Onkyo 606 Picture Problems

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

I received my new Onkyo 606 this past Friday, I hooked it up, and the sound is fabulous, however, it seems my picture is darker, and the colors don't seem to pop like they use to, everything seems darker. I have my DirecTV DVR, and Samsung BDP-1000 hooked up through HDMI, my 360 through component and optical. My 360 picture looks even worse, the colors seem very dull. I have the output resolution set for 1080i which what my tv is, and I even moved it back and forth to through to see if there was a better difference. It's not, has anyone else had this problem, or know of any other Onkyo receivers that had this problem.

[Meathead]

my picture seems fine
same receiver
maybe you changed the picture mode to a darker setting on your TV be accident

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by MeatHeaD

my picture seems fine
same receiver
maybe you changed the picture mode to a darker setting on your TV be accident

No, I checked that to make sure, I didn't change a thing. All I did was change my cables from one receiver to another.

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

No way I can be the only one.

[crackinhedz]

do you have the PS3 set to RGB limited or RGB Full?

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

do you have the PS3 set to RGB limited or RGB Full?

Actually I have my Sammy hooked up, I'll be hooking the PS3 up to it later instead. But, it's not only when I play Blu-ray, it's DirecTV HD, Xbox 360, the 360 images and HD DVD images look the worst, don't know if it's because it's component, the image just doesn't look very vivid like it use to, almost a little washed out. I did find the hidden settings in the Onkyo, and have been fooling around with them, it helped a little, but, still doesn't seem as good.

I was too lazy go unhook everything and hook it back up to the tv to make sure i'm not losing my mind. On the secret menu I found, you can adjust the following:

Brightness
Contrast
Hue
Saturation
Sharpness
Zoom Mode

Any help on the following would be appreciated.

[Octavio]

I dunno what could be wrong in this case.

My brother has his PS3 hooked to an onkyo 606 and the movies looks crystal clear to me.

I have also an onkyo receiver (not the same model, though) and if there is a difference between hooking up the BD player directly to the TV set or thru an Onkyo receiver, mut be minimal because I can't see any difference.

[crackinhedz]

don't know if it's because it's component

so you are using Component cables? did you connect them correctly? red to red, blue to blue, green to green?

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

so you are using Component cables? did you connect them correctly? red to red, blue to blue, green to green?

Yep, the cables are hooked up perfectly. The sound is great. The picture does look better since I changed the sharpness to -3, I read on another forum where some people were having the same problem as me, and them changing the sharpenss helped them, but most just hooked the component items straight to their tv and then used optical for sound, to me, that defeates the purpose of having a receiver. Some people said they believe even when you set it to Pass Through, they think the Onkyo is still trying to upgrade the signal, which in turn is messing the signal up, some also said their Onkyo was warm to hot even when off, I do not have that problem, even after having it on all day watching movies or tv, it's just warm.

But, when I watch regular SD tv, it looks even worse then before. Also, if I decided to take the 606 back, what receiver would you guys recommend in that $400 to $500 price range.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by ItsGettingHotInEER

Yep, the cables are hooked up perfectly. The sound is great. The picture does look better since I changed the sharpness to -3, I read on another forum where some people were having the same problem as me, and them changing the sharpenss helped them, but most just hooked the component items straight to their tv and then used optical for sound, to me, that defeates the purpose of having a receiver. Some people said they believe even when you set it to Pass Through, they think the Onkyo is still trying to upgrade the signal, which in turn is messing the signal up, some also said their Onkyo was warm to hot even when off, I do not have that problem, even after having it on all day watching movies or tv, it's just warm.

But, when I watch regular SD tv, it looks even worse then before. Also, if I decided to take the 606 back, what receiver would you guys recommend in that $400 to $500 price range.

Well, my thought is that you HAVE to hook it back up to the TV to see if it really is the receiver or it's just you. Keep in mind that if you're running everything to the receiver and then the receiver out to the TV via HDMI, everything will have to share the same settings since the TV can't really tell them apart. Also keep in mind that running the 360 over component to the 606 and then to the TV via HDMI is going to cause it to scale it to 720p max; if you have it set to 1080i or 1080p it's not going to come out that way and could look a little weird.

I have the 605 and personally I run everything to the TV. That way I can tweak the setting of each component. The point of my receiver is for sound, not to run video through (though I understand your argument, I don't agree with it). If it sounds great, try eliminating the Onk as the source of your issue. Barring a bad receiver, I think you'll find it's not the cause. Also- I'd recommend not fooling with that particular menu, but that's just me.

[owa]

Originally Posted by ItsGettingHotInEER

Yep, the cables are hooked up perfectly. The sound is great. The picture does look better since I changed the sharpness to -3, I read on another forum where some people were having the same problem as me, and them changing the sharpenss helped them, but most just hooked the component items straight to their tv and then used optical for sound, to me, that defeates the purpose of having a receiver. Some people said they believe even when you set it to Pass Through, they think the Onkyo is still trying to upgrade the signal, which in turn is messing the signal up, some also said their Onkyo was warm to hot even when off, I do not have that problem, even after having it on all day watching movies or tv, it's just warm.

But, when I watch regular SD tv, it looks even worse then before. Also, if I decided to take the 606 back, what receiver would you guys recommend in that $400 to $500 price range.

You've got me worried. I was going to order the 606 since it's on sale but maybe I'll wait on that now. Where did you see others having the same issue (what site)?

