NEW SONY STRDN1030 RECEIVER - Page 5

Good stuff. thanks for the info.

The Onkyo retails for $1200 the Sony $500. Not really comparable IMO.

A problem has occurred. I hope someone has the answer.

I have had this receiver for about 3 weeks now. Not a problem until I noticed the sound was a little different. Now I notice the receiver is only outputting LPCM 48. I have not changed anything since the initial setup and it has said Dolby Digital since the beginning. I can go into the receivers menu and change it back by choosing any sound setting but as soon as I turn the receiver off and back on again it goes back to LPCM 48. Any ideas out there?

Again nothing has changed since the initial setup. Directv receiver set to Dolby thru a Samsung 1012 LED TV.

The source determines what audio format is sent, not the receiver. If the source sends DD, then the AVR will decode it, turning it back into PCM. The same goes for DTS sources. If the input is already PCM, then there's no decoding for the receiver to do.

How is your DirectTV box connected to the TV? Device audio connections should be go directly to the receiver, not through the television. TV's are two channel devices and will only output stereo PCM in many circumstances.

By way of background, PCM is the basic language of home entertainment audio. Movies and CDs are mastered as PCM and receivers are designed to process PCM. 5.1 movie soundtracks are very large and studios use data compression codecs such as DD 5.1 to save space on discs, much the same as zipping up a data file. The large PCM track is fed into an encoder, which compresses it. The decoder decompresses it back into PCM. So, you will always ends up with PCM, even when the the source sends DD or DTS. Also, PCM is not output to the speakers. Rather, it gets sent through a digital-analog converter (DAC) to produce an output that can drive a speaker. So, when your AVR display reports LPCM, that's the format of the audio input, not the output.
Edited by BIslander - 4/24/13 at 7:27am

Yes, but what happened to change it? My DirectV box says it is set to DD. I do notice the Samsung TV says PCM but the DD is greyed out.

How is your equipment connected? Is it DirectTV-->TV-->Receiver? Or, DirectTV-->Receiver-->TV? It should tbe the latter, as noted in my previous post, although Samsung TVs wll usually pass DD 5.1 from external devices, something many TVs will not do. If you are routing audio through the TV, it is likely the issue is with the TV or the set top box, not the receiver.

Are you watching a program with a DD 5.1 soundtrack? Lots of shows are still only stereo.

Everything I have runs to the receiver first and then out. So Directv - Receiver - TV through the ARC HDMI output on the receiver to the same output on the TV. What is puzzling is that everything has been fine for the past couple of weeks and the initial setup. Only noticed this yesterday. LPCM displays on the receiver. If I am watching a show I know is DD then I can go into the receivers menu and choose most any sound setting or just re-choose the same setting and the DD then shows up on the receivers display. Turn off the receiver and back on and LPCM shows up again on the same show. A real mystery and what has changed.

Sorry, but what you describe is simply not possible. The receiver cannot change the type of audio the DirecTV box is sending. So, what exacvt settings are you changing on the AVR when you see a PCM input from the set top box? And what exactly does the receiver display say when you make those changes?

Assuming that you are using HDMI connections throughout, is the DirecTV box sending stereo PCM or 5.1? If stereo, look for an AVR setting that disables the HDMI audio output to the TV. TVs are 2 channel devices and sometimes the HDMI handshake will instruct the source device to send stereo PCM instead of encoded multichannel audio. Disabling the HDMI connection from AVR to TV prevents that handshake.

Yes it is difficult to describe in writing. Since my initial setup of the receiver it has always said on the receivers display Dolby Digital when watching a DD show. You can see it scroll across the screen. Now when watching the same show it says LPCM (48) . I have changed nothing since the original setup. Could it be a handshake issue? If I turn off the "control by HDMI" setting I wonder if that would fix it? When googling this problem I see others have had it too

HDMI Control can be a bit flaky with unexpected results. Why are you using it? If you turn it off, does that fix the problem?

You can probably get help here if you answer the questions I have asked.

Thanks for your suggestions today. I am at work now and unable to try anything out. If I cannot figure it out I will post again.

