Onkyo AVR DD DTS onboard Decode.

Hi AV experts,

Finally got the HT-S5100(B) - Came in a huge box :-), Could not carry it in my car (Zen) and got it delivered by the dealer.

I checked out the 3 models, HT-S3105(B), HT-S5105 (B) and HT-S5100(B).

HT-S3105(B)(5.1) - 19.5 K + Philips DVD(no HDMI) free. If DVD Player not required 2 K discount - Was not very impressed as the quality was bad.

HT-S3105(B)(5.1) - 30K (No Free DVD player) - Good quality when seeing movies, But was average when music was played.

HT-S5105 (B)(7.1) - 36K - Liked what I heard for both Movies and music and purchased the same.

Set it up for 5.1 and sounds great for both movies and Music. Not all that huge after removing from the package.

Had an product demonstration and the demonstration was way below average, He just showed me how to adjusted the speaker setup (db) and said that's the demo is all about, was not at all impressed.

anyway that is not the point as I had already installed the system myself and was working fine, The reason why I had to call for product demonstration was I had some doubts on the inbuilt decoders and when contacted their call center, they asked me to have a demo done, really waste of my time.
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Hence I would like to put the question to you guys here whom I am sure are more knowledgeable.

I have connected my DVD optical out to AV's Optical in (CD), I play an Dolby Digital movie, even though I am able to hear the effects, Why is that I am not able to see the Dolby Digital decode in the front display. I have my sound setting to All Channel St setting. If I change the same to DD prologic PLII I am able to see the Dolby Digital light up in the front panel and when I select Neo6 I am able to see the DTS, This I presume is the way the sound is mixed.

So the question is is the All Channel stereo setting correct for movies and how do I know if my AV is indeed doing Dolby Digital or DTS decoding as expected.

I am using an orginal DVD movie which supports Dolby Digital, Not checked on DTS as none of the Indian DVD come with DTS and am not sure the one available locally are really DTS track.

Any help or pointers is appreciated and it would remove the confusion I been having from the time I have got this system.

Thanks

Arun

Arun I had the same frustrating problem with my Denon receiver finally found some resource on the net which was quite educational although do understand your problem is solved now in any case posting this interesting article:

Cheers

How to Get Dolby Digital 5.1 Channel Surround

How to Get Dolby Digital
5.1 Channel Surround

Here's a surprisingly common problemYou've set up your new Dolby Digital/dts A/V receiver, home theater surround system and DVD player, popped in a DVD, and pressed Play. The movie starts, the sound from your main stereo speakers is great, but somehow the surround effects seem to be lacking . . .

You panic! Is my new receiver defective? Is the hookup wrong? Maybe the surround levels need adjustment? Aren't these new multipolar surround speakers supposed to be all enveloping, immersing me in an involving and realistic soundfield? Did I position them incorrectly?
I answer email questions about this all-too-common scenario every week. The last query was from a user whose new A/V receiver wouldn't switch into the Dolby Digital mode, and refused to display Dolby Digital on its front panel. He also was disappointed with what few surround effects he could hear.

The truth of the matter is he wasn't hearing any surround effects at all--because his new A/V receiver wasn't operating in Dolby Digital 5.1! He was listening to the movie in stereo because he hadn't set up the DVD player's menu to output a 5.1-channel Dolby Digital bitstream, and he hadn't connected the DVD player's digital output jack to the A/V receiver's digital input.

Now, here's how to do it correctly (the following instructions assume that you own a Dolby Digital/dts 5.1 to 7.1-channel A/V receiver with digital inputs and a DVD player with a digital output jack, either coaxial or optical or both):

Connect your DVD player with either a single digital coaxial or optical digital cable from the DVD player's digital output jack to the digital input that corresponds to the DVD input on the A/V receiver. There is no difference in sound quality between these two types of connectors. Your DVD player may have only one type. If it has both, use whichever one is convenient. (There is no need to connect the analog left and right audio cables to the A/V receiver except in special circumstances.) Note: While you are at it, do not forget to connect the video cable, because the DVD player's digital output does not carry the video signal.

