The Official INTEGRA DTC-9.8 Thread - Page 102

I just got an 885 hooked up and ran into two 'problems'. The first would probably be the same on either the Integra or the Onkyo Pro so I thought I'd ask about it here.

I have an Oppo 980h into the pre/pro via HDMI and a Verizon FIOS (Motorola) set top box via HDMI set to output 1080i for HD and 480i for SD channels into the pre/pro. The TV is a Mitsu LCD 1080p. The pre/pro is set for 1080p upconvert (having it set to 'Through' doesn't help the problem much).

When switching channels on the set top box from SD to HD or vice versa there is an 8 second delay before picture comes on. If I change channels from SD to SD or HD to HD the picture comes on instantly, so it's only from HD to SD or SD to HD that causes the delay.

If I go directly to the TV with the set top box via HDMI I don't get the delay so I know the pre/pro is causing it. I'm just curious if this is typical or can it be remedied?

The second problem is when I hook my Axiom ep500 sub up using an XLR cable from the pre/pro the signal is sooooo hot I have to keep the sub volume all the way down. As soon as I turn it a hair above all the way down it is rediculously loud (This is from the Onkyo Pro's internal calibration tones). I switched to an RCA cable and it was a lot better but still pretty hot (If 1-10 is quiet to loud I'm still at maybe 2 and am 12db above my speakers). Any thoughts??

But that fits. If your room/setup is untreated and a bit bright (which is typical of non-dedicated rooms), Audyssey's curve will be corrective. If your room is better balanced, the same curve will be detractive.

It seems to me that the software has a Mike, so it should not apply the wrong curve for your room. What am I missing?

- Rich

I wonder if placement of the microphone is the problem. I have a stand and boom (bought for literally nothing off ebay) that I plan to use to calibrate with.

The default curve rolls off the treble; that is a given. Let's ignore the bass or other things that the Audyssey addresses:
Case 1: Treble is smooth and flat in the room to begin with and adding the Audyssey will inflict that treble roll-off. The result is not an improvement.
Case 2: The room is a bit bright and adding the Audyssey tames that, perhaps a bit too much. The result may be an improvement, depending on the setup and the individual's taste.

Well at the first round Audyssey made things worst, in the same room, however I blame my sloppy mic placement [using an ottoman on the sofa] for that. I thought Audyssey was "adaptive" and makes correction based on it's on the fly measurements, so the outcome should be close regardless of rooms. So maybe as it has been pointed out, we're talking about preferences and not necessarily right or wrong?

Hey Steve, have you had a chance to do critical listening and give us some feedback? Those of us still waiting just need to salivate even more by hearing about how great it is! Thanks! WRX

My results with Audyssey appear to be atypical. The first time I ran it, the sound was too bright for my tastes. My room is fully treated. I don't think it is overtreated, but I did it myself so who knows? I have been in a home theater built by an HAA certified guy and his theater sounded "dead" to me, so I don't think mine is overdone. After reading the Audyssey setup tips in the Official Audyssey thread, I lowered the seatbacks of my chairs, carefully positioned the microphone on a tripod and re-ran the Audyssey setup. This time the sound was much better and I much prefer both music and movies with Audyssey engaged.

Having tried another pre/pro with something possibly similar to Audessey, I think you've hit it on the head. My room is a bit bright, but after the calibration with the Aud. like system, there was not enough sparkle in the highs and I manually retuned it. If I'm right and the system was like Audessey, then, for my tastes, it would be good for very bright rooms only (many!). The mike and placement of the mike still affect the calibration, but the curves seem to be programmed to tame the highs a bit too much, at least for my taste. For the lows though, the calibration helped to integrate the mains with the sub very nicely, and provided really clean bass response from the sub -no big curves. It's worth it to calibrate for that alone, if you can manually tune the mids and highs, or put them to neutral settings. All of this is just theory for me though, as I wait for my 9.8! Cheers, WRX

Anybody know the answer to Jean-Marc's earlier question: if Audyssey can be defeated/bypassed, does HDMI hirez PCM increase bandwidth to 192k (supposedly Audyssey doesn't DSP anything over 96k)?

So the Audyssey software and microphone cannot detect the rooms response and adjust its algorithm. Brilliant

I will still give it a whirl when my 885 arrives, but it sounds like good news that all this can be ignored just like the 57 sound fields in my RDC 7.

