DTS-HD MA bitstream decoder flaw can damage gear...

[jon s]

I don't know if anyone has seen the thread in the Blu-Ray Players section of AVS forum here, but there is a BIG issue with DTS HD-MA with the Onkyo and Yamaha (some Pioneer users have posted the same problems) receivers. Apparently the DTS decoding IC supplied to Onkyo, Pioneer and Yamaha is defective causing loud popping sounds which can and has damaged some audio gear. The popping noise is NOT affected by the receiver's volume control and has caused blown speakers. Unless the issue is resolved, it is not recommended to use bitstreaming DTS-HD MA on Onkyos.


"DTS Global Product manager Ronny Katz confirms that the problem is caused by a faulty DTS Decoder Chip (IC) in the Receivers of the companies of Onkyo and Yamaha. Recievers from Denon, Pioneer and Sony, which uses a different DTS Decoder Chip are unaffected and has no difficulties bit-streaming the DTS-HD MA tracks from the titles concerned. DTS has a made a fix/update to their Encoding software which will address the problem by taking the faulty DTS Decoder Chip into consideration, thus avoiding the issue on future Blu-Ray releases. It is however unknown at this time, if the Recievers with the faulty DTS Decoder chips can be fixed to work with the current DTS-MA discs by firmware update."

[yellowblanket]

great...i'd be very upset if my speaker blown

[Bobby Henderson]

I was leaning towards a Denon receiver for the SACD capability (my existing one is a 9 year old Yamaha RX-V995). This would do more to seal the deal.

[mmdeleon2001]

hmmm weird!! every now n then we get this LOUD STATIC sound!! its crazy!! but we just turn it down when we hear it!! n press stop!! this usually happens when we open like a deleted scene or just the main menu but reloading it fixes everything!!

[ManUtd]

Wow this is big. The DTS statement indicates that only Onkyo and Yamaha receivers are affected but that AVS thread claims that the Pioneer 91TXH is affected. I hope my 94TXH isn't affected. In any case, this sucks for all owners of the receivers pre/pro affected.

[WickyWoo]

Part of the consequence of them rushing everything to market I'll wager. They started way too late and rushed it, still missing Dolby's rollout by a year

DTS had better buy everyone a new reciever if it can't be fixed

[Canada]

What?

[Zaphod]

This is from Onkyo's website for firmware fix. No word yet on the 805...

TX-SR605 Firmware Update
for both the TX-SR605 and TX-SR605S


A firmware update for the TX-SR605 is now available through Onkyo’s Independent Regional Service Centers. This update will address the product’s ability to decode the Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD High Resolution and Master Audio bit stream signals when products incorporating this capability become available in the market.

This update affects only a limited number of early production TX-SR605 units. Onkyo has included this update in all later production models.To determine if your unit is one of the few affected units please enter the 10 digit product serial number below.

If your unit is eligible for this update, it will be done free of charge. You must follow the instruction on this and the following pages to receive the prepaid return mailing label. Units received without this label will not be processed.

We wish you many years of enjoyment with your TX-SR605 and its HD capabilities.

http://www.onkyousa.com/605firmware_replace.cfm

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

This is from Onkyo's website for firmware fix. No word yet on the 805...

TX-SR605 Firmware Update
for both the TX-SR605 and TX-SR605S


A firmware update for the TX-SR605 is now available through Onkyo’s Independent Regional Service Centers. This update will address the product’s ability to decode the Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD High Resolution and Master Audio bit stream signals when products incorporating this capability become available in the market.

This update affects only a limited number of early production TX-SR605 units. Onkyo has included this update in all later production models.To determine if your unit is one of the few affected units please enter the 10 digit product serial number below.

If your unit is eligible for this update, it will be done free of charge. You must follow the instruction on this and the following pages to receive the prepaid return mailing label. Units received without this label will not be processed.

We wish you many years of enjoyment with your TX-SR605 and its HD capabilities.

http://www.onkyousa.com/605firmware_replace.cfm

is this a new firmware just released or is this the firmware for the 605 that has been out for a while now?


edit:this looks like the old firmware. this really has nothing to do with the bitstream bomb

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

is this a new firmware just released or is this the firmware for the 605 that has been out for a while now?

I dunno...it specifically mentions the problems with decoding via bitstreaming on early units. Plus this recently went up and don't remember seeing it when I visited the support section of the website a couple of weeks ago.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

I dunno...it specifically mentions the problems with decoding on early units. Plus this recently went up and don't remember seeing it when I visited the support section of the website a couple of weeks ago.

this has been there for a while. its been brought up before and declared nothing to do with the bitstream bomb. i wish onkyo usa would talk with onk europe. i dont want to do the same as others are doing here and update a u.s. unit with europe firmware

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

...i dont want to do the same as others are doing here and update a u.s. unit with europe firmware

Definately not a good idea...

