Official Cary Cinema 11a/11v Owner's Thread - Page 2

Cirrus actually makes a version of the 497004 processor that has Dolby Volume built in. My understanding, however, is that it is something that is "hard coded" into the chip, so I don't believe it would be possible to add that feature as firmware.

well gang:

I uploaded the 1.03 patch last weekend then left town for work on Monday-this made it tough to listen and decide if the patch provided what i was hoping to have for a prepro. In short, the answer is "no". Looking only at audio and SD-DVDs, I find that the digital coax and toslink are as I would have hoped, and that the HDMI handshake is still brutally slow, with popping ocurring between channels/tracks/chapters, and after pauses...very noticeably after advancing HDTV shows. both image and sound are impacted when in HDMI feed. I've bypassed the problem by using the HDMI feed for video and the digital coax/toslink for my audio, but when I finally get a Blu-Ray player I'm going to be disappointed: is this about where the rest of you stand? How many people have contacted Cary about sending the 11A back for the HDMI chip correction?

Bryan...right now, I'm back to where I was with my Cinema 11...

In order to bi-amp one must first get that signal into the required amplifier channel. (send the same signal out two amplifier channels to be sent to the same speaker)

How would you propose he get that (duplicate) signal into the power amplifier?
A Y-cable or a processor are the two obvious options.

Seems to me to be a nice feature, though one I would not use. (in fact cannot, Dynaudio doesn't believe in bi-amping, I only have one set of binding posts)

-Chris

Tony, Have you ever understood the function of HDMI bitstream vs. PCM mode in the set up menu? If you think it is useless, please include it in the final wish list so Cary could remove it or make it "auto" in the next FW update.

I also noticed that whenever I engage PL2X while playing True HD or DTSHDMA, I am losing part of the front sound stage and while the back channels come active, it doesn't sound as good as the original sound track. This is true even when watching 5.1 from DirecTV.

I don't remember this happening with Integra processor with same lossless codecs upon engaging Neo6, PL2X or Neural 7.1 THX. Any thoughts from you and other users?

Peter

These are known issues with v1.03.
Several members herein have expressed the same.

If you set the HDMI to PCM, the display will say e.g. LPCM 5.1. If you set the HDMI to bitstream, additional information for the decoding is given in the display (e.g. DTS MA 48kHz). Except for this, I do not think it matters.

Precisely. This is what we (or at least I) have been trying to say.

I agree, a Y adapter would normally be used. However, depending on the input impedance of the amplifier this can be less than optimal. (but is fine 99% of the time)

I think that a processor/DSP should be able to easily make a digital copy and send it to both outputs. (so it's before the DAC's) Would not require hardware mods. Still my bet is Cary won't bother. I suppose it is a "wish" list though.

-Chris

Something for those for whom 7.1 is not enough Tony ; depending on whether its a decoding process thats firmware upgradeable? edit ; looks like it is.

5.1owners look away now

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6629227.html

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/techno...logic-IIz.html

Tony, I like the idea of the consolidation of specs, issues and bugs, etc., at the beginning of the thread. This is helpful to all. However, the Anthem D2 thread does the same (with multiple changes and additions), and did not undertake these changes by starting a new thread just because a new version of the D2 was released.

And, where is the link to the initial Cinema 11 thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...cary+cinema+11 which shows potential new Cinema 11A purchasers the true historical Cinema 11/11A story?

Barry, very well stated. I am sure that Cary is trying hard, but many of us have jumped off of the Cary Cinema 11/11A due to Cary's past history of "trying hard, but not getting it done" customer relations. In my book, everybody deserves a second chance, but third and fourth chances are not acceptable and certainly not for the new $4000 msrp price of admission.

For sure Tony ; they have a long history with the presence speakers ;the current Z11 has the same . The new dts/dd modes are a little better/different in that they give the 3rd dimension - height -as it looks like its extracted from the standard soundtrack .

Why I dont like yamaha dsp modes I spose ; too artificial and what the sound engineer didnt record If they could reconfigure the zone 2 outputs on the cary one day ;you never know

Tony,

Initially I was very satisfied with the 2 channel SQ and fairly satisfied with the HT SQ of the original Cinema 11.

