How to get True HD / DTS HD Correctly

[Gareth55]

HI - I have a random question around the settings on my Onkyo TXSR333. I just updated the xbox one blueray which now lets the audio signal run lossless to be decoded at the receiver. The indicating red writing does show up on the receiver display panel, true HD as an example, however when I click on the listening modes (*clicking on the movie/tv button on remote)I believe I can only select the below. Is there a certain one I should use or will I be getting the same True HD signal played regardless of what "listening mode" I choose?
All Ch Stereo
Direct
Full Mono
Mono
Multichannel
Neo:6 Cinema
PLII Movie
T-D
TV Logic

 

[lovinthehd]

HI - I have a random question around the settings on my Onkyo TXSR333. I just updated the xbox one blueray which now lets the audio signal run lossless to be decoded at the receiver. The indicating red writing does show up on the receiver display panel, true HD as an example, however when I click on the listening modes (*clicking on the movie/tv button on remote)I believe I can only select the below. Is there a certain one I should use or will I be getting the same True HD signal played regardless of what "listening mode" I choose?
All Ch Stereo
Direct
Full Mono
Mono
Multichannel
Neo:6 Cinema
PLII Movie
T-D
TV Logic

The listening mode that would be TrueHD/DTS HD MA most simply decoded would be "pure direct" if available, "direct" the next closest; I can't imagine using All Ch Stereo, or the mono modes or T-D or TV Logic modes at all for a soundtrack in TrueHD/DTS HDMA. Neo:6 or PLIIx might take a 5ch version of either codec and expand it to 7 if you have the speakers for such. Curious why you get the multi-ch option, I'd need to have the player handle the codec instead of the avr to get that mode option.

ps In the end it's a matter of preference, use what sounds good to you.

 

[Gareth55]

Thanks lovinthehd, that is very helpful! TO be honest I had no idea what the direct listening mode was for before. I need to check to make sure the modes I listed are in fact the options I get when in the movie mode. What is the multi-ch mode typically used for?

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks lovinthehd, that is very helpful! TO be honest I had no idea what the direct listening mode was for before. I need to check to make sure the modes I listed are in fact the options I get when in the movie mode. What is the multi-ch mode typically used for?

Instead of having the player bitstream the codecs to the avr to handle the unpacking of the TrueHD/DTS HDMA, your player does the unpacking and sends it to the avr as multi-ch pcm (and on my avrs this is when multi-ch is available). Your avr manual describes all the modes on pages 7 and 8....

 

[Gareth55]

Ok thanks. The XBOX wasnt able to decode True HD before however they recently updated so they can send the code to the AVR to do the processing, hence how I get the True HD to now show on the receiver.
I was doing some research and saw that the direct setting can mess with the speaker setting I have created like levels/distances/and the crossover for the sub. Is this the case? I do use LFE from receiver to my sub and I have the crossover set to 80hz as my front are not full range towers, are large bookshelves.

 

[panteragstk]

On my Onkyo you don't have to choose a listening mode. It shows "straight decode" and will just display the codec being decoded. The modes above are for adding DSP to the straight decode. Direct and Pure direct bypass audyssey, but I don't see that your unit has that feature so you may want to stick with Direct and keep it simple.

 

[lovinthehd]

Ok thanks. The XBOX wasnt able to decode True HD before however they recently updated so they can send the code to the AVR to do the processing, hence how I get the True HD to now show on the receiver.
I was doing some research and saw that the direct setting can mess with the speaker setting I have created like levels/distances/and the crossover for the sub. Is this the case? I do use LFE from receiver to my sub and I have the crossover set to 80hz as my front are not full range towers, are large bookshelves.

Dunno just what direct on yours includes, the manual isn't all that helpful (and I fixed the link just now, too). Usually direct leaves levels/distance/xover intact but negates other dsp. I'd use the sub and crossover even with towers as very very few towers are actually full range (20hz to 20kHz), let alone as capable as a sub in the lower frequency ranges.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

The problem with using direct is, in my older Onkyo at least, "direct" defeats audyssey. Not sure about accueq. I have my PS3 set to pcm so I use "multichannel".

 

[Pogre]

I have an Xbox 1S and I'm still confused. I gave up and just set it. I forget which setting, but I couldn't figure it out. Whatever I have it set at, it sounds good.

 

[Gareth55]

Thanks all - I think given I dont have Audyssey and I dont believe my received has the option of selecting straight decode, it looks like direct is the way to go! I think im going to watch Skyfall tonight to test out True HD!

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Thanks all - I think given I dont have Audyssey and I dont believe my received has the option of selecting straight decode, it looks like direct is the way to go! I think im going to watch Skyfall tonight to test out True HD!

Hope it works out. Does your avr have accueq?

 

[Gareth55]

No it doesn't have accueq I don't believe. There is no way to set up an external microphone to test the db readings. I had to use a microphone app on my phone and set the levels for each speaker themselves.
I set the receiver so it defaults to direct for any dvd/blueray - I watched PAcific Rim for the first time last night and it sounded amazing with DTS HD. I did lower the center speaker at one point to the lowest setting to ensure that the level settings I put were being applied, and it worked. I think I should probably get a better decibel meter to ensure that everything is set correctly. As of now I had the front L/R and center at -2, the read L/R at -1 and the sub at -9 (I probably have the volume up too high on the rear knob, plus the SVS is pretty powerful for my system!)