Help Crackinhedz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bobh33]

I climb the mountain in search of your knowledge!!! I have been trying to follow other threads along with posting some of my own, but I have come down to these questions. I have the complete Onkyo HT-S894 system with HDMI audio/video from DVD to AVR and HDMI to TV with optical coming back.
I just am not happy with the audio yet on TV or DVD's. I just think it should be crisper and more precise, and hopefully at lower volumes also. I'm happy with the bass, but I just don't seem to be getting the "tight clicks" on things like something dropping on the floor or glass breaking etc. Do I have champagne taste on a beer budget????

1) I am still using original 22 guage wire
2) I have played with speakers levels, etc. in reference to the size of the room but maybe not the right way
3) What should the crossover settings be?
4) I have HD channels coming straight into the TV from the wall, so in my TV video settings, it's coming in on "exit" vs. video 1, etc.
5) Does multi-channel vs. optical matter in this system?
6) Any other audio setting ideas?
7) Is it true that cable providers don't send signals at "full strength" all the time which could lessen audio quality. If so, do dishes have any better quality/consistency in audio transmission?

Like I say, I could be too picky for my own good & budget. Thanks in advance for answering the same questions again (and again and again)!!!!

[crackinhedz]

how could I pass up a thread called "Help Crackinhedz!"

although I cant give you a solid answer now at work...I will try when im home tonight.

In the meantime maybe others will give some sound advice.

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by bobh33

I climb the mountain in search of your knowledge!!! I have been trying to follow other threads along with posting some of my own, but I have come down to these questions. I have the complete Onkyo HT-S894 system with HDMI audio/video from DVD to AVR and HDMI to TV with optical coming back.
I just am not happy with the audio yet on TV or DVD's. I just think it should be crisper and more precise, and hopefully at lower volumes also. I'm happy with the bass, but I just don't seem to be getting the "tight clicks" on things like something dropping on the floor or glass breaking etc. Do I have champagne taste on a beer budget????

1) I am still using original 22 guage wire
2) I have played with speakers levels, etc. in reference to the size of the room but maybe not the right way
3) What should the crossover settings be?
4) I have HD channels coming straight into the TV from the wall, so in my TV video settings, it's coming in on "exit" vs. video 1, etc.
5) Does multi-channel vs. optical matter in this system?
6) Any other audio setting ideas?
7) Is it true that cable providers don't send signals at "full strength" all the time which could lessen audio quality. If so, do dishes have any better quality/consistency in audio transmission?

Like I say, I could be too picky for my own good & budget. Thanks in advance for answering the same questions again (and again and again)!!!!

ok, intil Crack gets home, lets see if we can get you started..
need info on equip, room size, speaker config. etc..

#3 THX recommends 80 Hz
#4 Huh ?? are you receiving HD over the air ?? or a cable feed ??
IF cable, what kind of service, box, etc... Is there an HDMI output ??
#7 Depends on the cable... COX, in my area, cannot compete with DirecTV
see resolution sticky in forum

most of use list our equip in signature so others can assist

g

[bobh33]

Thanks! I just have the coaxial cable from the wall hooked up directly into the TV, no box. We found out if you autoprogram digital channels, you can get the 5 local HD stations straight from the cable. That's why I have to use "exit" at the top of the video 1, video 2, etc. options on the TV menu but on the AVR remote I use Video 1 and I get audio.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by bobh33

1) I am still using original 22 guage wire
2) I have played with speakers levels, etc. in reference to the size of the room but maybe not the right way
3) What should the crossover settings be?
4) I have HD channels coming straight into the TV from the wall, so in my TV video settings, it's coming in on "exit" vs. video 1, etc.
5) Does multi-channel vs. optical matter in this system?
6) Any other audio setting ideas?
7) Is it true that cable providers don't send signals at "full strength" all the time which could lessen audio quality. If so, do dishes have any better quality/consistency in audio transmission?

let me just chime in on the ones gearyt didnt get to...

1. I would use between 14 and 18guage wire...but im sure its no problem with 22.

2. get an SPL meter. (when you buy a newer receiver it most likely will come with an automatic setup)

5. Multichannel can provide lossless surround sound, but optical can still hold its own with standard 5.1 (I guess it depends on your situation)

6. cant think of any other audio settings...if you are using a red/white audio cable, then not really much you can do.

