Getting different results from HDMI than from optical

prstrings

I just bought a refurb Onkyo 805, and I have been experimenting all day. My setup is quite basic: 805 receiver, RTi12 fronts, CSi5 center, Panasonic 50PX77U plasma, older RCA DVD/DVR, Comcast (Scientific Atlanta) HD/DVR box.

Here's my problem/situation:

My original hope was to send the video signal from my HD cable box straight to my TV via HDMI, and then send the audio from the cable box to my receiver via optical cable. By doing this, I could still watch TV and get audio out of the TV speakers without having to use the receiver when I felt like it. The situation/problem I have found this evening is that when I run the HDMI from the cable box to the receiver and then use the HDMI monitor out to my TV, the receiver carries Dolby Digital (as the surround-sound option), but I cannot choose any other of the surround options such as Neo:6, Pro Logic, etc. However, when I use an optical cable for audio from the cable box to the receiver, and then send the video from the cable box to the TV via HDMI, I cannot get Dolby Digital at all (instead I must choose from Pro Logic II, Neo:6, etc. from the surround-sound options). What explains this difference, and can I "fix" it so I can the same options from HDMI and optical (meaning I can choose other surround options when going the HDMI route, and I can get Dolby Digital when using an optical cable)?

Much thanks.

guptonr

I have an Onkyo 705 and Panasonic 50PZ85U and had similar issues although not exactly because my sat receive is not HD. I had them with my DVD player Pioneer elite DV-48. I had to turn off the all the Viera link commands in the plasma's menus. It would "countermand" what I wanted my receiver to do. Dig into your HD receiver's menus. It may have settings for controling what goes out via HDMI and digital audio. My DVD player's digital outs are always hot, but if I don't turn them on in the menu, they only output PCM which provides only the pro logic II etc via HDMI or digital out. Once I "turned on" the digital out, both the digital outs and HDMI sent undecoded signals to the receiver and the Onkyo did the conversion and I was able to get all of the Dolby Digital, DD EX, DTS, etc.

mmadden28

My Xbox360 uses Optical for audio and yes its pumps 5.1 DD surround just fine. And when pumped into my Onk 805 I can change the options.

How are you setting the options on the Onk? You can choose where to get the audio from for each input. If you're using HDMI into the AVR are you using HDMI for audio as well?

I have a Motorola HD box (used by Comcast and Verizon FiOS in my area) and IIRC it does have some audio out options, although I don't recall how deep those options are.

What was your previous AVR? Did it process Surround? Did it work fine?

leroyjr1

I would read the manual and maybe it can help out with both your situations.

prstrings

I definitely already read the manual, and it says that I should be able to run component in to the receiver and then HDMI monitor out. It mentions no complications that would arise.

mmadden28

Although its not obvious, and its one of the other reasons I chose to run my Xbox Component video (1080i) direct to the TV rather than via the 805 (and may actually be why I had odd colors), is that upconversion of Composite, S-Video and Component inputs is only to 720p, not to 1080i as would be the capability for HDMI inputs. So keep that limitation in mind. So actually my hooking up my Xbox360 1080i signal to the component input was actually downscaling the signal.

EDIT-Of course the way I read the manual, Component in and Compnent out will pass the signal through unchanged so that would probably work in my case, but then I'd have to have extra Component cables in the path and hogging up cabinet space, but if you needed to use the AVR as the switching device for everything you could do it.

wutadumsn23

A bit off topic maybe, but I have a PS3 as my Blu-Ray player and before I bought my Onkyo 806 I had to run optical/digital coax out of my PS3 into my old reciever because it didn't have HDMI in/out (one of the reasons for the upgrade to the 806) Anywhoot, I had a similar problem with my HD Sat. box (Motorola from Comcast) and I run my sound from the box to my 806 via optical cable and am able to get Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital EX. It may be in the settings of your box, or your reciever. I don't remember exactly how I did it, but if you haven't resolved the issue I will be happy to tinker with my system to see if I can figure out what it is exactly you need to do. Let me know if you have solved it or not, I'd be happy to try to help.

xandra

Not sure if relevant to your prob but, with my SciAtl Box (Time Warner) there's an option that MIGHT help...

under 2nd Settings Menu (press "Settings" 2x)
scroll down to Digital Audio select: Dolby Digital 5.1 instead of HDMI option
...