Anthem MRX Receivers - 300, 500, 700 Owners Thread & Tweaking Guide - Page 397

Originally Posted by jayray 

Ones that don't work aren't for anyone, but those that do could be for anyone.
John

Originally Posted by Brian-HD 

Correct! Some users don't know this.

Originally Posted by Brian-HD 

But we really don't know if it is the user, i.e. Zone 2.

Originally Posted by bd2003 

Yeah, that part I understand, although my dealer's opinion carries a bit more weight than random forum posters. Seems like this is Anthem's first AVR, so they probably have a few growing pains....so I think I'm going to wait it out for version 2.0.

Originally Posted by hydrotex 

Have you plugged the center channel into a different speaker?

Originally Posted by rwheelwright 

No resolution. Only happened once since I upgraded to the new firmware. Didn't happen with 50.23 but did with 50.12. What is weird is that 50.12 was perfectly fine for months before it started happening. I think the issue is that when the codecs change that is when the sound goes out but it I don't pause or anything then it will stay working. Very weird! I have not contacted Anthem since it happens so infrequently and to be honest, since I got a new TV for my upstairs I haven't watched a lot of TV where the Anthem is located.

Originally Posted by breadvan 

An update, after resetting my 700 the loss of audio unfortunately continued. However, this time out of frustration I changed my HDMI input to 2, and after watching the complete War Horse at higher than usual volume just for the sake of testing, it didn't occur to me there was any audio issue.
I need to try more to convince myself but if turned out to be a case resolved then the issue could be somehow related to the HDMI hardware, but too early to tell.

Originally Posted by Kinolau 

I may well just opt to go into some 2 audio, if the HDMI is going to be a continued issue...

Originally Posted by scirica 

I feel your pain. As has been articulated here and elsewhere, HDMI was, and remains to be, a compromised standard from an audio/videophilie perspective. If audio and video purity would have been the initial goal, we would not be shackled by the shortcomings of HDMI.
http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/whats-the-matter-with-hdmi

Originally Posted by lalaurentide 

I always wonder why they didn't went with optical fiber. Why they didn't separate video from audio, even with identical cables, it should be separate. And why HDCP isn't phased out, after all piracy of bit perfect 1080P BluRays with lossless HDMA/TrueHD audio has been going on for a long time now and beside complicating end user experience it does not serve its purpose anymore. If it weren't for HDCP, home entertainment manufacturers could adopt another simpler solution for lossless multichannel audio, even if it means running one TOSLink per 2 channels, and leave HDMI to the TV.

Originally Posted by tubeheadEL34 

Finally got around to setting up the 300 and I'm generally very pleased with the results, especially the transformation that ARC did for my room. I was familiar with the benefits of sub Eq-ing, but now I'm a firm a big believer in doing it all the way to 5kz. Everything sounds different--for the better--clearer.
I have one issue though, and that is having the receiver properly process multi-channel PCM from my computer graphics card via HDMI. MY CENTER CHANNEL IS MIA. All the other channels play except the center. It plays fine via any other source.
Tried many different trouble shooting steps: different HDMI cables, different lengths, different audio formats (DD, DTS, DTS-hd, DD-hD, independent multi-channel test tones), the latest players with updated filters (ie: potplayer, media player classic etc). I thought at first it might be a card or software issue being unable to play the higher rez formats, but I was surprised to find the receiver not recognizing everything and anything. The card is a brand new gigabyte geforce 210 which claims to support multi-channel audio. The display shows "multi-channel PCM 2/2." So strange that even a simple DD 5.1 feed shows up this way. I confirmed the rears are independent and working.
Does anyone here have the same issue, or a suggestion on how to fix this?
I should note that I updated to the latest firmware release right out of the box, and don't have any other issues.
I'm a little deflated that my media center via my computer is on hold right now. Sometimes wish I choose a simpler hobby!

