The Official INTEGRA DTC-9.8 Thread - Page 429

Has anyone that has had their HDMI board replaced had any further trouble with HDMI? I bought another pre/pro and it is okay, but it isn't the best with HDMI handshaking and thanks to that isn't all that much better than the Integra I replaced. I am now toying with the idea of fixing my Integra...just want to get some thoughts on whether or not I'd be throwing good money after bad.

Thanks!
Randy

So... no one else is having this problem? I tried Integra Support and they were clueless.

I never updated my 9.8, so the new issue don't affect me. The quickest fix is let your player do the decoding with discs like that and make yourself a little note stored with the disc. I wouldn't hold my breath that Integra will fix a 4 generation old device's problem, that actually can be circumvented by the user described above, but one my get lucky if Onkyo did step up.

AFAIK, the old and new DTS bombs weren't created by updating, so your unit is most likely susceptible to the problem. You may not care about this, but your speakers will be destroyed if the problem occurs when you're listening at "normal" levels.

At least half of my BDs came with and continue to come with a DTS encode, so putting a note in each one, and/or switching to LPCM for each one of them isn't practicable. (Because problems with the bomb can be random, there's no way to know which DTS encodes will be affected in the future.)

Onkyo has provided a fix for their x05 series, which is as old as our 9.8s... I'd like to think that their "upscale" Integra owners would get at least the same consideration, but you may be right

The HDMI handshaking issue is due to faulty caps on the HDMI board. There are 11 on the 9.8. There is a repair thread of people that have successfully done their own repair if you think you are handy. I just had my 885 repaired by the Onkyo authorized repair center in my State (NJ). It should cost under $200 if it is an out of warranty repair.

Wow...thanks for that info! That is considerably less than a new board, and while it is tempting to try it myself, less than $200 makes it a better idea to leave it to the pros. Funny thing that it is caps...I had multiple issues with my old Mitsubishi DLP TV for the same type of root cause. On that deal the chassis got sent back to Mits twice before all was said and done. But I digress. Thank you again for the information and I will be seeking out a nearby service center soon!

Randy

I decided to reconnect my HD DVD player to my INTEGRA processor the other day.

I seem to recall something of the following, but have actually forgotten the specifics: does anyone here know whether the Toshiba A-1 (I think that is what I have) only signifies MULTICHANNEL on the front panel display of the INTEGRA, no matter what the selected sound format from the HD DVD unit? In other words, even for those titles that were DOLBY TRUE-HD, and that was the selected format, your front panel on the INTEGRA would still only show MULTICHANNEL?

Many thanks for your help!

The 9.8 displays MULTICHANNEL when the its input is fed PCM.

Thanks so much for your help. Are you saying that even though it displays only MULTICHANNEL when being fed PCM, it is still nevertheless reading and decoding DOLBY TRUE HD, if that is the format I've selected in the HD DVD disc menu?

I'm trying to figure out if I can correct a situation I have. Only one input seemingly decodes the newer sound formats, but I do not want to troubleshoot the others using that particular blu-ray player which is already connected to the working input -- afraid to break the connection and not have that one work properly either.

With the first generation HD DVD player I have, you only choose from limited options for what the unit will output -- one is non-downrezzed PCM which I think delivers the DOLBY TRUE HD signal, whereas the other options downrez (I think). This I guess leads to the MULTICHANNEL readout on the INTEGRA, but I just tested another blu-ray player on the other INTEGRA inputs, and they all still read MULTICHANNEL when the player reflected DTS MASTER AUDIO as the format being output. I guess I have to look into that blu-ray player's menu to find out if I've got it outputting PCM too...? -- not sure where to look for that, but I'll give it a go.

Again, thanks for the assist!

No. If it is fed PCM, the conversion from THD is being done in the player.


In my experience, all the HDMI inputs are identical.


Yes. Your issues are with the setup menus in the players.

