Onkyo TX-NR818 "official" owner's thread discussion - Page 168

I need to test it more but I've been so happy with it disabled that I haven't been inclined to follow through.

As an example, if someone on the track started a sentence with the word 'but', it would sound like - bUT. The 'bah' part would start at out one volume level, then the 'UT' would suddenly jump up to a very obvious degree. If the sound track in general was busy, then of course it would be less noticeable, but as soon as a quiet portion is interupted with something, it would be very obvious to the ear. A tiny lag, but still impossible to ignore.

Can you access the Network configuration details through the Home-> Hardware Setup -> Network, and check the IP address configured on the receiver. Make sure the Gateway and DNS Server details matches your internet router's configuration. If you have access to your router's administration interface, check to make sure that your receiver has an entry in the clients list, and see if you can revoke the DHCP address lease for your receiver, forcing it to renew its IP address lease from the router. You may alternatively try to unplug your receiver from the router, reboot the router, and once it's back online, connect your receiver to the router. Try these steps and post your findings.

I've played with audyssey a lot and on a lot of different receivers. However on the 818 it does seem to over boost the high frequencies more than any other receiver I've tried it with. I currently do not have a good way to take measurements. I am working on getting someone with an omnimic over so we can test it.

Thanks raaj

I did find the IP, that's how i was able to access the Receiver's settings through my PC browser.
I might not be gifted enough to revoke the DHCP lease, but I did remove the Onkyo's IP (matched MAC address just to be sure) from the DHCP client list through my router's admin interface. it has not shown back up on the list before or after router reboot.

i have verified it is not the cable, as the BluRay player still reaches the internet after swapping.

So the signal gets actually louder after the first syllable?

Yes. As if its just a fraction too late in raising the volume to meet whatever level it is trying to equalize the track to.

Weird. Are you sure it's not the other way around, first syllable is loud, following syllables are softer?

Yep. Large == Full Band == no bass-management == no crossovers.
Small == with bass-management == some crossover set (can be any, usually from 40Hz up to 150Hz) == bass below crossover frequency is redirected from satellite channels to the sub.
If there is no sub in the setup then there is no bass-management, no crossovers and everything is Full Band or 'Large'.

Onkyo does a very good job with discrete IR codes! They really deserve kudos for this. Pretty much everything has a discrete IR code.

Here are a couple I've programmed into my Harmony (using concordance and concordia):

1) Enable Audyssey Music
2) Enable Audyssey Move

Unless I was missing something, there was no quick way to change those. Now, either the data Onkyo provided has these reversed or I accidentally reversed them --- need to try again tonight.

3) Disable Audyssey

I don't expect to use it, but it was easy to program.

4) HDMI Out = Main
5) HDMI Out = Sub
6) HDMI Out = Both

I'm currently running in Both mode, but being able to quickly switch modes may offer some flexibility in the future. Maybe not --- I haven't noticed any important loss of functionality using Both.

If you want the codes, just send Onkyo an email. I got a response quickly.

I love my 818. I stream mo3's as well. love the sound and picture. It would definitely still be on my list as well.

I wanted to also say, I am using the Logitech review and I'm not really having any issues. Im wondering if it is a setting on the review itself that is causing you grief.

I've tried numerous settings and it won't pass-through comcast cable. What settings are you using on yours and I'll give it a try!

when I get home I'll look the settings up and let you know. I do know I'm only using the Main out. And Im not positive but I'm thinking you won't get 5.1 DD. that's really the only gripe I have with the Revue other than having to unplug it once in a while to get you tube running smoothly.

During setup if you declare that there is no subwoofer in the system then by default fron speakers are set to large. That means that full spectrum of frequencies goes to them. If for some reason you want to cut off some fraction of the low frequencies then you should declare that there is a subwoofer, even if it is not, and then you have the option to set the cut off frequency for front speakers according to your tastes. That is for manual configuration, otherwise in auto setup you just let audyssey to measure the capabilities of your speakers and decide the level of the cut off. Even in this case setup GUI insists in case the speakers you use (front, surrounds, all or some of them) are THX ceritfied then to manually out the cut off frequency at 80Hz.
The rest you are mentioning about boosting some frequencies has to do with room acoustics and mostly are depedent on the specific and are highly affected by the way each one measures (i.e. placement of the mic...).

Regarding small or large speakers is the same for (almost) all brands, I have read (almost) all brands of user's manual during my market search, all say the same thing...it is a surpise to see this misunderstanding through forums.

