Onkyo TX NR709 Owners' Thread - Page 45

it didn't fix this issue for me. MOVIE curve sounds bad still - MUSIC curve sounds fine. I'm still having problems with Spotify, also (all playlist are listed as "empty" and new playlists are stuck as "loading").

I haven't tried remeasuring with Audyssey since I have everything sounding how i want it to in MUSIC curve, but i doubt re-measurement would yield anything different (since the MUSIC curve sounds fine i have to assume it's the curve being applied that is the problem, not anything wrong with the measurement process).

Thanks, I am going to pass the latest firmware update as well.

one note of interest - this was the first firmware update i have tried on the 709 that didn't initially fail a couple of times. worked fine the first time all the way through.

If audio quality is important, opt for the 709 with the much better version of Audyssey MultEQ XT which can EQ the sub while the 2EQ in the 609 cannot.

This price is pretty good for a new unit. If you're willing to consider a refurb, you can get it for a bit less. Check out accessories4less.com.

Don't make the mistake I did by getting something without pre-outs, that's why I bought this model, very happy with it, great price also!

I'm leaning toward getting a 709 to replace a 10+ y.o. receiver and bring my HT setup into the internet/app age. I'm particularly interested in hearing your experiences (good or bad) with Onkyo's Android app. I've searched the site and this thread and I haven't seen anything to in-depth on the performance of the app.

What I envision myself using the app for would be to control the source and volume when I'm listening in a multi-zone environment. How simple is it, for example, to change the source to listen to Spotify in the second zone while a 5.1 source is playing in the main zone? It seems like the app is capable of this sort of thing, but wanted to hear from someone who's actually used it.

If someone with experience with the Android app would be willing to write up and post a mini-review, that would be much appreciated. If you have experience with the iOS app, I'd like to hear about that as well, since it appears that the apps are pretty similar.

Checking in... purchased a 709 a few weeks ago on Amazon for $520 w/ free shipping. Loving every minute of it so far. LOVE the Audessey mic setup vs. the older mic and software on my SR607. Looking forward to reading posts, learning a lot about our amp, and contributing when I can.


I have not been able to get my android app to work and/or operate my receiver. I'm sure I'll figure it out sooner or later.



I payed $60 less than that 3 weeks ago on Amazon and they SHOULD be coming down in price very soon even more, not going up... lol. I would not have payed $579 for it nor would I have downgraded to the 609 just to save a little. For me the difference in price between the 609 and 709 ($445 vs $520) was WELL worth the extra money. The Audessey upgrade to MultEQ vs. 2EQ, 10 watts per channel more power, dual HDMI outputs, 2 more hdmi inputs, etc, made the 709 the obvious choice of the two.
Honestly, I would have bought the 809 if I could have found it for less than $700. The upgrade between the 709 and 809 gives 25 watts per channel more, a front usb input, and the flip plate front look of the high end Onkyo's. Other than that there really wasn't much difference so not worth $255 more than I payed for my 709 (Amazon prices were $520 and $775 respectively) when I was deciding on which amp to purchase. Hope that helps.

Regards,

-Nate

I'm in the market to upgrade from a Denon 2307CI. My list of "must-haves" is pretty short: HD Audio, 7.2 pre-outs, HDMI 1.3a or better, and Audyssey MultEQ or better. After much research, I've narrowed the list to the Onkyo 709 or 809 or a Denon 3312CI.

There is a substantial difference in price -- the Onkyo is ~ $300 cheaper than the Denon.

What I am wondering is whether the Denon is worth the extra $$. I already have a Denon 2112 in a different room, so I am familiar with its capabilities. That said, I'm willing to give the Onkyo a try, largely due to its robust feature set and significantly lower price.

FWIW, I will be using an outboard amplifier for my front three speakers and will be using the receiver's amps for the surrounds.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Ken

New 709 owner here. I made it through page 22 so far on this thread and have already picked up some great tips to help get me set up so thanks to everyone. My question is on speaker config and Audyssey setup:

I have a 7.0 setup and no subwoofer because my three front speakers are Definitive Technology with powered woofers. Fronts are bipolar 2004 towers with 12" powered woofers and the center also has a 10" powered woofer. These powered woofers in the mains act as subs, but don't received a unique sub signal, it's handled via the internal crossover. So in the Onkyo setup I've chosen no sub and large for fronts and center. I'm going to run the Audyssey setup tomorrow and just looking for any thoughts and recommendations given this rather unique speaker setup.

For example, the manual suggests setting crossover at 80hz for mains. Now that doesn't seem to make sense for me without a subwoofer. The mains would likely be set lower by Audyssey and should stay lower I'd think.

I'm also just fishing that there isn't something else I might have missed over in the setup side that would impact things.

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

Whatever setting you have for speaker size, x-over, distance ect... will be over written once you run Audyssey. After you run the Audyssey (use all 8 locations), then you can go into the setup and change speaker sizes, x-over, distances and trims. Audyssey only recommends 80hz when you have a dedicated sub. You have full range speakers, so you will need to set them to full range.

Make sure you use a tri-pod, and follow the Audyssey set up guide when running Audyssey.

Audyssey FAQ http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...ostcount=51803

I have a question about the whole Movie vs. Music problem, and the firmware that relates to it -

I purchased my receiver a few months ago "Open Box" from Accessories4Less. I have not done a firmware update, nor do I know which firmware I currently have (I do not know how to check or how to update it...and I do not have my receiver connected to wireless internet).