Plus I'm sure this will void the warranty if it damages the receiver...

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

is this a new firmware just released or is this the firmware for the 605 that has been out for a while now?


edit:this looks like the old firmware. this really has nothing to do with the bitstream bomb

Yep sorry, just did a search and found a 11/2007 post stating the same thing. Of course maybe they are re-utilizing the same blurb on their website just for a general firmware update and not specifically to a certain revision number but to an update in general. (???) Has anyone got a response back from Onkyo?

[Nooff]

Onkyo seems to have fixed the DTS HD-MA issue according to AreaDVD.de

Onkyo: AV-Receiver Firmware-Update behebt "Knall-Effekte" mit DTS HD
27.03.2008 (ks)

Onyko bietet ein Firmware-Update für seine aktuelle AV-Receiver-Serie an, welches die Knall-Effekte beheben soll, die mit einigen DTS HD-Soundtracks bei Bitstream-Wiedergabe auftreten. Das Firmware-Update behebt diesen Fehler bei den Modellen TX SR 605, 705, 805, 875 und TX NR 905. Das Update wird über eine selbst gebrannte CD in die Receiver eingespielt und auf Anfrage vom Onkyo-Support versendet.

Alternativ kann das Update auch durch eine autorisierte ONKYO Fachwerkstatt durchgeführt werden. Eine Liste der Werkstätten gibt es auf www.onkyo.de unter: Vertrieb und Service / Servicewerkstätten.

Neben den Onkyo-Receivern waren anfangs auch die Yamaha-Receiver-Modelle RX-V1800 und RX-V3800 von dem Knall-Problem betroffen, die nur dann bei einigen Blu-ray Discs und HD DVDs auftraten, wenn der Ton als Bitstream an den Receiver übertragen wurde. Für die Yamaha-Receiver gibt es bereits seit längerer Zeit ein Firmware-Update, welches ebenfalls über eine CD eingespielt wird.

It says you can contact Onkyo for a CD to fix this issue or take your Amp to an authorized dealer which can acces the firmware update through the onkyo homepage.

You think all Onkyo's have the same chip and therefor it won't matter if you'll load an EU firmware update into your US version?

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Nooff

Onkyo seems to have fixed the DTS HD-MA issue according to AreaDVD.de



It says you can contact Onkyo for a CD to fix this issue or take your Amp to an authorized dealer which can acces the firmware update through the onkyo homepage

this is for europe. still waiting for a USA fix

[Nooff]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

this is for europe. still waiting for a USA fix

Yep I know, but aren't the chips the same anyway?

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by Nooff

Yep I know, but aren't the chips the same anyway?

no one really knows. if you follow the forum about this at avs, some say its a dsp firmware and its all the same. but when those in the u.s. update thier firmware, the receiver doesnt follow the directions, meaninig it doesnt shut off like its suppose to, or freezes and more tinkering is done. then it works. there isnt a concrete answer as to wether or not there will be side afffects later on. sure the bomb is gone now, but is something else changed? no one knows. but some are confident enough to risk it.


either way, its always said that no one is responsible if you brick your unit! that being said, is it worth it? i dont think so.

[richterbon23]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

This is from Onkyo's website for firmware fix. No word yet on the 805...

TX-SR605 Firmware Update
for both the TX-SR605 and TX-SR605S


A firmware update for the TX-SR605 is now available through Onkyo’s Independent Regional Service Centers. This update will address the product’s ability to decode the Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD High Resolution and Master Audio bit stream signals when products incorporating this capability become available in the market.

This update affects only a limited number of early production TX-SR605 units. Onkyo has included this update in all later production models.To determine if your unit is one of the few affected units please enter the 10 digit product serial number below.

If your unit is eligible for this update, it will be done free of charge. You must follow the instruction on this and the following pages to receive the prepaid return mailing label. Units received without this label will not be processed.

We wish you many years of enjoyment with your TX-SR605 and its HD capabilities.

http://www.onkyousa.com/605firmware_replace.cfm

this is an old update... not the one that fixes the popping

[rarredoa]

The bistreaming from my HD-A35 (HD-DVD, i know... some of u are gonna cringe at this ) hasn't caused any problems at all with the DTS-HD MA decoding on my Onkyo 605. Is this "blown-speaker" problem inherent in only some of the receivers or should I expect my speakers to blow if i ever bistream DTS-HD MA from a blu-ray source?

[jon s]

it depends on how old your Onkyo is. if it's brand spanking new (like less than a month old) it may have the new DSP update installed. If it's older, then you probably have the problem. if you go to the Onkyo web site, you can get the DSP update and download it to your receiver.