*OFFICIAL* Denon AVR 391 / 591 / 1611 Owner's Thread - Page 147

I hope someone can help me before I smash my Denon 591 into space dust. I want to hook up my PC via HDMI to my 591. PC works all ok when plugged directly into my Plasma and ARC all ok. Plug into my Denon and cant get any video signal on the screen at all from any of the inputs. I have reset the 591 processor and tried 3 types of HDMI High Speed cables and still nothing. Ggrrrr use them for tie downs on my trailer now. As a work around I tried to use optical out from my pc to the 591 and use the 591 just for sound. I cant get a true 5.1 signal. I dont know if its correct but i heard that optical can not carry 5.1. I realise I am very much a noob when it comes to sound, it all seems so complex. I had a brief look at my Denon manual, it was atrocious. Help please....

Oh yea and whilst I am at it whats up with the OSD that never works unless I mash all the buttons on all my remote controls simultaniously.

Check your TV Owner's manual as it needs to support ARC (audio return channel) in order to pass audio back to the AVR over the HDMI cable that connects them. Also check to see if HDMI connected sources to the TV will pass audio via ARC at all, although connecting an optical cable from the TV to the AVR is likely a better solution as ARC is generally limited to only stereo 2.0 while the optical can pass DD 5.1. However, first try to resolve the xBox to 391 connection issue by connecting to every HDMI input on the 391 to see if one works as they are not all created equal.

Optical can carry 5.1 signal but not DTS-HD or TrueHD from blu ray.It will carry Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS. Do you have a blu ray player on your HTPC?

I have a Denon 591 and only have to press the Menu button to get OSD. Sounds like something is definitely wrong with your receiver.

Re: no HTPC video ---> http://www.avsforum.com/t/1334369/the-official-denon-avr-xx12-model-owners-thread/0_100#user_L12

Re: GUI issue ---> You must first press the "AMP" button before pressing the "Menu" button

Yes i had it working a while back too I guess ill buy an optical cable then. Thanks for sharing

Hi everyone. Couple of concerns about my 391 that I've noticed recently after I moved across country...

First issue: When watching movies, I have to have the volume turned up to -22 or higher to hear it well. Before my move, I never needed to turn it up past -29.
When I listen to music, I have to turn it down to nearly -40 or it's just too darn loud. Never had this issue before but I don't think you should have to turn the volume up so high to hear a movie or show.

Second issue: I have my AppleTV plugged into the BD HDMI slot on the receiver. I have the parameter set to Dolby Pro-Logic II. When I swap over to DVD which is the HDMI port I have my Xbox 360 hooked up to, it switches automatically to Dobly D and there is no option to switch to Pro-Logic II. Tried watching a movie on Netflix and the sound was very hollow and didn't have any bass to it at all.


Like I said, no issues prior to moving and now I feel like my gear is acting up. I did the microprocessor reset, but that didn't seem to do anything.


Thanks in advance.

1. Perhaps movie specific. Also there is no reference volume with music, rather only movie sound tracks.
2. DD PLII is a "simulation" surround mode which takes a stereo 2.0 signal and simulates 5.1. If the signal is already DD/DTS 5.1 there's nothing to simulate.

Okay. I understand that.

Just seems odd that I have to crank up the volume now.

Would there be an issue driving 90 or 91 dB speakers at 6 ohms with my 1611? Would a different Denon AVR be a better fit?

Nope. Shouldn't be as all Denon AVRs are designed to power 6-16 ohm speakers.

This is one of the reasons I prefer separate amps. What does a Denon do when a 4 ohm load is present, shut off?

Not at all ... in fact at average volume levels (ie. -30db), there is generally no issue at all with 4-ohm loads, rather it's only when approaching volume levels near reference (ie. 0db) that the AVR is likely to shut down in protection mode. Now of course the upper level models like your new 4311CI and 4520CI are designed to run 4-ohm loads so an external amp is not likely required at all even at reference level volumes.

