Denon 3806 Owners Thread - Page 94

Sorry, I don't have any other ideas about the firmware update for the 3806. I don't see why having the HDMI connected during the update should have hurt your 622. Is there a way to Master Reset it? I would try that.

Greg

That's ok, I will figure out the 622 some how, just really need to get this hdmi handshake problem fixed! Have you heard of any other way to fix it?

Trying to get 3D set up on a new 3D tv and player.....having problems. Can someone pls help me. Will 3D signal pass through:

Panny 3D player > 3806 > Panny 3D TV

With current setup the player does not recognize the 3D tv - so, won't play the 3D disc.

Will be double checking the cables, just wanting to confirm 3806 pass through.

Thls!
Ken

the answer is NO it will not pass through.

You'll need to upgrade to either an HDMI 1.4a AVR (Denon XX11 or XX12) or purchase a dual HDMI 1.4a BDP.

Or hook the player directly to the TV via HDMI and hook the Digital Sound output from the source directly to the receiver. That is what I do.

right, but the point of the dual HDMI players is that you still get HD audio tracks on Blu-ray. With the method you describe you are restricted to the standard "lossy" legacy audio tracks. Not a huge difference, but for audio enthusiasts the dual HDMI player may be worth the extra cost.

would a splitter work? sending one signal to the 3806 and one signal to the TV?

thks
ken

^^
AFAIK, none have worked to date as they always revert to the lowest level device's video/audio capability ... in this case only 2D from the 3806.

sorry - what about........

3D player > splitter> one to 3806 (audio) and one to TV (for 3D)?

a splitter would be less expensive than a dual HDMI output BDP.

^^ As jdsmoothie said, the HDMI negotiation with the 3806 also limits the output to the TV. A splitter will not pass one version to the receiver and a different one to the TV.

Hi all
I currently have an AVR-3806 and have had an Apple TV 2 for Christmas.

I have the Apple TV connected as follows:-

HDMI for video from ATV2 to 3806
Digital out from ATV2 to 3806

I have AAC, DTS and AC3 all set as passthrough on the ATV2 but I am still experiencing video and audio stutter when watching 720p movies.

Can anyone please help me??? I am pretty new to all of this so any help would be appreicated.

Thanks in advance
mikeh71

Dear Friends: My AVR-3806 is connected to an BDP-S780 blu-ray player using HDMI connection. When I listen to blu-ray HD audio formats converted to PCM, the receiver indicates the reception of multichannel PCM signals without problems. On the other hand, when I listen to SACDs (DSD converted to PCM), the receiver indicates only the reception of two channels 176.4 kHz PCM, no matter I set the player output to stereo or multichannel. When I set the player to play a multichannel SACD, its display indicates multichannel, but the receiver indicates only two channels. All the settings in the player and in the receiver are correct. I think it's some AVR-3806 limitation. Is there anyone facing the same problem with its AVR-3806? Thank you.

I believe your 3806 is HDMI 1.1 so it does not support DSD over HDMI. I researched a lot of this when I was looking at updating my Denon 2802 and ended up with a Denon 2809 and (2) 3808's for this support. I think if you were to set your Blu Ray player to output PCM for SACD instead of DSD you would get surround. Here is a discussion I found regarding the issue with an additional link to this forum. Good luck.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/ar.../t-194382.html

Dear mrcarnut: You are right about HDMI 1.1. The AVR-3806 receives DSD signals only using its proprietary Denon Link conection. This is the reason why I'm converting DSD to PCM in the player. The player converts HD audio formats to PCM multichannel and the AVR-3806 receives without any problem (up to 7.1 channels). On the other hand, when I try to convert DSD to PCM using HDMI, the AVR-3806 indicates only two channel reception (the player indicates its sending multichannel PCM). Thank you.

if SACD performance is a big priority, you might want to grab a used Denon player with DenonLink3. With everything moving to Blu-ray nowadays I'm sure you can find such a player on the used market for a nice price.

that said, you SHOULD be able to get multichannel PCM over HDMI so I am skeptical that "all settings are correct" on the player as you indicated. There is nothing on the 3806 that would prevent multich PCM from coming in so maybe you should keep digging, perhaps check with other owners of your Sony player?

Dear batpig: I have a DVD-2930 connected to my AVR-3806 with Denon Link. My problem is to find the reason why the AVR-3806 doesn't recognize multichannel DSD signals converted to PCM by the BDP-S780. I sent questions to BDP-S780 forum but I think it's not a very interesting topic. I also sent this question to the Sony support, but the answer was very obvious (check the correct settings in the player) and not effective. Thank you for your answer.

^^
If the 3806 is indicating a stereo signal, that is what it's receiving. As others have noted, it's likely either an issue with the Sony BDP or the disc itself. Do you have other SACD discs that you can test?

jdsmoothie: Yes, I tested several SACDs with both stereo and multichannel areas. In my opinion, it can be some problem related to the player firmware, but I'm not sure. Thank you.

mikeh71: I don't know ATV2 but I have an WDTV Live connected to my AVR-3806 using HDMI and I can watch videos with resolution up 1080p without any problems. On the other hand, sometimes I have some pauses when trying to stream videos directly from Internet, but its a network limitation. Is it your problem?

