Sony STR-DN1020 won't decode

[604maxximus]

I was tasked to se up my daughters new Sony STR-DN1020. Audio equipment is not an area I am familiar with so I ask for some help! I followed the directions on how to hook up the cable box and PS3 to the receiver via HDMI and have an HDMI cable going from the Sony to a samsung LCD tv. Everything works however when watching TV or the PS3, the blue light on the front of the Sony labled "multi channel decoder" never lights up. By accident we switched the TV from Video 1 to video 2 and obviously lost the video signal but suddenly the "multi channel decoder" light lit up and as well as the display indicating it was playing dolby 5.1. When I switched back to Video 1 we got the picture signal back but the Sony reverted back to nothing being lit up, the dolby digital notification disapearing but we still got sound.

HELP!?!?

 

[j_garcia]

The audio stream itself can be an issue also since there are a number of different factors there just on the PS3: 1) you need to have a stream that is actually detectable by the receiver (DD, DD+, DD TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, DTS HD-MA, etc...). When using the main menu and various features, those codecs are not used and the receiver will most likely show just PCM. Some games do use DD and DTS codecs too, but not all. Watching a Blu-ray or DVD with one of these audio formats should trigger the light but: 2) You also have it set to bitstream instead of PCM for that light to light up. If watching Netflix or Amazon Prime, it will depend on what you are watching, since not all material is 5.1. The same goes for the cable box - if you aren't watching something that is broadcast in 5.1, it will most likely not light up.

If I recall correctly, the PCM vs Bitstream setting is in the BD/DVD settings in System Settings (and that is only available if it is a "slim" PS3, not the earlier generation).

 

[604maxximus]

The problem corrected itself when I switched from Video 1 to Video 2 on the TV. For some reason the reciever did its thing when I switched the TV to Video 2 which is puzzlingly because the HMDI for the video is plugged into the Video 1 port. It seems that when the reciever some how "detected" that the video was not being displayed on Video 1 on the TV, it decided to output the sound in Dolby digital 5.1. I don't understand how swicthing from video 1 to video 2 on my TV (touching nothing on the receiver) would cause this issue? When the TV is switched to Video 2 obviously I get no picture but awesome sound. I'm confused

 

[j_garcia]

That part is a bit odd, but it could mean there was a problem with the HDMI "handshake" between the PS3, TV and/or receiver when it happened.

 

[Grador]

Did the sound actually change/improve when this happened? It could be something as simple as the light not working properly. Also, what sound mode do you have it set to? Try setting it to A.F.D Auto [auto format direct], this setting automatically selects the correct decoder, and leaves the signal unchanged (no effects).

 

[604maxximus]

I solved the problem by going to the Sony web site for assistance. The Amp is set by default to output sound to the amp and TV. Sony states that if this is the case, sound will only be sent out in 2 channel mode with no decoding. I had to switch from "AMP/TV" to just "AMP" as the output for the sound and just like that the issue was solved. So that explains why the Amp would suddenly output decoded sound when it detected no TV was connected to it (by switching by accident from Video 1 where the HDMI was plugged into to Video 2 which was empty)

 

[Grador]

That is an exceptionally bizarre default setting, nice catch.