The Saint DVD/Audio Question/Denon AVR 2802

[thereds]

The Saint provides 2 audio formats
- DD
- DD 5.1

When I change the audio format output on the DVD to DD 5.1, my receiver picks it up as 6.1 and the processing isn't what I want [can't hear speech and such]. Anyone have a clue or should I post this on some HTF?

 

[thereds]

^

 

[bizmark]

Your receiver picks it up as 6.1? That's bizarre. You're using a digital link from your DVD player to your receiver, right? (I guess you must be, but just thought I'd ask)

You've got everything hooked up right, and other DVD's play fine? Sorry, I'm not assuming you're an idiot, but I really can't think of any good reason why it would do that. Is there a setting on your receiver to 'force 5.1'? I tried to look on the Denon website but it had trouble loading for me.

Do you have 6 speakers hooked up, or just 5?

 

[thereds]

<< Your receiver picks it up as 6.1? That's bizarre. You're using a digital link from your DVD player to your receiver, right? (I guess you must be, but just thought I'd ask)

You've got everything hooked up right, and other DVD's play fine? Sorry, I'm not assuming you're an idiot, but I really can't think of any good reason why it would do that. Is there a setting on your receiver to 'force 5.1'? I tried to look on the Denon website but it had trouble loading for me.

Do you have 6 speakers hooked up, or just 5? >>



Thanks for trying to help.

As of right now I have only 3 speakers hooked up. 2 fronts and a center.

And yes, I am using a digital link.

 

[Flashram]

Make sure that the 6.1 auto flag detect mode is set to ON. If you have it OFF it will play back 5.1 channel sources in the 6.1 channel mode. BTW- I have the Denon 3802. Look on page 20 of your manual for more info. Also see pg. 45 to make sure you don't have the 6.1/7.1 surround output enabled.

 

[thereds]

<< Make sure that the 6.1 auto flag detect mode is set to ON. If you have it OFF it will play back 5.1 channel sources in the 6.1 channel mode. BTW- I have the Denon 3802. Look on page 20 of your manual for more info. Also see pg. 45 to make sure you don't have the 6.1/7.1 surround output enabled. >>



Cool. I'll start working on it.

How does one calibrate the system using internal tones? I have no idea how to do that.

 

[Prong]

The best way to calibrate your speakers (and TV for that matter) is picking up a copy of AVIA ($40), OR Video Essentials ($20), OR Sound and Vision ($20) and a $40 Radio Shack SPL Meter. These DVD disks can be found locally (generally) if you're in a hurrry to do it now (like I was) or you can order them online. I have the Sound and Vision disk and it really helped make the esoteric concept of calibration understandable to a rookie.

 

[bizmark]

calibration is basically ensuring that all of the speakers sound the same volume, at the main listening position. You can do it by ear, but it's best to do it with a sound-level meter. You just hit the calibrate button and it sends white noise too all of the channels, rotating from FL, C, FR, SR, SL, FL, and so on. I guess for a 6.1 system it'd do the rear one too. Anyway, these are all put out at the same volume by the receiver, but due to differences in the speakers and their distances from the listening position, they can seem to have different volumes. So you want to even these out. You can adjust all of the speakers in one-dB increments until they're all approximately equal. Or, if you're desperate to get real flash-bang surround sound to impress everybody, you can bump the rear speakers up 5dB or so 😀 Again, it's best to do calibration with a SPL meter, but if you don't have/want one, you can do it by ear. If I were you, I'd spend the money on rear speakers before I bought a SPL meter 😉

The stuff that Prong lists is the next step. AFAIK, the tones on these discs are generally better than the ones generated by your receiver (unfortunately I don't have any of those discs). They also let you calibrate your TV's contrast/color/etc. so that your TV displays as close to 'spec' as possible.