Multi Channel not working for SACD on a Denon 2910

[B&W_Guy]

I recently purchased a Denon DVD-2910 and I'm having trouble getting the rear and center channels to function when playing SACD disks. All channels work fine playing DVD's through HDMI, but the 5.1 analog cables only seem to carry the front and SW signals. I have selected "Multi" for the "Pure Direct" option, so the multi-channels on an SACD should be picked up. On my Denon AVR-3806 the input automatically changes to EXT. IN (5.1 analog). I have tried swapping the fronts with the rears to determine if the 2910 or 3806 is having the problem... the front signal did pass to my rear speakers, so I know that it's not the receiver.

I believe the source of the problem is that I'm unable to configure all the "Audio Setup" settings. For some reason only the "Compression" and "SACD Filter" options can be changed. (All the others are grayed out.)

These are the settings that I cannot change, and the current values:

DIGITAL OUTPUT NORMAL
LPCM (44.1/48K) OFF
SOURCE DIRECT OFF
BASS ENHANCER OFF

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[MACCA350]

First, Is the SACD a multichannel release or a 2 channel one? There are many 2 channel SACD's

Secondly, make sure the player is set to play the High-Res SACD tracks instead of the CD tracks(this should be selected already). To check this go to the 2910's OTHER SETUP --> PLAYER MODE and select AUDIO.

cheers

 

[B&W_Guy]

Thanks for the reply, MACCA350.

The SACD disks I've tried are all multi channel -- says, "SACD Surround Sound" on the jewel case.

I have also checked the "Player Mode" and it is set to "Audio".

Dispite having tried a variety of modes, I'm still unable to enable all the "Audio Setup" options. I've got a hunch that if I could change "Source Direct" from OFF to ON, the problem would be solved.

 

[indcrimdefense]

i have had a 2910 for about a year, & still don't fully understand what in the set up options can cause some of the options to be gray (unavailable). at times i have had trouble recently w/ analog out as i recently installed hdmi connection for 1st time. hdmi is straight to tv as my avm 30 lacks hdmi. how i fixed it was as non-technical as it gets, i went through the setup & changed different set up options until it worked again. last time it did it all i changed was the hdmi setup from 2 channel to multi & had sound via the analog connections. while i like the 2910, the setup operation can be a pain. my source direct has almost always been on, & if i remember correctly that does trigger some of the audio options from unavailable to available. also want to make sure that it's set to multi channel & that you have all the speakers activated in the 2910 - there may be a setup option where the rear speakers for example are set to none.

on other thing about "multi" channel sacd, even though labeled multi or 5.1 any particular sacd may not in fact use all of the channels, or it may not use all the channels on all the songs. compare diana krall's girl in the other room sacd which makes little use of the center channel for most of the songs (vocals are predominately from the front speakers) as opposed to her 01 or 02 sacd where the vocals are from the center channel. alison krauss & union station live - about all you get from the surrounds is clapping, & vocals are again from the fronts not the center. ray brown trio live at loa makes fantastic use of the surrounds, as opposed to just background effects.

i can't answer as to a rear channel(s) as i don't have one, but i would imagine that it is utilized differently on different sacds. i went through the same thing as i went without a center channel for a long time until i hooked up 2 center channels using a 2nd set of floor standers (if you have the option to do so this is a substantial improvement for multi channel music & movies) & thought that things were not working when in fact it was how the sacd was recorded &/or mixed. you may find out that it's just the sacd & not a problem w/ your system. hope it helps.

 

[j_garcia]

Audio priority only applies to DVD-A, it should have no bearing on SACD. SACD does have settings however for choosing 2ch, m/c or CD - if you have it set to default to CD, the m/c options will not be available.

 

[MACCA350]

Audio priority only applies to DVD-A, it should have no bearing on SACD. SACD does have settings however for choosing 2ch, m/c or CD - if you have it set to default to CD, the m/c options will not be available.

Thats right, My 2200 has that option under AUDIO SETUP -->SUPER AUDIO CD --> MULTI/STEREO/CD
For the 2910 it's explained on page 44 of the manual (the factory default setting is MULTI)

cheers

 

[hopjohn]

Make sure you have hdmi set to 2 channel. This will ungray several key menu items for using analog multi channel.

 

[TwoChannel]

How hard is it to use CD, DVD-A and SACD on this player without a TV anyway?

 

[hopjohn]

How hard is it to use CD, DVD-A and SACD on this player without a TV anyway?

Not difficult at all once you have it setup. Sometimes DVD-A may be a bit tricky if the first menu option isn't to play the disc in hi-res. Obviously you can't see to make the correct button presses w/o a TV in that case.

 

[Geno]

Make sure you have hdmi set to 2 channel. This will ungray several key menu items for using analog multi channel.

FWIW, that's exactly the problem I had when setting up my 2910 with my new 4306. Also, some of the menu items that are greyed out when a disc is in the player will come back with the player is empty. The folks that write the Denon manuals are masters of obfuscation, aren't they?