[Dirk504]

Okay, I'm no expert by any means, but I did just hook up my PS3, Xbox 360 and 5.1 Polk set up over the weekend with no problems. I have the same Onkyo 606 as you and my picture is crystal clear. I didn't even change my setting from what they previously were. This is what I did:

1. XBox 360 - I connected the components for video to the back of the TV, NOT THE RECEIVER, because the receiver only upconverts 720p from components, not 1080p. Then I connected the audio cables (the red and white ones) to the back of the receiver for sound. It worked like a charm. Change the input on the TV for video and the input on the receiver for audio.

2. PS3 - I ran one HDMI cable from the PS3 (out) to the receiver (in) and then another HDMI cable from the receiver (out) to the TV (in). FYI when you first power up your PS3, it can automatically update your settings. It selected PCM for me.

3. Cable - ran components from cable box, to receiver and the HDMI out to the TV. FYI - all you need is one HDMI out and it should output everything hooked up to HDMI or component in.

Trust me, this is a great receiver. Check your setting and make sure that your TV is set to it's highest resolution 1080p, 1080i etc. I didn't have to touch any video setting on the receiver, only for audio.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Also keep in mind that running the 360 over component to the 606 and then to the TV via HDMI is going to cause it to scale it to 720p

the 606 can scale analog to digital at 720p or 1080i. (the 605 was limited to 720p)

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by owa

You've got me worried. I was going to order the 606 since it's on sale but maybe I'll wait on that now. Where did you see others having the same issue (what site)?

It was on avsforum.com Here is the update to my situation. Everything seems to be working a lot better now. I had to go into the hidden menu and adjust my sharpness to -3, and move my saturation up a whole bunch, my contrast up 1 and the sharpness up 1. Everything seems to be looking a whole lot better now. I just didn't think I would have to adjust everything so much, plus, why is this menu such a secret, why isn't it part of the setup process.

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

the 606 can scale analog to digital at 720p or 1080i. (the 605 was limited to 720p)

Yep, the 606 goes to 1080i not just 720p, when I called Onkyo they tried to get me to change the 360's setting to 720p, told me there is no difference between 720p and 1080i, i'm glad I didn't thake their advice, and they made no mention of the hidden menu either. The only input I can't seem to adjust is the cable/tv input, all the other ones I can adjust with no problem, don't know why.

[Dirk504]

In case I ever need to access that hidden menu for the 606, how would I get to it?

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by Dirk504

In case I ever need to access that hidden menu for the 606, how would I get to it?

In order to update the dvd input, you have to make sure your dvd player is off, no signal can be coming in, press dvd on your remote, then press the receiver button, and then hold the display button down, in about 2 seconds on your receiver screen, it will say contrast, or brightness first, and then you can press arrow key down, and it will pop up on your tv and then you can change the settings, they are all set to 0. However, some people I have spoken to can the hidden screen to appear while their bluray player is playing, I could not, I had to cut mine off.

Then you do the same thing for each of the other inputs, you choose that input first, then press receiver, then hold the display button down.

[Dirk504]

Originally Posted by ItsGettingHotInEER

In order to update the dvd input, you have to make sure your dvd player is off, no signal can be coming in, press dvd on your remote, then press the receiver button, and then hold the display button down, in about 2 seconds on your receiver screen, it will say contrast, or brightness first, and then you can press arrow key down, and it will pop up on your tv and then you can change the settings, they are all set to 0. However, some people I have spoken to can the hidden screen to appear while their bluray player is playing, I could not, I had to cut mine off.

Then you do the same thing for each of the other inputs, you choose that input first, then press receiver, then hold the display button down.

Thanks.... I might try it out just to play with my settings a bit.

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by Dirk504

Thanks.... I might try it out just to play with my settings a bit.

Your welcome.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Dirk504

Okay, I'm no expert by any means, but I did just hook up my PS3, Xbox 360 and 5.1 Polk set up over the weekend with no problems. I have the same Onkyo 606 as you and my picture is crystal clear. I didn't even change my setting from what they previously were. This is what I did:

1. XBox 360 - I connected the components for video to the back of the TV, NOT THE RECEIVER, because the receiver only upconverts 720p from components, not 1080p. Then I connected the audio cables (the red and white ones) to the back of the receiver for sound. It worked like a charm. Change the input on the TV for video and the input on the receiver for audio.

2. PS3 - I ran one HDMI cable from the PS3 (out) to the receiver (in) and then another HDMI cable from the receiver (out) to the TV (in). FYI when you first power up your PS3, it can automatically update your settings. It selected PCM for me.

3. Cable - ran components from cable box, to receiver and the HDMI out to the TV. FYI - all you need is one HDMI out and it should output everything hooked up to HDMI or component in.

Trust me, this is a great receiver. Check your setting and make sure that your TV is set to it's highest resolution 1080p, 1080i etc. I didn't have to touch any video setting on the receiver, only for audio.

1. Why aren't you using optical?!

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

the 606 can scale analog to digital at 720p or 1080i. (the 605 was limited to 720p)

Ah didn't know that. Thanks for the correction.

Originally Posted by ItsGettingHotInEER

Yep, the 606 goes to 1080i not just 720p, when I called Onkyo they tried to get me to change the 360's setting to 720p, told me there is no difference between 720p and 1080i, i'm glad I didn't thake their advice, and they made no mention of the hidden menu either. The only input I can't seem to adjust is the cable/tv input, all the other ones I can adjust with no problem, don't know why.

A progressive signal would be better than an interlaced one, because most TV's aren't so hot at de-interlacing that 1080i signal and you'll get some corruption of the signal.