I'm wondering if anyone might have a quick fix for a remote control/volume issue on my AVR 391 receiver. I've had the unit since early 2011, and the only issue I've had so far (unit would freeze up and not respond to remote or front panel controls and had to unplug from the power source) was been handled by Denon's factory authorized service center last spring. Currently, I am not able to continuously change the volume on the unit from the remote control as I had been able to in the past. To change the volume, you have to depress the volume up or down buttons for every increment you want to change it (VERY tedious!). Everything else on the remote seems to work fine.

Although I am not the only person in our house that has used it, the only instance I can personally reference was that someone had the volume turned way up (probably turned on our TV and ran the audio thru the receiver) and when I turned on the receiver one day the audio was really loud and I manually turned it down on the front panel. Doesn't seem that that should have messed up the remote though. So I'm wondering if there is a setting somewhere that I am missing that I might be able to change volume continuously again on the remote.

Thanks!

Ok so I am having an issue with my "new" (factory refurbished) AVR-591. I got it hooked up and all the sound works and I get video. but anytime I try to use the OSD I just get wavy lines. I have it set up with only an HDMI cable, but from what I understand this should not be a problem. My tv is a 42" Vizio. I'm not sure the model number. I do know that it can be finicky with certain HTz. Is this the problem? Do I need a new TV? I have reset the microprocessor. And I really don't want to have to send this back. But I got the thing for the OSD.

What video source are you passing through the AVR so the OSD can display? Try turning the HDMI-CEC feature on the Vizio to OFF.

I have an HTPC hooked up to the AVR. That displays fine. The resolution is set to 1920x1080. I tried the OSD with the CEC off and on. No luck, just black wavy lines. I did notice that when the OSD comes up the TV says 480p. If I read some other things right the AVR sends the OSD signal as 480i. I think maybe my tv is old enough that it wont display that. Could this be the case? I would have to check, but could I hook up an RCA video to the TV? I was thinking this might be able to display the 480i and then I would just have to switch the input over to that for it to function.

Yes, that could very well be the issue (ie. older TV unable to display 480i over HDMI). Try connecting a composite video cable from the AVR to the TV.

found the model number. Its a Vizio E421VL. It says that it can handle 480i, but I'm not sure if that is only on the composite video or not
Edited by Phil Lawton - 12/3/12 at 5:23pm

I'd go the composite video cable route for now.

well i connected the composite video, but it's not working. I wanted to make sure it wasn't the TV so I hooked up an old DVD player strait to the TV and it works fine. Then I connected the same DVD player to the receiver. The audio gets sent to the receiver, but it looks like the video doesn't make it to the TV (The TV says no signal). I can't imagine that it is the cable since the one between the TV and the receiver is the same one i used between the TV and the DVD player. This is frustrating because when I connect the HDMI to the receiver it seems like it tires to send the signal through that, but the screen just goes black. (but it doesn't say no signal). Its like the receiver is refusing to send a signal to the monitor out.

well i connected the composite video, but it's not working. I wanted to make sure it wasn't the TV so I hooked up an old DVD player strait to the TV and it works fine. Then I connected the same DVD player to the receiver. The audio gets sent to the receiver, but it looks like the video doesn't make it to the TV (The TV says no signal). I can't imagine that it is the cable since the one between the TV and the receiver is the same one i used between the TV and the DVD player. This is frustrating because when I connect the HDMI to the receiver it seems like it tires to send the signal through that, but the screen just goes black. (but it doesn't say no signal). Its like the receiver is refusing to send a signal to the monitor out.

oh and did i mention that when i connected the DVD player it said that the video was 480i. So that can't be the issue on this connection.

Is my 1611 broken?

