The "Official" Denon AVR-4311CI/AVR-A100 thread [NO PRICE TALK] - Page 589

batpig and jd,

Thanks for your thoughts.

If you change from Basic to Custom or vice versa will it matter as far as retaining the Audyssey calibration?

If Audyssey ignores all settings prior to running the calibration why are you asked to set amp assign and number of speakers before running a calibration? If you change any of these main settings after a calibration then that calibration is negated (which I fully understand why).

Bill

^^
All settings "prior" to running the process. What you are asking about IS part of the process. Also, "Amp Assign" to identify how you want to use the Surr Back/Amp Assign speaker posts and number of speakers to speed up the process ... no sense in running test tones to all speakers if you've only got a stereo 2.1 setup.

No it will not matter. But if you have turned off Audyssey in a particular input/surr mode, Personal Memory Plus will think that's how you want it.

Bill, what is it with you and losing Audyssey? I'm wondering if this points to unconsciously feeling you are undeserving of experiencing such rich rewards?...ooops, slipped into the day job mode for a sec there.

SoM,

Thanks for your thoughts.

Yes you are correct in that subconsciously I feel I am not worthy of XT32. I did not have these feelings with XT. I will make a call to the SoM 24 hour 4311 hotline as soon as I can find a couch to lay down on.

Bill

Got a microphone boom today based on recommendations I read here. Will rerun Audyssey after dinner tonight and see if it makes any difference. Cross your fingers!

Remember to keep the mic away from chair backs and anything close that can reflect sound. I always put my recliners about 50% back when running Audyssey.

Nice tip! I'm going to try something else someone here mentioned (can't remember who). That was to take the 8 measurements in a relatively small box around the MLP. I had always made them across the front row of seating, with maybe 3 from the MLP. Perfectly good idea since I'm the only one who really cares how well the system is tuned and I ALWAYS sit in the Captain's chair.

Well, I lugged up an old tube TV from downstairs and attached it to the composite video output of the receiver. As with the other monitors, I got a Denon logo but nothing when I hit setup, changed the volume etc.

So I tried doing a reset.

It worked! Got the setup menu on the screen when I hit setup, showed the volume being changed etc.

So I guess I won't (so far) have to return the receiver (I really didn't want to).

Thanks GSR and thanks to everyone else who responded to my questions. I'm sure I'll have more of them as I go along.

Guys,

Need help on my 4311. When I'm on "CD" input for 2-channel listening, initially there's no sound coming out of the speakers and I found out that I have to turn on my TV(which is connected to HDMI out of the 4311) first, after which there will be sound already. What should I do to resolve this? Thanks a lot :-)

^^^

as described, the issue is likely with your disk spinner looking for a valid hdmi sink and not with the avr...

what spinner?

My cd player is Cayin CD17

Thanks

So yesterday I'm watching the cable box through my 4311's SAT/CBL HDMI3 port when I notice the video signal going black for 1-2 seconds then coming back, with no interruption in the audio during the blackout. This occurred over 25 times thoughout the day--sometimes every 10 seconds.

Here are the troubleshooting steps I did yesterday:

- swapped out the cable box with an identical one from another room - using prior cable box's HDMI cable - problem still there
- switched cable box's HDMI cable from HDMI3 to HDMI4 - problem still there
- swapped the BD player from HDMI1 to HDMI3 using BD player's HDMI cord - now BD picture fades to black (BD player did not exhibit this issue at all on HDMI1)
- ran the cable box through HDMI1 (formerly used by BD player) using cable box's HDMI cable - problem goes away on that port
- factory reset the 4311 at least 3-4 times at various points
- unplugged the AVR for 15 minutes
- switched source to CD which uses the SAT/CBL source for video (cable box also hooked up via component cable to RCA2) - blackouts continue--when using component video!

Now this morning, I'm back to the original configuration that I've been using since purchasing the unit, and the issue has not occurred today. Yesterday, there were periods it was happening every 10 seconds. Keeping my fingers crossed, but I hope the graphics card in the AVR is not failing. Will advise if problem returns.

However, has anyone else experienced this kind of intermittent black out through the 4311ci?

Also, if it does need serviced, best to send it to the Factory service center in NJ, one of the regional Super service centers, or just one of the authorized service centers (which I can drive to).

^^
Firmware updates to a cable/sat box have been known to screw up the HDMI connection to the AVR. Regarding repair, although dropping the unit off at a local facility is less costly, it really depends on their backlog as it may be there a few weeks, whereas turnaround from the factory repair center PanurgyOEM, NJ is generally only 1-2 weeks as they have all the necessary parts available. Also, based on other posts, I'm led to believe that there's no real benefit going to a Super Service Center (unless of course it's local) vs. a local center.