You may be getting confused by the input vs output of the blu-ray player. For example, on my first gen ps3, if i pick the dts hd-ma track, the ps3 is decoding the track and sending pcm to the integra. the newer ps3 will send the dts signal directly to the integra when you select that signal.

Thanks for your help. I think my unit must be malfunctioning in some way. It recently had to be repaired due to inability to bring up the menu. Simultaneous to that, it had started to only read out MULTICHANNEL on HDMI input one, which was the only one in use. I had changed nothing about the blu-ray player settings, but it went from reading all the latest sound formats on the front panel display of the INTEGRA, to just MULTICHANNEL.

After I got it back from repair, I could bring the menu up -- same problem with the MULTICHANNEL readout however. Just for experimental troubleshooting, I hooked up the same blu-ray player (with no other changes performed) to the second HDMI input. That is when I first saw DTS MA AUDIO again. I was afraid to break the connection for fear it would not work anymore, so hooked up an identical blu-ray player (whose audio adjustments/settings were all identical), to the other HDMI inputs one by one.

Got MULTICHANNEL on all of them when it should have read out DTS MA AUDIO (or whatever the exact readout is for that). I'll continue to experiment for a bit, but if you know anything of HD DVD first generation (A-1 I think), the player is taking the DOLBY TRU HD and converting to PCM in a way that preserves the optimum delivery of the soundtrack, so that even reading MULTICHANNEL, you are getting the highest resolution? Thanks for your help!

My Integra DTC-9.8 video board went out and I am thinking of replacing it with the Pioneer Elite VXS-53.

Is anyone using the VXS-53 as a pre/pro? Does anyone know how the quality of the internal compenents to the preouts compares between these two units ( I don't use the XLR outputs on the Integra ).

Any help would be greatly appreciated it...

I must be one of the lucky few that has a DTC-9.8 that has no issues and is still working just fine (but I probably just jinxed myself and it will blow up this weekend). That said I have been thinking about upgrading to a new Pre/Pro. What is new / hot / exciting these days in the world of Pre/Pro's ?

I decided to have my Integra DTC-9.8 fixed and have been "renting" a Pioneer Elite VSX-53 as a prepro. The SQ does not quite match the Integra but it does have a number of features ( most of which I do not use ).

I bought a 3D TV in the mean time as well and was wondering if anyone had any issues using the Integra DTC-9.8 with a 3D BD and a 3D TV? I know the Integra has 1.3a speced HDMI inputs and outputs but if I am only passing through the video how would the Integra know the difference? ( I am using very short class 2 HDMI cables, i.e. 3 foot to and from the Integra ).

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated...

The 1.4 spec is hardware related; the 9.8 won't pass it.

mjmbond is correct. The 9.8 with definitely NOT pass it. You need to have a 3D BD player with dual HDMI outputs so you can run one to the 9.8 for audio and one to go directly to the 3DTV for 3D video.

Thanks guys - I was hoping that is not the case. I went ahead and ordered a Panasonic DMP-BDP500 with dual HDMI outputs.

My only concern now is audio and video sync as they will be traveling through different paths... The video board is on its way from Onkyo and should have it back next Wednesday - I guess I will know how it all works out then.

Thanks again.

I have the Oppo DBP-93 with dual HDMI Output combined with the 9.8 and a Panasonic PT-AE7000U 3D and there is no syncing issues. BUT, I have never really been susceptible to syncing issues.

I have the mic for the DTC-9.8 and a stand I purchased some years ago but I can't find the clamp I was using with these.

Does anyone know the part number ( and where to purchase such ) of a clamp that will screw into the Onkyo mic and has a clamp on the otherside for clamping onto a stand?

I bought this clip off of amazon.com for $9 - looks like it should work "Hercules MH100B QUIK-N-EZ Microphone CLIP".

