Can the Onkyo TX-SR608 do this?

[bigbassdave]

Apply DPLIIX to HD audio sources? With the 605 I am currently using I can not use the surround rear speakers with any hd audio source and this feature is very important to me. Thinking about buying one today if I can be sure that it does in fact do this. Thanks.

 

[AVRat]

There is nothing in the manual that says it can't, especially since it does PLIIz and Audyssey DSX as well.

 

[bigbassdave]

Beauty! Thank you

 

[jostenmeat]

With the 605 I am currently using I can not use the surround rear speakers with any hd audio source and this feature is very important to me.

I looked into this. You would* be correct if you said the receiver can't support rear speakers with a bitstream of HD 5.1. However, if you simply have the player decode the HD bitstreams into mch PCM, you can now have your rear speakers in action. Also, even as a bitstream, I'm pretty sure that if the track is natively 7.1, the rears will work.

The issue is that there isn't enough DSP power in the 605 to BOTH decode HD and matrix for it. If player decodes, then the receiver then has enough horsepower to matrix.

 

[bigbassdave]

Ok I believe I understand, so since I'm using the PS3 and sending via pcm there is no way to do this with the 605 but I would be able to with the 608 correct? Thanks.

 

[jostenmeat]

Ok I believe I understand, so since I'm using the PS3 and sending via pcm there is no way to do this with the 605 but I would be able to with the 608 correct? Thanks.

It looks like I was incorrect in my previous post (unless there was some magical FW that changed things).

I'm sorry to confuse you. I think the wording of the information I read on your behalf led me astray.

I read that even starting with the 606, matrixing is no problemo.

 

[bigbassdave]

Thanks the 608 it is then

 

[sshasan]

ONKYO TX-SR608 Video Upconversion Issues

HI All,
First time posting so be gentle

Ok So I just switched from a Cheap Yamaha AV to this new Entry Level Receiver mainly beucase i needed HDMi connections and so forth.

It sounds pretty damn good even my my cheapy Yamaha speakers, however the picture is horrible.

I previously had my Directv /Hdmi connection going directly to the TV (50 INCh Vizio Plasma) and the picture used to be amazingly good. And now that i have this receiver My DTV is going through the onkyo and the picture is actually worse/pixelated/cloudy than it used to be (that is on all of my HD channels and non HD are even more pixelated than they used to be)?

The Bluray picture has also gotten worse..

Any ideas on what might be happening? Following are my cable connections:

I am now using the HDMI 1.4x cables from the recevier to the tv and from BLURAY TO My Recevier as well.
And HDMI 1.3x cable from my DTV HD box to the receiver.

Could it be the cables?

 

[tom67]

Question

What the hell is "HD audio source" anyway? It is often mentioned and never fully explained. Is it simply another DTS type thing that most people avoid because of the high dynamic range that most people find annoying except for special effects on some movies?.....or is it really some wonderful new thing that is a quantum improvement over DTS and Dolby Digital? As far as I know it is only available on some Blueray discs an may require 7channel systems to really experience it. Does it have some set standard? I can tell you that the local Sony Style store in our area have no one who can explain it. Their assumption is that it must be better since the company is promoting it!

 

[AVRat]

In this case, he's refering to the Dolby True-HD and DTS-Master Audio tracks found on Blu-Ray disks.

 

[jostenmeat]

. . . or mch PCM . . .

IOW, for tom67, I generally equate HD audio with lossless audio.

There are things like Dolby Digital Plus, that is very close to lossless, yet is not quite . . . but I can't think of any Bluray that I've watched with that codec. I do remember a couple of HDDVDs, OTOH.


For sshasan, the first things I'd look towards are video output settings on source(s) and receiver (if there are any).

If your plasma is a "720p", which really means "768p", then you will want to feed 1080p signals (assuming your TV accepts it), and not have either receiver or player scale a 1080 source into 720, because the TV will have to scale one more time anyways to get it to 768. Well, that's my first shot in the dark.

As you can see, it's always best to list the model numbers in question. "Vizio plasma" might not be specific enough.

