I was expecting something a little better

[g859]

Got my Pioneer VSX-819H receiver last weekend, and I was all excited for the lossless audio I had been wanting to enjoy for a long time. I got everything setup properly, but when I compare the lossless audio to the normal lossy audio, I can't hear any difference, which worries me because I can usually detect differences in audio and I once heard Iron Man playing on someone else's setup and I immediately could hear the difference that TrueHD made, but that is not the case with what I'm experiencing. Even on Pirates of the Caribbean, I compared the DD track @ 640kbps to the LinearPCM @ 6.9mbps and heard no difference.

I believe my receiver is fine, it's brand new and does all of the lossless codecs, and my PS3 (I know it decodes all of the lossless stuff on-board) should be up-to-date, but I'm not sure as I haven't been able to connect to the internet with it for some time. I have two HDMI 1.3a cables I'm using for my setup. One goes from the PS3 to the receiver, and another from the receiver to the TV.

I think my speakers are to blame, but I am not sure.

I'm trying to enjoy Transformers again, this time 'round with TrueHD on, but it sounds just like it did when I saw it with the normal DD on.

Am I missing something?

Here's what I'm using for speakers:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1202650703861

The sub is also something that worries me.

Here's what the problem is:
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...761208cv1a.jpg

I believe I have it setup right, but if someone could clarify as to how to do it correctly, it would of great help.

Thanks guys.

[DC_Street]

it looks like your speakers are your limiting factor

but you should hear some kind of difference, even before I upgraded to the polk monitor speakers I could hear a difference on my cheapo onkyo speakers

[helfdene]

I believe your speakers are to blame based on my personal experience.

I owed similar type Sony speakers from a low-end HTIB. HD audio just made them sound louder… nothing there to really appreciate. I then upgraded the fronts with R-15 Polk Audio and the center with the corresponding R-15 model (don’t remember the exact model number). My new setup, modest no doubt, really opened my ears to HD Audio. I currently have a Paradigm setup and the sound is truly amazing (same receiver using my PS3).

A modest upgrade of you fronts and center should get you going in the right direction.

[Canada]

I had Sony speakers and then I upgraded my reciever to a Pioneer and I could not hear a lot of difference. Then I upgraded my speakers to B&W's made all the difference in the world.

Recommended brands

B&W http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/ I would suggest the 600 series I love mine.
http://www.hometheatermag.com/receiv...onk/index.html

or the Paradigm Moniter series if you can't afford the B&W's

Paradigm http://paradigm.com/en/paradigm/fron...1-2-4.paradigm

http://www.hometheatermag.com/floorl...av5/index.html

[HAMP]

I have some really cheap Panasonic HTiB speakers and I can hear the difference, I'm not saying yours are cheap, I'm just saying it can be heard with cheap speakers so that is not the issue here.

When watching the blu-ray movie and you press the 'Display" button on the remote, is it saying TrueHD or Dolby?

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by g859

Got my Pioneer VSX-819H receiver last weekend, and I was all excited for the lossless audio I had been wanting to enjoy for a long time. I got everything setup properly, but when I compare the lossless audio to the normal lossy audio, I can't hear any difference, which worries me because I can usually detect differences in audio and I once heard Iron Man playing on someone else's setup and I immediately could hear the difference that TrueHD made, but that is not the case with what I'm experiencing. Even on Pirates of the Caribbean, I compared the DD track @ 640kbps to the LinearPCM @ 6.9mbps and heard no difference.

I believe my receiver is fine, it's brand new and does all of the lossless codecs, and my PS3 (I know it decodes all of the lossless stuff on-board) should be up-to-date, but I'm not sure as I haven't been able to connect to the internet with it for some time. I have two HDMI 1.3a cables I'm using for my setup. One goes from the PS3 to the receiver, and another from the receiver to the TV.

I think my speakers are to blame, but I am not sure.

I'm trying to enjoy Transformers again, this time 'round with TrueHD on, but it sounds just like it did when I saw it with the normal DD on.

Am I missing something?

Here's what I'm using for speakers:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1202650703861

The sub is also something that worries me.

Here's what the problem is:
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...761208cv1a.jpg

I believe I have it setup right, but if someone could clarify as to how to do it correctly, it would of great help.

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by DC_Street

it looks like your speakers are your limiting factor

but you should hear some kind of difference, even before I upgraded to the polk monitor speakers I could hear a difference on my cheapo onkyo speakers

Yes my friend....welcome to the club...

Just when you thought you were done.

[CasualKiller]

He already listed the different bitrates, he's getting lossless. As for the speaker recommendation if he's using 150.00 HTIB speakers I really doubt a drastic upgrade like that is in his near future.

OP: not sure what to tell you man, start saving...

[g859]

I believe I really only need to get a center, I have a pair of speakers that are from the 70's (yes, that old ; not a bad thing though) that are 8 ohm and should be fairly good.