Is anyone having trouble with the HDMI handshake between the receiver and your TV? I'm using a Viewsonic Computer monitor with HDMI input and the connection is pretty flakey. I often have to turn the monitor on and off to get it to work. I'm assuning the problem is the Monitor but I thought I'd ask... Anyone having problems with the initial HDMI handshake with your TV?

Is your Viewsonic monitor HDCP compliant?

Supposedly... I get the feeling Viewsonic didn't envision this type of usage for their monitor though. I just happened to have it laying around so I thought I'd use it. Does your TV connect up easily with the Sony? No HDMI handshake problems? I haven't seen any complaints on Amazon specific to that so I'm assuming it's my Monitor.

It will "work", as long as I don't turn off the Sony. Once I do that, it usually requires some extra work to get the Monitor back. Either turning on and off the GUI or turning the Monitor itself off and on. Then it connects and will stay connected unless I turn off the receiver.
Edited by bareyb - 4/24/13 at 6:39pm

Update on my problem. Turned off HDMI Control on the receiver and I can now get Dolby sound again. No more LPCM 48.

Anyone get the 1040?

I'm thinking of getting one due to the price of it, and I want a little power, and a 5.2 setup. Also the price is nice.

It would be fine - the 1030 is great too(which I have running 7.1). I would also consider the Onyko 818 with audyssey xt32. That can be had for under $700. Any of these receivers can drive most speakers easily.

The 818, 1040, and the Pioneer SC-1522 are all on my watch list. The cheaper the better.

The 1030 is not much different than the 1040. PM me if you are interested in my 1030. My room is odd shaped and I am thinking the xt32 would help. I am happy with the 1030 - no issues - had it for about 3-4 months. around half the cost of the 1040.
Edited by eah9 - 4/27/13 at 10:14am

watched bugs life bd last night with my 4 year old. outstanding. this receiver really is great with ht. so much more enjoyable with my new setup. it was like a new movie with all the audio details and I don't even have a good ht sub yet.

Hi Dbalone,
In the HDMI Settings Menu check is just AMP (No TV+AMP). If you does not check as said this receiver will output audio as guided for your TV's capabilities. I hope it works.
Edited by calvinice - 5/15/13 at 2:26pm

I just bought 2 powered subs. plugged them in sub 1 and 2. went to the speaker settings to run a new calibration but couldn't find 3/4.2 I thought since this is a 7.2 with 2 outs the calibration would take that i nto account. no test tone or anything on the second sub. I didn't think I would need a splitter but can get one. anyone else have 2 subs and get this working without a splitter?
Edited by eah9 - 5/12/13 at 5:41pm

The "splitter" is internal. It's a single sub out internally to two outputs, mono not stereo. So both subs are treated as one as far as the AVR is concerned. Try swapping the cables on the subs if that doesn't work one of the outputs may be bad in which case you could use an external splitter off the one working output.

thanks. I will try it later this week. so I guess the calibration only works on one sub or do you get test tones on both subs in the.1 setup?

Question:

I purchased the STR-DN1030 along with Definitive Technology BP-1020ST Speakers. These have built in powered subs.

I have the room wired for speakers, but not an LFE channel. If I set the front speakers to large and do not have a separate sub installed, will the LFE signal make it through to the speakers?

If you have the speakers set to LARGE and subwoofer set to NO then all frequencies will be directed to your front speakers.

+1

Is anyone running zone 2 with this receiver? If so how are you controlling the volume and is Pandora output to zone 2?

TIA, Jason

I called Sony support trying to find out about the setup 3/4.2 - which doesn't seem to exist and could not get an answer. And I can't seem to get pre-out 2 to work. I did the normal trouble-shooting and determined the subs are both fine, the wires are both fine, but nothing out of pre-out 2 during the test tones. Haven't had a chance to stick my ear to the second subwoofer while playing a movie or test file yet. That will be the next step tonight maybe. Anyone had any luck with pre-out 2 during test tones or see the .2 in their setup menu. I updated the firmware a few months ago but need to check to see if there has been an update since.

Thanks. By the way - after 4-5 months of owning, I am really happy with the sound coming out of this receiver. Full and balanced. Hopefully even better with the second subwoofer.
Edited by eah9 - Today at 11:21 am