AVR or TV to switch inputs?

[Phil J N.Z.]

Well am new here but not new to HiFi and home theatre, after my Marantz SR6007 died on the centre channel I switched to a spare receiver a Pioneer SC-LX57 the system was wired so my Oppo UDP205 sent the video signal direct to the TV and the secondary HDMI sent audio to the receiver, this was the case for both the Marantz and the Pioneer, it cofuses my wife to hell as when you switch on the Oppo it all connects but picks up the audio from the TV and not the Oppo, as we were both hugely disappointed with the sound from the Pioneer I have ordered a new Marantz SR7015.
Why the SR7015 and not a Cinema 40 you ask, well I noticed that on the new Cinema range there is no 7.1 analog in and I used to use that on my old SR6007 as it gave a umuch wider sound stage and it used the DAC in the Oppo.
Now am waiting for the 7015 to arrive but I have a question I hope you can answer as I want to make it easy for my wife I want everything to run through the Receiver with CEC on, my question is under input assignment can I map the BD HDMI connection to the BD and another input at the same time? I want to do this but have one use the 7.1 for audio and leave the BD channel on HDMI for audio.

 

[TLS Guy]

Well am new here but not new to HiFi and home theatre, after my Marantz SR6007 died on the centre channel I switched to a spare receiver a Pioneer SC-LX57 the system was wired so my Oppo UDP205 sent the video signal direct to the TV and the secondary HDMI sent audio to the receiver, this was the case for both the Marantz and the Pioneer, it cofuses my wife to hell as when you switch on the Oppo it all connects but picks up the audio from the TV and not the Oppo, as we were both hugely disappointed with the sound from the Pioneer I have ordered a new Marantz SR7015.
Why the SR7015 and not a Cinema 40 you ask, well I noticed that on the new Cinema range there is no 7.1 analog in and I used to use that on my old SR6007 as it gave a umuch wider sound stage and it used the DAC in the Oppo.
Now am waiting for the 7015 to arrive but I have a question I hope you can answer as I want to make it easy for my wife I want everything to run through the Receiver with CEC on, my question is under input assignment can I map the BD HDMI connection to the BD and another input at the same time? I want to do this but have one use the 7.1 for audio and leave the BD channel on HDMI for audio.

The answer is no. You can only select one input at a time. I really think you are fooling yourself if you think the OPPO sounds better from the analog outs. You are then doing two conversions. The OPPO will decode to analog, and then the receiver will code back to digital and then back to analog. What you are doing makes NO sense at all and is just wrong.
Everything should go to the receiver, that needs to be the switching hub and not the TV. Just use eARC when you want to get the audio when using smart TV apps. That is the best architecture.

 

[Phil J N.Z.]

The answer is no. You can only select one input at a time. I really think you are fooling yourself if you think the OPPO sounds better from the analog outs. You are then doing two conversions. The OPPO will decode to analog, and then the receiver will code back to digital and then back to analog. What you are doing makes NO sense at all and is just wrong.
Everything should go to the receiver, that needs to be the switching hub and not the TV. Just use eARC when you want to get the audio when using smart TV apps. That is the best architecture.

Well my ears don't lie and I am checking out if it is converted back to digital via the analog in, if so it makes no sence at all as all the sound mode parameters when using 7.1 in are non functional.

 

[TLS Guy]

Well my ears don't lie and I am checking out if it is converted back to digital via the analog in, if so it makes no sence at all as all the sound mode parameters when using 7.1 in are non functional.

It does make sense. For one thing the volume controls are digital. Controlling all those channels is the analog domain would be an absolute nightmare. So just for reliability processing, and that includes volume control having to be in the digital domain.

 

[j_garcia]

I have the 205 also and it sounds better than any AVR I've ever heard for music.

For the 7.1 inputs it does NOT do A to D, it remains analog. For other inputs it might do this for surround modes, but not for the 7.1 input. That is why, as noted, there are no DSP modes for this input.

 

[Trebdp83]

I thought Marantz used IC for volume adjustment. Anyway, welcome @Phil J N.Z. The 7.1 analog inputs are same in, same out as mentioned with no conversion to apply DSP and only analog volume level adjustment according to Marantz.

As for HDMI-CEC, things go wonky when devices with two HDMI ports are split between video and audio as the TV will force the ARC/eARC input source selection on the receiver for the directly connected device. It's something nobody thought to work out considering how many people would try to use HDMI-CEC with devices connected in this way.

