The "Official" Onkyo TX-SR607 Thread - Page 52

We can only hope that the 607 doesn't crap out. It does seem that a slew of products are having HDMI failure though, not just Onkyo.

Thank you

Been running my 607 for about six weeks now. LOVING THIS AVR. If you are on the fence, quit hesitating and grab it. My reason for the upgrade was that I ran out of digital inputs on my old Pioneer Elite, I wanted HDMI switching, and I wanted HD audio. I also secretly wanted to go from 5.1 to 7.1 but don't tell my CFO.

My 7.1 setup:

Onkyo 607
Infinity P362 Fronts (these are new also, wow love 'em)
Infinity C250 Center
Infinity OWS-1 surrounds (used to be the fronts, they are happier now)
Infinity ERS 110DT surround back
Infinity SW-12 sub

Here are a couple of impressions, mixed in with a few questions for our experts.

The latest Ratchet & Clank game on PS3 is apparently in 7.1, who knew? It's not on any of the labels. "Direct" listening mode sounds pretty good, but "Multich" grotesquely overexaggerates the rear channels. Does this imply that I should manually adjust the speaker levels until Direct and Multich sound about the same, level-wise?

Up until last week I had the OWS-1 speakers in the "height" position for PLIIz mode instead of using a traditional 7.1 setup. Watched lots of tv, video games and movies, kept it in the IIz mode as much as possible. The only place where I could get any pleasure from the whole "height" thing is in the first few seconds of Ratatouille when you hear the rain rustling through the leaves--but I only sought that clip because of a review I read somewhere. Since I was never blown away by IIz and since I only have enough good speakers for 7.1 and not 9.1 I conclude that it's dumb to waste two perfectly good speakers on the IIz gimmick. Anybody disagree?

There's lots of coverage in prior posts about PS3 and bitstream vs. PCM over HDMI. Remember: use the PS3's PCM setting, not bitstream to get high def audio into the 607 because the PS3 won't send a high definition bitstream. PCM is totally fine: the PS3 does the decoding and sends uncompressed audio to the 607. The 607 won't flash its cool TrueHD or DTS-HD logos but you will hear the whole shebang. Press the "Display" button on the remote to assure yourself you're receiving 7.1 channels (if you have a 7.1 BD in), and press the "Select" button on the PS3 controller during playback to be sure the PS3 is sending a high definition signal like TrueHD or DTS-HD, and not the "core" 1.5Mbps compressed track (which is often the default).

Listening modes. I believe it is *always* appropriate to use Dolby PLIIx if you want all 7.1 speakers vibrating while watching *any* source that isn't originally 7.1 (this includes 5.1 TrueHD and DTS-HD sources). Anybody disagree? This is potentially subjective: I've seen some folks prefer Dolby EX, and in listening tests I sometimes like it too. Let me ask it this way: is the 607 *designed* to make us happy when 5.1 sources of all flavors are matrixed to 7.1 using PLIIx? Is there ever a good reason to choose Neo:6 instead of PLIIx? Is there ever a good reason to stick with Multich and leave the surround back speakers silent sometimes? (I paid for 'em, I want 'em working! :-) )

My SW-12 manual says to put it the sub in LFE mode (invalidating its crossover pot) when using it with a DD/DTS receiver. Can I surmise from this that my sub will churn out whatever it receives, up to its maximum of 150Hz?

If I manually increase the crossover frequencies in the 607 (say, from 40Hz up to 60Hz on the P362's, from 50Hz to 100Hz on my center and from 40Hz to 100Hz in the SB's), the 607 should route all the stuff I'm cutting off back to the SW-12, right? Is there a good reason to do this, beyond perhaps extending the life of the AVR? Is there a good reason not to do this?

Thanks to all for keeping this thread so informative.

^ congrats on enjoying your avr.

X-overs -you can always go above audyssey, just remember to never go below. Personally I manually set all speakers at 80hz and the lfe at 120hz, sounds great to me.

Listening modes - I did a lot of blind a/b tests with my wife on rotf (best audio track I've ever heard) with my wife. She doesn't care about lights,mode names etc. She picked the audyssey Dolby EX mode over all others for blu. I recommend doing some critical listening to each mode on a set movie sequence, possibly with another person who doesn't know the name of the mode, only the sound.

7.1 - I also tried the plIIz and found it boring, moved to 7.2 (I have 2 powered subs) and matrix all of my sound.