Just a thought but if you are experience results that are far off from what you are used to maybe you got a bad setup microphone? Might be worth a shot to ask Onkyo for a replacement.

How does everyone feel about the Dolby Volume feature? I really like it but I notice, you can't have dynamic EQ on at the same time. Any advise on the best way to go?

Thanks

I will be doing just that. I really hope its that simple.

I'm very happy with mine however, I don't use it for any of the things that you will. I play all my music through ATV2 or via radio. I was a little concerned musically coming from a $1600 ( Canadian ) Arcam AVR200 purchased in 2002 to this $899 unit however, there is no questioning the tremendous value that this unit provides. No regrets for me.

I am also having some unexpected results from my calibration using the XT32 implementation on the 818, and I never had this sonic signature (fatiguing high freq response, missing midbass, etc.) with the latest Denon and Marantz receivers, using the same mic locations. The only changes in the system are the Onkyo receiver and a new sub, and I don't think the sub would lead to a brighter sound overall after calibration. Hope a replacement mic would solve the issue. I will request a replacement from Onkyo.

 

Have you followed the Audyssey 101, linked in my signature?  If you follow the advice there, to the letter, you should get a good Audyssey calibration.

Yes sir, I have read way more of that thread then I probably should. This is defiantly not my first Audyssey rodeo. I have a feeling it is the Mic but I don't have anyway of knowing for sure. All I can do is compare the results with my Denon 2809 that has MultEQ XT. I don't know why XT32 would boost my high frequencies more then XT. But I am positive it does. I will go ahead and request another mic and see if that has any effect.

To whom are you replying here? The last one who told about boosting and had posted measurements was me. Then you missed the point that measurements I presented as a proof was not acoustical, but electrical from amp. pre-outs, and the boost was bellow F3 (the detected by Audyssey -3dB frequency).

Well now I feel stupid.

I have a feeling this could be my issue. If XT32 is more sensitive to this, then that would explain the difference. Whats funny is anytime I set someone else's theater up I always toe their speakers in. But in my current theater I can't so I haven't. I will test this tonight though. I hope this is the issue. Because I will only have to deal with it for a few more months. Once my new theater is finished this will no longer be an issue. Thanks KBarnes701. Even when you think you know something it's always good to try to learn it again.

It seems there is definitely a freq-out happening either on part of the Onkyo, or XT32 in how it evaluates my system. With regard to "toe-in", my speakers have ribbon tweeters, and have not had issues with prior calibration using MultiEQ XT on the Denon/Marantz receivers I had with the exact same placement of the speakers and the MLP. My tweeters have a -10dB drop at 30 degree angle off-axis, so they have a decent amount of horizontal dispersion for my setup, to not pose off-axis issues. So, it's either the Onkyo or the XT32 that is having a fit in my setup. I should have used the mic from the Marantz SR5007 I had till the past weekend to try sample calibration to see if the mic is making a difference. *smacks head*

 

Another mic would be my next suggestion for sure. Have a read of this FAQ answer for more info on defective mics:

 

a)9.   Why are my high frequencies 'bright' or 'harsh' since running Audyssey? 

 

Hope that is it. I just linked you to that FAQ answer, so just ignore the link :)

 

Don't beat yourself up - we're all geniuses with 20-20 hindsight :)

What I should say about 818 and over-boosting high frequencies, yes, it does it for me too. And toeing speakers doesn't really help, the same as replacing the mic. What helps is adjusting Low/High tone controls a few decibels. I guess the not-too linear volume control of 818 is responsible for that (I can see it when measuring pure audio response, once I move level down high frequencies are boosted few dB). As Audyssey measures with levels set to zero, when they are set to something like -7dB, there is some high frequency boost as the effect.

Also what is interesting about this trick when you toe in speakers - you are listening with speakers toed in. But when you measure with speakers that are not toed in, then you are also listening this way at the exactly same position, and Audyssey tries (or should try) to correct everything to the same acoustic level on the same positions... Why it happens that the results are different acoustically - is a pure magic. The only reasonable explanation I can think of is less HF reflections vs the direct sound that sounds less harsh...

Nothing in my room has moved other than the switch between receivers. One having XT and the 818 XT32. My speakers are hung on the wall so there is no way they moved. But they are also not toe-ed in at all. So there could be some merit to this theory. I will try to test this though.

Igor, and Stitch1:

You guys have highlighted the problem I was thinking I alone was suffering from. Please continue your feedback on various things you try, in this thread and the general Audyssey thread. I will do the same.

Wick wick wick wick. I'm running audyssey as I type this. Fingers crossed, I really hope this works.