Onkyo - THX not so great?

[CYMBOL]

Hey guys,

Just got the 706. I started it up - and wasn't impressed that much.

My wife looked at me and said, "Are you hearing something I'm not?"

I told her I had to mess with setting etc. Just hold on, it will get better . . . I think.

So, I ran the Audyssey Calibration (has 6 positions with the 706) - and WOW! What a difference! Sounds fantastic. Especially lossless sources.

Anyway - one setting I couldn't wait to test out was the THX settings. This is my first receiver to ever have the Holy Grail of logos on it. So, I hit THX Cinema, expecting to be blown away - and heard some weak sound.

Anybody else think the THX settings are weak (THX Cinema, Music, Game) compared to regular multi-channel PCM with Audyssey?



Also, does anyone know how to get the Neo setting to come up. I selected it as a default for things with original stereo sound (like MP3's) but it continues not to be an option when I scroll through the sound options.

My set up is PS3 to Onkyo via HDMI.

[ryan4blu]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Hey guys,

Just got the 706. I started it up - and wasn't impressed that much.

My wife looked at me and said, "Are you hearing something I'm not?"

I told her I had to mess with setting etc. Just hold on, it will get better . . . I think.

So, I ran the Audyssey Calibration (has 6 positions with the 706) - and WOW! What a difference! Sounds fantastic. Especially lossless sources.

Anyway - one setting I couldn't wait to test out was the THX settings. This is my first receiver to ever have the Holy Grail of logos on it. So, I hit THX Cinema, expecting to be blown away - and heard some weak sound.

Anybody else think the THX settings are weak (THX Cinema, Music, Game) compared to regular multi-channel PCM with Audyssey?



Also, does anyone know how to get the Neo setting to come up. I selected it as a default for things with original stereo sound (like MP3's) but it continues not to be an option when I scroll through the sound options.

My set up is PS3 to Onkyo via HDMI.

thx is just a certification for the receiver & a logo. you pay more when it is the same as the 606 model.

[Mr. HiDef]

Well also if your trying to use the THX setting through the ps3 like watching a movie or cd it will not work cause ps3 does all the decoding

[darwin316]

Originally Posted by ryan4blu

thx is just a certification for the receiver & a logo. you pay more when it is the same as the 606 model.

more than just a certification... it has additional DSPs than the 606, like the aforementioned THX Cinema.

As to the OP, THX Cinema mode is really more for a theater-size room.

For home theater use, try THX Select2 Cinema, if it allows you.

If you have 7.1 speakers, most people either use said "select2 cinema" or PLIIx.

With the PS3, the available DSP is really dependent upon how many multichannels are present. If you are watching a 7.1 movie, then PS3 provides these channels to the 706 and you should probably just leave it as "Multichan" in the receiver. When the PS3 is sending a 5.1 source, you can then select additional DSPs, like thx select2 cinema or pliix.

[darwin316]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Also, does anyone know how to get the Neo setting to come up. I selected it as a default for things with original stereo sound (like MP3's) but it continues not to be an option when I scroll through the sound options.

My set up is PS3 to Onkyo via HDMI.

If you are playing mp3s via the ps3, your selection of available dsp is limited. See the onkyo manual as to what DSPs are available when receiving PCM.

[Mr. HiDef]

Originally Posted by darwin316

more than just a certification... it has additional DSPs than the 606, like the aforementioned THX Cinema.

As to the OP, THX Cinema mode is really more for a theater-size room.

For home theater use, try THX Select2 Cinema, if it allows you.

If you have 7.1 speakers, most people either use said "select2 cinema" or PLIIx.

With the PS3, the available DSP is really dependent upon how many multichannels are present. If you are watching a 7.1 movie, then PS3 provides these channels to the 706 and you should probably just leave it as "Multichan" in the receiver. When the PS3 is sending a 5.1 source, you can then select additional DSPs, like thx select2 cinema or pliix.

Im not to sure if that is correct what I have been told and read that with the ps3 only two options are available on the onkyos and thats stereo and multichannel

A quote from Randall Smith at Hometheatersound.com

Unfortunately, the Sony PS3 performs all digital decoding internally. This means it will not output a digital bitstream for outboard decoding. So, if you are using an HDMI cable to transfer the decoded audio signal to your Onkyo, you have two options: Stereo or Multichannel. If you press the Surround button on the Onkyo's remote, it will toggle between the two. Hope this helps! . . . Randall Smith

[darwin316]

Originally Posted by Mr. HiDef

Im not to sure if that is correct what I have been told and read that with the ps3 only two options are available on the onkyos and thats stereo and multichannel

A quote from Randall Smith at Hometheatersound.com

Yeah, the PS3 does all the decoding internally...but that is just the first step.

The second step is up to the receiver. The second step is pretty much what sound processing you want to have applied to that "decoded" information.

As my sig says, I do have 2 PS3s and two Onkyo Receivers, the 705 and 606.


And as for Randall Smith... the available DSP is really dependent upon how many channels the PS3 is providing and the receiver model.

For example, I watched TDK last night and I chose the 5.1 True HD sound track. The PS3 provided this to my 705 receiver as a 5.1 multichannel. Since I have 7.1 speakers, I selected THX Select2 Cinema as my listening mode so I could have all 7 speakers playing...

[VinnAY]

Originally Posted by ryan4blu

thx is just a certification for the receiver & a logo.

Correct
It has nothing in particular to do with the "sound"...in that area it's just like DTS or DD.

