Onkyo AV Receiver questions

swb502 · August 2010

Hello All!

I had two question I was hoping the community could help me out with.

First, the different between .1 and .2 sub set ups. Are the subs in a .2 channeled for left and right, or is it the same single in both channels? Is this no different than the current splitter I use on my .1 Yamaha for the two subs?

Second question, looking at the Onkyo 1007 (and the 3007, and 5007). On the back there are 11 channels, but I understand only 9 can be powered at a time. Can I have 9 channels from the receiver and use a separate amp to power the height channels? Or can the recovered only decode and transmit 9 channels of information? It it can send all the information it seems like a much cheaper way to get to 11.2!

Thanks for all the help!

kawizx9r · August 2010

Maybe someone else can clarify the .2 sub for you. (Did you read the manuals that can be found online?)

As for 9ch surround/etc, how big is your room?

Even for medium-sized rooms, a 5.1 setup will easily suffice if properly setup and properly driven.

Just my .02

-Freddy

swb502 · August 2010

I was looking at the Onkyo web site and it just has ".2" and dosn't explain if its stereo or just a repeater.

For the first question I did just now find the answer, it can not send 11 singles, it can only process 9 at any given time no matter what.

kawizx9r · August 2010

Point I was getting at is, if you can do 5.1/6.1/7.1/9.1 or whatever your receiver is capable of, it doesn't mean you have to.

More speakers doesn't generally mean better sound (for HT or music at once).

polkfarmboy · August 2010

I would buy the denon 4810 if your going to need a full 11.1 setup but if you just need a plain old 7.1 I would buy the onkyo 805 over the 1007 and use the saved cash for another project

mdaudioguy · August 2010

swb502 wrote: »

I was looking at the Onkyo web site and it just has ".2" and dosn't explain if its stereo or just a repeater.

For the first question I did just now find the answer, it can not send 11 singles, it can only process 9 at any given time no matter what.

Simple. If the sub-out connections on the back are labeled Left and Right, then they are stereo, otherwise they're not.

spock 2054 · August 2010

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Simple. If the sub-out connections on the back are labeled Left and Right, then they are stereo, otherwise they're not.

From the NR1007 manual:

PRE OUT: SW1, SW2
These analog audio outputs can be connected to a
powered subwoofer. You can connect the powered
subwoofer with each jacks respectively. Level and
distance can be set individually for each output.

Does not specify if it is stereo..

mdaudioguy · August 2010

spock 2054 wrote: »

From the NR1007 manual:

PRE OUT: SW1, SW2
These analog audio outputs can be connected to a
powered subwoofer. You can connect the powered
subwoofer with each jacks respectively. Level and
distance can be set individually for each output.

Does not specify if it is stereo..

Well, 1 and 2 is not left and right, so really, how could it be stereo? They wouldn't expect you to be able to guess. Also, TTBOMK, movies have .1 soundtracks. The LFE is never stereo, AFAIK.

Ron Temple · August 2010

One of the nice things about the 007 series is that the sub outs can be calibrated to different levels and Audyssey cab be apply a different eq solution per sub for better room integration, but they aren't stereo. You get either high or wide, not both. There are only 9 amp output stages. You can't use the pre outs to create an 11.2 solution.

LeftCoast · August 2010

The Denon can do high and wide at the same time from what I understand. But I also read a review by someone who applied it. I seem to remember them not being impressed and that the difference was negligible as far as listening pleasure.

LeftCoast · August 2010

Sorry, correction...I was referring to the 9.3 setup. Denon AVR 4810ci.

Ricardo · August 2010

Wow. 11.1 already? Must be the speaker manufacturers giving out $$$$ to the receiver manufacturers. I have a 7.1 and seriously consider to go back to a 5.1. And I have the space for more speakers.

kuntasensei · August 2010

I don't care for Audyssey's DSX, so I have no need to go 11.1. That said, I'm running 9.1 with DPL-IIz Height on the Onkyo 1007... and it's SWEET! The height channels give the front soundstage that wall of sound feeling you get in the theater, ambient sounds are better placed, and when there's a flyover or rain, it definitely adds to the experience without seeming gimmicky. It's one of those things that won't jump out at you immediately because it blends so well... but if you listen to it for a while then turn it off, you'll definitely miss it.

