Denon AVR 789: Can't Get HD Audio

[DannyMack]

Hello all, first time poster.

I have a Denon AVR-789 hooked up to a Sony BDP-BX1 Blu Ray Player (the BX1 is the same as an S350).

I'm running HDMI between the two, the Blu Ray is set to HDMI and Direct audio out. I'm running a 7.1 setup. I have spent the past couple hours searching the internet, reading the Denon manual, and trying different things--but I cannot get the Denon to output in HD Audio. I tried a couple Blu Rays that have DTS-HD MA, but the Denon will only run DTS - PLIIx Cinema / Music or DTS Neo 6 as far as advanced outputs go.

Can the 789 not run an HD audio signal in 7.1? Is there a setting somewhere I can check?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

The 789 can decode DTS-MA. I'll check the manual to see if it says anything about 7.1, though.

Just to be sure, are you selecting the DTS-MA audio track on the blu-rays? Sometimes you need to go into the disc menu to change to that.

 

[DannyMack]

Hello, thanks for the quick reply.

Yes, I am selecting the HD-MA audio track. I don't recall ever seeing my Denon show an HD signal on the display or the HD Audio indicator light coming on.

I'll stand by for any further instructions, thanks again.

 

[Adam]

According to page 41 of the manual, those are possible display outputs for a DTS-HD input signal. I'm not sure why you are getting those displays instead of "DTS-HD MSTR", but I have a suggestion. If you haven't done this already, try pushing the "STD" button on the remote control (about midway down on the right) - that will switch between standard modes for the decoder. It should allow you to switch between various options for the DTS-HD input.

If you've already tried that without success, just let us know, and I'll look into it further.

 

[DannyMack]

I had not tired the std button yet, but I did and it switched between DTS - PLIIx Cinema / Music, DTS Neo 6, and DTS Surround. No HD indicators or displays came on.

It did the equivalent of me rotating the bottom right selector on the front of the receiver and switching between all the surround modes, except that it didn't go into the Jazz / Arena etc. modes, just those four.

Should I try switching the amp to 5.1 and seeing if it will run in HD modes?

Thank you so much for your assistance.

 

[Adam]

So, the HD AUDIO light doesn't come on? Hmmm. That should come on if you are getting a DTS-HD signal.

I just read your original post again, and I gave you some wrong info. The displays that you mentioned are not possible for a DTS-HD input. The displays should all read "DTS-HD" at the beginning. So, your receiver is probably receiving a regular DTS signal.

I'm going to check out the manual for your blu-ray player.

 

[Adam]

Okay, here's something to check. On page 37 of the owner's manual for the 789, it discusses setting the Decode Mode. The choices are "Auto", "PCM", and "DTS". Make sure that is set to "Auto".

 

[DannyMack]

All right, I'll give that a whirl and see what I come up with. The manual for the BDP-BX1 is pretty straight forward. From what I read online there are two settings that are important for sending an HD signal to the receiver--having it set to HDMI and having it set to "Direct" on one of the other audio settings--don't remember which one.

If you see something in there that you think is important, I'll give it a look see as well.

Thanks again.

 

[Davemcc]

Okay, here's something to check. On page 37 of the owner's manual for the 789, it discusses setting the Decode Mode. The choices are "Auto", "PCM", and "DTS". Make sure that is set to "Auto".

This is the most common hang-up with trying to get Denon receivers to work properly. It was the first thing I was going to suggest but Adam-bot beat me to it.

IIRC, secondary audio should be set to off.

 

[DannyMack]

Ok, I checked the setting and it was set to Auto.

By secondary audio do you mean zone 2? I made sure I pressed "zone 2 off" and saw confirmation on the Denon display, but the zone 2 indicator display is showing a 5.1 setup. My zone one display is showing 7.1 + sub, and the main display still reads DTS + PLIIx Cinema.

I went back into the Blu Ray and went through the audio settings, but I can't see anything needing change...

Continued thanks.

 

[Davemcc]

It's the Sony BD player that has the secondary audio setting.

I don't have a copy of the Denon manual open but you should have a way to select Direct as a sound option. If you can find that, select it.

On my Denon, that button is marked D/ST. Yours may be different.

 

[DannyMack]

I hit the D/ST button for the Denon, it switched the main zone to stereo and said "direct"...but it just went to stereo.

