Wanna hear real world BT music casting opinions

[highfigh]

Appreciate the response, but it seems you didn't read anything from what has already been discussed. all the things you recommended are already done. Have been for years on my end. I think we got it squared away!

I read most of this, but didn't wade through the whole thing. I missed the one line that shows you're connected via ethernet but didn't see anything about hard reset or firmware although updating firmware with a bad app is like putting lipstick on a pig.

What about controlling it via IP in your browser? Does that work?

 

[blk00ss]

I read most of this, but didn't wade through the whole thing. I missed the one line that shows you're connected via ethernet but didn't see anything about hard reset or firmware although updating firmware with a bad app is like putting lipstick on a pig.

What about controlling it via IP in your browser? Does that work?

You're missing the issue. as I stated in an earlier reply, the issue was found to be on the Pandora end which they have now resolved. A factory reset wasn't going to fix this nor was there a firmware update to do. Pandora's app stopped working with Denon over this past weekend

IP control does work, but its the same thing as the Denon remote app I already use on my phone. Its literally the same thing. Its the pre loaded Pandora app that comes on Denon AVRs that had the issue. Using IP control doesn't change nor would've fixed this issue. Even when doing IP based control it still brings up the Pandora app that was not working.

Also, I don't use BT. I have since Saturday when the preloaded Pandora app that comes on the Denon receiver stopped working. But as I stated, I hate BT, sound quality sucks with BT and its glitchy. which is why I wanted the app on the Denon receiver to work which ag8ian, they have fixed.

 

[highfigh]

You're missing the issue. as I stated in an earlier reply, the issue was found to be on the Pandora end which they have now resolved. A factory reset wasn't going to fix this nor was there a firmware update to do. Pandora's app stopped working with Denon over this past weekend

IP control does work, but its the same thing as the Denon remote app I already use on my phone. Its literally the same thing. Its the pre loaded Pandora app that comes on Denon AVRs that had the issue. Using IP control doesn't change nor would've fixed this issue. Even when doing IP based control it still brings up the Pandora app that was not working.

Also, I don't use BT. I have since Saturday when the preloaded Pandora app that comes on the Denon receiver stopped working. But as I stated, I hate BT, sound quality sucks with BT and its glitchy. which is why I wanted the app on the Denon receiver to work which ag8ian, they have fixed.

I was addressing "I use the Denon remote app which is God awful (Go read reviews). It drops often, locks up, looses connection, etc." from your original post and Pandora has had several outages using Denon AVRs over more than ten years. I saw that as a priority over Pandora and your original question was about BT, which says NOTHING about Pandora, it more likely says that maybe WiFi is causing some kind of problem. BTW, in the past, firmware updates on the Denon end DID break Pandora and only a Denon update fixed it although some outages were caused by Pandora.

Try using a good BT receiver if you think it sounds bad or is glitchy- they actually exist. I tried using a $299 Musical Fidelity BT receiver and that piece of crap lost the signal after I was about 25' away, through open doors and vinyl siding. The Miccus never dropped out, even though my brick house was between me and the receiver. I compared the Musical Fidelity with AirPlay and it sounded terrible. Like you, I thought BT was complete crap until I tried the Miccus after looking into the updated versions and that changed my mind.

BT wouldn't help with the Denon & Pandora so I don't know why you even mentioned it but at least they fixed it quickly- in the past, it took longer.

 

[blk00ss]

I was addressing "I use the Denon remote app which is God awful (Go read reviews). It drops often, locks up, looses connection, etc." from your original post and Pandora has had several outages using Denon AVRs over more than ten years. I saw that as a priority over Pandora and your original question was about BT, which says NOTHING about Pandora, it more likely says that maybe WiFi is causing some kind of problem. BTW, in the past, firmware updates on the Denon end DID break Pandora and only a Denon update fixed it although some outages were caused by Pandora.

Try using a good BT receiver if you think it sounds bad or is glitchy- they actually exist. I tried using a $299 Musical Fidelity BT receiver and that piece of crap lost the signal after I was about 25' away, through open doors and vinyl siding. The Miccus never dropped out, even though my brick house was between me and the receiver. I compared the Musical Fidelity with AirPlay and it sounded terrible. Like you, I thought BT was complete crap until I tried the Miccus after looking into the updated versions and that changed my mind.

BT wouldn't help with the Denon & Pandora so I don't know why you even mentioned it but at least they fixed it quickly- in the past, it took longer.

I get what you're saying. In this instance, BT did help. Since the Pandora app within the Denon menu wasn't working, I had to use the Denon remote app to control volume basically, but I had to select BT on the Denon remote app as my source, then bring up the Pandora app separately then BT it to the Denon avr. Normally, I'd just use Pandora within Denon (if that makes sense). The Denon app isn't great. But having to BT the Pandora separate app to the Denon avr was worse than just using the Denon app.