I read through this forum and think I understand that the sound curve for Audyssey's "Movie" setting is messed up, and the Music curve is basically flat. My questions are:
1). Since I have not done a firmware update, is it possible that my Movie setting is NOT messed up? Am I correct in that the inaccuracies of Movie mode are a direct result of one specific firmware update?, and
2). Will switching to Music mode be appropriate for movie watching? I know it may be a dumb question as everyone's ears are subjective, but in short, is the answer "yes" or "no"?

I've had my 709 for a few weeks. I've avoided doing an update because of all the issues reported here. My Movie setting sounds great.

You would be much better served connecting the sub preouts on the AVR to each of the LFE inputs on the DT 2004 speakers as there are far more Audyssey sub filters than speaker filters in Audyssey MultEQ XT.

I have a September build that has had all of the updates, including the last two. I installed all of the updates via USB, and did so following the update procedure exactly, (the update procedure is always on the same Onkyo web page where the actual firmware download is located).

My Movie mode sounds awesome, as does my Music mode. The issue that several users seem to be having isn't happening on the majority of units. If you read through the thread, you'll notice that most of the affected users tried to do the update via online, and the update stuttered and failed during install. Use the USB method, and read the procedure several times before you install the download so you know exactly how to do it.


Yes, it's perfectly OK to use either Movie or Music!


edit: The 709's owners manual, update procedure and latest firmware update are located here: http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=d

I agree.

I have been bypassing the firmware update and believe it or not I did the update yesterday night just out of curiosity to see how bad the sound difference is between "Movie" and "Music" but my unit is not affected and I couldn't hear any difference between those two setting.

In case if anyone is interested there is a cool little application that allows you to control your 709 from your laptop / PC.

https://avrnet.wordpress.com/2011/07...control-v0-18/

I'll be an owner shortly, previously owned a 705 and 805 (which this now replaces).

Few questions;

People are saying they cannot tell the difference between the Movie or Music curve even when they don't have this problem (updated via USB). So should I just use Music to make sure it's nice?

I have a DVDO Edge so I don't want the 709 to do any processing and I want to avoid the 'brown-scale' problem - should I set it to Direct or Through (or either)?

Set your video to Direct. Anything other than Direct or Custom will mess with gray scale. Since you want no video processing, then Direct is your only option.

I can hear a slight difference in treble with Music (flat) mode, but I have to actually be listening to music, not a movie. I chose Movie mode as that is the "reference" curve that is recommended by Audyssey, and has a slight treble roll off to take some of the brightness out of movies at 0db.

The app is pretty worthless in my opinion. Very limited in its functions. Don't factor this in your decision because the actual receiver is a phenomenal buy for the money. Go read the reviews in the Android Market for more opinions.

Thanks for that... I found out yesterday you HAVE to network your recivier in order for the app to work and I REALLY didn't want to network it for fear of the update issues

I'm really trying to stay out of the whole MUSIC vs. MOVIE sound mode conversation you guys keep talking about because it doesn't quite make sense to me but I guess I will ask my questions anyways...

Each of those buttons/functions has multiple sound modes inside them if you hit the button numerous times which will eminently change the sound so how can one be more "flat" than other?
Am I reading correctly that one of the latest updates will actually switch the sounds on them? In what ways does it switch them and what kind of complications would I be looking at if I decided to network my 709?

Ok great, thanks for that.

Network your 709 all you want. The receiver doesn't automatically update the firmware on it's own. There's several level of menus that you need to go through and confirm before it will attempt to download the firmware and install the update. It's not like a Windows PC automatic update.

The network connectivity is good for the streaming audio and remote IPad/IPhone control by itself.

The Movie vs. Music mode being discussed has to do with the related Audyssey setting, not the receiver's movie/music settings.

Thanks for the info... that's completely contrary to what I read somewhere else and what I thought. Might have been a Denon thread though. Before I purchased the 709 I was HEAVILY considering getting the 4311ci so I read a ridiculous amount of info on it. So much in fact that things get confused for me.


OHHH... awesome. Thanks. That makes sooo much more sense although I was unaware there was a seperate Audyssey setting for movie and music. The option never arose when I was running the Audyssey setup that I can remember, but I could be wrong. Now I know, either way. LOL. If its not a complicated process to explain, how do you actually switch the two? If so, feel free to point me to a Manual page.

Thanks again to both of you guys for the info and for not making me feel like a complete idiot.

ten -

at the end of the audyssey calibration process you can choose movie or music curve.

after that, you can independently change the curve on any given input using the "source setup/audyssey" setting in the options menu, but apart from re-measuring i don't think there is a way to universally switch it after the final audyssey setup screen.

it's very weird that the music curve was not affected by whatever is going on with these units suffering from it (i know it isn't affecting all units, must be a manufactured-by date issue). i swear it sounds even worse on the movie curve since the last update. like my center channel has been replaced by a walkie talkie speaker and my surrounds replaced by $10 computer speakers. then i switch the music curve and...sounds amazing.

i'll post another youtube video tonight while a movie is playing..something with a heavy soundtrack like Tron Legacy.

If you have it handy, what are the 8th & 9th numbers of your serial number? That would tell us the date of manufacture. Mine is a fully updated September build, and has no issue.

all my firmware updates are through my network connection. I have no issues so far.

I had one failure that required a system reset, but since that everything has been fine. I also don't seem to be effected by the Movie curve issue. I will have to dig out my serial later.

what do you guys use for picture mode for blu ray movies ?

CINEMA, DIRECT, OR THROUGH ?