The Official Integra DHC-80.2 Pre/Pro Thread - Page 112

If you are buying it from an authorized dealer it should come with 2-year warranty. That
s the starndard for factory refurbished units from Integra. And the box says so on the surface. Also there should be an orange color sticker posted on the back of the unit. So make sure when you receive it.

Michaelmorio

I have an 80.2 in the shop right now, but I would buy again. Great features and sound.

I did call them today and the part is on order. Not sure what else they may have replaced, but they have ordered a new "HDMI board" they said. Not a common issue I have read about anyone else having. I am sure I will be back up and running in another week or so.

Sold my projector anyway so it doesnt matter.

I don't have DirecTV, but I do have TiVo & all ch are working correctly. You do have to set the modes to be used with each input. (And type of signal coming in) By sig coming in I mean if the AV is only getting only two ch programing, it has to know what to do with it. (As opposed to 5.1) Setting the listening modes are a bit confusing. (Again for all inputs & all signal types)

I just recently upgraded to an Integra DHC-80.2 pre-amp which is a certified reconditioned unit. I usually get pops in my front left speaker when I start everything up. My amp stays on all day. After start up I sometimes get that random pop again in the front left. I also get some static, or distortion on tv broadcasts. I'm using Audioquest Black Mamba II rca cables going to the amp. I never experienced these things with the Marantz AV7005. Would using xlr fix any pop/noise issues? Should I get the unit looked at? I tried changing out the rca cables, swaped my front left and right speakers to make sure it wasn't the speaker. I know the preout section of the Integra/Onkyo units run hotter than Marantz units as that explains why I would have to turn up the volume more on the Marantz vs Integra.

Get the unit looked at. I have the 80.2 and I have used it with RCAs and with XLRs. In no case have I ever had any turn-on noises, random channel-specific pops or static/distortion. It ain't normal.

Kal, if you have your amp on and you power up the pre/pro, does it not thump?

Jeff

Not from standby, which is the normal procedure. The power amp stays on all the time and the 80.2 is on/off as needed. I have also occasionally done a full power up/down with amps on but, iirc, the only thumps were from the triggers in the subwoofer amps.

Does any owner in this thread know for sure whether or not the RCA outputs AND XLR main outputs of the Integra 80.2 that are used to connect to power amplifiers are ALL active concurrently ?
I may have use for both sets of main outputs of the Integra 80.2 and i wonder if the user has to choose between either or if both sets are always active.
Tx...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcos

Hi Kal - why do you leave your power amps on all the time? Just interested. Thanks.

Yes, they are.

Mostly laziness. I spend M-F in Manhattan where those amps are on 24/5 but I shut all down when I leave for the weekend. In CT, those amps are on 24/2. I do not use any relays or triggers because I change equipment often and that only adds another layer of bother.

Thanks. I was wondering if it was perhaps because you believed that the amps take some time to warm up before they reach their sonic best. I have managed to convince myself, against all reason really, that I hear a small improvement once the amps have reached their normal operating temperature. I am sure that solid state equipment does not need to warm up so it's almost certainly some sort of self-delusion or placebo

Amen brother! I used to think that writing the review was the most challenging part, but it's actually getting up the desire to change everything out and not be able to use my universal remote for a few weeks while I test a new piece!

Yes. I was able to enjoy both of my systems in their intended state for the past 2 weeks but, yesterday, a new processor went into one system and new speakers are on the way.

It's not unreasonable at all that some amps would sound better after warmup from dead cold or standby status. It's not relevant in this thread, but there is the case of tube amps, which quite obviously will operate and sound very differently after warmup.

I replaced a pair of huge Krell Class A monoblocks, and there was no question that they sounded better after 30 minutes coming out of standby. I could not leave them full on all the time, because their idle current draw was huge. Even so, there was a noticeable decline in my electric bill when they were replaced with a Class D amp (Spectron) that I just leave on all the timer as the manufacturer recommends. They claim it will sound better after warmup from dead cold, and the idle current draw is reasonable - less than an incandescent bulb.

