Pioneer Elite VSX91TXH Question

[Sherm]

when I'm watching DTS or Dolby True HD movies the display only says Action.

I see the small DTS symbol lit and the speaker symbols are lit, but the display only says Action.

Am I getting the DTS-MA coded by the receiver properly ?

Why doen't it say DTS-MA or Dolby True HD ?

Thanks for your help.

[mike_schultz]

Sherm:

I have a 91, and it sounds like you have selected the "action" setting for the signal. On your remote, press the very right and lower key called "S. Direct" until you see on the 91's display "Auto Surround". At that point, the 91 just takes the raw feed from the input and display the correct format.

"Auto Surround" is the best setting for the 91 as it will make "smart" audio decisions. For example, I recently wired my TV room for 7.1 sound. Well, there is not a heck of a lot of 7.1 stuff out there (a point my wife loves to point out), but with the "Auto Surround" setting, the 91 will take a 5.1 sound and translate it to a 7.1 sound and pipe the audio to the back two speakers as needed. You will see this display as Pro Logic IIx Movie on the reciever. I have tested it many times, and it works great. I am sure other receivers do this, but it is cool to know that MINE (and yours) can do this.

Hope that helps.

[Blu-RayLover]

Originally Posted by Sherm

when I'm watching DTS or Dolby True HD movies the display only says Action.

I see the small DTS symbol lit and the speaker symbols are lit, but the display only says Action.

Am I getting the DTS-MA coded by the receiver properly ?

Why doen't it say DTS-MA or Dolby True HD ?

Thanks for your help.

Most likely, you haven't made any changes at the remote control. On your remote, there are three clear choices to make for surround sound playback. They are located at the bottom, second from the last row from the bottom. The buttons read: THX – STANDARD – ADV/SURR. Since you are only reading “Action” on the front panel, this means you are activated in the “ADV/SURR mode, that has various different sort of surround sound modes, based around types of films. So, what you have to do in order to get the clear cut LED readout for Dolby, Dolby TrueHD, DTS and DTS MA, you need to activate the bottom button that says “S.DIRECT.” Upon doing this, the receiver then switches into its “Direct Mode,” where there is absolutely no special surround sound processing, but the real or actual 5.1 or 7.1 mix that is then read from the disc! Remember, the other three surround sound modes on the remote (THX – STANDARD - ADV/SURR) allow you to have a wider amount of processing, especially if you have the receiver hooked up to a 7.1 speaker system. But, these modes are not the real thing, so this is why you only get a minor readout at the LED panel. This means by utilizing these other three modes, you will get a mixed (but not real) version of any surround sound mix, transferred into a 7.1 mix for playback. However, you must always have the receiver on the “AUTO” mode, found at the “S.DIRECT” button and the speaker system (if it's 7.1) must be activated at the “SBch” button on the remote that allows you to send a signal to the “Back Surround Sound” channels. This will work for both the real mix on the disc and whatever type of extended version the receiver will handle. All of this won't work, unless you have an HDMI hook up from the DVD player. The same goes for 5.1 or 7.1 analog hook up. A lot also depends upon what DVD player you are using, since there might be a set up mode to handle on that end. So, that's it and good luck.

[Sherm]

Thanks for the help guy's.

[Sherm]

I do have a 7.1 system. So If I select S.direct and i watch a DTS 5.1 movie I will only hear it in 5.1.

But if I leave it as is ( in ADV/SURR, it will play in 7.1, Is that right ?


I guess my question is for just Blu Ray watching is it better to have it in S.Direct?

[Blu-RayLover]

Originally Posted by Sherm

I do have a 7.1 system. So If I select S.direct and i watch a DTS 5.1 movie I will only hear it in 5.1.

But if I leave it as is ( in ADV/SURR, it will play in 7.1, Is that right ?


I guess my question is for just Blu Ray watching is it better to have it in S.Direct?

That's about right. . .Except that the SBch button has to be activated or "On". If the SBch isn't on, then there will be no sound from the Back Surrounds at all, no matter what mode is chosen. If you leave the system on "S.DIRECT, you will only hear what is the actual mixed placed on the disc, be it 5.1 or 7.1. It's sometimes a tough choice to decide whether or not to activate the system to play-back in 7.1 of a 5.1 mix or even use the THX or STANDARD mode for 7.1. I've noticed the system seems to work better when the "S.DIRECT is use, simply because of the beautiful clarity there is to the sound, that doesn't always come across when using the other three modes. A lot will depend upon the mix on the disc and how accurate you feel you want your system to work. While I like the idea of expanding upon the surround sound system, it isn't always so necessary, especially if the mix has an actual 7.1 soundtrack and therefore the use of THX - STANDARD - ADV.SURR won't be required.

[Sherm]

Thanks I have it set properly now I think. I have one more question for anyone that might have this same problem.

When i play the only 7.1 BD I have which is Shoot em up, It shows the 7 speakers on the display when the disc is loaded and the BD symbol is on the screen, but when the movie starts it reverts back to 5.1.

Is this just an inherent problem with the movie title or do you think I might have the wrong setting on the 91?

[Blu-RayLover]

Originally Posted by Sherm

Thanks I have it set properly now I think. I have one more question for anyone that might have this same problem.

When i play the only 7.1 BD I have which is Shoot em up, It shows the 7 speakers on the display when the disc is loaded and the BD symbol is on the screen, but when the movie starts it reverts back to 5.1.

Is this just an inherent problem with the movie title or do you think I might have the wrong setting on the 91?

Hi Serm,
The situation with "Shoot'em Up" is not a problem with the receiver or Blu-Ray player. It seems New Line Video releases have an encoding problem. When the video begins, you will tend to see the 7.1 LED speaker readout on the receiver, but disappears after the film is underway. . .The audio is still 7.1 and you should be hearing the sound from the Back-Surrounds. However, because of this crazy encoding problem done at the studio, most of the New Line Video releases will respond in this matter.