Taking My Onkyo 606 Back Today

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

After weeks of trying to decide if I was losing my mind or not about the way my 606 degrades my video signals, I have decided after more research that I am not the only one who has noticed it, and after reading this blurb from CNET regarding the 606---- We did notice, however, that the TX-SR606 negatively affected resolution even when in "through" mode, as image quality was sharper connected directly to the KDL-46XBR4.

I have realized that it is not me, and even though I paid only $420 for my Onkyo, the great sound quality did not make up for the low resolution displayed on my tv. I am now thinking about going with the Yamaha V663 which will not try to upscale my HDMI signals and just let it pass through. I will hate to lose 2 extra HDMI slots, which would help for future purchases, but, since I only use HDMI for my blu-ray player and DirecTV HD DVR, the rest of my other products use component, it will not effect me right now.

Any thoughts from you guys on doing this.

[Driver_King]

Onkyo 605? I don't think that has upscaling problems...

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Onkyo 605? I don't think that has upscaling problems...

I'm in such a dilema, I really built this purchase up in my mind, and am just so dissapointed in my purchase, the only problem I have with the 605 is the overheating problem and buzzing noise some people have had, problems I have not had with my 606.

Any thought's on the Yammy V663, I know theres a good thread going on about it now.

[Driver_King]

Buzzing and overheating? I've never heard of those problems on the 605. The 805 has overheating issues too, I guess. But, that didn't sway me from getting one.

[BluPayne4400]

What do you upscale? I only run my ps3 (blu ray player) with hdmi to the onkyo which doesnt upscale because its 1080p and i run my sattelit box and xbox 360 straight thru the tv with hdmi cables and got them running to the 606 with optical since they dont provide lossless. Hope that works for you maybe

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by ItsGettingHotInEER

After weeks of trying to decide if I was losing my mind or not about the way my 606 degrades my video signals, I have decided after more research that I am not the only one who has noticed it, and after reading this blurb from CNET regarding the 606---- We did notice, however, that the TX-SR606 negatively affected resolution even when in "through" mode, as image quality was sharper connected directly to the KDL-46XBR4.

I have realized that it is not me, and even though I paid only $420 for my Onkyo, the great sound quality did not make up for the low resolution displayed on my tv. I am now thinking about going with the Yamaha V663 which will not try to upscale my HDMI signals and just let it pass through. I will hate to lose 2 extra HDMI slots, which would help for future purchases, but, since I only use HDMI for my blu-ray player and DirecTV HD DVR, the rest of my other products use component, it will not effect me right now.

Any thoughts from you guys on doing this.

This is exactly why I am waiting to do my audio upgrade. I want to be able to run multichannel (SONY BDP-S) to the receiver for audio only. I want the video to be sent from the player to the TV uninterupted and virgin via HDMI. I just cant get it out of my head that any additional switching and/or connections wont contaminate the signal. You have validated my concerns.My 2 cents.

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by BluPayne4400

What do you upscale? I only run my ps3 (blu ray player) with hdmi to the onkyo which doesnt upscale because its 1080p and i run my sattelit box and xbox 360 straight thru the tv with hdmi cables and got them running to the 606 with optical since they dont provide lossless. Hope that works for you maybe

That's the point I'm trying to make, I'm not trying to upscale, it's set on "through" yet the signal is still degraded. Maybe it's because my panel only display's 1080i not p, maybe I wouldn't have that problem, maybe I'll change the settings to 720p, and see if that helps. I didn't purchase the 606 for upscaling, I purchased it because I could get great audio and get rid of my HDMI switcher, and wouldn't have to mess with switching inputs on my tv(this is more for my family). But, it still does something to my signal.

I have my DirecTV HD DVR hooked up HDMI to my 606, my blu-ray player hooked up HDMI to my 606, my 360 hooked up component w/optical, and my Wii hooked up component to my 606. I do not see the purpose of spending all of this money and then still having to hook it up straight to my tv and run optical cables to everything, that sorta defeats the purpose of HDMI.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by ItsGettingHotInEER

That's the point I'm trying to make, I'm not trying to upscale, it's set on "through" yet the signal is still degraded. Maybe it's because my panel only display's 1080i not p, maybe I wouldn't have that problem, maybe I'll change the settings to 720p, and see if that helps.