The other amps in my system are class AB (Bryston, Parasound Halo), all switched by 12V triggers. They handle the center and surround channels. I honestly do not hear any difference with them after warmup.

Oh sure - tube amps will change sonically as they warm up - but I was careful to mention solid state in my post to Kal.


That is interesting. In my stereo music system I use Class A amps and it is an absolute certainty that they sound better 20-30 minutes after switch on. Until they are warm (AKA 'hot') the sound is harsh and brittle and really not pleasant to listen to. After warm-up the sound is sweet and smooth and possibly, to some extent, 'tube-like'. I have never understood this as I can't see how solid state components change when they get warm.


I know that feeling. Not to mention heating the room.


I have, to date, no experience of Class D amps - I guess I will probably, one day. As for the manufacturer's claim, well I generally take those with a grain of salt - I have had expensive and respected speakers from 'audiophile' makers who insist that the speakers need 200 hours of 'break in', that they will benefit from biwiring, even that the sound will change depending which combination of the negative and positive terminals is used (in a non-biwire configuration), that using a $100 a foot speaker cable will change the sonic performance and so on. Everything short of storing the CDs in the freezer and drawing round them with a green pen They must know it's hokum but I guess they have to pander to all the audiofool nonsense in order to satisfy their customer base.


Mine are all AB too and I know there will be no difference after warm-up because I see no reason why solid state gear should - I wonder if I can find some measurements somewhere on the net taken before and after warm-up - that would nail it. But then there are those Class A amps and......

I still turn the amps on 20 minutes before I start listening though. It's like knocking on wood - you know it's really stupid but still do it

Some even have negative temp coefficients, however not in the audible freq range equipment. (RF equipment)

Anyone done a recent update? I did a few days ago, tried to listen to a movie last night and my system sounds AWFUL (midrangy/peaky). I saw some comments on the Audyssey thread about updates and poor sound quality and was wondering if anyone here has experienced this.

Help!

When you do an update unplug and then replug. Then do another calibration. If that does not work try a reset.

Also be sure you used the right update.

Also, see the buzz about this here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...5#post21557085

Just picked up a new 80.2 and was wondering if the firmware update is only needed if your using the Audyessy Pro Kit?

Also could someone recommend a good boom mic stand to use with the Audyessy mic?

This is a good boom mic stand:

http://www.amazon.com/Stage-Stands-7...7689481&sr=8-1

and you will want to pick this up to attach the Audyssey mic:

http://www.amazon.com/CM01-Camera-Di...f=pd_sim_MI_20

I would also add on this as it could come in handy in the future:

http://www.amazon.com/Stage-MY200-Un...ef=pd_sim_MI_8

That's perfect, thank you.

I believe that update addressed the issue of Audyssey not measuring properly when the system was set in bi-amp mode. If you don't use bi-amp then you don't need the update.

There is an update last late spring early summer that fixed a pro problem. Kal talked about it in his column in September.

That update was for the 80.3

Has anyone run into any problems installing the last update in 12/2011

The 12/20/11 update addresses the following:
1. Stabilizes audio output when Zone 2 (or 3) is turned on before the main power (DHC-80.2 only)

I don't believe there were any post tasks to perform.


I did not update the last two firmware updates.

The 09/26/11 update addresses the following:
1. Corrects problem when adding or deleting Napster service via PC Set-up program
The 5/27/2011 update addresses the following:
1.
Improves functionality of presetting Internet Radio in WEB Setup Menu.


This will not be a problem if I decide to only update the firmware from 12/2011?

Excuse me - wrong thread! My apologies.

5/27 has some audyssey fixes for audyssey pro that are quite important. Do not know if it addressed anything else. Kal talked about it in stereophile. I have the 12/20 update with no issues. Updating to 12/20 should cover all previous updates.