Onkyo TX RS505 Confused about certain Lights on Unit.

[djcruiser]

Hello everybody,

I got a great deal on a clearance of the Onkyo TX RS505 7.1 Receiver so I bought it($98.00 on clearance at local Circuit City). I had a nice 5.1 setup, but figured even a low end 7.1 would be better.

I know that this receiver only carries HDMI video. Audio is through the optical...And I Know that Optical cannot send 7.1 audio.

My question(s) are these:

1. Why do the indicator lights on the unit include:
TRUE HD
96/24 Express
HD MST
THX

2. If these are able to be utilized with whatever I can use somebody let me know how?

3. If they aren't then why have them on the unit at all?

Also I have PS3 for my Blu Ray playing and the way I have it set-up is better than I had before, but if I can get better I would love too.

I did look up the User Manual online and didn't see any help with this.

Thanks in advance for any info/help you can give

[aramis109]

Well, I know you can do at least 6.1 via optical- take a look at Lord of the Rings, for example. It may be able to do 7.1 (really no difference between 6 and 7 anyway).

As for the others, it may be that they just used the display from other units to save money, but also TRUEHD can come through as 2.0 via optical.

[djcruiser]

So i should use the "LPCM" setting in the PS3, to send the signal untouched 2.0 to the receiver and the receiver will decode it to the TRUE HD as long as the movie soundtrack supplies it? And other than that I should still use the Bitstream for all others?

Thanks again for the info and any other comments.

[aramis109]

PCM will be displayed as "Multich PCM" on the receiver. It won't say TrueHD.

Personally, I'd rather have 5.1 lossy sound than 2.0 lossless. I'd just bitstream everything. However, give them both a try and see which you prefer.

[crackinhedz]

I would definitely set the PS3 to Bitstream.

You will not get Lossless audio that way, but at least the audio will be in surround sound.