Help with Onkyo TX SR674 receiver

[JoeSci]

I recently purchased a Denon DHT-S514 sound bar. It is connected to my Onkyo TX SR674 through the digital optical out port on the receiver. Also connected to the receiver are my Sharp TV, an Apple TV and a Sony BDP-350 blue ray player. Each devices audio is playing through the soundbar. I can't, however, get any audio from the tuner built in to the receiver. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[TLS Guy]

I recently purchased a Denon DHT-S514 sound bar. It is connected to my Onkyo TX SR674 through the digital optical out port on the receiver. Also connected to the receiver are my Sharp TV, an Apple TV and a Sony BDP-350 blue ray player. Each devices audio is playing through the soundbar. I can't, however, get any audio from the tuner built in to the receiver. Any help would be appreciated.

That is probably because the receiver does not convert analog signals to digital to output at the digital optical out.

Is your station you are listening to analog only or does it also have an iBiquity HD signal as well?

If it does send a digital signal, do you have HD radio enabled in your tuner set up menu?

Receivers give you a choice of analog only, or to default to HD, if an HD signal is available.

I bet if you were listening to an HD digital signal, you would get sound to your soundbar.

Look for FM stations that have an HD signal in the analog mask in your area. Enable HD and tune to one of those stations and see if you hear the station from your soundbar.

 

[JoeSci]

Thanks TLS. I found a list of local stations that broadcast in HD but still have no audio. I did not find
anything in the Onkyo setup to enable HD.

 

[Latent]

yeah you may be out of luck as it may not output all sources from the digital out. It may only output sources originating in the digital switching part of the receiver. It may output it via the HDMI digitally though so you can try connecting an hdmi cable from the receiver to the soundbar and testing that. Only other option is to connect a 2xRCA->3.5mm audio cable from the zone 2 preouts to the analog in on the soundbar and setting the receiver zone 2 input to radio. Not so easy to use though.

Edit: Ignore my suggestion to try HDMI. For this you need to enable audio output on the HDMI port manually in the receiver and even then it will probably only pass the same digital SPDIF signal as the optical out does.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks TLS. I found a list of local stations that broadcast in HD but still have no audio. I did not find
anything in the Onkyo setup to enable HD.

I have downloaded both your manuals.

That is a low priced bottom end receiver without a lot of function. That receiver can not receive digital HD FM, only analog FM. Only digital sources can be heard from the optical out. The manual is quite clear about that.

Your Denon soundbar does have an analog input. The problem is the sound bar can not switch between sources, so you are out of luck on this one.

The sound bar does have an analog audio in via a 3.5 mm phone jack. So you could potentially use the tape out from your receiver, by using a 3.5 mm phone to RCA plug adapter. However you can only use one input at a time on the soundbar, so you would be unplugging cables and cause damage. The other issue is that the tape out would likely not have enough output. Tape outs are usually 100 mv, but can be 1 to 2 volt line.

Unfortunately you do not have a good solution.

Soundbars are really just for TV use in place of the internal speakers.

What you really need is two or three external speakers for the front and a powered sub connected to the LFE of the receiver.

That receiver to soundbar set up is not really the intended purpose of the equipment and that is your underlying problem.

We seem to be getting a lot of requests for help lately from consumers trying to get into AV with half measures and you are certainly in that subset.

 

[markw]

Thanks TLS. I found a list of local stations that broadcast in HD but still have no audio. I did not find
anything in the Onkyo setup to enable HD.

There is no such thing as digital FM. "HD" refers to the "Hybrid Digital" transmission system. This was an up and coming thing a few years ago and you needed a special tuner to receive it. but, it didn't take off and nobody really hears about any more and receivers for it are rare, if they are even still are being made.

In short, all FM is analog.

 

[TLS Guy]

There is no such thing as digital FM. "HD" refers to the "Hybrid Digital" transmission system. This was a up and coming thing a few years ago and you needed a special tuner to receive it. but, it didn't take off and nobody really hears about any more and receivers for it are rare, if they are even still are being made.

In short, all FM is analog.

Minnesota is well covered with HD radio. I think most Marantz gear supports HD radio.

There have been a lot of problems with HD radio, but over time there has been a lot of improvements, especially to the codec. The current codec is a supercharged version of AAC plus. It now actually sounds better than the analog FM.

I think receiver manufacturers need to take another look. This is especially true now LED light bulbs are on the scene. If you have a number of LED bulbs in the home, analog FM listening is impossible, even on the best FM tuners. LED bulbs have to generate RF. The FCC in conjunction with light bulb manufacturers, many saying with malice aforethought, put the RF interference to be right across the FM band. Here is the spectrum.

Notice that the worst of it is in the area reserved for public broadcasting.

So now unless I want to listen in the dark, and keep my wife in the dark, I have to use HD.

I have to get my cars at least 200 yards from the house before I can hear anything except static on the FM radio!

The other issue, is that HD is still evolving and for some time now, HD can be, and is, broadcast without an analog component. Many of MPRs channels are now available in HD only, no analog available.

I think analog FM is now passed its sell by date. LED light bulbs will finish it.

To be honest I think all terrestrial broadcasting can now see the writing on the wall. Cars are now coming out with built in Wi-Fi. I think all broadcasting will be Internet based within 15 years and may be less.

The best solutions to the OPs problem my in fact be an Internet radio.

 

[JoeSci]

Thank you all for your comments. For now I'll just live with what I have and look at some of the radio options through the Apple TV.

Thanks again