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Onkyo TX-NR818 "official" owner's thread discussion - Page 11

post #301 of 6979
6/7/12 at 11:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by beerninja View Post

Just got my 818 today. I think my ears just had an orgasm. I haven't even ran audyssey yet and it blew me away.

This is the kind of stuff I like to read. biggrin.gif

Just curious, what was your previous receiver?

I'm really wanting to buy the 818 to replace my almost 4 year old 7.1 Yamaha RX-V663. I just can't help but wonder how much more improved the sound will be right out of the box doing this over my old Yamaha.

TIA.
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post #302 of 6979
6/7/12 at 11:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yadfgp View Post

This is the kind of stuff I like to read. biggrin.gif
Just curious, what was your previous receiver?
I'm really wanting to buy the 818 to replace my almost 4 year old 7.1 Yamaha RX-V663. I just can't help but wonder how much more improved the sound will be right out of the box doing this over my old Yamaha.
TIA.

The Yamaha RX-V663 is a great avr, to bad it only has two hdmi inputs.... If you can live with that short fall, than the 818 only upgrades would be the high current amps and audyssey XT32... If you have paperweight speakers than the 818 would not change much in what you hear. You would need full size, full range speakers for the 818 to pay off.... As for the video part, than the 818 would be a big upgrade!!!
Edited by joehonest - 6/7/12 at 11:39pm
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post #303 of 6979
6/8/12 at 1:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by yadfgp View Post

This is the kind of stuff I like to read. biggrin.gif
Just curious, what was your previous receiver?
I'm really wanting to buy the 818 to replace my almost 4 year old 7.1 Yamaha RX-V663. I just can't help but wonder how much more improved the sound will be right out of the box doing this over my old Yamaha.
TIA.

I think you'd be very happy... I really liked the Yamaha AVR's I've owned, which included the RX-Z7 and A3000..

Not only would the video be an upgrade, but I've found that the overall sound quality of the 818 is really close to the Denon 4311 I have and even the Onkyo 5009 I just got rid of..

Onkyo has made great strides in the last two years in terms of overall SQ... XT32 as it's implemented in the 818 gives me much better results than any version of YPAO I've heard...

Your room size and, more importantly, speakers you are using will determine how big of an upgrade you can expect...
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post #304 of 6979
6/8/12 at 1:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by joehonest View Post

Only download the firmware update from the Onkyo website via PC to USB drive.
Do not update by wireless network or hardwire, its risky...

Upgrading via the network is fine..

Stop spreading FUD... you don't own the unit, and don't really have experience to be giving advice to owners on what they should or should't do..rolleyes.gif
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post #305 of 6979
6/8/12 at 5:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FilmMixer View Post

Upgrading via the network is fine..
Stop spreading FUD... you don't own the unit, and don't really have experience to be giving advice to owners on what they should or should't do..rolleyes.gif

Its only common sense, firmware update risks are the same for very unit. Don't need to own it ! But you can do it your way, just don't come crying back saying your 818 in now a door stop...
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post #306 of 6979
6/8/12 at 5:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by yadfgp View Post

Just curious, what was your previous receiver?
TIA.

I came from an old HK435 and briefly an HK2650 (which I hated)
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post #307 of 6979
6/8/12 at 5:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by joehonest View Post

Its only common sense, firmware update risks are the same for very unit. Don't need to own it ! But you can do it your way, just don't come crying back saying your 818 in now a door stop...

Do you ever give up? The risks and the process for FW updates are not the same for all components. Ever try to upgrade the FW on the Emotiva UMC-1? If you have or took the time to read about that process you would not make such a silly statement. So try doing the FW update for the UMC-1 then do one for an Oppo player. Your user tag should be "TheLastWordTo Listen to" wink.gif.

Bill
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post #308 of 6979
6/8/12 at 6:21am
I have not read all 11 pages, so excuse me if this is already answered. If I want to buy a 2 channel amp to turn this AVR into a 9.x player, can I assign the front left and right to it, then use the now extra amps in the AVR to power my front heights?
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post #309 of 6979
6/8/12 at 7:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by joehonest View Post

Its only common sense, firmware update risks are the same for very unit. Don't need to own it ! But you can do it your way, just don't come crying back saying your 818 in now a door stop...

It's the same risk as in doing a USB upgrade.

