Question on Cinema DSP

[Davideus85]

I just got a new Yamaha 5.1 AV receiver. Bear in mind I know almost nothing about audio equipment. I’ve been playing around with the settings, and I noticed if I want all 5.1 speakers to be utilized when watching something, I have to use a mode called Cinema DSP 3D. If I do the STRAIGHT mode, it only utilizes the front speakers. This really doesn’t make sense to me. What also caught my mind is the fact the receiver says “Virtual” on it . I decided to look into this. Virtual is not true surround sound. My question is - is Cinema DSP true 5.1 surround sound? If not, why can’t I get actual DTS/Dolby surround sound? My devices are connected using Optical and Coaxial cables. What also confuses me is that all my devices (game systems and blu ray player) run on the same input (Audio 2). How is that even possible? Shouldn’t they be on separate inputs such as Audio 1, Audio 2, etc.?

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

A model number would have been helpful. Without knowing what you have, the best I can do is generalize.

Straight mode commonly bypasses all processing and gives only the front left and right speakers, and possibly the subwoofer, if you have one. I have a hard time believing the manual doesn’t explain this...

5.1 playback requires a source sending a Dolby Digital or DTS-encoded signal. Not all video sources are generating a 5.1 signal. If they are, you should see an indicator on the receiver’s display (e.g. Dolby’s “double d” symbol and/or or small icons showing 5.1 speakers).

Even with 5.1 that doesn’t mean you’re actually getting surround sound. It depends on the program material. For instance, an local TV channel received via antenna should always show 5.1, but of course a 50-year-old late-night movie isn’t going to have any surround sound with it.

For video programming that’s not 5.1, the signal is basically a two-channel signal, and again the receiver should display the same (two speaker icons). Dolby Pro Logic should be the setting for this material. The receiver can probably be set up to default to DPL if 5.1 isn’t available.

Cinema DSP is processing Yamaha adds on top of 5.1 or DPL. Yamaha’s DSP processing attempts to mimic real acoustic spaces, such as a movie theater. IOW, using the DSP would make things sound like you were in an actual theater, to generalize. Standard 5.1 or DPL can be used with or without the DSP processing.

Yamaha also has DSP modes for stereo music listening as well, that mimic the acoustics of real venues. This can also be turned off.

Regarding the inputs, typically these days the digital inputs (coax or optical) can be assigned in the menu to different named inputs (Audio 1, Audio 2). If you’re getting more than one component on the same input, then it’s because you have it set up that way.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Bookmark]

This probably down to the setting on the game systems and blu ray. They are probably sending PCM.

In Straight mode if the source is Dolby or Dts you should see all the 5 or 7 speakers light up on the display and the info button via the main On Screen menu should say what the input/output formats are. You can use the Display button for a quick check of the input format and DSP mode you are using.

The answer to the question is if you set Straight mode then however many channels are set by the input source should be there on the AVR. If it was a stereo source then only the Front Left and Right would be used.

Any reason you did not connect via Hdmi?

 

[Davideus85]

This probably down to the setting on the game systems and blu ray. They are probably sending PCM.

In Straight mode if the source is Dolby or Dts you should see all the 5 or 7 speakers light up on the display and the info button via the main On Screen menu should say what the input/output formats are. You can use the Display button for a quick check of the input format and DSP mode you are using.

The answer to the question is if you set Straight mode then however many channels are set by the input source should be there on the AVR. If it was a stereo source then only the Front Left and Right would be used.

Any reason you did not connect via Hdmi?

My TV only has 3 HDMI inputs, which are all being used by my devices for hd video. If I diverted the hdmi plugs to the receiver, wouldn’t I lose the tv display?

 

[Davideus85]

A model number would have been helpful. Without knowing what you have, the best I can do is generalize.

Straight mode commonly bypasses all processing and gives only the front left and right speakers, and possibly the subwoofer, if you have one. I have a hard time believing the manual doesn’t explain this...

5.1 playback requires a source sending a Dolby Digital or DTS-encoded signal. Not all video sources are generating a 5.1 signal. If they are, you should see an indicator on the receiver’s display (e.g. Dolby’s “double d” symbol and/or or small icons showing 5.1 speakers).

Even with 5.1 that doesn’t mean you’re actually getting surround sound. It depends on the program material. For instance, an local TV channel received via antenna should always show 5.1, but of course a 50-year-old late-night movie isn’t going to have any surround sound with it.

For video programming that’s not 5.1, the signal is basically a two-channel signal, and again the receiver should display the same (two speaker icons). Dolby Pro Logic should be the setting for this material. The receiver can probably be set up to default to DPL if 5.1 isn’t available.

Cinema DSP is processing Yamaha adds on top of 5.1 or DPL. Yamaha’s DSP processing attempts to mimic real acoustic spaces, such as a movie theater. IOW, using the DSP would make things sound like you were in an actual theater, to generalize. Standard 5.1 or DPL can be used with or without the DSP processing.

Yamaha also has DSP modes for stereo music listening as well, that mimic the acoustics of real venues. This can also be turned off.

Regarding the inputs, typically these days the digital inputs (coax or optical) can be assigned in the menu to different named inputs (Audio 1, Audio 2). If you’re getting more than one component on the same input, then it’s because you have it set up that way.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Model number is RX-V483

 

[lovinthehd]

Normally you'd plug your hdmi sources into the avr and then use the hdmi out on the avr to your tv....why are you routing everything into the tv?