When the 7015 arrives, connect the Oppo's Main HDMi port cable to the receiver's HDMI #3 "Blu-ray" port and connect your eight analog cables accordingly. In the receiver settings, change the INPUT MODE for the "Blu-ray" input source from Auto to 7.1 CH IN. Selecting the "Blu-ray" input source will now output the video from the HDMI #3 "Blu-ray" port and output audio from the 7.1 CH IN.

If using a speaker configuration including height speakers, up firing speakers or virtual height speakers, Atmos metadata will not be sent over the 7.1 analog cables and only the 7.1 channels of the Atmos/DD+ or Atmos/DTHD tracks will be output and Atmos metadata will be lost until the INPUT MODE for the source is changed from 7.1 CH IN to Auto or HDMI and the signal output is set to bitstream in the Oppo. The Oppo does not support Dolby MAT and decoding the signal even for digital output will result in Atmos metadata not making its way to the receiver for processing of it.

With the Oppo and any other devices connected directly to the receiver, HDMI-CEC should work properly. Results will vary of course with different TVs. There shouldn't be an issue with HDMI-CEC switching to the "Blu-ray" input source in the receiver even when using the 7.1 CH IN for audio. It's a good idea to use Ultra Certified cables all the way around when using any HDMI 2.1 capable devices.

 

[Phil J N.Z.]

I thought Marantz used IC for volume adjustment. Anyway, welcome @Phil J N.Z. The 7.1 analog inputs are same in, same out as mentioned with no conversion to apply DSP and only analog volume level adjustment according to Marantz.

As for HDMI-CEC, things go wonky when devices with two HDMI ports are split between video and audio as the TV will force the ARC/eARC input source selection on the receiver for the directly connected device. It's something nobody thought to work out considering how many people would try to use HDMI-CEC with devices connected in this way.

When the 7015 arrives, connect the Oppo's Main HDMi port cable to the receiver's HDMI #3 "Blu-ray" port and connect your eight analog cables accordingly. In the receiver settings, change the INPUT MODE for the "Blu-ray" input source from Auto to 7.1 CH IN. Selecting the "Blu-ray" input source will now output the video from the HDMI #3 "Blu-ray" port and output audio from the 7.1 CH IN.

If using a speaker configuration including height speakers, up firing speakers or virtual height speakers, Atmos metadata will not be sent over the 7.1 analog cables and only the 7.1 channels of the Atmos/DD+ or Atmos/DTHD tracks will be output and Atmos metadata will be lost until the INPUT MODE for the source is changed from 7.1 CH IN to Auto or HDMI and the signal output is set to bitstream in the Oppo. The Oppo does not support Dolby MAT and decoding the signal even for digital output will result in Atmos metadata not making its way to the receiver for processing of it.

With the Oppo and any other devices connected directly to the receiver, HDMI-CEC should work properly. Results will vary of course with different TVs. There shouldn't be an issue with HDMI-CEC switching to the "Blu-ray" input source in the receiver even when using the 7.1 CH IN for audio. It's a good idea to use Ultra Certified cables all the way around when using any HDMI 2.1 capable devices.

Hi,

That is exactly what I thought but I had someone telling me that via Analog in it is converted to digital and then back to analog again, this is the reason I purchased an SR7015 rather than a Cinema 40 or 50 as they do not have any 7.1 analog in, seems a backward step in my opinion.

 

[Phil J N.Z.]

I have the 205 also and it sounds better than any AVR I've ever heard for music.

For the 7.1 inputs it does NOT do A to D, it remains analog. For other inputs it might do this for surround modes, but not for the 7.1 input. That is why, as noted, there are no DSP modes for this input.

Agreed I have contacted Marantz on this and am waiting for a reply so i can tell the person who told me it is converted he is incorrect, cannot understand why Marantz have removed the 7.1 analog in on the new Cinema range.

 

[j_garcia]

Agreed I have contacted Marantz on this and am waiting for a reply so i can tell the person who told me it is converted he is incorrect, cannot understand why Marantz have removed the 7.1 analog in on the new Cinema range.

Most players now have HDMI only, so it is likely a cost and real estate savings thing. If you look at other non-flagship AVRs, they do not have them. I would expect them on the higher Marantz models still though. I noticed on the AV10 preamp it also does not have them.

 

[Phil J N.Z.]

The answer is no. You can only select one input at a time. I really think you are fooling yourself if you think the OPPO sounds better from the analog outs. You are then doing two conversions. The OPPO will decode to analog, and then the receiver will code back to digital and then back to analog. What you are doing makes NO sense at all and is just wrong.
Everything should go to the receiver, that needs to be the switching hub and not the TV. Just use eARC when you want to get the audio when using smart TV apps. That is the best architecture.