The next step is crucially important. DVDs do not necessarily default automatically to Dolby Digital 5.1. Each time you load a DVD, go to the DVD's setup menu and click on "Audio Setup" or on "Languages" if there is no Audio Setup option and choose "Dolby Digital 5.1." (If you have a 6.1 or 7.1 system select "Dolby Digital EX" if it is an available option.) Depending on the age of the disc, the "Audio Setup" on the DVD menu may give you several choices: "5.1 Channel Surround Sound" or "Stereo Playback." If it's an old DVD, it might even say Dolby AC-3 (the professional designation for Dolby Digital 5.1). New DVDs may offer "Dolby Digital 5.1" and "Dolby Digital 2.0," the latter being stereo. A sampling of my own DVDs, which date back to 1997, show all variations. Some of the disc menus offer only "Surround Sound" or "Stereo" options.
You should now see "Dolby Digital" displayed on your TV screen or on the display on your receiver. If this does not appear, you may need to go to the DVD player's menu and set the bitstream for Dolby Digital. You will need to refer to your DVD player's owner's manual to find out how to set this for your machine. Note: Fortunately this is a one-time set-up.
The single digital cable connector--either a plain coaxial cable with RCA male plugs on each end or a Toslink optical connector--carries the entire Dolby Digital 5.1(and dts if its available) -channel data stream to the receiver. It also carries a digital "flag" that signals your A/V receiver's Dolby Digital 5.1-channel decoder to switch to its Dolby Digital mode and send the multichannel audio signals to your system's six speakers. When it detects the digital flag, the receiver front panel should display "Dolby Digital" or indicate it with an LED or with text on the TV screen.



Another thing to remember: Dolby Digital is the world standard for 5.1-channel DVD movie surround soundtracks, digital cable-TV distribution and for satellite broadcasts of movies and programming. DTS is only an option for the producer of the DVD or music disc. The Audio Setup menu may or may not list dts, depending on whether or not the disc's producer decided to offer a dts soundtrack mix in addition to Dolby Digital 5.1. Lots of older DVD music videos do not include a dts soundtrack. Dts soundtracks are separately mastered and may have a different tonal balance from Dolby Digital. Many older first-generation DVD players do not read or pass a dts signal.

Once you have properly connected the DVD player's video and optical or coaxial digital cables to your receiver, go to your receiver's remote or front panel and turn on the Test signal that cycles a pink-noise signal consecutively through the left front, center, right front and the surround speakers. Make sure you hear the test signal from each speaker. Now adjust the levels carefully either by ear or with a sound-level meter from your listening location (much more accurate adjustments are possible using a separate sound-level meter such as the Radio Shack meter, available at modest cost with either an analog or digital display. It's a worthwhile accessory for accurate home theater channel-level adjustments).

Finally, check the polarity of all your speaker connections, making sure that the red and black speaker outputs on your receiver match the red and black connectors on each speaker. That will ensure that all the speakers operate in phase, with all of the drivers' diaphragms moving in and out together.

Do not rely on some new A/V receivers' auto-phase or auto-equalization circuits or on test discs that utilize microphones. Many are erratic in operation, indicating that some speakers are out of phase when in fact they are not or suggesting that adjustments are needed to alter the frequency response. The auto-EQ or interactive test discs will make good, neutral speakers like Axioms reproduce the unnatural response that has been electronically created and greatly deteriorate your home theater enjoyment. Use these circuits to adjust the channel levels only, then turn them off.

As a final reminder, don't forget to go to the DVD menu and click on Audio Setup and 5.1-channel surround sound every time you load a DVD. You've paid for all those multiple channels of sound reproduction, and you deserve to hear the movie the way it was mixed.
 
Well Guys,

Finally was able to use the Audessey 2 EQ setup and the sound is much clear and crisp now, even the Dynamic EQ works great. The sound quality and dialogue has improved a lot and the difference can be seen when you switch the Equalizer between Audessy and Off. Fantastic sound improvment.

Thanks Guys , I think I have done for some time now, Any idea when I can find original DVD's with DTS in Bangalore.

Thanks

Arun

Hi Arun,

I too purchased Onkyo 5105. I have configured Audessey 2 EQ. But while watching movie, speach clarity is not that much good. its very dead slow. Can you please give the speaker configuration like centre +2 dB. ?

Before configuration of Audessey, I felt more clarity in voice. After configuration sound become slow and I am getting very good music. So Please tell your configuration set up in speaker.
 
A beautiful, well-constructed speaker with class-leading soundstage, imaging and bass that is fast, deep, and precise.
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