HELP, Oppo BDP-83 and AIX calibration software

[milzi007]

I just got a rotel rsx-1550 and I started my full system calibration today. I used my AIX calibration blu ray and my Oppo BDP-83 to test all of the new surround modes (dolby TrueHD, dts master audio, etc). All of the tests ran flawlessly, except for the dts master audio. When that test ran the volume was extremely low coming out of each speaker. When I tried any other of the approx. 10 surround modes they were at the same (much higher) volume.

I changed the audio output settings on the oppo to PCM or bitstream (can't remember which) andthe volume was now louder, however the dts master audio light was not on and the display read "multi channel" - similar to my PS3.

I am wondering if there is something wrong with my oppo or my rotel - or is it normal for dts master audio to be much much lower than the other surrounds. Even lower than Dobly TrueHD???

Sorry for such a long post but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[BIslander]

It's the disc, not your equipment. You have to configure the decoding device as 7.1 in order for the dts-MA tests to play properly.

[milzi007]

Originally Posted by BIslander

It's the disc, not your equipment. You have to configure the decoding device as 7.1 in order for the dts-MA tests to play properly.

How would I do that? I know I went to audio options and chose the 7.1 option. Is there something else?

Thanks for your help!

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by milzi007

How would I do that? I know I went to audio options and chose the 7.1 option. Is there something else?

If you are bitstreaming, configure your receiver for 7.1. If you are decoding in the player for PCM or analog output, configure the player for 7.1. It doesn't matter how many speakers you actually have. The AIX disc only plays dts-MA at normal volume on systems configured as 7.1.

[milzi007]

Quote:
Originally Posted by milzi007
How would I do that? I know I went to audio options and chose the 7.1 option. Is there something else?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BIslander
If you are bitstreaming, configure your receiver for 7.1. If you are decoding in the player for PCM or analog output, configure the player for 7.1. It doesn't matter how many speakers you actually have. The AIX disc only plays dts-MA at normal volume on systems configured as 7.1.


I tried all the options and no go, thanks for all your suggestions.

[Wileyman]

milzi, I had the same issue when I first got my OPPO and was worried something was wrong but yeah, it's just the disc. So don't worry too much about it, all my DTS MA blu-rays decode just fine and sound fantastic.

Another strange thing is on the True HD test mode the announcer guy kept telling me the track I was hearing wasn't the True HD track but the standard dolby track, even though True HD was indicated on the display. So I went through the settings and changed the optical setting from bitstream to PCM and it seemed to do the trick.

Anybody else notice on some of the performance videos the audio/video seems out of sync or is it just me?

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by milzi007

I tried all the options and no go, thanks for all your suggestions.

What options are you referring to? You need to change your equipment configuation. When you set up your receiver, you likely configured it for 5.1. You need to reconfigure it for 7.1.

[milzi007]

Originally Posted by BIslander

What options are you referring to? You need to change your equipment configuation. When you set up your receiver, you likely configured it for 5.1. You need to reconfigure it for 7.1.

I changed all the settings on the oppo to configure it for 7.1, in the sound processing tab under speaker setup and i made sure on the AIX disc it was set to 7.1. I haven't fully set my receiver up yet, so you are probably right about the 5.1 considering i need an external amp to run 7.1 with my receiver. Thanks again for all your help.

Wileyman, i am really happy you posted - u probably saved me a few phone calls to my dealer and oppo.

Thanks again - milzi

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Wileyman

Another strange thing is on the True HD test mode the announcer guy kept telling me the track I was hearing wasn't the True HD track but the standard dolby track, even though True HD was indicated on the display. So I went through the settings and changed the optical setting from bitstream to PCM and it seemed to do the trick.

The announcer is on the companion DD 5.1 track that gets played whenever the TrueHD cannot be used. If you are set to bitstream using an optical connection, you will get DD 5.1 because lossless can't be bitstreamed over optical. Changing to PCM enables the player to decode the TrueHD track. But, the optical output will be stereo, not multichannel.

[milzi007]

Originally Posted by BIslander

What options are you referring to? You need to change your equipment configuation. When you set up your receiver, you likely configured it for 5.1. You need to reconfigure it for 7.1.

Are you familiar with the RSX-1550 at all? I can't find any setting that would allow me to be in a 7.1 mode? Does it default to a 5.1 mode because I disable the Center Back Speakers (additional 2 surrounds)? Thanks again, sorry for all the newbie questions.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by milzi007

Are you familiar with the RSX-1550 at all? I can't find any setting that would allow me to be in a 7.1 mode? Does it default to a 5.1 mode because I disable the Center Back Speakers (additional 2 surrounds)? Thanks again, sorry for all the newbie questions.

If it is a 7.1 receiver and you configure it without the two rear speakers, then you've configured it for 5.1. It's a simple matter to get back to 7.1 for the purpose of using the AIX dts-MA test tracks. Go into the AVR set-up and enable the rear speakers. Then, when you bitstream the dts-MA test track to your receiver, it will play at the proper volume.

Here's what appears to be going on: I believe the legacy DTS core on the test disc is encoded at very low volume. That's how you know the core is being used instead of the lossless track. If the test disc were properly designed, the addition of 5.1 lossless extension data would restore full volume. But, the disc doesn't work that way. It looks like volume is only restored when the decoder produces a 7.1 output. So, if you are decoding in your player, you need to configure the player for 7.1. If you are decoding in your receiver, you need to configure the AVR for 7.1.

I decode in my player (a Panasonic BD55) for analog output. I got very low volume when I tried the AIX dts-MA test. After enabling the rear speakers on my player, the test track played at normal volume.

[milzi007]

Originally Posted by BIslander

If it is a 7.1 receiver and you configure it without the two rear speakers, then you've configured it for 5.1. It's a simple matter to get back to 7.1 for the purpose of using the AIX dts-MA test tracks. Go into the AVR set-up and enable the rear speakers. Then, when you bitstream the dts-MA test track to your receiver, it will play at the proper volume.

Here's what appears to be going on: I believe the legacy DTS core on the test disc is encoded at very low volume. That's how you know the core is being used instead of the lossless track. If the test disc were properly designed, the addition of 5.1 lossless extension data would restore full volume. But, the disc doesn't work that way. It looks like volume is only restored when the decoder produces a 7.1 output. So, if you are decoding in your player, you need to configure the player for 7.1. If you are decoding in your receiver, you need to configure the AVR for 7.1.

I decode in my player (a Panasonic BD55) for analog output. I got very low volume when I tried the AIX dts-MA test. After enabling the rear speakers on my player, the test track played at normal volume.

Can't thank you enough for all your help and responses. I will update you when I get home tonight.