Picked up a VSX-84TXSi today - Page 4

Originally Posted by Monty Williams

Well that's what threw me off and caused me to make my initial statement that the HDMI inputs had to be assigned to something like DVD, DVR, etc. Like I mentioned, when I was using the 74 both of the HDMI inputs were assigned to a standard source like DVD and renamed to "DV-79AVi" etc so I never saw an input labled "HDMI 1" for example when using the 74's selector wheel. When I upgraded to the 84 this past week, I utilized 3 of the 4 HDMI inputs and assigned them to a standard input such as DVD, DVR, etc and renamed them for the component, i.e. "HD-A1", DV-79AVi", etc. However, I currently have 1 HDMI input unused and unassigned and when I use the selector dial on the receiver, one of the input options is "HDMI 4", the one I haven't used or assigned.

The secondary "sub" remote for multi-room use does have a button labled HDMI which allows you to toggle through the unassigned HDMI inputs. For testing purposes as aresult of this thread , I just went into the "Input Setup" menu and unassigned the HDMI 3 input. When I used the sub remote, by using the HDMI button I was able to toggle between the unassigned HDMI 3 and HDMI 4 inputs. The HDMI 1 and 2 inputs were able to be selected only if I chose the inputs that I have them assigned to, in my case 'DVD' for the 79AVi and 'Video 1' for the HD-A1.

Originally Posted by Rieper

Okay, say you have HD Cable from Time Warner and a Scientific Atlanta 8300HD DVR...

When outputting a video signal to your Pio VSX-84TXSi receiver, which output resolution should one be using? For instance, if you had a 1366x768 plasma (essentially 720p). Would you output 720p from your 8300HD DVR to the VSX-84TXSi and let it pass the signal to the plasma? Or...

I'm guessing the scaler/upconverter in the Pio VSX-84TXSi is superior to the one in the SA 8300HD DVR... so what about sending a 480i signal from the 8300HD DVR and letting the Pio upconvert the signal to the plasma's native 720p resolution?

Which route should I take for optimal image quality?

Originally Posted by DreamCatcher

So potentially the 84 can have 4 more usable, remote selectable inputs, right?
Do you know if you can rename the HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc... inputs?
And, I wonder why those inputs can't be selected independently?

dc

Originally Posted by Monty Williams

The 84 has 4 HDMI inputs, all can be assigned to conventional sources such as DVD, DVR, SAT, etc and all can be renamed/assigned a custom name such as 'HD-A1', 'DV-79AVi', etc as the case may be. The HDMI inputs that are not assigned to a pre-labled input such as DVD, SAT, DVR, etc are listed as a selection("HDMI 3", "HDMI 4") when using the receivers dial. You can select them independently if they are assigned a conventional input such as DVD, SAT, DVR, Video 1, etc for which there is a discrete button on the main remote. If they are unassigned as a conventional source such as DVD, DVR, SAT, etc they remain listed as "HDMI 3" or "HDMI 4" for example, as you rotate the selector dial on the receiver.

If I understand your questions correctly, the receiver does what you want it to do.

Originally Posted by enchntr

Well, got my 84 today and set it up in the rack (if anyone wants a Middle Atlantic 1015TX custom faceplate, LMK). Advanced MCACCd the thing, and now the volume is set to -9db...used to be -20db on the 1015.

Didn't do much except the normal setup routine. Went through all the inputs and set them up.

A couple of things...

HD DVD - The HDMI switcher does pass the BTB and WTW signal, so I assume the correct colorspace is being negotiated. I had a problem with the monoprice switcher in this regard, so this seems to work fine.

Also, PCM through HDMI...now, I don't know if it's set up correctly or not (I've triple checked), but I'm getting the soundfield selection with it on PCM. I didn't think this was possible. I made sure the front panel said PCM, etc...but I was able to overlay THX Surround EX. Much better than running the analog connectors where I was unable to overlay anything.

Other than that...that's about as far as I got tonight. Need to do some reading, but I am pleased with this new receiver.

Originally Posted by Jediphish

Doesn't the multi-channel PCM output of HD DVD get decoded as one of the DTS formats, even if it started out as DD? Some sort of strange and temporary work-around?

This from the recent review of the Toshiba HD-XA1 in S&V:

All the new titles I looked at were encoded with Dolby Digital Plus a enhanced version of Dolby Digital that supports up to 7.1-channel sound and much higher bit rates which I listened to as uncompressed PCM or as PCM downconverted to a DTS bitstream for the player's optical output. (The format specs give manufacturers the option of downconverting to DTS or Dolby Digital for output on the coax and optical ports, and Toshiba chose DTS.)

Originally Posted by DreamCatcher

Monty,
Well sort of.
I was wondering if you could rename say the HDMI 1 input, that has not been assigned an input, to HD-DVD or 79AVi?

dc

Originally Posted by Monty Williams

Sorry if I misunderstood your question initially. Yes, you can rename the HDMI inputs to whatever you want without having to assign them to a standard input such as DVD, DVR, etc.