To your point, I'm shocked they resolved it as quick as they did

 

[highfigh]

I get what you're saying. In this instance, BT did help. Since the Pandora app within the Denon menu wasn't working, I had to use the Denon remote app to control volume basically, but I had to select BT on the Denon remote app as my source, then bring up the Pandora app separately then BT it to the Denon avr. Normally, I'd just use Pandora within Denon (if that makes sense). The Denon app isn't great. But having to BT the Pandora separate app to the Denon avr was worse than just using the Denon app.

To your point, I'm shocked they resolved it as quick as they did

What phone do you use? You might be able to stream from that via WiFi.

 

[blk00ss]

What phone do you use? You might be able to stream from that via WiFi.

Iphone

 

[highfigh]

Iphone

And AirPlay doesn't work? Given the choice, I would use that over BT unless the WiFi range isn't great and in that case, the Miccus is what I would use.

When I installed it in a school gym with full size basketball court, I was only hopeful that it would cover that much distance, but I walked the whole court in a wide zig zag without any dropouts, then went outside. It finally had a few hiccups when I was out there, but at that point, the signal was trying to pass through four concrete block walls at an angle- inside, it has to pass through two.

I use three BT receivers- one in my garage (Logitech- it's just OK), one in my van (plugs into the cigarette lighter and transmits via FM to the radio and another in my boat (Fusion Marine) and none of them work outside of roughly 25 feet but the range with that $50 Miccus piece absolutely blew me away. It announces the connection and I didn't see anything in the instructions, so I called the company and someone actually answered quickly.

 

[Trebdp83]

The built in Pandora app does have issues on other platforms as well. My Onkyo receivers all have a Pandora app built in and I occasionally have to sign out of Pandora and back in on any given receiver because Pandora just doesn't want to work at times. Like the Denon app, the Onkyo controller app can work the receiver functions and Source selections.

Airplay 2 from an iPhone works well and Airplay 2 works with multiple receivers and Zones. But, the Airplay device must keep the streaming app ON and in the range of the network to which the receiver is connected. If a receiver has a built in Pandora app, there really is no good reason not to use it.

 

[blk00ss]

The built in Pandora app does have issues on other platforms as well. My Onkyo receivers all have a Pandora app built in and I occasionally have to sign out of Pandora and back in on any given receiver because Pandora just doesn't want to work at times. Like the Denon app, the Onkyo controller app can work the receiver functions and Source selections.

Airplay 2 from an iPhone works well and Airplay 2 works with multiple receivers and Zones. But, the Airplay device must keep the streaming app ON and in the range of the network to which the receiver is connected. If a receiver has a built in Pandora app, there really is no good reason not to use it.
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I agree, which is why I was frustrated when the built in Pandora app wasn't working this past weekend. I did also use Airplay while the Pandora app was down. But it too is glitchy. When I said this AVR isn't my favorite, this is one of the issues I was speaking of. Just to give an idea of some of the issues I've had with this receiver, see below...

1) I have an HDMI port that turns to snow on the screen in the middle of a movie/ gaming. Happens a couple times a year. Not a huge deal, I can simply change the source real quick and come right back and its fine

2) This thing has a hard time staying connected. When using BT, Airplay, etc it'll stall, sound will cut out etc. and I'm not out of range. This can/ will happens while I'm in the same room. and...its not my internet connection. I have plenty of speed to my house. we often times have 3 PS4's running at the same time. This stupid AVR messes up when I'm the only one home, and its the only thing even on

3) Years ago I'd like to connect my phone to the front USB port. Sometimes it recognizes something is plugged into it, but often times it doesn't. I have to pull the power cord, reconnect it, kick avr back on, and it'll recognize something is connected...until the next time.

4) and this is just annoying. Black paint started chipping of about a year after I bought it. I became curious about this and actually found others online who had the same complaint. Not a giant issue, just cosmetic, but definitely aggravating.

Long story short, this AVR has always been finicky. Having to use Airplay, BT to connect Pandora app to an already horrible Denon remote app wasn't great. It worked, but wasn't great. Using Pandora with the AVR is definitely the better way to go, at least for the AVR I have. All of these issues were logged with Denon, but during that time, it seemed their support had really slacked. it just seemed like every call or comms with them would get drug out to the point you give up. They are now part of Sound United which also carries the Marantz, Onkyo and Pioneer line. Not sure if thats a good or bad thing, but my next AVR won't be any of those. I had a considered a Pioneer at one time because I used to love their products. But now that they're in the same lineup as Denon, I think I'll pass

 

[highfigh]

I agree, which is why I was frustrated when the built in Pandora app wasn't working this past weekend. I did also use Airplay while the Pandora app was down. But it too is glitchy. When I said this AVR isn't my favorite, this is one of the issues I was speaking of. Just to give an idea of some of the issues I've had with this receiver, see below...