If the TV can only accept up to 1080i, I think it gets a little more confusing, because interlacing/deinterlacing comes into the equation. Ok, nevermind that last part, I'm now confusing myself.

 

[m2rogers]

I have the Onkyo 608 and learned during setup to experience the latest and greatest THX-EX, Dolby True EX, etc, the Onkyo must be set up as a 7.1. If you set it up as a 5.1 you must use the "Surround" connectors on the back of the receiver for your rear speakers and not the "Rear Surround" connectors. However, to experience the latest and greatest digital sounds from Dolby, THX, etc, the Onkyo 608 manual requires you to use the "Rear Surround" connectors for the rears, which effectively says you are out of luck hearing these sounds if you configure as a 5.1. Consequently, to experience these latest digital sounds you must configure into a 7.1 configuration. I thought this was strange so I asked the guy I bought the receiver from and he confirmed that my understanding was correct. On the other hand, you can still use Audyssey setup, configure it as a 5.1 and get THX effects and Dolby effects -- just not the very latest. If there is a way to trick the receiver into thinking you have a 7.1 rather than a 5.1 and thereby use the "Rear Surround" connectors in a 5.1 setup I did not try to figure out how to do that as I am configuring mine as 7.1. Hope this helps and good luck with your system.

 

[dalessandro12]

I have the Onkyo 608 and learned during setup to experience the latest and greatest THX-EX, Dolby True EX, etc, the Onkyo must be set up as a 7.1. If you set it up as a 5.1 you must use the "Surround" connectors on the back of the receiver for your rear speakers and not the "Rear Surround" connectors. However, to experience the latest and greatest digital sounds from Dolby, THX, etc, the Onkyo 608 manual requires you to use the "Rear Surround" connectors for the rears, which effectively says you are out of luck hearing these sounds if you configure as a 5.1. Consequently, to experience these latest digital sounds you must configure into a 7.1 configuration. I thought this was strange so I asked the guy I bought the receiver from and he confirmed that my understanding was correct. On the other hand, you can still use Audyssey setup, configure it as a 5.1 and get THX effects and Dolby effects -- just not the very latest. If there is a way to trick the receiver into thinking you have a 7.1 rather than a 5.1 and thereby use the "Rear Surround" connectors in a 5.1 setup I did not try to figure out how to do that as I am configuring mine as 7.1. Hope this helps and good luck with your system.

This is interesting but I guess it makes sense.

 

[bigbassdave]

Ok so I decided not to get the 608 after all as hdmi 1.4 just isn't important to me yet. I did however, just pick up a brand new HT-RC180 for a great price on Craigslist. So I have the same question about this. I assume I should be able to matrix sound to my rear surrounds from a lossless source right? Thanks for the help. I don't want to open it until I'm sure. Also, I know I could check out the manual on line but I find that section a tad confusing.

 

[jostenmeat]

Ok so I decided not to get the 608 after all as hdmi 1.4 just isn't important to me yet. I did however, just pick up a brand new HT-RC180 for a great price on Craigslist. So I have the same question about this. I assume I should be able to matrix sound to my rear surrounds from a lossless source right? Thanks for the help. I don't want to open it until I'm sure. Also, I know I could check out the manual on line but I find that section a tad confusing.

I cannot find anything at all that is conclusive. In fact, it's hard to find anything at all about this, period. What I will say is that I would expect* it to be able to matrix, if it already sports DSX and plIIz, but remember it's an ASSumption.

I might send an email directly to Onkyo tech support during the meanwhile. Doesn't hurt, and may very well help.

 

[bigbassdave]

Yeah I probably should send them an email but I'll be honest the last time I called Onkyo tech support I was ready to pull my hair out. I asked about matrixing sound to the rear speakers from my 605 and the kid didn't even know the difference between the older dolby digital and dts formats vs the new lossless ones. I mean he didn't know what I was talking about when I mentioned true hd ect. That really burned my biscuits.

 

[AVRat]

Yes it does, see the chart on pg. 78.

 

[bigbassdave]

Sweet ill set it up tonight thanks!