Bought Used SR7005 And Need Advice For Best Surround Sound

[Ronman45]

I purchased a used minty Marantz SR7005 last winter as an upgrade from a 25-year-old Onkyo and I'm wondering which available surround sound program to use for the best 7.1 sound. I retired and relocated last year to a new home that has a 26' x 16' HT room, which is wired for 7.1 and has four speakers in the ceiling for mid/rear surround. I have the fronts/center/sub in the typical locations. I'm using an NAD 272 for the front L&R and a Parasound 275 for the center for a little more "punch", the sub is a ML Dynamo 1000. My DVD player is a Sony 4K with ATMOS (that I obviously can't utilize with my current receiver). I purchased a new 75-inch Sony 4k TV with full array back-lighting for the display. I have only had 5.1 systems in the past, so 7.1 is new to me. I just bought a few Blu-Ray 4K UHD DVD movies to use as source material to ensure I'm hitting the receiver with true 7.1. My question is this: Which surround mode on the Marantz will provide the best true or discreet 7.1 surround sound? The wife and I just watched one of the aforementioned DVD's (The Martian) in Dolby Digital EX and it sounded pretty good, but after studying the receiver's user manual some more, I'm struggling a bit understanding if Dolby Digital EX and a few of the other surround modes are simply pushing the front L&R channels with some delay to the back surround speakers. I have verified all in-house wiring is correctly labeled and working properly via a tone generator. All audio inter-connect cables are Audio-Quest and the HDMI 2.1 cables are Crutchfield in-house brand. If I can get this sorted out, I'm going to replace that Marantz with an ATMOS enabled receiver. So, with several surround modes to choose from, what do you guys recommend for discreet 7.1 audio from DVD's, Amazon Prime streamed movies and DirecTV (which I believe only broadcasts in 5.1)? Previously I used to just "set and forget" the audio on Dolby Digital 5.1 but now that I have the surround speakers to enable seven channel audio, I'm pretty stoked about hearing it properly configured. I'm 67 now and definitely behind the power curve when it comes to the various codecs. Thanks in advance, I sincerely appreciate any advice offered.

 

[lovinthehd]

First, please use paragraphs, makes your posts a lot easier to read.

Second, you have a bluray player, not a dvd player, and you will be using blurays if you want 7ch audio natively. There are quite a few differences between blurays and dvds, so easier to understand if you use the correct terms.

Dolby Digital EX isn't particularly a 7.1 format, it's 6.1 with a single rear channel (but can be played thru both rear surrounds) and wasn't very long lived on discs in any case. Your avr can automatically play a 7ch format in its native form, such as Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA (those also come in 5.1 flavors, too), or you can apply additional sound modes to expand/upmix 2/5/6ch audio into 7ch with your various Dolby and DTS sound modes/upmixers. Some apply additional sound modes, some prefer native as per the disc....experiment. Your avr can remember your preferences for a particular input/type of signal, as well as the native mode (or one way you like to play the native mode with a particular sound mode). All the possible sound modes are on page 47 of the manual (at least the version I just downloaded from the Marantz site). Most streaming is 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus, altho there are some services offering 7ch.

Curious, why did you get Audioquest cabling? Not a very good value generally, unless you got a great deal. I call them fraudioquest for all the marketing nonsense.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Ronman45]

First, please use paragraphs, makes your posts a lot easier to read.

Second, you have a bluray player, not a dvd player, and you will be using blurays if you want 7ch audio natively. There are quite a few differences between blurays and dvds, so easier to understand if you use the correct terms.

Dolby Digital EX isn't particularly a 7.1 format, it's 6.1 with a single rear channel (but can be played thru both rear surrounds) and wasn't very long lived on discs in any case. Your avr can automatically play a 7ch format in its native form, such as Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA (those also come in 5.1 flavors, too), or you can apply additional sound modes to expand/upmix 2/5/6ch audio into 7ch with your various Dolby and DTS sound modes/upmixers. Some apply additional sound modes, some prefer native as per the disc....experiment. Your avr can remember your preferences for a particular input/type of signal, as well as the native mode (or one way you like to play the native mode with a particular sound mode). All the possible sound modes are on page 47 of the manual (at least the version I just downloaded from the Marantz site). Most streaming is 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus, altho there are some services offering 7ch.

Curious, why did you get Audioquest cabling? Not a very good value generally, unless you got a great deal. I call them fraudioquest for all the marketing nonsense.

Welcome aboard!

First,
If my post was too difficult to read without paragraph's, you shouldn't have wasted your time reading it.

Second,
The Sony UBP-X700 is a DVD Player per the nomenclature on the manufacturer's website and also the box it arrived in (Ultra HD Blu-ray"/DVD Player). One has to question your motive attempting to admonish me for not using your preferred description. Also, I have the manual for the SR7005 as well as every other electrical device including the appliances in my home, and I'm keenly aware of what content is included and where to find it, however the lack of a straight-forward description of the how the various surround programs are decoded when multiple formats are encoded in most wait for it, DVD's, is minimal at best. This information is available via third party sources, but it should be included in the user manual, maybe as a supplement.

I am a retired FAA licensed Airframe & Powerplant technician who spent over twenty years trouble shooting air transport category aircraft maintenance issues while referencing and adhering to the specific aircraft and/or engine type (B767/777, GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, etc.) approved manual system (AMM/SRM, etc.) chapter, page and specific paragraph in accordance with all applicable Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's) before being hired by the FAA, where I worked as an Airworthiness Inspector until I retired. Apparently, my post gave you the impression I'm an uneducated fast-food employee given your attempts to lecture me.

