Panasonic DMP-BD30, Yamaha RX-V1800 & DTS-HDMA

[JamesN]

I have a Panasonic DMP-BD30 interfacing to a Yamaha RX-V1800 via HDMI 3.1. Whenever I play a BD that has a DTS-HDMA track, the receiver always reports it as having 7.1 channels no matter how many there actually are. PCM and Dolby TrueHD tracks seem to have the correct number of tracks reported.

For example, Close Encounters has both a Dolby True HD and a DTS-HDMA track. The Dolby TrueHD track is reported as 5.1, but the DTS-HDMA track is reported as 7.1. However, I do not hear any content from the rear surrounds in either case (nor do I expect to).

By contrast, 3:10 to Yuma, which is PCM 7.1, gets reported correctly as 7.1 and I do hear content from the rear surrounds.

Anyone else experiencing this with the same or another configuration? Is this a glitch with the receiver or something inherent in the DTS specification?

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by JamesN

I have a Panasonic DMP-BD30 interfacing to a Yamaha RX-V1800 via HDMI 3.1. Whenever I play a BD that has a DTS-HDMA track, the receiver always reports it as having 7.1 channels no matter how many there actually are. PCM and Dolby TrueHD tracks seem to have the correct number of tracks reported.

For example, Close Encounters has both a Dolby True HD and a DTS-HDMA track. The Dolby TrueHD track is reported as 5.1, but the DTS-HDMA track is reported as 7.1. However, I do not hear any content from the rear surrounds in either case (nor do I expect to).

By contrast, 3:10 to Yuma, which is PCM 7.1, gets reported correctly as 7.1 and I do hear content from the rear surrounds.

Anyone else experiencing this with the same or another configuration? Is this a glitch with the receiver or something inherent in the DTS specification?

I just got my 1800 yesterday (wow, what a beauty, I will spend all day today with it). I only have a PS3 but a friend is bringing over his Pani-30 so we can do some DTS so I will try it (no dtsHD on PS3). I will let you know what we can determine. How long have you had your receiver?

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by mntwister

I just got my 1800 yesterday (wow, what a beauty, I will spend all day today with it). I only have a PS3 but a friend is bringing over his Pani-30 so we can do some DTS so I will try it (no dtsHD on PS3). I will let you know what we can determine. How long have you had your receiver?

I've had mine about 3 months. I think you are going to love this receiver. Enjoy!

I'll be interested to hear if you get the same results regarding DTS-HDMA. It's actually a fairly critical issue--as you know the 1800 features both front presence speakers and rear surrounds, but they cannot play simultaneously. For 5.1 material, the front presence speakers are automatically enabled and the rear surrounds are disabled, and for 6.1 or 7.1 material the reverse is true.

So the problem is with DTS-HDMA 5.1 mixes, the 1800 thinks it is receiving 7.1 material and therefore disables the front presence speakers in favor of the rear surrounds--but there is no rear surround material in such cases!

As I previously stated, PCM and Dolby TrueHD seem to work correctly.


The only 2 DTS-HDMA discs I have tried this with are Close Encounters and Kingdom of Heaven and it is the same on both.

I would appreciate hearing your results. Thanks!

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by JamesN

I've had mine about 3 months. I think you are going to love this receiver. Enjoy!

I'll be interested to hear if you get the same results regarding DTS-HDMA. It's actually a fairly critical issue--as you know the 1800 features both front presence speakers and rear surrounds, but they cannot play simultaneously. For 5.1 material, the front presence speakers are automatically enabled and the rear surrounds are disabled, and for 6.1 or 7.1 material the reverse is true.

So the problem is with DTS-HDMA 5.1 mixes, the 1800 thinks it is receiving 7.1 material and therefore disables the front presence speakers in favor of the rear surrounds--but there is no rear surround material in such cases!

As I previously stated, PCM and Dolby TrueHD seem to work correctly.


The only 2 DTS-HDMA discs I have tried this with are Close Encounters and Kingdom of Heaven and it is the same on both.

I would appreciate hearing your results. Thanks!