[bobh33]

Thanks!!! Does multi-channel make a difference with only DD & DTS? What's your opinion on cable providers not consistently broadcasting 100% quality audio? Is the dish better at this? Would a good set of front speakers make a big difference? If so, what do you suggest on my "champagne taster/beer budget"???

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by bobh33

Thanks!!! Does multi-channel make a difference with only DD & DTS?

Nope.

[quaylie]

seriously..none of what you are talking about makes sense to me..I have a $98.00 RCA surround sound system from wal-mart..of course I live in an apartment right now..so if I had a home theatre system like some of you..my managers would have sent me packing a long time ago.

[bobh33]

Do you think I am not receiving 5.1 HD broadcasts because I am not using a cable box? Does the box actually "enhance" the signal coming into the system? Although the way I have it now, the AVR does say DD. Again, I just have the old-fashioned way of the cable hooked into the TV and then the optical into the AVR for audio.

[JasonR]

I have never seen HD signal come in over straight coax, usually you need a HD receiver...

[Slec]

Bob,
It sounds like your local stations may have already made the transition to DTV. In the Baltimore/Washington Area you can flip through with a coax plugged in and get "extra" channels. At my parents house they show up as 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, but not all brands of tv's will show it this way. It's only on stations that have made the DTV transition early. A much clearer picture for sure, but not HD. you would need a cable box or cable card for that.

[Dust]

How clean is the power to your system? When I installed my power conditioner it made a HUGE difference in the clarity and crispness of my audio.

[bobh33]

Thanks everyone! Sounds like I better head to Radio Shack!!!!

[Tyler2106]

If you aren't getting the sound you want, I really would think about possibly upgrading your speakers...calibrating them is going to help the most, but by the sounds of it your speakers don't have the range that you are wanting...like crackinhedz said calibrate your speakers and I would not use any speaker wire thinner then 16 guage, 18 at most...

[welwynnick]

Originally Posted by bobh33

I just am not happy with the audio yet on TV or DVD's. I just think it should be crisper and more precise, and hopefully at lower volumes also. I'm happy with the bass, but I just don't seem to be getting the "tight clicks" on things like something dropping on the floor or glass breaking etc. Do I have champagne taste on a beer budget????

I think I know what you mean. Do your observations apply to listening to CDs as well?

I would try a few things:

Forget HD media for a while and try to get TV, CD and DVD where you think it should be in terms of audio quality.

Ditch HDMI for a while and try using SPDIF or Toslink connections for audio. Carry video over component or composite or anything for the time being.

Better still, connect video directly to the TV.

Try setting up your amp to play stereo audio only. See if that makes any imporvements with stereo sources like TV and CD in particular.

regards, Nick

[jw]

Originally Posted by quaylie

seriously..none of what you are talking about makes sense to me..I have a $98.00 RCA surround sound system from wal-mart..of course I live in an apartment right now..so if I had a home theatre system like some of you..my managers would have sent me packing a long time ago.

Nothing wrong with that, gotta start somewhere and in an apt, its not like you can really get into a movie as far as sound without pissing the neighbors off. And its far better than the TV speakers

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

how could I pass up a thread called "Help Crackinhedz!"

Dude might be asking for a loan, you gots to be careful.

[crackinhedz]

Dude might be asking for a loan, you gots to be careful.

lol

[bobh33]

Thanks everyone!! OK, here are my DVD settings (it's a matching Onkyo player DV-SP404):

1)Digital Out: On
2)Dolby Digital Out: Dolby Digital
3)DTS Out: DTS
4)96 khz PCM out: 96kHz>48kHz (It won't let me change it to "96 khz")(Why??)
5)MPEG Out: MPEG>PCM (It won't let me change it to "MPEG") (Why??)
6)HDMI Out: Auto

It is better with the settings in #4 & #5 that it won't let me do???

Or how about trying optical from DVD to AVR for audio & running HDMI from DVD to TV? What I'm thinking is if the AVR is pass thru HDMI as in the video from DVD to TV, doesn't the audio also pass through & then come back via optical which would "dilute" the audio quality???