1) I have an HDMI port that turns to snow on the screen in the middle of a movie/ gaming. Happens a couple times a year. Not a huge deal, I can simply change the source real quick and come right back and its fine

2) This thing has a hard time staying connected. When using BT, Airplay, etc it'll stall, sound will cut out etc. and I'm not out of range. This can/ will happens while I'm in the same room. and...its not my internet connection. I have plenty of speed to my house. we often times have 3 PS4's running at the same time. This stupid AVR messes up when I'm the only one home, and its the only thing even on

3) Years ago I'd like to connect my phone to the front USB port. Sometimes it recognizes something is plugged into it, but often times it doesn't. I have to pull the power cord, reconnect it, kick avr back on, and it'll recognize something is connected...until the next time.

4) and this is just annoying. Black paint started chipping of about a year after I bought it. I became curious about this and actually found others online who had the same complaint. Not a giant issue, just cosmetic, but definitely aggravating.

Long story short, this AVR has always been finicky. Having to use Airplay, BT to connect Pandora app to an already horrible Denon remote app wasn't great. It worked, but wasn't great. Using Pandora with the AVR is definitely the better way to go, at least for the AVR I have. All of these issues were logged with Denon, but during that time, it seemed their support had really slacked. it just seemed like every call or comms with them would get drug out to the point you give up. They are now part of Sound United which also carries the Marantz, Onkyo and Pioneer line. Not sure if thats a good or bad thing, but my next AVR won't be any of those. I had a considered a Pioneer at one time because I used to love their products. But now that they're in the same lineup as Denon, I think I'll pass

Customer/tech support has suffered for several years and the ownership changes are a big part of it. Denon/Marantz became part of Sound United in 2017.

Your loss of video could be caused by a cable, setting or the port(s) on the TV or AVR. It could also be caused by an EDID error, but that mainly shows up as black screen. I saw snow because of a shytty set of HDMI extenders but that ended once they were replaced.

What are you using for a router? Speed TO your house and data throughput on your network are two very different things and using three PS4s at the same time can really tax the router's capacity although freaking out when you're the only one using the network is another issue.

Do you have a lot of other smart devices, like cameras, lights, appliances, etc?

How old is the USB cable used for connecting the phone? Mine last about a year and I don't abuse them. Another thing that causes problems when using phones is dust in the charging port when the phone is kept in a pocket.

Do you ever reboot your router? Most need that, occasionally. Some, like the ATT crap I had, needed that at least weekly and one customer who used U-Verse had constant problems until I cured him of ATT and Apple AirPort garbage.

 

[Trebdp83]

Sometimes you get a lemon. I returned a Yamaha TSR-700, the Costco twin of the RX-V6A, because it was very glitchy. Yamaha reached out to me for feedback on the new unit and actually sent me a free RX-V6A when I told them I had returned the TSR-700. That was a sweet deal.

While Denon/Marantz are currently a part of Sound United, stay tuned there, Integra/Pioneer/Onkyo are over at Voxx.

 

[loius0044]

On wifi....best to say its "iffy".

If we're talking using the actual remote and doing the onscreen Pandora, or firmware updates, not horrible. Little slow at times, but overall not awful

I too don't like using BT. Quality sucks and BT is not dependable IMO. You have to understand, I use the Denon Remote app to access the included Pandora app that comes preloaded on the receiver. Two years ago when I ran speaker cabling through my walls and attic out to the outdoor space/ speakers I quickly realized the Denon Remote app (because I can't carry the actual remote around) was no good. It worked "ok" for a few days, then suddenly, it stopped working. After hours and hours of trying to figure out the issue I found that the receiver for some odd reason was now only "discoverable" if the AVR was hardwired. Ok, no big deal, I dropped an ethernet cable like I do for all our data hogs. But even then, the app as I stated hangs up, stalls, looses connection. You would be listening to it and adjust volume via your phone, put your phone down and 30 seconds later decide you wanna skip past a song and when you'd bring the app back up it would spin and spin, but when it finally came up, you'd be back at the main screen as f you were starting the app for the first time of the day. Definitely not recommendable, just go read the app reviews. they're not good. But, what other choice did I have? My request was simple...I have zone 1 and 2. when in zone 2, I wanna listen to music and I'd like to be able to control that music with some sort of remote. Can't really use the actual remote from where zone 2 is, so along came the Denon remote app. Their idea was good. But the app sucks. Being able to access Pandora, online music, BT, etc using the app (which is basically just the onscreen menu when using the remote) was a good idea. But to be honest, this AVR What is drayage? has never been great. Honestly, I don't think I'll own another Deon brand (Denon, Marantz, Pioneer, Onkyo) receiver.

Great and informative ideas