Speaker levels - experiment, move speakers and experiment some more. Al I cam say here is try some different placement of your speakers and run audyssey after each final setting. It's tedious but you paid good money so why not get the best fr YOUR environmet. After I run audyssey I always go back and manually measure my distances as sometimes they're off and then I measure levels in the primary seating position at vol 64 and adjust all speakers to 75db with an SPL meter. The sub I run at 82db because I like some kick.

I'm not one of the experts that you speak of, but I am a tinkerer who is willing to play around and research to get the max enjoyment and power out of my toys. Hope this helps....

PS - after doing all of this I found dyn eq and dyn vol to be very user friendly.

Spblat and Wingsbr:
Two very good posts! Thanks.

spblat - good information. Also, the new PS3 Slim will do bitstream for HD audio.

Auto switching of sources
Hi,

I have two sources connected to my Onkyo receiver. A TiVo via digital optical and a Sony Blu-Ray player via HDMI. If I turn on the Blu-Ray -- even if it's only by ejecting a disc, the receiver immediately switches to the Blu-Ray input. I don't want it to do that. Is there an option to turn this off this I can't find?

Thanks,

Jay W

I believe you need to turn HDMI Control OFF on the Onkyo.

With so many BD players offering LPCM as the only HD audio option, doesn't it kinda make the True HD and DTS-MA "features" of the 607 kinda moot?
If we're forced to use LPCM multichannel mode, wouldn't any 7.1 receiver be adequate??


Cool, thanks! I was looking for some way to verify the source/signal and audio format. Not that I don't "trust" the PS3 to just automatically give me the HD tracks... ok, I DON'T trust it, nor my HTPC.


I wonder if this would help with my current issue??

My HTPC (build in progress) is connected via HDMI, supposedly with 7.1 LPCM capability.

The problem is that for every sound that the HTPC tries to make, the AVR tries to switch audio modes. Of course the mode switching is MUCH slower than the PC sound.
So, what I get is (for instance), say I mouse click in an incorrect window, which should result in a Windows error sound. Instead of a sound byte, I get a series of relay clicks from the 607 as the mode switches from stereo mode, to multichannel in, and then back to stereo mode.

Very irritating.
Would this, or some other setting, allow me to force the receiver to stay in 7.1 LPCM mode, regardless of the HDMI input??


Not your imagination. My receiver does the same thing on Dish Network.

You are hearing the same "mode switching" as I mentioned above.
One channel might be simple stereo, and then the next might be broadcasting in DD 5.1, etc, etc.
So, as you change channels you are hearing the receiver switch modes to match the audio that is available on that channel.

wjogert, there is a fix. The 607 is trying to help you out by picking just the right listening mode for the source it's getting but in this case you don't want the help. Go into the 607's setup menus and tell it to use a single listening mode for your HTPC input, regardless of what format it receives. PLIIx is probably a good choice.

Hi all,
I'm new to the forum so don't flame me yet..... : )
I've had my 607 since mid Nov. I've got a set of old JBL LXE770's that are past their prime. I'm looking for a recommendation for speakers. I mainly use my receiver for movies via my PS/3. I've been listening to Monitor Audio RX6's, B&W 684's, and Paradigm Monitor 7's. I also have been looking at reviews on PSB Image T5's. As you can tell by what I've been listening to, I have a limited budget but and not too constrained to make a considerable upgrade.
Does anyone have a feel for how well the 607 can drive a speaker with a sensitivity of 88-90 (relatively speaking) Also are 6 Ohm speakers an issue?
Thanks for any guidance.

I'm driving 8 ohm, 86 sensitivity LCRs, (Tweak City WAF-1s) and 89db sensitivity 4 ohm surrounds (Emotiva ERD-1s) with no issues.

I would have no concern hooking 6 ohm speakers up to this receiver. You don't mention a budget, but the Energy RC-10s (Cherry) on sale at Vanns.com is still a great deal - http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search

Excellent!! Thank you!

"Single listening mode" is exactly what I was looking for.
I'll try finding that setting tonight.
(amazing how many times I've navigated the OSD menu, and yet still seem to get lost trying to find a setting that I know I found previously! )

BTW, just as an information reference, I discovered that it isn't the various PC sounds that cause the mode switching.
Whenever the HTPC makes sound, the receiver goes into LPCM multi-channel.
The issue is actually when the HTPC goes silent, the receiver switches to the default analog/pcm setting.

Another thought... wouldn't using PLIIx as the single mode contradict the HTPC's DTS/DD 7.1 LPCM?? And even more so with TrueHD/DTS-MA?
(I believe PLIIx is simulated multi-channel?)
Guess I need to re-familiarize myself with the available listening modes.