I was wondering about that and from what you are saying, you answered my question. I was planning to get a 605 for the bedroom and that LCD is a 37" which only goes to 1080i, I wouldn't want the downgrade either.

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by HAMP

I was wondering about that and from what you are saying, you answered my question. I was planning to get a 605 for the bedroom and that LCD is a 37" which only goes to 1080i, I wouldn't want the downgrade either.

I hear you, some people will argue with you that 720p is better then 1080i, and in some cases it is, such as sports and other fast moving shows, and the size of your tv plays an important role also, and most HD channels broadcast in 720p, except for a few like DiscoverHD which broadcasts in 1080i, HBO, and a few others. No 1080p broadcasts yet.

[kingofgrills]

That's too bad about the 606. I would recommend giving the Yamaha 663 a shot. I've set it up in a couple home theater rooms, and the results have been fantastic. There was no visible signal degradation from placing the Yamaha in the video signal path. I think the Yamaha 663 is a better audio performer than the 606 as well.

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

That's too bad about the 606. I would recommend giving the Yamaha 663 a shot. I've set it up in a couple home theater rooms, and the results have been fantastic. There was no visible signal degradation from placing the Yamaha in the video signal path. I think the Yamaha 663 is a better audio performer than the 606 as well.

I really hate that I have to take it back, I just got off work later then expected, so, I will have to take it back tomorrow to CC, I will then turnaround and order the Yammy 663, I just hope the fact I'm losing 2 HDMI ports does not come back to haunt me, but, since my resolution is degraded by the 606, I don't think I will regret it. However, I will fool with the settings one last time to ensure I'm not losing my mind.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by ItsGettingHotInEER

I just hope the fact I'm losing 2 HDMI ports does not come back to haunt me

just get an hdmi switcher.

Connect the bluray player into hdmi slot # 1 and the hdmi switcher into hdmi slot #2.

connect your other devices to the switcher.


simple solution.

[ToonyLoons]

This thread pains me. I was looking forward to the day when I finally crack down and buy a 606. Now I am second guessing that system. I would hope it is something that could be fixed via a firmware update.

[Halfwasted]

There is nothing wrong with the 606, if you dont want to upscale your cable signal, DVD signal, go st8 to the TV for video.

[Genocide316]

Originally Posted by ToonyLoons

This thread pains me. I was looking forward to the day when I finally crack down and buy a 606. Now I am second guessing that system. I would hope it is something that could be fixed via a firmware update.

don't second guess yourself or the 606 it is an awesome receiver.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by ItsGettingHotInEER

I'm in such a dilema, I really built this purchase up in my mind, and am just so dissapointed in my purchase, the only problem I have with the 605 is the overheating problem and buzzing noise some people have had, problems I have not had with my 606.

Any thought's on the Yammy V663, I know theres a good thread going on about it now.

Sounds like you need to drop chow for the 705 instead then. A bit more money, but you'll be one happy... ummmm... chow dropper??? ... Ya...

[Skulltap]

I ordered my 606 right before... reading this thread!

I hooked everything up when it arrived, and have my XBox 360, PS3 and cable box hooked up through three of the 606's HDMI connections, and the HDMI output going to my HDTV. I also have my cable box hooked up to my HDTV via component cables. I started switching things about, here and there to play with my new setup (I got my HDTV and 606 the same week).

Right out of the box, I tweaked my HDTV settings to get something nice to look at via the component inputs, then applied the same settings to the HDMI input. Firing up the 606, I noticed that the HDMI input looked darker. Concerned, I increased my brightness and backlight slightly, and... voila.

I too was very worried about the cnet.com review quoted in this thread. I have a thread with a link to the article in this forum where I voiced some upscaling concerns. Please allow me to put this to rest.

My images are fine. Games look absolutely flawless, and my Blu-ray's... wow!

Maybe my eyes deceive me, but I cannot find any flaw. Also, I did flip-by-side comparisons between my cable box hooked up via the 606 HDMI throughput and via component, and can tell no picture quality difference whatsoever. I do realize this is HDMI versus component, but they looked exactly the same.

Hope this helps.

[bhampton]

Yamaha clips blacker then black and peak white from video.

(Unless they fixed this via FirmWare updates already.)

May not be a big deal to you because that stuff is outside standard limits for video but look into it before making the purchase.

-Brian