I double checked the Blu Ray and did not find a secondary audio setting.

*EDIT*
-A switched to a Blu Ray that runs Dolby True HD. The BX1 supposedly sends Dolby True HD through bitstream since it can't decode it internally. When I ran that Blu Ray, the Denon display read MULTI IN PLIIx Cinema. When I went to the Denon on screen menu and checked the input information, the Denon said it was receiving PCM...no True HD display on the Denon. So I can't get the Denon to read HD for either format.

 

[Davemcc]

I've finally had a chance to look through the Denon manual. Try hitting the Standard button (STD) on the back of the remote. Page 41 of the manual suggests that will set the Denon to receive the HD signal (as long as the HD signal is being sent).

 

[Highbar]

A quick review of the manual shows that you need to make sure that the BX1 is set to DD and DTS in the menus and not multi channel. Make sure that is set up right to send the right signals to the receiver.

 

[DannyMack]

When I tried the STD button before, it just switched the receiver to "direct" and it the display showed only stereo.

The Blu Ray is set to the correct dolby and digital outputs, which is why it makes no sense to me that a Dolby True HD Blu Ray would come up on the Denon as "Multi In PLIIx Cinema"...as that only shows up when the Denon is receiving PCM (according to the Denon Manual).

I did read in the Denon Manual, on page 41 just above the chart with all the different input signals / displays, that:

"The mode changes depending upon factors such as the
-Input signal
-Whether or not surround back speakers are being used"

I am running surround back speakers (7.1), so could that have anything to do with it?

It seems like the Handshake between the Denon and the BDP is getting confused on one end. The Denon system check (while running a DTS-HD or True HD Blu Ray) never says its' receiving any sort of HD signal. It either shows DTS or PCM. But, the settings in the Blu Ray are the way they should be to send an HD signal.

 

[Adam]

I wish that I could be of more help, and I'm curious about the solution, too. After going through both of those manuals last night, and after you checked some settings, I couldn't figure out why the Denon wouldn't be receiving and interpreting the bitstream as DTS-HD. From what I read, the 7.1 set-up shouldn't be causing this issue.

I hope that some others chime in with some good info. That's got to be frustrating.

Quick question - have you tried any blu-rays with Dolby TrueHD? If so, did that work? I'm wondering if it only has to do with DTS-HD.

 

[DannyMack]

Yes, you may have gotten lost in the myriad posts I've put up, but I have tried a True HD Disc, which the BX1 should pass through to the Denon for decoding (supposedly the BX1 doesn't have onboard decoders for True HD, but will send the signal). When that happens, the Denon reads it as Dolby and the Denon display says "Multi In PLIIx Cinema"...and I can switch that to a couple other versions of Dolby, but no HD.

When I pressed the "audio" button on the Blu Ray Remote, it displayed that it was in English True HD, but the Denon, regardless of a True HD or DTS-HD movie, never picks up an HD signal or displays any HD surround modes.

The Blu Ray was just updated yesterday. I'm very perplexed. That's not to say the system doesn't still sound good. It's just that when you make sure you buy equipment with HD decoders, you want it to work, you know?

Thank you again for all of your help.

 

[Adam]

Yes, you may have gotten lost in the myriad posts I've put up, but I have tried a True HD Disc...

My mistake. You mentioned it just this morning. Sorry about that.

 

[DannyMack]

No worries. I was up late fiddling with it and up again this morning fiddling some more.

There are so many settings in the Denon, I feel like the problem could be there hiding, but at the same time, I don't see why it isn't interpreting the signal correctly which makes me think the Blu Ray isn't actually sending the signal it should be.

I wish I had another Blu Ray player to swap in and see. I could always buy one at Wal Mart just to return it...I spend enough money there to warrant "renting" a Blu Ray player for a couple days

 

[Davemcc]

I don't see any reason that you're not getting the HD audio. I downloaded both the manuals last night and I had a Sony BD and your receiver has the same remote as my Denon, it's just a different model receiver. I feel your pain. I went through the same frustrating process trying to get bitstream HD audio to work. I went through three BD players and firmware updates to my Integra before Integra decided to replace my processor. Once the processor was replaced, I received HD audio so easy it was plug and play. You may also have a faulty component.

At this point, trying a different player is a really good idea. If that doesn't work, call Denon's tech support. You could have an issue with one of the components. The settings seem to be correct and it should be plug and play.