OK, nevermind...


The more articles I read, I find much debate as to whether PLIIx will matrix TrueHD or DTS-MA to 7.1 (hardware limitations?)
But, many of these threads are over a year old.

I just bought my 607, and realized that the UP-A1 that came with it that was free isn't supported by the 607 in terms of OSD.

But that's besides the point. What I'm wondering is if it is possible to have audio come from one source while having video come from another? (Ipod connected through the Port and say, the television which is connected through an HDMI cable so I have video on the television while listening to my ipod).

All my connections are through HDMI and my HDMI out is connected to the television. My RM510 is currently in the mail, so I don't have separate speakers at the moment. I'm guessing I can't send an audio and video signal from two different sources to my television, but it's worth asking if I can.

OK, I scoured every inch of the setup menus and cannot find any option to set a "single listening mode".

Did you mean simply select the same listening mode for each source, under that input? If so, I cannot. The available options change for each source type, so for instance, PLIIx is not an available option under DD, DTS, Multi, etc...

I did try to select "direct" for each source, as it was about the only functional mode common to each source.

That made no difference. When the HTPC is silent, it seems like the PCM data must go idle, so the 607 leaves LPCM multichannel mode. Regardless of whether the next sound is a mono sound byte, or a 5.1 DD movie, the 607 goes back into LPCM multi mode. That switch time however is too slow for most of the Windows sounds and program sounds.

At this point I don't know if it's the HTPC or the AVR that's the issue.

Bummer. I think it's the HTPC's sound driver. I have no experience with HTPC audio beyond SPDIF.

The hypothesis is that the HTPC is sending no signal at all when it's silent. Not 2 channel PCM silence, but literally no signal. Right? That would correspond with my system when I have the PS3 off. I tested my setup with the PS3 off, and got my 607 into PLIIx mode. Then I turned on the PS3 and heard the boot sound, but the 607 didn't click. That tells me you should be able to do the same thing.

When the HTPC is silent, hit the "Display" button on the AVR remote. When my PS3 is off, the 607 tells me nothing about the source, it just alternates between the name of the input and a blank display (and when the PS3 is on but idle I get MCH PCM 7.1).

I'm rambling. The point is this: the 607 clicks when it turns amp circuits on and off. If you have it in a 7.1 mode all the time, all the amps will be on, and it won't click. You need to go into listening mode presets, and choose a mode for each input type that will have all 7.1 sources active.


Yeah, that's what I mean. On my 607 I am able to specify PLIIx for each of the modes you listed.


Yeah, that won't work. "Direct" means "ignore Audyssey EQ settings and only amp 2 speakers if you get a stereo source, and only light up the surround backs when you get a full 7.1 signal." You don't want that.

Get the HTPC to play a variety of kinds of sources, and hit the "Display" button on the 607 during each sample. Figure out what kind of sources (and transitions between different sources) cause the click, then use the listening mode preset menu to force the right mode to make it stop. I think this problem can be solved. Let us know how you do.

ETA: I have all my listening mode presets set to "Last Valid" -- this way I can pick the best mode on the fly and know it will return to that mode next time it sees that kind of signal.

That surprised me too when I hooked mine up. I've decided the UP-A1 is a glorified charger. At least it will play video from the iPod/iPhone.


That comes up sometimes. I think the answer is no, unless maybe you use the setup menu to mess with the input settings each time you want to do it. Not pretty.

My 607 happily matrixes a 5.1 TrueHD signal (like the Dolby lossless "Countdown" trailer available here) to 7.1 using PLIIx.

Very possible (and likely). Especially since I still have other audio and video issues to resolve, and both audio and video are driven by the same chip.


Exactly!!
I get no source information when the PC is silent... which is the same as if I just turned off the source.

I'll have to try that tonight.

OK, I must be doing something wrong.
I can clearly see that you set "PLIIx" on both the Dolby and DTS settings... yet when I scroll the available options for those sources, PLIIx does not come up.
My 607 is less than two months old. Is it possibly different firmware??
Or I have something weird that is preventing PLIIx from being available for those sources.


As a side note, I found that certain listening modes DID eliminate the relay click within the 607... but did NOT affect the mode switching. So, no clicks, but still no sounds, lol. And the listening modes that accomplished eliminating the clicks were not settings that I would want to use permanently (like Direct).

I will try your suggestion tonight. Several different audio types, and check the display info for each. I'll post what I find.