Originally Posted by DreamCatcher

Thanks for the clarification.

So potentially with the 84 you can have 4 more remote selectable inputs, without having to use up inputs like DVD, DVR, etc....


yep, that seems to be the case.

This is excellent news as I always seem to be short on usable, remote selectable, inputs.
Do you know how the input labeled iLink on the remote functions?

That's a good question. In response to your post I tried pressing the 'i.Link' button on the sub remote and regardless of which input the receiver was set to, the receiver displayed "Cannot Select" and didn't do anything. A cursory review of the manual didn't result in any mention of it...now I'm really curious and I'll let you know if I figure it out.

dc

Originally Posted by hifigi53

Back Speaker Placement
In respone to Foundation42 regarding the THX back speaker select2 recommendation. I have the 74 and I have experimented quite a bit and have found that in my room putting the rear speakers together and using THX Select2 is the best surround environment for me. I have two direct firing older Energy C-2 bookshelf speakers in the back.

One other thing, I have also like the THX Music for 5 channel DVD Audio and SACD recordings using the two rear speakers together. According to the THX folks, the 2 side and 2 rear speakers work together to put the rear channels mid-way between the two. Anyhow for my ears and room I like the back speakers together vs. spread apart.

Jim

Originally Posted by enigma001

Could anyone explain what "AIR Studios" means and its significance?

Also i am looking into getting a pre/pro or avr to power a 5.1 ACI setup. would the 84 be recommended and if i were to go the pre/pro route ie outlaw 990/7125, will i hear a noticable difference?

Originally Posted by Jediphish

Has anyone determined whether in Auto Surround mode, if you are "watching" DirecTV and you tune to an XM channel that broadcasts in HD Neural surround, (I think only the classical channels do currently) whether the Neural Surround is actually activated.

My reading of the VSX80TXV manual leads me to believe that HD Neural Surround will only activate when XM is selected as the source (obviously XM would not be the selected source when listening to it through D*).

I read an article about XM surround in an AV magazine last month and the article claimed that D* users would be able to enjoy the benefits of the surround processing, which leads me to hope that receivers such as the newer Elites will automatically detect that its an XM signal coming through (even though its coming from D*).

Thanks for any replies.

Originally Posted by enchntr

I would think it only works with the XM input and not the D* signal. Plus, technically it's not an XM signal through D*...it is standard D*.

At least you can overlay something like THX EX or PLIIx on it.

Originally Posted by Jediphish

Thanks for your inference, but I'm really looking for a response from someone who's actually tried it.

Anyway, your assumption doesn't seem to hold water. D*'s signal is not ATSC, yet it still incorporates the same Dolby Digital or Dolby Surround signals encoded by the broadcasters. So, there's no reason to just expect that whatever flags are built into XM's signal to activate HD neural surround are lost just because they are retransmitted by D*.

The main reason I'm thinking that HD neural surround won't work for D* signals is becasue the manual says that HD neural surround is automatially activated when XM is selected as a source. This affirmative statment does not means that HD neural surround might not be activated when another source is selected (such as SAT/DBS), but it makes me question whether it will. Hence, why I'm asking for someone who's actually connected these receivers to D* to let me know their experience.

Originally Posted by Jediphish

Thanks for your inference, but I'm really looking for a response from someone who's actually tried it.

Anyway, your assumption doesn't seem to hold water. D*'s signal is not ATSC, yet it still incorporates the same Dolby Digital or Dolby Surround signals encoded by the broadcasters. So, there's no reason to just expect that whatever flags are built into XM's signal to activate HD neural surround are lost just because they are retransmitted by D*.

The main reason I'm thinking that HD neural surround won't work for D* signals is becasue the manual says that HD neural surround is automatially activated when XM is selected as a source. This affirmative statment does not means that HD neural surround might not be activated when another source is selected (such as SAT/DBS), but it makes me question whether it will. Hence, why I'm asking for someone who's actually connected these receivers to D* to let me know their experience.

Originally Posted by Jediphish

Thanks for your inference, but I'm really looking for a response from someone who's actually tried it.

Anyway, your assumption doesn't seem to hold water. D*'s signal is not ATSC, yet it still incorporates the same Dolby Digital or Dolby Surround signals encoded by the broadcasters. So, there's no reason to just expect that whatever flags are built into XM's signal to activate HD neural surround are lost just because they are retransmitted by D*.

The main reason I'm thinking that HD neural surround won't work for D* signals is becasue the manual says that HD neural surround is automatially activated when XM is selected as a source. This affirmative statment does not means that HD neural surround might not be activated when another source is selected (such as SAT/DBS), but it makes me question whether it will. Hence, why I'm asking for someone who's actually connected these receivers to D* to let me know their experience.