Hi, I sent Marantz a question re the 7.1 analog in and if it stays in the analog domain or not, Below is the reply from Marantz.

 

[lovinthehd]

Well my ears don't lie and I am checking out if it is converted back to digital via the analog in, if so it makes no sence at all as all the sound mode parameters when using 7.1 in are non functional.

Your ears lie to you all the time....

 

[Phil J N.Z.]

Your ears lie to you all the time....

What utter codswallop.

 

[lovinthehd]

What utter codswallop.

You obviously don't understand how brains/hearing actually work. You can just swallow your fish sperm.

 

[Phil J N.Z.]

You obviously don't understand how brains/hearing actually work. You can just swallow your fish sperm.

Really so you know how someone hear something different form someone else I don't think so it's all a matter of someones preference and taste as you may like the sound from one make of speaker and someone else will not. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is if you like what you have and I love my new setup and that is all that matters

 

[lovinthehd]

Really so you know how someone hear something different form someone else I don't think so it's all a matter of someones preference and taste as you may like the sound from one make of speaker and someone else will not. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is if you like what you have and I love my new setup and that is all that matters

Speakers are where differences lay. Playing around with different dac routing, meh.

 

[Phil J N.Z.]

Speakers are where differences lay. Playing around with different dac routing, meh.

I don't play around with different DAC's and I have excellent speakers made here in NZ.

 

[lovinthehd]

I don't play around with different DAC's and I have excellent speakers made here in NZ.

You were describing using different dacs earlier....and claiming one was better than the other. Glad you have good speakers.

 

[Phil J N.Z.]

You were describing using different dacs earlier....and claiming one was better than the other. Glad you have good speakers.

Maybe I should clarify, I have an Oppo UDP205 it has an ESS Saber Reference DAC, in my old Marantz SR6007 I had no idea what the DAC was but the sound via HDMI was not as defined or as wider sound stage as feeding the AV via the 7.1 Analog in, when the 6007 died I looked at getting a Cinema 60 but Marantz have seen fit to remove the 7.1 Analog in so I went for a SR7015 as it still has the Analog in and it was nearly $1500.00 cheaper then the Cinema 60,
I had a response that I was kidding myself as the signal was converted back to digital then Analog again even through to that input, Marantz have confirmed that it stays in the Analog domain via the 7.1 Analog input.
I can comment that the difference with the new SR7015 is not as vast as it was with the old SR6007 but it is still better for Music and so on, with movies I stick to the HDMI for the sound it really is awesome.

 

[lovinthehd]

Maybe I should clarify, I have an Oppo UDP205 it has an ESS Saber Reference DAC, in my old Marantz SR6007 I had no idea what the DAC was but the sound via HDMI was not as defined or as wider sound stage as feeding the AV via the 7.1 Analog in, when the 6007 died I looked at getting a Cinema 60 but Marantz have seen fit to remove the 7.1 Analog in so I went for a SR7015 as it still has the Analog in and it was nearly $1500.00 cheaper then the Cinema 60,
I had a response that I was kidding myself as the signal was converted back to digital then Analog again even through to that input, Marantz have confirmed that it stays in the Analog domain via the 7.1 Analog input.
I can comment that the difference with the new SR7015 is not as vast as it was with the old SR6007 but it is still better for Music and so on, with movies I stick to the HDMI for the sound it really is awesome.

Soundstage isn't something a dac does, differences are likely due just level differences. I have an Oppo myself. I also have avrs with the multi-ch inputs that remain analog. Doing a proper comparison (level matched, quick switching, blinded) is somewhat difficult to do at home to avoid inherent bias from creeping in.....

 

[Phil J N.Z.]

Soundstage isn't something a dac does, differences are likely due just level differences. I have an Oppo myself. I also have avrs with the multi-ch inputs that remain analog. Doing a proper comparison (level matched, quick switching, blinded) is somewhat difficult to do at home to avoid inherent bias from creeping in.....

Well I have connected set up the DVD input on the AVR to take the audio from the Analog input and it is different, I suspect it's not just the DAC in the Oppo but also the decoder chip that Oppo have used, I have found it is better for SACD disks and mainly music but not movies.
I spent a huge amount of time getting speaker positions just right to get a really good sound stage and it is far better in my current home that the last one as it had far too much glass and hard wood floors.