The download process is done through TCP IP which is a protocol that verifies errors and needs aknowledgement upon reception for each packet. Each bit and byte are verified.
So while it is downloading to the cache, it checks the bits checksum to check if Everything matches perfectly to the binaries on the server.

If it does, when the files are complete, then it stars the upgrade from the cache as it would from the USB.

So the risks are the same.

You can say that USB upgrade takes less time cause the download will take a bit before the upgrade actually starts while the usb files are ready faster to be accessed by the flasher executable, but the process itself has exactly the same amount of risk.
And the risk is a Power failure during the process or a bad firmware itself.

Not the method used.

I should know cause i am a computer engineer who works with this stuff on a Daily base. smile.gif
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post #310 of 6979
6/8/12 at 7:27am
I'm going to say NO they are as :

■Preout to External Amplifier
􀁠No
􀁠Surr Back, Front High, Front Wide
For 9.1-channel playback, select the channel output by
SB/FH/FW EXT AMP jacks. If you select speakers whose
setting in Speaker Configuration is set to “None”

because they are labled as Back or High or wide
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post #311 of 6979
6/8/12 at 7:35am
I believe that's its more important to follow this than how it is done :

Set the “HDMI Ctrl (RIHD)” setting to “Off”.
•
Turn off the controller device connected via Ethernet cable.
•
Turn off Zone 2.
•
Stop playback of contents from Internet
•
Radio, iPod/iPhone, USB or servers, etc

For updating its firmware. Page 97 in the English manual.


I have read past people with issues that didn't do this, hope that helps.
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post #312 of 6979
6/8/12 at 7:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cybrsage View Post

I have not read all 11 pages, so excuse me if this is already answered. If I want to buy a 2 channel amp to turn this AVR into a 9.x player, can I assign the front left and right to it, then use the now extra amps in the AVR to power my front heights?

Unfortunately no, you cannot.

You would need 4 channels of external amplification for 9.1 if you wanted to run the Main L and R on an external amp...

As a side note, you cannot run the 818 as a true preamp because there aren't enough preamp outputs for 9.1... you have to use at least two of the AVR amps for surrounds, heights or wides...
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post #313 of 6979
6/8/12 at 9:22am
Has anyone with an 818 noticed any memory problems covered in the firmware update? I believe that I've seen posts about it on the 717/616 but not the 818.

I ask because I'm waiting on delivery today and it would be much easier/convenient to do right out of the box. But, I've never owned a receiver that was able to be upgraded and I have some reservations about screwing the thing up before even setting it up. It's a beautiful day here in Chicago, with not a storm cloud in sight, but a 35-40 minute download would have me on pins and needles, praying that the power stays on.

If I do decide to do it, could I hook it up with the Ethernet directly out of my DSL modem and bypass the wireless router and do I need to hook it up to a monitor or can I do everything necessary on the receivers display?

This might seem old hat to you guys that have done this before and I'm somewhat computer literate and have done many firmware updates for my computer, but those usually take seconds to install.

Maybe I'm just being a 'fraidy cat.
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post #314 of 6979
6/8/12 at 9:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Murphy View Post

Has anyone with an 818 noticed any memory problems covered in the firmware update? I believe that I've seen posts about it on the 717/616 but not the 818.
I ask because I'm waiting on delivery today and it would be much easier/convenient to do right out of the box. But, I've never owned a receiver that was able to be upgraded and I have some reservations about screwing the thing up before even setting it up. It's a beautiful day here in Chicago, with not a storm cloud in sight, but a 35-40 minute download would have me on pins and needles, praying that the power stays on.
If I do decide to do it, could I hook it up with the Ethernet directly out of my DSL modem and bypass the wireless router and do I need to hook it up to a monitor or can I do everything necessary on the receivers display?
This might seem old hat to you guys that have done this before and I'm somewhat computer literate and have done many firmware updates for my computer, but those usually take seconds to install.
Maybe I'm just being a 'fraidy cat.

Well, this update is already live and completed itself in just a few minutes for me (although it did say it could take an hour).

