How does this Onkyo TX-SR805S work?

[blushiz]

I got this receiver a while back because I heard its quality is really good, but when I got it I soon realized it was a lot more complicated than my older receiver. I really don't know how how it works. I'm playing throguh a PS3 btw.

So here's the quick summary: The receiver is supposed to decode DTS, Dolby TrueHD, and PCM, which I heard is supposed to be like HiDef audio. Well, when I plug in various movies, the receiver automatically clicks and displays the audio through 5.1 Pro Logic II. I try selecting tureHD, PCM, and DTS but none of those options are available. It just clicks to that, which doesn't sound any better than my old $200 Sony receiver except maybe a little clearer (granted, I have low quality speakers and I'm in a semi-small room). I move through the results and I find that the listening option, 'unplugged', sounds the nicest to me, which I have no idea what 'unplugged' is. However, the sound still doesn't sound very fluid. I find the noise harsh sometimes and turning it up to -10.00 dB starts to hurt my ears. Sure, it's clear, but my Yuin Pk1 earphones from my Macbook Pro don't usually hurt my ears when I turn it up all the way. It just gets real clear and loud when I turn it up. This system isn't that way. I don't know if it's my settings or my speakers, but I was expecting a little something different. Also, what about the cool audio tracks? I don't even know if I'm getting lossless audio or not. It's confusing.

Here's my listening modes for most of my collection (sometimes varies):

Unplugged
Studio-Mix
TV Logic
All Ch Stereo
Full Mono
Theator Dimensional
Pure Audio (blue light comes on)
Direct
Stereo
Mono
MultiCh
Neo:6
PLIIx Movie
PLIIx Music
Dolby EX
Nuetral THX 7.1
THX Cinema
THX Cinema (Neo:6 icon lights up)
THX Cinema (PLII icon lights up)
THX Surr EX
Ultra2 Cinema
Music Mode
THX Games
Mono Movie
Orchestra
(btw all these listening modes all sound the same to me..it's very hard to tell the differences)

No TrueHD, DTS, and PCM like displayed in the pictures I've seen of it!

Here's how I'm setup: PS3 HDMI into receiver, HDMI from receiver to TV. PS3 all audio tracks checked. Onkyo has been adjusted using the mic. The speaker icons on the receiver aren't all checked. The back two speaker icons on the receiver aren't usually lit up, only the 5 front ones (although I get sound from all 7. I can't seem to get the two back icons to light up either.

Please help. I'm lost.

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR805.../dp/B000OBMX0U

see the picture of the receiver where it says Dolby TrueHD? I don't get that.

[DirkDiggler]

Hi.

I think u must set ur playstation audio settings to "bitstream", if u havent done it allready. Im not a "expert" myself but i think that is what missing.

Please correct me if im wrong.

Sorry for my bad English

[crackinhedz]

Set PS3 to Linear PCM.

In the Receiver, set HDMI Audio Out to OFF.



Because the PS3 will be doing the decode, the Receiver will display PCM.

[crackinhedz]

For the Receiver to display TrueHD or Dts-HD MA, you would need a player that can bitstream Lossless audio...the PS3 does not bitstream Lossless, instead it decodes and sends as PCM.

Press the "select" button on the PS3 remote during the movie, will show you what audio is being output.

[crackinhedz]

Sticky: Audio and the PS3

Sticky: HOW TO GET: Uncompressed PCM, Dolby TrueHD & Dts-HD MASTER Audio

[Driver_King]

Have you done Audyssey? Also, have you checked what soundtrack is playing during Blu watching on your PS3? (Select button) I use THX modes normally for processing.

[blushiz]

I tried disabling everything else but PCM through the PS3 and making sure all the audio settings are set to Linear PCM. I put in a movie and set the audio options to 5.1 Dolby Uncompressed. Right now the little PCM icon is lit up on the receiver as well as Audyssey. When I press display on the PS3 it says Linear PCM 5.1 Ch 48kHz 6.9 Mbps. The thing still says Studio-Mix though. I'm not sure if I did it right, but things seem to sound a bit different. My ears aren't really trained for this kind of thing.

[bageleaterkkjji]

arent you suppose to have it on direct or something?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by blushiz

I put in a movie and set the audio options to 5.1 Dolby Uncompressed.

its either 'Uncompressed PCM' or 'Dolby TrueHD' ...not Dolby Uncompressed.

Right now the little PCM icon is lit up on the receiver as well as Audyssey. When I press display on the PS3 it says Linear PCM 5.1 Ch 48kHz 6.9 Mbps.

You are hearing the Lossless audio. 6.9Mbps is indicative of being Lossless.

[crackinhedz]

For receiver settings, try using:

Direct
MultiCH
PrologicIIx Cinema
THX Cinema
THX Surround EX



see which one you like best...they each do something a little different.

[aramis109]

What speakers do you have? Doesn't matter if it's lossless or lossy if you're listening to it through some tin cans.

[blushiz]

Thanks a lot everyone for the advice! I listened to a few blu ray movies and there's an obvious difference in the sound quality from what it used to be. It was pretty funny, before the two cats in my house used to pay the surround no attention even at 0 dB. However, after I fixed the surround and turned it up to -14 dB, the cats were looking all over the room. Seemed to have gotton their attention.

@aramis109
Haha, what you say is probably true. I'm a little embarrassed. I'm using a 10 year old infinity sattelite as my center speaker, 5 Sony sattelite speakers I got from my last $249 5.1 receiver+speaker set, and a very old Pioneer sattelite as my back-right surround. Fear not-I have a pair of Polk 50s and a Polk CS1 being shipped to me right now to save the day.