 

[Davideus85]

Normally you'd plug your hdmi sources into the avr and then use the hdmi out on the avr to your tv....why are you routing everything into the tv?

Don’t you need an ARC capable TV for that?

 

[lovinthehd]

Not necessarily. Do you need audio from tv for apps or over the air content? There should be a way to still send audio from tv to your avr, such as optical. Some tvs even via ARC cannot send but 2.0 audio in any case (and using HDMI-CEC features like ARC can cause other issues among different components, too), and you may be experiencing that now. Optical carries essentially the same signal as current ARC enabled gear (it cannot in current form handle lossless codecs like Dolby TrueHD or DTS HDMA).

 

[Davideus85]

Not necessarily. Do you need audio from tv for apps or over the air content? There should be a way to still send audio from tv to your avr, such as optical. Some tvs even via ARC cannot send but 2.0 audio in any case (and using HDMI-CEC features like ARC can cause other issues among different components, too), and you may be experiencing that now. Optical carries essentially the same signal as current ARC enabled gear (it cannot in current form handle lossless codecs like Dolby TrueHD or DTS HDMA).

I don’t use tv sound or over the air.

 

[lovinthehd]

I don’t use tv sound or over the air.

Then ARC would be meaningless as it only returns audio over the single hdmi cable from the tv back to the avr. Wouldn't affect audio on other sources, and you'd have more audio options by connecting sources direct to the avr.

 

[Davideus85]

Then ARC would be meaningless as it only returns audio over the single hdmi cable from the tv back to the avr. Wouldn't affect audio on other sources, and you'd have more audio options by connecting sources direct to the avr.

Ah. But I still don’t see how I can get both audio and video through HDMI when each device has only one hdmi port (currently used for video) ?

 

[lovinthehd]

Ah. But I still don’t see how I can get both audio and video through HDMI when each device has only one hdmi port (currently used for video) ?

Each device sends both audio and video via a single hdmi cord to the avr, the avr then sends, via the hdmi out, the video to your tv.

 

[Davideus85]

Each device sends both audio and video via a single hdmi cord to the avr, the avr then sends, via the hdmi out, the video to your tv.

Ok so I tried connecting the HDMI plugs from my devices to the HDMI inputs on the back of the receiver. No video. However, the receiver recognizes the device when I have it in the right HDMI input setting, and I also hear sound. The receiver also says HDMI in red when I have it set to the right input. But no video. TV display just says Weak or no signal. What am I doing wrong here?

 

[lovinthehd]

Ok so I tried connecting the HDMI plugs from my devices to the HDMI inputs on the back of the receiver. No video. However, the receiver recognizes the device when I have it in the right HDMI input setting, and I also hear sound. The receiver also says HDMI in red when I have it set to the right input. But no video. TV display just says Weak or no signal. What am I doing wrong here?

Might be hdmi handshake issues. Try turning display on first, then avr, then source. I don't know what HDMI in red means, what does the manual indicate?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Assuming you have connected a HDMI cable from the 'HDMI OUT' connection on the back of the receiver to your TV at this point. Without any source connected, and your TV on the proper input, you should be able to see an on-screen menu from the Denon setup menu. This is detailed on page 78 of the manual...
https://usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/9/890889/web_YJ189A0_EN1_RX-V483_om_UCRABGLFH_En.pdf

If you don't see anything on screen, try a different HDMI cable. Make SURE you are plugged into the proper input on the TV and that the TV is on the proper input for what you are connected to. If you come back and say "The TV was on input 3 and I was plugged in to input 1", there will be beatings.

Once you have the menu up on screen you should be able to switch inputs and see your different video sources by flipping through your different inputs from the Denon.

The 'HDMI' light indicates that a HDMI source is in use.

As already discussed, HDMI carries both video and audio information. The cable itself has many different conductors inside of it to make it appear as 'one' cable ,but it is actually many different cables inside. The A/V receiver strips the audio out completely and uses that for your surround sound. It then overlays its own video screen on top of the video that is fed to it. This way you get all the on-screen menu information and volume bar on screen while you use it.

 

[lovinthehd]

Assuming you have connected a HDMI cable from the 'HDMI OUT' connection on the back of the receiver to your TV at this point. Without any source connected, and your TV on the proper input, you should be able to see an on-screen menu from the Denon setup menu. This is detailed on page 78 of the manual...
https://usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/9/890889/web_YJ189A0_EN1_RX-V483_om_UCRABGLFH_En.pdf

If you don't see anything on screen, try a different HDMI cable. Make SURE you are plugged into the proper input on the TV and that the TV is on the proper input for what you are connected to. If you come back and say "The TV was on input 3 and I was plugged in to input 1", there will be beatings.

Once you have the menu up on screen you should be able to switch inputs and see your different video sources by flipping through your different inputs from the Denon.

The 'HDMI' light indicates that a HDMI source is in use.

As already discussed, HDMI carries both video and audio information. The cable itself has many different conductors inside of it to make it appear as 'one' cable ,but it is actually many different cables inside. The A/V receiver strips the audio out completely and uses that for your surround sound. It then overlays its own video screen on top of the video that is fed to it. This way you get all the on-screen menu information and volume bar on screen while you use it.

Denon?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Denon?

Yamaha. Hey, I linked to the right website and was looking at the proper manual. Just a typo.