Unlike the TX-NR616 I had back in April, the 818 has been trouble-free right out of the box.
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post #315 of 6979
6/8/12 at 10:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Murphy View Post

Has anyone with an 818 noticed any memory problems covered in the firmware update? I believe that I've seen posts about it on the 717/616 but not the 818.
I ask because I'm waiting on delivery today and it would be much easier/convenient to do right out of the box. But, I've never owned a receiver that was able to be upgraded and I have some reservations about screwing the thing up before even setting it up. It's a beautiful day here in Chicago, with not a storm cloud in sight, but a 35-40 minute download would have me on pins and needles, praying that the power stays on.
If I do decide to do it, could I hook it up with the Ethernet directly out of my DSL modem and bypass the wireless router and do I need to hook it up to a monitor or can I do everything necessary on the receivers display?
This might seem old hat to you guys that have done this before and I'm somewhat computer literate and have done many firmware updates for my computer, but those usually take seconds to install.
Maybe I'm just being a 'fraidy cat.
I have the 818 and will wait for others replys before I do the download.
My unit is showing no ill effects yet so "If it aint broke don't fix it".
I've done previous downloads from Onkyo that went without a hitch and nowhere near an hour to complete,
My router is wired,I wouldn't trust a wireless connection but thats just me.
Make SURE hdmi control is set to off,you don't want any hdmi event happening during the download,it surely will turn your unit into a 40 pound doorstop.
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post #316 of 6979
6/8/12 at 10:35am
Thanks guys.

I'm also of the school of "if it ain't broke..." I only asked because my Ethernet is in another room, the unit isn't wired/connected, hasn't been calibrated...

I'm just going to wait.
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post #317 of 6979
6/8/12 at 10:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spiritvs View Post

It's the same risk as in doing a USB upgrade.
The download process is done through TCP IP which is a protocol that verifies errors and needs aknowledgement upon reception for each packet. Each bit and byte are verified.
So while it is downloading to the cache, it checks the bits checksum to check if Everything matches perfectly to the binaries on the server.
If it does, when the files are complete, then it stars the upgrade from the cache as it would from the USB.
So the risks are the same.
You can say that USB upgrade takes less time cause the download will take a bit before the upgrade actually starts while the usb files are ready faster to be accessed by the flasher executable, but the process itself has exactly the same amount of risk.
And the risk is a Power failure during the process or a bad firmware itself.
Not the method used.
I should know cause i am a computer engineer who works with this stuff on a Daily base. smile.gif

You are absolutely right, there is no risk to doing the upgrade over a network connection as opposed to doing it with a USB stick... assuming that the Onkyo engineers know what they are doing and are doing some of the things you mention such as doing a checksum on the FW image prior to beginning the upgrade.

Regardless of what method is used to upgrade the FW, some valid advice is that if possible you should plug in to a UPS while doing it, as a power outage during the actual re-write of the ROM with the new firmware image will probably fail in catastrophic fashion if power is interrupted in the middle of a ROM flash.
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post #318 of 6979
6/8/12 at 11:01am
I think I've hit my first bug with the 818.. With my AppleTV v3 it keeps dropping the signal every 4-5 minutes for a couple of seconds no matter what I'm doing - in the AppleTV menu, watching youtube, listening to radio etc.

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago with my old WDTV box and Sony 1100 AVR, where the Sony would sometimes refuse to see the signal from the WDTV. Switching cables fixed that issue, so tonight I'm going to try a different HDMI cable and hope it fixes it. If it doesn't I'll also hook the AppleTV directly to my TV to make sure its not the AppleTV flaking out.
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post #319 of 6979
6/8/12 at 12:48pm
Color me very impressed so far.

Just unpacked and hooked up my 818. I am directly comparing it to an Anthem MRX 300. With just running the quick eq calibration I can already tell the sound is fuller and music is much more open than was on the 809 I demoed in house.

The video processing does an AMAZING job cleaning up compressed HD signals so I am very impressed on that front as well.

Watched a few minutes of Game of Thrones to get a feel for its surround processing and without running the full calibration it sounded very nice, open and separated. Definitely better with no calibration at all than the 809 was after running the full room calibration.

These are just my initial findings but so far I am very impressed with what I have heard and seen and can pretty much guarantee this AVR sounds a lot better than the 809 if anyone was wondering if they should upgrade.

I will post more impression after I have some time to tweak and configure this evening.
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post #320 of 6979
6/8/12 at 1:22pm
I watch my movies and some tv on the pj. Wife watches tv. Am i correct to assume that the pj hdmi out should be plugged into main and tv into sub main?
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post #321 of 6979
6/8/12 at 1:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BiotypE View Post

Color me very impressed so far.
Just unpacked and hooked up my 818. I am directly comparing it to an Anthem MRX 300. With just running the quick eq calibration I can already tell the sound is fuller and music is much more open than was on the 809 I demoed in house.
The video processing does an AMAZING job cleaning up compressed HD signals so I am very impressed on that front as well.
Watched a few minutes of Game of Thrones to get a feel for its surround processing and without running the full calibration it sounded very nice, open and separated. Definitely better with no calibration at all than the 809 was after running the full room calibration.
These are just my initial findings but so far I am very impressed with what I have heard and seen and can pretty much guarantee this AVR sounds a lot better than the 809 if anyone was wondering if they should upgrade.
I will post more impression after I have some time to tweak and configure this evening.