- Rich

YEs and no. If the results were perfect, it would be right regardless of taste. Since nothing is perfect, it is a matter of preference.

Mic placement is critical for every auto RC I've tried, and also one thing I found that greatly affects the results is the seat-backs and their proximity to the mic - especially leather or vinyl - I have leather. Running the Audyssey SEQ I covered the seats with thick towels (One seat at a time because I didn't want to neutralize the furnitures' overall effect) plus I took measurements with the seat backs in both reclined and upright positions and varied the mic heights.
The net result was exceptional. I actually preferred the slight roll-off in the top end that the Audyssey suggested curve offered.

And THAT, folks, is why $250,000 homes in California sell for $1,000,000 and why car dealers think they can get more than sticker price (especially in CA).

That depends on the car. BTW I paid less then MSRP for my 9.8.

Ok Bob, you and TRT have tempted me to run the Audyssey again. I had the same results as you two, it was to bright for my taste and with it out of the box sound was dayum good. Right now i running it calibrated the old skool way RS meter and internal test tones.

In case you weren't paying attention (or reading the whole thread) it was post #1561.

Like the old bump stcker states "Welcome to California, Now Go Home"

I think you weren't paying attention to the question Steve.I and most others would assume he is wanting feedback on detail,dynamics,soundstage,etc.,not your thoughts on Audissey setup.If "I am definitely very happy!" is your best shot at feedback then whatever but,I wouldnt call that much "feedback"

Hey good news - I just got an email from my dealer stating that my DTC9.8 is out for delivery. I'll have to play around with it tonight and let you know how I think it compares to my Parasound C2 (although this has already been discussed with a previous post & an excellent write-up) which is in our family room. (DTC9.8 is going down in the basement)

Hopefully this means that some of you will receive positive news in the near future too.

Kevin

Do to fact that I'm not articulate when it comes to "internet talk" and having a few glasses of wine in me, I didn't come across like I wanted to. I was actually (in my mind) poking fun at my "review".

Anyone willing to help me get a 885? No dealers around my zipcode according to the onkyopro website.

Hey Steve, thanks for showing me the original post showing your satisfaction with the sound. It's true that I've love to hear more detail about the details as it were! It's up to you of course, whether wine induced or totally sober! Cheers, WRX

Still waiting on that comparo

Hi Steve,

I'm curious with your 9.8 and Sunfire TGA7400 amp combo. I was thinking of getting the same as well. Is the combo great for music listening as well as HD DVD? What kind of speakers do you have? The main question I'm really trying to ask is the Sunfire TGA7400 amp neutral sounding and does it perform well during action movie scenes?
Thanks for your opinion.
Kirk

Tim, I know that Jerry has the Integra working in his new HT, but that the HT room is still under construction.

I am sure that he will have some further comments when the time is appropriate.

I wonder how long you (and others) will have to wait for a D3 to appear on the horizon. I suspect quite a while.

hey buddy all you had to say was the wine and thats a perfectly good reason for me,cheers !

I have the previous version of this amp, the Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature. It sounds fantastic with my Integra Research RDC 7 connected Revel Salons, Studios, and Voice. A great amp. Limitless power.

When I get my 885, I'll report in.

- Rich

It's going to be awhile, I only have about 6 hrs on the 9.8 so far because the room is still under construction.

I'm not sure any comparison can be totally meaningful because the 9.8 is in a different room, with different speakers and different source gear. That having been said, on a stand alone basis, the 9.8 performs exceedingly well.

What I said earlier still applies, the 9.8 delivers big time without the fussiness that the D2 posseses, and that's about as detailed and valid a comparison as can be made at this time.

I'm still awaiting my dealer's receipt of his 9.8 order. However, I've been thinking about the functionality of the 12v triggers which appears to have been "lifted" directly from the receivers.

With my current Outlaw, when I turn the pre/pro on/off, it does the same with the amp via the 12 v trigger. Makes sense, since the amp is the most likely component you want on/off consistent with any pre/pro.

The "9.8" 12v trigger functionality appears to revolve around "inputs" (ignoring the fact that it has an amp to worry about).

I know that I can consistently turn my amp on by setting up all inputs to require a 12v trigger when they are turned on. However, I can't understand how to have the pre/pro turn the amp off with the rest of my system.

Has anyone who is lucky enough to currently be using the "9.8" established functionality which allows the 12v triggers to turn on and off the amp with the pre/pro itself?

Thanks for any input. I'm getting too old for "brain teasers".