Not impossible, I guess. There are some 605's that need a FW update, but Onkyo isn't saying anything about the 607.

wjogert, are you looking at the legacy formats that don't have Pro Logic option or the lossless TrueHD and DTS-MA? The ones spblat listed are the lossy types. Not sure but maybe that's why you don't see that option. I am not home to test but I know some of my presets don't give me the Pro Logic Movie option.

This is pretty much what I've been scouring the Internet to hear. I want to make sure I'm not negatively affecting a TrueHD or DTS-MA source by applying the PLIIx listening mode.

Call me crazy, but I have to watch DTS-MA discs at a much higher volume than other sources, including TrueHD. When watching TV and playing XBOX I'm usually in the low 30's or upper 20's. With DTS-MA BD I have to watch at 49 or 50. Has anyone else noticed this?

Is it silly to imagine that Onkyo would ever release a firmware update so that the OSD could be viewed over HDMI (not the setup OSD, the normal use OSD)? I only have HDMI sources connected and would love to see the OSD while making adjustments.

Keep in mind that when I say "I believe it is *always* appropriate to use Dolby PLIIx if you want all 7.1 speakers vibrating while watching *any* source that isn't originally 7.1," I only believe that because that is what I *want* to believe. My ears can't tell the difference, so I'm still interested in the opinions of those with great speakers, great ears and experience with such things.


I've noticed that it varies from one source to another. Haven't specifically noticed that DTA-MA comes at a lower volume.


Not silly, but based on past posts I see this as being impossible given the 607's hardware and given how hard it is to mess with an HDMI signal without wrecking it.

Asked in another thread. This seems like the appropriate place:

I just picked up an SR-607 and have come across an odd problem. The sound will randomly go away after 30 seconds - 15 minutes. The loss of sound is accompanied by the occasional 'pop'. If I change sources on the receiver or change listening modes, the sound will come back- only to go away after 1-5 minutes.

Rinse repeat.

The video doesn't drop out, but the audio does. I've got my DVD & Comcast box connected via Coaxial digital. Even when using the analog front inputs, the problem persists. According to the manual, it could be going into protection mode, but I was under the impression the whole unit would power off. Checked all connections.

Has anyone experienced a similar issue? It was purchased online through an authorized retailer, so I can return it if need be. Onkyo 'technical support' was completely useless- the dude was just reading from a page in the manual.

I would confirm that ALL your speaker connections (both at the AVR and at the speaker) have no stray wires. If not, I would return the unit. So basically, you need to pull and re-install all speaker wiring at the connectors.

Will do. Thanks for the tip- I hope that will end up being my issue. I forgot to add: When I change any audio setting [such as stereo-->matrix] on the cable box, I can get the sound to come back. Color me confused.

Thanks!

I've been trying to figure this out myself. It looks like I may have to run my TV directly from the cable box instead of through the receiver. This sucks as the reason I bought a new receiver is so that I could run everything from one source.

Does anyone know if other receivers can enable me to watch TV while listening to my I-pod (the 1019 maybe?)? If so, I would return my Onkyo for another receiver.

UPDATE:

HTPC off, 607 display shows:
--STEREO light on, Audessey light on, PLII light on (PLII is only enabled for "analog/PCM" source), display blank.

HTPC on, silent:
--STEREO light on, Audessey light on, PLII light on, display blank.

HTPC any sound output (momentary or continuous, mono, stereo, DD, etc.)
--STEREO light goes out, Audessey light goes out, PLII light goes out.
--HDMI light comes on, display reads "LPCM Multi"

HTPC sound ends:
--HDMI light goes out, display goes blank
--STEREO light comes back on, Audessey light comes back on, PLII light comes back on.

I did finally get the HTPC optical S/PDIF working. If I disable the HDMI audio, and set the S/PDIF as default audio, all of the sounds work properly through the 607.
PCM light stays on through all sound formats, Audessey light remains off. (?)
(kinda bummed, I was hoping that S/PDIF would be bitstream... but I'll settle for functional!! )

BTW, I never did find ANY way to get PLII options for the Dolby, DTS, or Multichannel sources. I am very curious why these options are available to spblat, but do not come up on mine. ???

Thanks for that link. I have been looking for files for the HTPC that have definitive audio and video specs (for testing).

To run tests from the Blu-Ray player (DB-60) ... Since I don't have a BD burner yet, I wonder if I can burn BD class files (7.1 Master Audio, 1080p) files to a DVD-R instead?