I'm pretty sure the receiver doesn't support a sampling rate that high for multi-channel PCM.

Hi,

For 7.1 playback, I would like to connect my Oppo-93 to the 7.1 EXT. IN channels on the 3806. Are there any disadvantages to doing that, as opposed to getting the 7.1 PCM sound over HDMI? (I think) I noticed two in the manual:

When the input mode is set to the external input (EXT. IN), the surround mode (DIRECT, STEREO, STANDARD, 7CH STEREO, WIDE SCREEN or DSP SIMULATION) cannot be set.

The audio delay setting does not apply when playing in the EXT. IN mode or in the analog input direct mode or stereo mode (Front speaker setting Large TONE DEFEAT ON and Room EQ OFF).

Are there any others? Like not being able to get 7.1 PLIIx out of 5.1 sources when using EXT. IN? I couldn't figure that out from the various tables in the manual.

The reason I don't want the LPCM over HDMI is, I have the old firmware which doesn't support 7.1 LPCM over HDMI, and I don't want to take the risk of bricking it while upgrading. Though I have a 7.1 speaker setup, almost all the media I have has only 5.1 audio. I have only started thinking of 7.1 audio since I got myself a blu-ray player recently.

Thanks,
Saurav.

ps: This is my first post here, though I have been lurking for quite a while now. Read a lot, learnt a lot, and enjoyed a lot. Thank you all.

I'm using HDMI 5.1 LPCM and had our audio/video calibrated by UMR (AVS user name). I haven't done the a firmware update either. Is that one for the European version?

I bought the 3806 on UMR's advice over four years ago and have been very satisfied with 5.1 LPCM. I have a friend who has gone from 5.1 to 7.1 to 9.1 and I didn't find the difference especially noticeable.

I also have the OPPO 93.

When using the EXT IN inputs, all bass management and DSP is suspended (ie. no PLIIx), rather what comes in just gets amplified and goes out.

I guess so. It was posted about first by Dutchman01 in post# 1805. But non-European users have also successfully upgraded, and noticed improvements in overall sound quality in addition to getting 7.1 PCM over HDMI, and even resolution to some of their HDMI handshake issues.


You know, this is not just about noticeable difference. Once you know your system could work at a more optimum level, its an itch that you just have to scratch :-)

And looking at this forum and some others too, I don't think I'm the only one.

+1

saurav - With MCH analog, all processing happens in the player. The AVR is simply an amp. None of the features of the 3806 will be used, not just the two you mentioned.

So, you may want to hook up the player both ways. Use analog with native 7.1 sources and HDMI with 5.1 sources when you want to use PLIIx to expand the output. Analog is not simple plug and play, btw. You need to calibrate levels since the receiver's digital calibration is not used with EXT IN. Denon makes analog calibration easier than some other AVRs, but it still takes some work to get levels matched for both digital and analog. I have a 3805 set up for both.

Thanks jdsmoothie, for clarifying.


That recalibration was the thing I was hoping I wouldn't have to do again. It takes me quite a while to get it right with my non-uniform speaker placements in an open living room setting. And I doubt if the significant other in the house in my absence would be able/willing to try to switch input sources for the HDMI + EXT IN setup. To be honest, at times even I find it confusing.

So I guess upgrading the firmware might still have to be an option for 7.1 audio from blu-ray.

I recently acquired a troublesome AVR-3806. The original owner replaced it because he did not want to spend the time to diagnose it. The receiver was located in a poorly ventilated area for several years. A few days ago, it refused to turn on past the boot sequence. Here is an explanation of what's happening:

1) The unit is hooked up. Only power input and composite (yellow only) output. No speakers or any other inputs connected.
2) The unit is switched on, but starts in standby mode (red light)
3) The unit is turned on, flashing green light as the unit boots
4) The unit turns solid green, video turns on
5) The unit clicks, and video is shut off
6) The unit remains on with a solid green light (also tested with speakers before, no audio output)

After it shuts off the video, I can still use the remote or front panel to enter settings, change speaker configurations, etc. It's almost like it just shuts off all the outputs.

I have tried a microprocessor reset, the reset worked correctly (I think) but the unit still fails to work correctly. I have double checked the speaker terminals in the back to make sure there are no shorts. I opened the case and checked all the fuses (that I could see) and they were all in good shape.

Does anyone have any advice or experience with this issue? Since I got the unit for free, I would have to consider repair costs if it does indeed need repair past simple solder fixing. Previous searching on the internet for this problem always ended with a flashing orange light, where mine ends with the solid green. I contacted Denon support, they walked me through the microprocessor reset and then told me the unit needs to be repaired.

Thank you for any assistance you can offer.

P.S. I can offer a youtube video showing the sequence if I reach three posts, so let me know if any of you would like me to link the video.

^^
What does the front panel display read when the unit is initially playing the video? If PURE DIRECT, change it to another surround mode, eg. STEREO, otherwise, it likely needs to be repaired.

I checked what you said, and I changed it to stereo. It still shut off after a second or two.