For anyone that has had or has hdmi board issues I just got mine replaced for $500 ( it was completely fried ) and the technician without me asking told me that there has been a factory mod by Onkyo done to all of the hdmi board replacements for this unit that involved replacing 11 caps so this sounds like the board should last this time....

The $500 included a comprehensive unit diagonstic and flashing latest DSP firmware.

You may be able to get this done cheaper but this was the only authorized Integra repair place within 50 miles of my home ( about 20 miles away ) and this allowed me to carry the unit in and out without worrying about shipping charges and damage...

Hooking it up now and will run the Audessy again over the weekend when the mic holder arrives...
Edited by tonydeluce - 7/12/12 at 3:47pm

I have the lasted firmware on the new HDMI board and for the DSPs but want to upgrade the main firmware to the latest release that did not have issues. I tried to do a seach and came up with hundreds of posts so if someone can

1) direct me to the latest firmware without issues
2) instruction on updating over the internet connection ( if possible )

that would be greatly appreciated!

I have the update files but I cannot offer any support or instructions.

Thanks Kal, if you send me the files I will find instructions elsewhere and not ask you for any help...

My email address is tony.deluce (at) cox (dot) net ( parsed out like that just in case the forum software removes email addresses ).

In case it does not, my email address is tony.deluce@cox.net

Thank you!

It had been a while since I ran Audessy and it set all my speakers to full range.

I reset my front left and right to 50 Hz and the rest to 60 Hz but for some reason it won't let me change the LFE out of 80 Hz.

I would like to lower the LFE to 60 Hz so the subwoofer can focus on those frequencies ( I have a lot of current going into my speakers, espectially the LCR )...

Am I missing something?

What you are missing is that the crossover for the LFE out affects only the LFE.  You do not want it lower than 80Hz, the typical bandwidth limit for the LFE channel.  I usually leave it at 120Hz.

 

The redirected bass from the other channels is limited to the cutoffs you set for each main channel.  In your case, L/R are sending only <50Hz and the rest only <60Hz (nominally).

Thanks Kal,

What I was hoping to do is limit the LFE for the subwoofer to 60 Hz instead of 80 Hz as to free up the subwoofer bandwidth for the lowest frequest frequencies ( sub 20 Hz for example ).

I just got my SMS-1 in so I am assuming that it will adjust the subwoofer bandwidth knowing that the mains are hitting down to 50 Hz and the rest of the speakers are hitting down to 60 Hz...

EDIT: I raised the LFE filter to 120 Hz ( it lets me increase it but not decrease it ) and put my mains to 40 Hz ( Audessy put to full range ) and rest of speakers to 60 Hz ( Audessy put to full range ) and have a fairly decent frequency response below 125 Hz.

Here is my final frequency response using auto Audessy EQ and with just a little tweaking with the SMS-1:

Freq / SMS-1Gain / SMS-1reportedSPL ( mic 7-8 feet from Subwoofer and 8-9 feet from mains )
15Hz / 0dB / 78dB
20Hz / 0dB / 81dB
25Hz / 0dB / 82dB
32Hz / (+)1dB / 78dB
40Hz / (-)12dB / 85dB
50Hz / (-)12dB / 83dB
63Hz / 0dB / 82dB
80Hz / (+)6db / 78dB
100Hz / (+)3dB / 78dB
125Hz / n/a / 78dB

Thanks again,

Tony
Edited by tonydeluce - 8/4/12 at 6:51pm

I do not understand the logic behind this statement.  There is no reason to "free up the subwoofer bandwidth."

If I send only sub 60 Hz to the subwoofer, wouldn't that free up the subwoofer from needing to deal with > 60 Hz output?

In theory but to what effect?  

 

First, (and most important) that setting affects ONLY the LFE and not the rerouted bass, so it is independent of any of your other settings.  LFE bandwidth extends to 80Hz and may extend, per spec, to 120Hz.  You don't want to delete any of that information.

 

Second, power resource requirements are reduced as the frequency rises, so deleting upper bass frees up little.