I quickly became extremely dissatisfied with Cary's inability to offer the official firmware updates as promised by Cary's representative in the earlier Cinema 11 thread. Then, within the first month that I purchased the Cinema 11, Cary announced that it was dumping its' long advertised proprietary computer link between the Cinema 11 and Cinema 11v for the new HDMI enabled Cinema 11A. I have been around CE long enough to understand that there is always something new around the corner.

So, when I had the opportunity to demo the Anthem D2 (I had sold a D2 to go with the Cinema 11) against the Cary Cinema 11, I realized that that the D2 is a far superior HT processor than the Cary with a very decent 2 channel ability. The addition of the Anthem Room Correction system cinched the deal for me. So, with Cary refusing to offer any accommodations to its' dealers and customers, I sold the C11 as quickly as I could and went back to the D2 (and now the new D2v)

The flexibility of the Anthem firmware settings for audio and video tweeking along with Anthem's superior customer service made this decision a simple one.

IMO, Cary needs to increase or reallocate its' resources if it wants to be in the processor end of the CE business.

Right -- that's what the Arcam did. It simply took the outputs for channels 6 and 7 and made them duplicates of channels 1 and 2. It's an elegant solution if you have seven amplification channels and only five speakers.

The reason I think of this is that I've got a Cary Cinema 2 amp that I could bring into my C11A system (which has the Cinema 5 amp). I imagine that putting four channels into my Paradigm fronts would be very nice...

Tony,

Anthem has a Test site where they post intermediate test firmware that is modified for owner specific issues. Many of us utilize the test software in advance of its' becoming "official". This user feedback gives Anthem the ability to respond quickly to any issues. Minor individual changes appear within a day or so. Cary might consider setting up a test website in order to implement firmware changes on an expedited basis.

Of course, no CE company is infallible. Anthem had its' handshaking issues with its' initial implementation of HDMI in the D2 in 2006, especially with the many new HDMI source components such as the initial HD-DVD and Blu-ray players.

But, there have been no such issues with the new internal decoding of Dolby Digital TrueHD and DTS HD-MA in the D2v.

My new D2v did have an issue with a clipping sound from the tweeters in my surround channels. After two minor firmware updates failed to rectify the issue, Anthem agreed to replace my 1st D2v as it was obviously some type of hardware issue. I wonder why Cary is not opting to take the identical path for many of you C11A owners. And, how does Cary know that the new firmware will be available next Friday?? A wild guess? An estimate? Or, another way to placate the Cinema 11A users on AVS?

By the way, my Cary dealer advises me that he has sold and installed several Cinema 11A's and his end users have no issues to date.

Hi Stan,

I'm glad to see that your disdain toward Cary has not waned since you jumped on the Anthem D2 Bandwagon! Your dissatisfaction has been duly noted. Now if you don't mind, it would be nice to keep this new thread on the topic of the Cary Cinema 11a. While it's nice to hear from you and get your dissenting opinion, if you wish to complain about the original Cinema 11, please do so in the original Cinema 11 thread. If you wish to tout the Anthem D2, please do so in the Anthem D2 thread. Again, this is the new Cinema 11a thread.

If my memory serves me, you were once pretty happy with your Cinema 11 and you were anxiously awaitng it's mate, the Cinema 11v. The timing of Cary's news release, that a new Cinema 11a was under development annoyed you, because it made your C11 obsolete. In turn, you sold your C11 and became a Cary basher. Is my memory correct?

Anthem has had plenty of time to issue dozens of FW patches to fix the D2's bugs and issues. Two firmware updates in a few short weeks shows the folks in North Carolina are working hard to make everybody happy. The technology in the C11a is new and Cary has taken big risks to develop this potentially grounbreaking Pre/Pro. Let's give Cary a little more time on the C11a FW and in the end we'll all reap the rewards!

I agree, on paper the D2 is a fantastic Pre/Pro as far as features go. But the biggest difference between the C11a and the D2, is the C11a's more natural, lifelike sound, versus the more clinical, electronic sound of the D2. No firmware will ever fix that aspect of the D2. When the annoncement of the new Anthem D3 makes your investment in the D2 decline in value, will you then become an Anthem basher?

At least I think it is fair to say that the usage and connected equipment must be extremely simple. If someone says to me that there are no SW issues, having similar setup as me, I simply would not believe it. This does not imply that others are not being polite when reporting their experiences.
I just have to try to be happy on their behalf, I guess