See this thread:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=103961

Tell me if they would be ok.

[liquidice]

based on the link to the thread about your vintage speakers, sounds like they are not going to be the best 'home theater' speakers, unless you set them up properly through the AVR x-over settings, and keep them at a moderate to low volume, which of course many of us hate to do.

[g859]

Well, damn, how about these then?

http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Mon...5723334&sr=1-7

http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Two...5723334&sr=1-8

Cheap, and the review's say they are pretty good.

[liquidice]

don't get me wrong, you've got a couple of great vintage speakers that will give you great quality 2 channel audio playback. No reason you can't work those into an audio system. As far as Polk goes, do your shopping around. New egg has deals on them all the time, and are usually the lowest price to advertise. I don't own Polk, so my conversation stops here. One member among many that use Polk is my good bud forsberg, and he may be able to give you some personally solid review and links to look for bargains.

[Jwilly019]

If you're interested in Polk, check out the Polk Speakers Thread. They have a group of 4 or 5 guys that are all quite knowledgeable and should be able to answer any questions you might have.

[starkent08]

Originally Posted by g859

Got my Pioneer VSX-819H receiver last weekend, and I was all excited for the lossless audio I had been wanting to enjoy for a long time. I got everything setup properly, but when I compare the lossless audio to the normal lossy audio, I can't hear any difference, which worries me because I can usually detect differences in audio and I once heard Iron Man playing on someone else's setup and I immediately could hear the difference that TrueHD made, but that is not the case with what I'm experiencing. Even on Pirates of the Caribbean, I compared the DD track @ 640kbps to the LinearPCM @ 6.9mbps and heard no difference.

I believe my receiver is fine, it's brand new and does all of the lossless codecs, and my PS3 (I know it decodes all of the lossless stuff on-board) should be up-to-date, but I'm not sure as I haven't been able to connect to the internet with it for some time. I have two HDMI 1.3a cables I'm using for my setup. One goes from the PS3 to the receiver, and another from the receiver to the TV.

I think my speakers are to blame, but I am not sure.

I'm trying to enjoy Transformers again, this time 'round with TrueHD on, but it sounds just like it did when I saw it with the normal DD on.

Am I missing something?

Here's what I'm using for speakers:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1202650703861

The sub is also something that worries me.

Here's what the problem is:
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US...761208cv1a.jpg

I believe I have it setup right, but if someone could clarify as to how to do it correctly, it would of great help.

Thanks guys.

Sears has a clearance on there boston acoustic speakers i picked up 1500 dollars worth of speakers in cluding the fronts rears and center for 400 bucks there way better then alot of speakers u can buy the fronts alone retailed for 350 a piece

[SRTCraig]

Originally Posted by HAMP

I have some really cheap Panasonic HTiB speakers and I can hear the difference, I'm not saying yours are cheap, I'm just saying it can be heard with cheap speakers so that is not the issue here.

When watching the blu-ray movie and you press the 'Display" button on the remote, is it saying TrueHD or Dolby?

I agree hamp. If you've listened to the same setup for a long time the hidef codecs should be noticeable. There has to something else going on setting wise?

[g859]

I had my previous setup for a year using optical, I was really hoping to hear a least a noticeable difference. Could wiring affect quality? I have (I think) 16 gauge wiring for my rears and some really thin crappy stuff that came with the speakers for the fronts.

I have no idea, to be honest. I have the grilles off of the speakers all the time, who knows if that'd have an effect

[SRTCraig]

Originally Posted by g859

I had my previous setup for a year using optical, I was really hoping to hear a least a noticeable difference. Could wiring affect quality? I have (I think) 16 gauge wiring for my rears and some really thin crappy stuff that came with the speakers for the fronts.

I have no idea, to be honest. I have the grilles off of the speakers all the time, who knows if that'd have an effect

Regardless of equipment if the codec is improved everybody should hear a difference on an existing set up. This is the sole reason that it is highly recommended to try equipment at home, and that most reviews are merely guidelines, unless of course, all equipment is the same.

Most speaker manufacturers make their speakers and "voice" them with the grilles on. There are some speaker makers that recommend leaving them off but not many.

[g859]

I'll put those back on tomorrow.

Every time I automatically setup the HDMI audio on the PS3, it selects 7.1 Linear PCM 192kHz, even though my receiver is 5.1.

Should I go back and manually change it to every 5.1 option? I read in my receiver manual that it supports up to 192kHz on PCM, DD, and DTS tracks (including the HD codecs). It also selects the 44.1/88.2/176.4kHz options, which I have no clue as to what would use those, so I'll probably disable those.

[HAMP]

Does it ever select TrueHD or Master?

[g859]

It selects every option except for AAC. There isn't a TrueHD/DTS-HDMA option in the menu iirc.

[HAMP]

I'm talking about when you are watching a blu-ray movie.