7.1 analog use with Sony BDP-s550, mainly the sub connection

[murl]

I borrowed my friends Blu Ray player, and hooked it up to my TV and Denon AVR 688. I used the 7.1 analog ins, I configured the player menu as best I could. All speakers set to large, set the distance, didn't do much with the levels because I didn't have a meter, so they are set to 0.0dB right now. I perused the Denon manual last night and from the best of my understanding when you use analog inputs there is no processing of the audio. It only acts as an amplifier of the signal it is receiving, I guess the most appropriate term would be Direct.

1. Am I wrong in saying there is no audio processing going on inside the Denon? Do the Audyssey settings apply in this case? From what I understand they don't.

2. Is there a crossover setting applied to the sub, if so how and what?

The sub just doesn't sound the same, I don't know if higher frequency material is coming through it or what.

 

[rnatalli]

1. Yes you're correct. No processing happens in the Denon.

2. If your speakers are set to Large in the Sony, then no signals are being sent to the sub. Try setting them to small. I'm not sure if the 550 allows you to set a crossover or if it has a fixed one.

 

[murl]

1. Yes you're correct. No processing happens in the Denon.

2. If your speakers are set to Large in the Sony, then no signals are being sent to the sub. Try setting them to small. I'm not sure if the 550 allows you to set a crossover or if it has a fixed one.

They are set to large, and I am getting quite a bit out of the sub. I guess the crossover is fixed because I have been through every menu in the set up and can't find anything.

I found this:

Movie soundtracks are recorded with the .1 (LFE) channel 10db quieter than the rest of the channels. It is a receiver's job to increase the .1 channel by 10 db, when fed a Dolby or DTS signal. Some receivers do NOT apply this 10 db increase to PCM signals over HDMI, reproducing the bass much quieter than the rest of the soundtrack. See here for more information (including which receivers do what).


Could this be a problem for me, I realize I am using RCA's not HDMI for audio? I also read that someone else found a setting in their Denon that brought the sub level up to correct for this problem.

 

[MinusTheBear]

If you are using the analog outs on the Sony s550 their is a crossover applied by the blu-ray player and it will be fixed somwhere betwen 80-100. They would tell you in the manual somewhere.

On your Denon 688 you have to use the Ext. In for the analog. There is a seperate Ext. In subwoofer level which can be set to 0, +5, +10 and +15. In the manual, Denon recommends you to set that level to +15 on pg. 26.

 

[MinusTheBear]

When you have the Denon set to Ext. In also check if you can control the speaker levels and sub volume from the Denon by pressing the CH SEL ENTER button on the controller of the Denon.

Glad to hear that you finally got a hold of Blu-ray player. I know you have been dying to try one. ENJOY!

 

[murl]

When you have the Denon set to Ext. In also check if you can control the speaker levels and sub volume from the Denon by pressing the CH SEL ENTER button on the controller of the Denon.

Glad to hear that you finally got a hold of Blu-ray player. I know you have been dying to try one. ENJOY!

I have been dying to try one, my friend's power has been out so he said to take it and use it. I loaned him a heater and he loaned me a blu ray player, I thought it was a pretty fair trade. I did some more tuning on it and it sounds pretty good. I do wish you could adjust the individual levels for each speaker and individual distance for each speaker. It just groups them together in the player, fronts, center, surround, etc.

 

[MinusTheBear]

I have been dying to try one, my friend's power has been out so he said to take it and use it. I loaned him a heater and he loaned me a blu ray player, I thought it was a pretty fair trade. I did some more tuning on it and it sounds pretty good. I do wish you could adjust the individual levels for each speaker and individual distance for each speaker. It just groups them together in the player, fronts, center, surround, etc.

I don't own this Sony player so I am not sure on the calibration menu. You should be able to set distances and levels through there. Like I said earlier when you have the Denon 688 set to Ext. In on the display, press the CH SEL ENTER button on the front of the Denon controller and see if the volume adjusments for individual speakers appear on the display of the receiver. Each time you press that button it will change to the next speaker. It will read FR, FL, C, SR, SL etc plus the corresponding gain value. Example, FR +2.

 

[murl]

I don't own this Sony player so I am not sure on the calibration menu. You should be able to set distances and levels through there. Like I said earlier when you have the Denon 688 set to Ext. In on the display, press the CH SEL ENTER button on the front of the Denon controller and see if the volume adjusments for individual speakers appear on the display of the receiver. Each time you press that button it will change to the next speaker. It will read FR, FL, C, SR, SL etc plus the corresponding gain value. Example, FR +2.

Mine won't do any of that using the ext in, according to pages 53,54 in the manual. It only gives you the sub attenuation option when you hit that button. I adjusted it as well as I could in the player, but I need an spl meter. The player will only let you set one distance and level for Front L/R or Surround L/R. You can't adjust only the surround left or surround right, you adjust both. Which kinda stinks because of the position that I sit in. Not that big of a deal but just wished it did it. I appreciate all of your help with these settings, adjusting the sub to 15db helped.

 

[MinusTheBear]

Mine won't do any of that using the ext in, according to pages 53,54 in the manual. It only gives you the sub attenuation option when you hit that button. I adjusted it as well as I could in the player, but I need an spl meter. The player will only let you set one distance and level for Front L/R or Surround L/R. You can't adjust only the surround left or surround right, you adjust both. Which kinda stinks because of the position that I sit in. Not that big of a deal but just wished it did it. I appreciate all of your help with these settings, adjusting the sub to 15db helped.

According to Pg. 53 individual channel output can be turned on or off by speaker configuration setting using the Ext. In but it does not say if they are adjustable or not. The Denon manual is very poor at explaining what that means. Maybe try setting the speakers to small in the Denons main settings as well in the Blu-ray player. Then switch over to the Ext. In and press the CH SEL ENTER button and see if those settings appear on the display.
Good luck!

 

[billy p]

According to Pg. 53 individual channel output can be turned on or off by speaker configuration setting using the Ext. In but it does not say if they are adjustable or not. The Denon manual is very poor at explaining what that means. Maybe try setting the speakers to small in the Denons main settings as well in the Blu-ray player. Then switch over to the Ext. In and press the CH SEL ENTER button and see if those settings appear on the display.
Good luck!

The reason they're unclear in the Denon manual is because the AVR's setting don't apply when you using the analog ext mode! This was the sole reason I got rid of my 3805 because the BM associated with todays players IMO made it very ordinary.