James, I will check it out. Can you tell me what front presence speakers means? I am an aud/vid nut but havn't heard that term, surprisingly. I have 3 front speakers, left, center, right so are there more? The left/center/right don't get deactivated do they?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by mntwister

Can you tell me what front presence speakers means?

extra front speakers that help even out the sound in the front (ambient sound)...making for smooth transition of audio across the screen so to speak. Its not really a discrete channel. Sort of like splitting the front L/R into 2 L/R audio signals, only without losing any quality.

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by mntwister

James, I will check it out. Can you tell me what front presence speakers means? I am an aud/vid nut but havn't heard that term, surprisingly. I have 3 front speakers, left, center, right so are there more? The left/center/right don't get deactivated do they?

Presence speakers are a Yamaha-specific technology. They entail an extra pair of speakers designed to be placed above and slightly wider than the front L/R pair.

As Crackinhedz noted, they are used to provide additional ambiance for what Yamaha calls "sound fields". Sound fields are digital re-creations of the ambient "footprint" of actual venues. The 1800 provides a number of different sound fields: concert halls, cathedrals, movie theaters, etc. The effects (echoes, reverberations, etc.) are digitally added to the source material before being output to the speakers.

It sounds hokey, but most of the fields are subtle and tastefully done and IMO provide a very realistic you-are-there experience. See what you think. If you don't like the effects, you can always opt to not apply any sound fields and listen to unadulterated source material.

You'll need an extra pair of speakers to get the full benefit of the effect, but they don;t need to be of as high quality as your mains. If you don't employ the presence speakers, the 1800 will mix the ambiance in with the front R/L speakers, but the result isn't as satisfying. (Additional ambiance is mixed in with the surrounds.)

As an added bonus, the presence speakers can be used to provide what Yamaha calls "dialog lift". This mixes some of the center channel information with the presence speakers to raise the perceived source of the center channel vertically higher in the sound stage. Useful if you have a large screen (as it appears you do) with your center speaker located below it. It can make dialog appear to originate from the center of the screen rather than below it.

All of the various parameters for the various sound fields are fully configurable, including the height of the dialog lift. The manual can explain it all much better than I can, but if you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to take a crack.

(btw, judging from your other posts I love your taste in films.)

[crackinhedz]

James, a much better explanation than I could give.

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

James, a much better explanation than I could give.

But I defer to you on all things Onkyo!

[Forester]

Hi

I just purchased the RX-V1800 to replace my old RX-V851 and am wondering what speakers you guys would recommend, I have bose satillites and sub and looking to upgrade any recommendations would be much appreciated.

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by Forester

Hi

I just purchased the RX-V1800 to replace my old RX-V851 and am wondering what speakers you guys would recommend, I have bose satillites and sub and looking to upgrade any recommendations would be much appreciated.

I use Paradigms. They are a Canadian company that make excellent sounding speakers at just about every price point.

They don't allow their products to be sold via mail order or big chains, so you'll have to go to an AV specialty store to audition some. Their website can help you find a retailer near you. Check them out, you won;t be sorry.

You can also find them on eBay, however they retain their value so well over the years that used models sell for nearly new prices.

James

[kingofgrills]

Paradigms are excellent speakers, and offer tremendous bang for the buck. They also match very well with Yamaha amps.

The other company I would recommend checking out is Monitor Audio. They are a British loudspeaker company and have received a few speaker of the year awards over the past couple of years. They also match up really well with Yamaha amps, and offer a fantastic value. Plus, the fit and finish of Monitor Audio speakers goes well beyond the price.

I'd recommend checking out both companies. Either direction you go, you win.

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by JamesN

I use Paradigms. They are a Canadian company that make excellent sounding speakers at just about every price point.

They don't allow their products to be sold via mail order or big chains, so you'll have to go to an AV specialty store to audition some. Their website can help you find a retailer near you. Check them out, you won;t be sorry.

You can also find them on eBay, however they retain their value so well over the years that used models sell for nearly new prices.

James

Yeah there's very good + the discount is excellent since they are made in Toronto. I have Monitor 8, CC390, ADP390 and i'am getting a sub at the end of the years (they always do superb Boxing day special )