Originally Posted by tubeheadEL34 

Finally got around to setting up the 300 and I'm generally very pleased with the results, especially the transformation that ARC did for my room. I was familiar with the benefits of sub Eq-ing, but now I'm a firm a big believer in doing it all the way to 5kz. Everything sounds different--for the better--clearer.
I have one issue though, and that is having the receiver properly process multi-channel PCM from my computer graphics card via HDMI. MY CENTER CHANNEL IS MIA. All the other channels play except the center. It plays fine via any other source.
Tried many different trouble shooting steps: different HDMI cables, different lengths, different audio formats (DD, DTS, DTS-hd, DD-hD, independent multi-channel test tones), the latest players with updated filters (ie: potplayer, media player classic etc). I thought at first it might be a card or software issue being unable to play the higher rez formats, but I was surprised to find the receiver not recognizing everything and anything. The card is a brand new gigabyte geforce 210 which claims to support multi-channel audio. The display shows "multi-channel PCM 2/2." So strange that even a simple DD 5.1 feed shows up this way. I confirmed the rears are independent and working.
Does anyone here have the same issue, or a suggestion on how to fix this?
I should note that I updated to the latest firmware release right out of the box, and don't have any other issues.
I'm a little deflated that my media center via my computer is on hold right now. Sometimes wish I choose a simpler hobby!

Originally Posted by audit13 

Optical will not work for passing HD audio (DTS-HD MA and TrueHD) because optical/coax lacks sufficient bandwidth.

Originally Posted by lalaurentide 

Well the TOSLink standard cannot unless you'd run a 6chan parallel input, but optical can. Optical is the best signal carrier, the one with the most bandwidth by size. Unfortunately its the price of copper that will drive us from electrical to optical, not common sense.

Originally Posted by lalaurentide 

Have you configured the card to 5.1? Select the output device you are using, click configure. Set all your speakers to full range too.
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4357/99647056.jpg

Originally Posted by audit13 

The 210 cannot bitstream HD audio (DTS-HD MA and TrueHD) so you'll be limited to lossy DD or DTS.
What is your source material? What are you using as a movie player? What is your default playback device?
I have a htpc with an AMD 5450 and Xonar HDAV 1.3 slim. I can bitstream 5.1 and 7.1 without any issues through my mrx.

Originally Posted by lalaurentide 

Well the TOSLink standard cannot unless you'd run a "3/4 channels" parallel input, but optical can. Optical is the best signal carrier, and the one with the most bandwidth by size. Unfortunately its the price of copper that will drive us from electrical to optical, not common sense.

Originally Posted by tubeheadEL34 

Finally got around to setting up the 300 and I'm generally very pleased with the results, especially the transformation that ARC did for my room. I was familiar with the benefits of sub Eq-ing, but now I'm a firm a big believer in doing it all the way to 5kz. Everything sounds different--for the better--clearer.
I have one issue though, and that is having the receiver properly process multi-channel PCM from my computer graphics card via HDMI. MY CENTER CHANNEL IS MIA. All the other channels play except the center. It plays fine via any other source.
Tried many different trouble shooting steps: different HDMI cables, different lengths, different audio formats (DD, DTS, DTS-hd, DD-hD, independent multi-channel test tones), the latest players with updated filters (ie: potplayer, media player classic etc). I thought at first it might be a card or software issue being unable to play the higher rez formats, but I was surprised to find the receiver not recognizing everything and anything. The card is a brand new gigabyte geforce 210 which claims to support multi-channel audio. The display shows "multi-channel PCM 2/2." So strange that even a simple DD 5.1 feed shows up this way. I confirmed the rears are independent and working.
Does anyone here have the same issue, or a suggestion on how to fix this?
I should note that I updated to the latest firmware release right out of the box, and don't have any other issues.
I'm a little deflated that my media center via my computer is on hold right now. Sometimes wish I choose a simpler hobby!

Originally Posted by Tigger! 

I'm not sure why you are not able to pass 5.1. However from what you are describing, it sounds like you are possibly passing 2.0 (stereo). If this is the case, you probably have your listening mode set to Anthem Music (would be my guess). So the MRX is creating the surround channels for you. I'm guessing that you don't have a center because your surround mode for your 2.0 source is Anthem Music, NOT Anthem Cinema. Anthem Music does not create a center channel.
Did you connect your media center to the CD Source on your MRX? I think the CD source, by default, is configured to Anthem Music, while all of the other sources are defaulted to Anthem Cinema.

