Pioneer SC-05 Help

[photoeye]

Hi,

I just got the SC-05. I have a few questions I could not find online.

1. DRC (dynamic range compression). what does this do?
how is it different from midnight mode. when it's ON or OFF, what
difference should be heard? I could not seem to get midnight mode
so I guess I'm not in the right mode. the manual could have more
details, that would help.

2. I have a samsung lcd tv. I tried the preset codes built in the remote.
none of them seem to work. is there some other way than have to
teach it. I would assume the presets should work with the newer model
tv's. I have the 750 series.

3. Does anyone use THX cinema mode? are there certains modes that
sound better than others or one has to experiment? I watch standard
dvd's as well as HD and BD HD-Audio.

4. when I turn off my samsung BD player, it turns off the receiver.
is there away to disable that feature?

thanks for your help!

 

[MDS]

1. DRC (dynamic range compression). what does this do?
how is it different from midnight mode. when it's ON or OFF, what
difference should be heard? I could not seem to get midnight mode
so I guess I'm not in the right mode. the manual could have more
details, that would help.

Dynamic Range is the difference between the softest and loudest sounds. Take a DVD for example: the average level of the dialog in a soundtrack is typically around -30 dB but there are peaks at or near 0 dB (explosions, sudden loud music, etc).

DRC 'squishes' that range so that the peaks are not as high and hence not as loud. Reducing the peaks has the effect of increasing the average level and the human ear responds to the average level. With compression on, you won't get rocked out of your seat as much and the dialog and other softer sounds are easier to hear. That's why it is often labeled 'midnight mode' because it's the type of feature you'd use late at night so as not to disturb others.

2. I have a samsung lcd tv. I tried the preset codes built in the remote.
none of them seem to work. is there some other way than have to
teach it. I would assume the presets should work with the newer model
tv's. I have the 750 series.

The preset codes are called 'setup codes'. It's a number that points to a table of information about the codes for a particular brand/device. The code to perform a particular function, such as volume up, is just a number and that preset table includes those values as well as info like which communication protocol to use to send that number to the device.

Now, the preset codes don't always fully cover every device and some manufacturers change their codes from year to year. It's why, for example, a typical manual with a list of codes for Sony will list a dozen or more setup codes. If the remote does not have a setup code with the right codes for all of the functions of a particular device there is nothing you can do about it.

Short story is that just because the manual lists a setup code for Samsung there is no guarantee that it will work for your particular Samsung. It's why learning remotes are preferred and pre-programmed remotes can be problematic in some instances.

3. Does anyone use THX cinema mode? are there certains modes that
sound better than others or one has to experiment? I watch standard
dvd's as well as HD and BD HD-Audio.

People have their preferences but those preferences were determined by experimenting with the different modes. For example, my preference is Dolby ProLogic II Music and I use it for everything.

4. when I turn off my samsung BD player, it turns off the receiver.
is there away to disable that feature?

I would guess that you have the two connected by HDMI and the HDMI CEC feature is enabled. CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) is a scheme that allows the devices to communicate and work together to make things simpler (or more annoying).

It's equivalent to systems like Onkyo's Remote Interactive that provide features like automatically turning off all devices when one is turned off, automatically selecting the dvd input when you press play on the dvd player, etc. With HDMI CEC, there should be a menu option to disable it.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Rym

Hi,

I just got the SC-05. I have a few questions I could not find online.

1. DRC (dynamic range compression). what does this do?
how is it different from midnight mode. when it's ON or OFF, what
difference should be heard? I could not seem to get midnight mode
so I guess I'm not in the right mode. the manual could have more
details, that would help.

2. I have a samsung lcd tv. I tried the preset codes built in the remote.
none of them seem to work. is there some other way than have to
teach it. I would assume the presets should work with the newer model
tv's. I have the 750 series.

3. Does anyone use THX cinema mode? are there certains modes that
sound better than others or one has to experiment? I watch standard
dvd's as well as HD and BD HD-Audio.

4. when I turn off my samsung BD player, it turns off the receiver.
is there away to disable that feature?

thanks for your help!

First, if you read your manual, you'll find some explanations.
And take your time to read it, even if it's take a half day.

1. DRC is like it says, it compresses the sound, which is similar to midnight mode, when you don't want to wake up the kids sleeping.
If you don't have any kids, don't bother to ever use it, or just use the midnight mode, when listening at low volume.

2. Again, in your manual you should find the instructions with all the codes.
Just read the instructions attentively and follow the directives till you get it.

3. Yes, some people use the THX Cinema mode for listening to movies on DVDs for instance with only a Dolby Surround audio track (quite rare nowadays though). Just experiment, and choose the audio mode that you like. Everyone is different in their tastes of audio modes.

4. Yes, go into the menu setup of your receiver, in the HDMI feature section, and disable the CEC (or whatever else Pioneer called it), it is for turning your blu-ray player and your receiver on and off at the same time (also some TVs), through the HDMI cable. I just hate that feature. Some people like it though. Depends where you coming from or where your remote control is coming from!

* RYM = Read Your Manual. And try to understand by taking your time and also by experimenting with the various features and their dedicated buttons on your remote and the front panel.

And call Pioneer and tell them to write their manual so you can understand it.

Cheers,

LOTR

Note: I was typing while that post above me just came in. So now you have two set of solutions. Whatever post sounds best to you, just leave it there...

 

[photoeye]

thanks for taking the time to explain further in detail.

yes, read the manual 3 times. it explains it in a way that makes
things more unclear, at least to me. there was not a drastic difference with
the DRC at OFF or MAX hence I'm asking.

 

[Lordoftherings]

thanks for taking the time to explain further in detail.

yes, read the manual 3 times. it explains it in a way that makes
things more unclear, at least to me. there was not a drastic difference with
the DRC at OFF or MAX hence I'm asking.

"DRC" is only effective with DVD or HD DVD (or BD) that contains a Dolby Digital (or DD+, or DD TrueHD) audio soundtrack. It is not effective with any other mode, including dtS or any other ones.

LOTR

 

[MDS]

Additionally, DRC has a limited or unnoticeable effect on some soundtracks (usually ones that don't have such a huge dynamic range). For the most part it is noticeable and I use it all the time even if there is nobody else in the house.