I really don't know how the 818 would sound any better or worse than the 809, audyssey may have a small part in that, the XT32 is just a sub upgrade over the XT, which would not cause a openness as you claim..
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post #322 of 6979
6/8/12 at 1:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by joehonest View Post

I really don't know how the 818 would sound any better or worse than the 809, audyssey may have a small part in that, the XT32 is just a sub upgrade over the XT, which would not cause a openness as you claim..

XT32 is not just "a sub upgrade". There's increased filter resolution around the Schröder frequency. This can help imaging which can lead to the perception of "openess".
On the other hand he ran just the basic calibration which doesn't create any correction filter but I doubt that the perceived "openess" is due to the 818 sounding better than an 809.
Edited by markus767 - 6/8/12 at 2:57pm
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post #323 of 6979
6/8/12 at 2:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by markus767 View Post

XT32 is not just "a sub upgrade". There's increased filter resolution around the Schröder frequency. This can help imaging which can lead to the perception of "openess".
On the other hand he ran just the basic calibration which doesn't create any correction filter so I doubt that the perceived "openess" is due to the 818 sounding better than an 809.

I have no idea what it is then. It definitely sounds better than the 809 (again could just be my perception.) If the 809 sounded like this one I would have kept it. My speakers, and room acoustics have not changed since owning the 809 so I don't know what it is. I guess there is the possibility it is all in my head. At any rate, it does sound really good OOB.

I only spent about 20 minutes feeding in music during lunch. I will post more after I get to messing with it a bit.
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post #324 of 6979
6/8/12 at 3:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by joehonest View Post

the XT32 is just a sub upgrade over the XT, which would not cause a openness as you claim..

Wow, more misinformation rolleyes.gif. Here is a link to the Audyssey site and I suggest you do some reading. There will be a test later wink.gif.

http://www.audyssey.com/audio-technology/multeq

You will see that the differences between XT32 and XT are not just "a sub upgrade".

Bill
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post #325 of 6979
6/8/12 at 3:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BiotypE View Post

My speakers, and room acoustics have not changed since owning the 809 so I don't know what it is.

XT vs. no correction?
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post #326 of 6979
6/8/12 at 3:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by markus767 View Post


XT vs. no correction?


vs placebo?  I vote placebo, everyone wants their new gear to sound better.  :)

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post #327 of 6979
6/8/12 at 3:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by primetimeguy View Post


vs placebo?  I vote placebo, everyone wants their new gear to sound better.  smile.gif

I was thinking the same thing. I know I've been victim to the 'ole placebo effect more than once over the years. Now I try to wait till the "honeymoon" is over to post impressions of new components wink.gif.

Bill
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post #328 of 6979
6/8/12 at 3:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by joehonest View Post

I really don't know how the 818 would sound any better or worse than the 809, audyssey may have a small part in that, the XT32 is just a sub upgrade over the XT, which would not cause a openness as you claim..

XT32 can measure from 8 different locations, XT only measures from 1 location.

Quote:
Originally Posted by FilmMixer View Post

Unfortunately no, you cannot.
You would need 4 channels of external amplification for 9.1 if you wanted to run the Main L and R on an external amp...
As a side note, you cannot run the 818 as a true preamp because there aren't enough preamp outputs for 9.1... you have to use at least two of the AVR amps for surrounds, heights or wides...

Nope, I used the 818 as a full 9.1 preamp for 5 days. All 9 channels running off my ATI amps, non on the Onkyo. There are 9 pre-outs and 2 sub outs.
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post #329 of 6979
6/8/12 at 3:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by UNICRON-WMD View Post

XT32 can measure from 8 different locations, XT only measures from 1 location.

You can measure from 8 different locations with XT as you can with XT32.

Bill
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post #330 of 6979
6/8/12 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mac View Post

You can measure from 8 different locations with XT as you can with XT32.
Bill

Really?

Damn! Now I feel like JoeHonest. lol
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