Originally Posted by tubeheadEL34 

I am using windows xp sp3, directx 9, .net4. Yes, it's configured for 5.1 playback.
True, no bitstream with this card. But it should output lossless PCM. I've tried DVD, BD's and various other files. As I mentioned, I am using Potplayer, Media Player Classic, PowerDVD10. Good to know that you have success with an affordable graphics card, that may be a route that I'll go. Too bad I bought the card a few days ago, and cut out the product code for the rebate.

Originally Posted by Kinolau 

My retailer mentioned something along the line of HDMI, Video and Audio being on the same board being an issue. I may not have that completely right...but something along that line. Which...would leave me to believe that other manufacturers that have done the same thing...may be having similar issues to what's being discussed here. If I've been coming across as Anti-Anthem...it's more that I'm Anti-Problems with what I consider a high priced piece of equipment for my pocket. I've been given the option of jumping into something else if I decide that's what I want to do, once my replacement 500 arrives. But I'm not really anxious to start dealing with a whole new set of problems from another brand offering less features than the MRX. I'm completely entitled to being pissed off about this whole deal, seeing I'm going into my fourth receiver. But I'm not completely stupid.
I may well just opt to go into some 2 audio, if the HDMI is going to be a continued issue...

Originally Posted by tubeheadEL34 

I tried using the BD and AUX inputs and made sure that the "multi channel PCM" option was set to "none" (or no processing). The receiver sees that its getting a multi channel feed because it displays it as such (shows "multi channel 2/2 PCM on display), it should show 3/2. The front and surround speakers pass independent tones so it appears to be getting more than just a 2.0 feed. When I do sweeps, the center is missing. Very strange indeed.

Originally Posted by audit13 

The 210 won't pass lossless pcm. In order to pass lossless pcm, you need to provide a PAP (protected audio path); otherwise, the signal will be downsampled from 48/24 or 96/24, converted to pcm, and then passed to your receiver.
You might want to install a demo version of Totalmedia Theater 5 and see if you have any luck with that. There is very little, if anything to configure.
Are you hdmi drivers up to date?

Originally Posted by jayray 

Make sure sure you check the box for the centre channel in ARC. This happened to me when I added my centre channel. ARC did not send a signal during sweeps until I checked the box.
John

Originally Posted by tubeheadEL34 

I believe that once you've uploaded your file, you can only turn it on or off for a particular source under "advanced source setup?" My center works fine for all other inputs.

Originally Posted by jayray 

Optical cannot pass lossless codecs. Try it and see.
John

Originally Posted by amt 

The optical standard we have today cannot, but that was not the point. Optical as a means of transmitting data does not have limits anywhere near what high bit rate 7+ channel demand. If HDMI had adopted optical, then they would have used a new optical standard which would have been capable. They chose not to, probably because the optical transceivers were too expensive at the time. FWIW, optical is pretty common in high bandwidth network and storage for computing, and 16Gb/sec for each direction is not a problem for the fiber optics used.

Originally Posted by tubeheadEL34 

I will try that program you mentioned. I would settle even for downconverted sound at this point just to solve this issue!
Do you ever have any lip sync or stuttering issues with your 5450 card? Also, Any idea if there is a way to send video to the receiver as well in the form of bitstream so that the card does not have to decode it itself, or if this is even an issue. I found that despite having a new hdmi card with core 2 duo processor, I was getting occasional problems playing back the high bitrate 1080p content.
Oh well, I'll try a few more things before I decide to stop wasting time and just get another card. They're on sale now for $20 after rebate.

Originally Posted by amt 

The optical standard we have today cannot, but that was not the point. Optical as a means of transmitting data does not have limits anywhere near what high bit rate 7+ channel demand. If HDMI had adopted optical, then they would have used a new optical standard which would have been capable. They chose not to, probably because the optical transceivers were too expensive at the time. FWIW, optical is pretty common in high bandwidth network and storage for computing, and 16Gb/sec for each direction is not a problem for the fiber optics used.