Third,
My decision to purchase Audioquest cables is not relevant to the input I respectfully inquired about in my post and I could not care less if you think the subject cables are quote "Not a very good value generally, unless you got a great deal." Heck, for all you know I didn't get a great deal, but maybe I worked a double shift at Arby's that week.

It is unfortunate every forum online has "Snipers" like yourself who waste time and space playing mental gymnastics. Ironically, you close your lecture with "Welcome aboard!
Nope.
Good Day

 

[lovinthehd]

First,
If my post was too difficult to read without paragraph's, you shouldn't have wasted your time reading it.

Second,
The Sony UBP-X700 is a DVD Player per the nomenclature on the manufacturer's website and also the box it arrived in (Ultra HD Blu-ray"/DVD Player). One has to question your motive attempting to admonish me for not using your preferred description. Also, I have the manual for the SR7005 as well as every other electrical device including the appliances in my home, and I'm keenly aware of what content is included and where to find it, however the lack of a straight-forward description of the how the various surround programs are decoded when multiple formats are encoded in most wait for it, DVD's, is minimal at best. This information is available via third party sources, but it should be included in the user manual, maybe as a supplement.

I am a retired FAA licensed Airframe & Powerplant technician who spent over twenty years trouble shooting air transport category aircraft maintenance issues while referencing and adhering to the specific aircraft and/or engine type (B767/777, GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, etc.) approved manual system (AMM/SRM, etc.) chapter, page and specific paragraph in accordance with all applicable Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's) before being hired by the FAA, where I worked as an Airworthiness Inspector until I retired. Apparently, my post gave you the impression I'm an uneducated fast-food employee given your attempts to lecture me.

Third,
My decision to purchase Audioquest cables is not relevant to the input I respectfully inquired about in my post and I could not care less if you think the subject cables are quote "Not a very good value generally, unless you got a great deal." Heck, for all you know I didn't get a great deal, but maybe I worked a double shift at Arby's that week.

It is unfortunate every forum online has "Snipers" like yourself who waste time and space playing mental gymnastics. Ironically, you close your lecture with "Welcome aboard!
Nope.
Good Day

Thanks for the paragraphs this time.

Yes bluray players often play other optical discs these days such as various dvd/cd formats. 7ch and above is only available on bluray, tho. There are only a few formats that actually are recorded on disc, most of what your avr offers are sound modes/upmixers otherwise.

You were the one who made a point to mention fraudioquest as if it were relevant, it's not particularly. Thought you might be interested in better ways to spend your money than on that brand, but maybe you like working at Arbys to pay for silly cabling.

Good luck in any case...

 

[isolar8001]

First,
If my post was too difficult to read without paragraph's, you shouldn't have wasted your time reading it.

Second,
The Sony UBP-X700 is a DVD Player per the nomenclature on the manufacturer's website and also the box it arrived in (Ultra HD Blu-ray"/DVD Player). One has to question your motive attempting to admonish me for not using your preferred description. Also, I have the manual for the SR7005 as well as every other electrical device including the appliances in my home, and I'm keenly aware of what content is included and where to find it, however the lack of a straight-forward description of the how the various surround programs are decoded when multiple formats are encoded in most wait for it, DVD's, is minimal at best. This information is available via third party sources, but it should be included in the user manual, maybe as a supplement.

I am a retired FAA licensed Airframe & Powerplant technician who spent over twenty years trouble shooting air transport category aircraft maintenance issues while referencing and adhering to the specific aircraft and/or engine type (B767/777, GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, etc.) approved manual system (AMM/SRM, etc.) chapter, page and specific paragraph in accordance with all applicable Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's) before being hired by the FAA, where I worked as an Airworthiness Inspector until I retired. Apparently, my post gave you the impression I'm an uneducated fast-food employee given your attempts to lecture me.

Third,
My decision to purchase Audioquest cables is not relevant to the input I respectfully inquired about in my post and I could not care less if you think the subject cables are quote "Not a very good value generally, unless you got a great deal." Heck, for all you know I didn't get a great deal, but maybe I worked a double shift at Arby's that week.

It is unfortunate every forum online has "Snipers" like yourself who waste time and space playing mental gymnastics. Ironically, you close your lecture with "Welcome aboard!
Nope.
Good Day

Why so hostile ?

Luvinthehd said nothing snarky to you...surely you have heard of paragraphs. When I see a run-on post like yours on any forum I ignore them...if you don't care to present yourself properly, why should anyone strain themselves to figure out what you are trying to convey?

You are concerned with 7.1. He informed you that there is no such thing as a 7.1 DVD.

He certainly did not imply that you were uneducated.
There are many highly educated people working in fast food. That statement was indicative that maybe you have been out of touch with the struggle of many with higher education who are forced to take employment beneath their station...you know, to survive.

As far as cables go...there is no love on this forum for those of the audiophoolery variety.

Be nice...it gets you much further!!

 

[Trebdp83]

With a 7.1 configuration, the Dolby Pro Logic IIx up mixer would be a good set it and forget it mode. That receiver predates cross upmixing restrictions that came later with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

When a Dolby Atmos receiver replaces the 7005, ceiling speakers can be used as top front and top rear speakers with the seating placed between them. Though, a receiver with 11.1 processing would be necessary when adding ear level surround and surround back speakers for a Dolby Atmos setup using four ceiling speakers.

Some may be concerned with ceiling speaker placement when moving on to Atmos. Often, those concerns are blown out of proportion and why make more holes? Many are happy with 5.1.4 systems when using 9.1 receivers and use the new Dolby Surround up mixer much of the time.