The last few weeks I have noticed a hissing sound coming from my speakers when using my 1611. I at first was thinking I didn't connect everything up correctly (loose speaker connection perhaps), after all I just recently moved into a new house and when i set up the 1611 in my bedroom I did it kinda quick and dirty. Yesterday I finally had some time to investigate the issue and what I found is that there is hissing (not hum, hissing static like white noise) that is coming from the speakers no matter the source. I followed some basic troubleshooting steps as in disconnecting all sources and adding one back in at a time, reset the microprocessor and re-ran audyssey, tried different outlets and power strips, even different hdmi cables and nothing remedied the issue. I did discover by complete accident that if I set the 1611 to "direct" mode there is no hissing detectable from the listening position (apprx 7 ft from speakers).

The hissing noise is very noticeable when I have source on with no content playing, ie the home screen on the PS3, the receiver defaults to mult ch in and hissing is very noticeable at reasonable volume (-30 - -20 on the avr) from 7 ft away. The only way to make it stop hissing is to run it in direct mode. All other surround formats and audyssey settings produce the hiss. When playing content, say dd 5.1 from a dvd, the hissing is very slightly noticeable in the background in all but direct mode. Hitting fast forward thus stopping sound from the disc and the hissing is very noticeable. Also, it may be my imagination, but it seems that the longer the avr is on the louder (slightly) the hissing is perceived, but again it may be my imagination.

sources:
Dish Network HD DVR (cannot recall model number) connected via hdmi.
Older Pioneer CD Player (connected via optical)
Sony PS3 connected via hdmi.

I have also connected other sources from my main HT set up to see if there was a difference, sources included a second PS3, and xbox and a denon blu-ray player, and no change. I have tried all the HDMI inputs on the 1611 and no change. I have not tried connecting anything by utilizing analog connections.

Speakers:
Polk Monitor 50's
Polk CS1 center
I also have had my monitor 30s connected to the main left and rights and hissing was present.

My warranty is up Jan 1st and I plan on calling Denon on Monday to inquire about my issue, but wanted to get some feedback here to see if there was anything I may have missed in my troubleshooting.

When you disconnected the sources, did you also disconnect their power cords? If not, try that, and with the cable/sat box, also disconnect the coax cable to the box. Also ensure the power cord to the AVR is securely fitted to the unit.

Yes I had the sources disconnected from power. I also had the coax going to the sat box disconnected. I didn't try to wiggle the 1611's power cord to see if that made any difference, but if i remember correctly the power cord on the 1611 is not removable. I also tried plugging directly into the wall socket and not using a power strip and with and without "cheater plugs". I will take a look at the denon's power cord today when I get off of work.

I am a bit perplexed as to why the hiss is not evident in direct mode but all other modes/audyssey settings. It makes me think the issue is with the avr vs an outside source.

Yup ... no removable power cord, so nothing to check there. It would seem there may be an issue with the AVR's DSP and will need service. As a final check though, try doing multiple microprocessor resets, say at least 4 in a row.

One right after the other and not run audyssey in between?

I will when i get home later this morning. I will let you know how it goes. thanks JD....you da man when it comes to denon!

Correct. Just the mp resets, no Audyssey. Trying to kick the DSP back into working order. Not likely to help, but I've seen a few posts where multiple resets resolved other issues when a single one did not which is why I've amended my sig to include this suggestion.

Do you know if this type of DSP failure is common on the 1611 and similar series units? It just sucks being this close to end of warranty and I get (possibly) a DSP failure. I know its a budget avr and all, but i expected to get at least 5 years out of it if not more. Is there anything I could have possibly done as a user to initiate this type of failure? The unit has never been hot and always on top shelf of open rack, no blocking of airflow on sides or top of the avr.

AFAIK, not a common issue at all. Some units just fail prematurely. If you're still within warranty, give Denon a call for repair resolution. If even just a few months out of warranty they have been known to process units "under warranty". Otherwise, if you purchased with a credit card, check with your card's provider, as some will extend the warranty to a 3rd year (Amex will do this for sure and some MC/VISA will as well). If you have an authorized repair facility in your local area, give them a call to see what their take is on the issue.