[darwin316]

Originally Posted by VinnAY

Correct
It has nothing in particular to do with the "sound"...in that area it's just like DTS or DD.

again, thx provides more listening modes.... not decoding modes.

[Mr. HiDef]

Originally Posted by darwin316

Yeah, the PS3 does all the decoding internally...but that is just the first step.

The second step is up to the receiver. The second step is pretty much what sound processing you want to have applied to that "decoded" information.

As my sig says, I do have 2 PS3s and two Onkyo Receivers, the 705 and 606.


And as for Randall Smith... the available DSP is really dependent upon how many channels the PS3 is providing.

For example, I watched TDK last night and I chose the 5.1 True HD sound track. The PS3 provided this to my receiver as a 5.1 multichannel. Since I have 7.1 speakers, I selected THX Select2 Cinema as my listening mode so I could have all 7 speakers playing...

so for your 606 what do you use? or just multichannel cause I have the 605 and just thought that multichannel is pretty much all u get with the ps3

[darwin316]

Originally Posted by Mr. HiDef

so for your 606 what do you use? or just multichannel cause I have the 605 and just thought that multichannel is pretty much all u get with the ps3

for the 606, I really just use multichannel since I only have a 5.1 setup.

but there is a new feature between the 605 and 606...which is the ability to process 5.1 PCM to 7.1. The 605 cannot do this.

So with the 606, you can technically apply PLIIx to that 5.1 PCM to get 7.1

[VinnAY]

Originally Posted by Mr. HiDef

so for your 606 what do you use? or just multichannel cause I have the 605 and just thought that multichannel is pretty much all u get with the ps3

It is if you want to listen to TrueHD/DTS HD...any of the lossless codecs.

[Mr. HiDef]

Originally Posted by darwin316

for the 606, I really just use multichannel since I only have a 5.1 setup.

but there is a new feature between the 605 and 606...which is the ability to process 5.1 PCM to 7.1. The 605 cannot do this.

Yeah I would have no need for that since I only have a 5.1 setup and when i get my own place (since im still living with my dad) I would be upgrading my speakers along with my receiver

[darwin316]

Originally Posted by Mr. HiDef

Yeah I would have no need for that since I only have a 5.1 setup and when i get my own place (since im still living with my dad) I would be upgrading my speakers along with my receiver

then yeah, for 5.1, I would definitely just use multichannel.

[BACsader]

When I use THX cinema on my receiver, I get the same results. It is not that the sound is weak, but it makes a movie sound more neutral. My Klipsch speakers are what most people would consider "bright" speakers, but their sound is very accurate. If I watch a movie that I think is too bright, mainly older movies, I will use THX, but, for newer movies I mainly use Direct without any of the acoustic calibration. Only channel distances, channel volumes, and crossovers are set on my receiver.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

So, I ran the Audyssey Calibration (has 6 positions with the 706) - and WOW! What a difference! Sounds fantastic. Especially lossless sources.

Anyway - one setting I couldn't wait to test out was the THX settings. This is my first receiver to ever have the Holy Grail of logos on it. So, I hit THX Cinema, expecting to be blown away - and heard some weak sound.

You should never expect any receiver to sound absolutely perfect out of the box. THX isn't supposed to affect your SQ negatively. What's the problem?

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by darwin316

for the 606, I really just use multichannel since I only have a 5.1 setup.

but there is a new feature between the 605 and 606...which is the ability to process 5.1 PCM to 7.1. The 605 cannot do this.

So with the 606, you can technically apply PLIIx to that 5.1 PCM to get 7.1

OOP, seriously the 606 can do that?! Ack, I didn't know that and think I've told people wrong on this forum before.

[Pelican170]

I dont like using any DSP settings, the straight up Lossless file is best way to go IMO...

[MacDaddyOJack]

Originally Posted by ryan4blu

thx is just a certification for the receiver & a logo. you pay more when it is the same as the 606 model.

Originally Posted by VinnAY

Correct
It has nothing in particular to do with the "sound"...in that area it's just like DTS or DD.

This is incredibly inaccurate.

The THX badge means that it can play at reference level volume at or below reference level distortion in a given sized room(depends on level of certification).

THX certification also means that the reciever has additional sound fields that can be applied to different sources. Some of the things these THX soundfields do is correct for boundary gain(wall proximity), surround re-equilization, matrixing 5.1 sources to 7.1, and so on.

I personally do not use the THX modes very much but to say that it does nothing to the sound is very misleading.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Hey guys,

Just got the 706. I started it up - and wasn't impressed that much.

My wife looked at me and said, "Are you hearing something I'm not?"

I told her I had to mess with setting etc. Just hold on, it will get better . . . I think.

So, I ran the Audyssey Calibration (has 6 positions with the 706) - and WOW! What a difference! Sounds fantastic. Especially lossless sources.

Anyway - one setting I couldn't wait to test out was the THX settings. This is my first receiver to ever have the Holy Grail of logos on it. So, I hit THX Cinema, expecting to be blown away - and heard some weak sound.

Anybody else think the THX settings are weak (THX Cinema, Music, Game) compared to regular multi-channel PCM with Audyssey?



Also, does anyone know how to get the Neo setting to come up. I selected it as a default for things with original stereo sound (like MP3's) but it continues not to be an option when I scroll through the sound options.

My set up is PS3 to Onkyo via HDMI.

Were you in the room when you did the calibration?

As for neo6, doesn't the listening modes depend on how many speakers your using to work? im looking at my 705 manual right now on page 67 at all the modes and some of them only work with 2.1, 5.1, and 7.1 setups. for example im using 5.1 and the only THX mode i can use is THX cinema.