^Seems to me this could well have been a cable problem not a 4311 problem. Cable co signals have been known to be less than problem-free. Sometimes it's the network broadcast, so will be limited to one channel. Sometimes it's a total bad hair day at the cable co. If it happens again, just check out another TV on another cable box if you have one, or play a shiny disc through the 4311.

Same type of problem started with me a week ago only on the cable DVR. Rebooted the DVR and no issues since.

Thanks guys...good to know regarding the service centers. Yeah I'd probably rather have a $30 part shipped to the local repair center then worry about shipping a $2000 40 lb unit across the country!


That's what it's starting to seem like...a total fluke...with another hour now of trouble-free viewing! At this point, I'm going to close the ticket with the (obvious) resolution: watch Spiderman on BD from beginning to end! :-)

It's a shame how fussy these electronic devices can get from time to time!

If it happens when video is fed via component to then that suggests, but does not guarantee, that the problem is with the cable box.

If it happens again, connect the tv directly to the cable box to completely rule out the denon.

I did a bit of research on zones for this particular unit, but before I go spending some money can someone check my thoughts?

I have the 4311ci in the main theater room and I am wanting to setup a pair of speakers in the living room so if we want to watch a movie out there instead we can. Also my wife has a scrap booking room with a set of speakers. What I really want to do is be able to send the audio and video to each of these rooms using the components in the theater room without having to buy additional equipment. From what I have read this really isn't possible to the degree I would like. Here is what the seupt might look like.

1) 2nd monitor output to a hdmi switch and send a video signal to both rooms
2) Send zones 2/3 audio to both rooms

However from what I read I won't be getting any audio out of the zone outputs because they can only use analog audio and I use a PS3 as a source. I also would like to have some Audyssey processing for the living room, but I bet that isn't doable as well?

What I think I might have to do is buy yet another receiver such as the 3313 and set that up in the living room to get Audyssey correction and be able to use the preouts to an external amp and have the lossless audio?

It seems the concept of zones is cool, but in reality they are very limited with what you can do with them. Maybe I'm expecting too much since I essentially want them to perform the exact same duties as a separate receiver.

Since I would use external amps for both receivers I could hook up the wife's speakers to one of the powered outputs to be able to make that work. It would require changes in the menu every time she wanted to watch a movie, but buying 3 receivers would be a lot more ridiculous than this.

Th only thing that's fussy is this POS Brighthouse DVR. I routinely have to reboot it to fix one problem or another.

If I can connect zone 2 to any unused amplified channels can I also got lossless audio when playing a blu-ray to the other zone? If I wanted to watch a movie in the living room could the two speakers I have out ther be playing all of the 5/7.1 information?

^^
Nope. Zone 2 can only pass analog or PCM 2.0 from optical/coax digital from external sources, so all you'd have to do is connect the analog audio cable that came with the PS3 and set the PS3 "Multi Audio Out" setting to ON in order to pass audio over both HDMI (main zone) and analog (Zone 2).

I know that is the case if I was to use the zone 2 pre-outs, but even if I use the amp assign feature to have the zone 2 signal coming off the amplifier instead of the pre-out it's still the same?

^^
Yup ... Zone 2 is Zone 2 ... speaker posts or pre-outs ... limitation still applies.

Thanks JD, I guess that settles it and I will need to get another receiver.

Had the same problem with my 3808; it only happened with DirecTV box. I recommend a workaround if possible: cable or sat box directly to TV & optical to your AVR. Hope this helps! I'll find out soon enough, I've got a 4311 waiting to be hooked up! Anyone need a mint 3808?

Help please...

Btw, 4311 is on pre-amp mode as I have external power amp.

Thanks

Have you tried using the optical, coaxial or analog output (if available) of your CD player? Are you using the CD input of the 4311? If so how is the CD input setup as far as the default input? I use my Oppo 83SE as my CD player using HDMI and I do not need my plasma to be on to play discs. If the plasma is on for the menu (DVD-As) and I turn it off I loose audio for a couple of seconds but it comes right back.

I can't understand why there would be an HDMI sync issue when your CD layer does not have a HDMI output. I always assumed that HDMI sync isues with ones TV on or off was only with components when HDMI was used.

Bill

Hi Bill,
Haven't tried the optical and coax out of my cd player as my Cayin CD17 has I think better DAC. Yup I'm using the CD input of my Denon 4311. I can't understand too why I'm having HDMI sync issues as I'm just using analog inputs on my Denon

^^
Helps to indicate the actual cable connection when posting an issue. Are you also using the DIRECT surround mode which disables Audyssey? Otherwise, the CD input is still using the AVR's ADC/DAC (which will actually likely sound better as it's also using Audyssey this way). Try using each of the other analog inputs to see if you get the same result. Also changing the power on sequence .... AVR then CD player .... CD player then AVR.