'm tired of this 11a crap and one way or another, I'm unloading this POS!!! No word yet from Jason or anyone from cary about the new FW, which was promised 2 Fridays ago. Way to treat your customers....

Jose, your main issue was LFE with Cary 11A and since you already found the cure and showed to many of us, I am sure Cary engineers will fix it with next firmware update.

Do you have any other major problems with the unit?

I have not seen any HDMI 1.3 processors without any problems from high end products like Anthem, Krell evolution, Denon, Classe. All their threads are with many HDMI issues as well, but none can match this thread with our famous 11A problems. Since each 11A unit is different in every system with various new problems, I don't know when they can be fixed completely. If you like the way it sounds in your system, you just have to change the whole gear compatible with it.

These days looks like we are better off with cheaper processors from Integra and Marantz but none sound as good as Cary!

Peter

What about a post from Cary saying:
- Yes, we admit we have undesired issues
- Yes, we are working around the clock to fix them
- Yes, your findings are real and helps us making a better product
- Yes, we have learned a lesson wrt. premature go-to-market
- Yes, your efforts are appreciated
- Yes, your patience is on trial - we understand this
- Yes, you are right to be disapointed
- Yes, we will improve on customer relations by regular news updates

Still with a crappy product, such a confession would do miracles.
At my work, if the punch items (surprisingly) are fixed with a positive attitude, then people becomes ambassadour-customers for this product and that is the best sales tool a company can get with their products.

But hearing nothing, to me means serious trouble.....

All these units have problems since they are complex units, thats why support is so important and trust in other owners. I can only speak for the denon (and there is a 11000 post thread you can read) there are not alot problems and the unit overal is stable the issues that popup from time to time are handed quickly and support to _real_ people from denon has been top notch. This includes help from a D&M rep who is on these forums. Want a stable unit check it like this :

1) Don't get a unit thats not been out for a few months.

2) Read the owners thread for 2 weeks

3) Check if and how software updates are done, imho in 2009 they should be done over the internet.

4) numbers count, 1 or 2 reviews or owners is not enough you need more to be sure that they are not dealers or related and you need enough to get a good feeling how different units interact with many setups.

Just my 2cents, i feel your pain we have all owned stuff that was more a starting unit with promises that never went anywhere (a few scalers come to mind).

Goodluck hope Cary solves it soon or you can cut your losses and move on.

Daniel.

Peter,
Besides the LFE issue, all the others are minor. But even if the new FW fixes it, I'm not sure Cary's a company I can trust. A big reason for paying the $$$ we pay for these boutique items are the supposed stellar customer service that comes with it. I haven't seen it from cary.

I am leaning towards PCM analog, maybe another year or so when hdmi finally figures it out. I had the krell S1000(PCM) before the cary and I always thought the krell sounded better.
I have my eye out for the Krell HTS 7.1. No need for me to bitstream now, it's not worth the headaches.

Something like that would have gone a loooooong way a couple of weeks ago.

I guess it doesn't fit Cary's strategic intent, but Obama said 'Sorry, but I screwed up', didn't he?
Jason & Billy at Cary are nice guys, but for this topic the information should be way better. Maybe they just don't know (the road is made while walking on it)?

Some wise points there DanielThe avp does look reliable but you would faint at the price in this country The rep you refer too ; its not Jeff Talmadge is it ? I got the impression he was conspicuous by his absence lately [or at least dissoe'd after the bluray players were marketed]; not unlike our situation with Jason

btw ; Ive been conditioned to be patient having owned an integra dtr 10.5 so needless to say the cary service so far has been a revelation

Well, since I estimated end of Q2 (at least for the HDMI fixes), I am not surprised to say the least. Cary probably found out themselves that programmergeek's (and a few other AVS members, myself included) findings were legitimate and that it takes quite some time to fix them (all). I also hope they do iterations while testing, so new flaws won't raise form the ongoing bugfixes.

The best way of estimating a date for release is when Kal Rubinson confirms that he will get/or have got a C11a for review in Stereophile, IMO.

Is there anyone out there that can confirm that the HDMI fixes are done for the latest shipments?

Nothing to say. Just gotta try and stay positive. I'm hoping as much as you all because I'd really like to try this pro/pro.

Chris