With the prices dropping on the 1007 right now because of Onkyo's newer models, it's one of the sweetest deals you'll come across. So long as you don't care about HDMI 1.4 or this 3D nonsense, it is one hell of an AVR.

dvran · August 2010

11.1! Buy a good pair of headphones and get rid of all the speakers!

polkfarmboy · August 2010

I watched the last terminator movie in a dolby 2z and was better than 7,1

cstmar01 · August 2010

the .2 on most AVRs is just the same as if you took one sub out on the back and put a Y splitter on them. I have never come across a movie yet on blue ray or DVD that was encoded with a .2LFE track. Stereo sub outputs would be more for anyone into music listening, which I've never seen or read about a AVR that had this feature (could be wrong but never seen it).

11.1 is rediculous...most people don't have the room even for a 7.1 much less a 9.1 or 11.1

kuntasensei · August 2010

cstmar01 wrote: »

the .2 on most AVRs is just the same as if you took one sub out on the back and put a Y splitter on them. I have never come across a movie yet on blue ray or DVD that was encoded with a .2LFE track. Stereo sub outputs would be more for anyone into music listening, which I've never seen or read about a AVR that had this feature (could be wrong but never seen it).

It's more than just a splitter. On the Onkyos, it basically gives you two sub outs with independent distance/level settings. Helps a lot with integration of dual subs as far as getting phase/level matched up before Audyssey EQ's the summed output.

cstmar01 wrote: »

11.1 is rediculous...most people don't have the room even for a 7.1 much less a 9.1 or 11.1

That may be true, but... height channels aren't too problematic, considering they go directly over your mains. Takes up more wall space, but is pretty nice if you have it. I just threw a cheap pair of Monitor 30s up there, and the resulting sound was totally worth it.

Just keep in mind that when the move was made from stereo to Pro-Logic, people were probably saying, "That's ridiculous... most people don't have the room for stereo speakers, much less a center and surrounds!"

cstmar01 · August 2010

kuntasensei wrote: »

It's more than just a splitter. On the Onkyos, it basically gives you two sub outs with independent distance/level settings. Helps a lot with integration of dual subs as far as getting phase/level matched up before Audyssey EQ's the summed output.

That may be true, but... height channels aren't too problematic, considering they go directly over your mains. Takes up more wall space, but is pretty nice if you have it. I just threw a cheap pair of Monitor 30s up there, and the resulting sound was totally worth it.

Just keep in mind that when the move was made from stereo to Pro-Logic, people were probably saying, "That's ridiculous... most people don't have the room for stereo speakers, much less a center and surrounds!"

I'm talking about the people that are trying to cram 11.1 in a room the size of a bookshelf because they magically think its going to sound better.

Sorry but you don't need all that in a room of 10X10 but there will be the people that think you do. It just pretty tiresome to have to explain that proper set up will beat out poor placement of a lot of speakers any day. I'm sorry but even with my living room at 15X18 would I ever need a 11.1. I can get a fantastic sound field and all the affects with a 7 channel system very easily, and even with a 5.1 as well. People often follow too much hype about it.

Can it still sound good, yes, but is it really needed for most consumer rate projects that someone would be doing in a living room ect, no.

kawizx9r · August 2010

Well thanks for that Chris.

It's what I was getting at in my first post and it seemed to be ignored.

More speakers isn't generally better, but what do I know :rolleyes:

swb502 · August 2010

But more speakers are way cooler ;]

kuntasensei · August 2010

cstmar01 wrote: »

I'm talking about the people that are trying to cram 11.1 in a room the size of a bookshelf because they magically think its going to sound better.

Sorry but you don't need all that in a room of 10X10 but there will be the people that think you do. It just pretty tiresome to have to explain that proper set up will beat out poor placement of a lot of speakers any day. I'm sorry but even with my living room at 15X18 would I ever need a 11.1. I can get a fantastic sound field and all the affects with a 7 channel system very easily, and even with a 5.1 as well. People often follow too much hype about it.

Can it still sound good, yes, but is it really needed for most consumer rate projects that someone would be doing in a living room ect, no.

Yeah, proper placement is key. However, smaller rooms would actually be the ones that get the most benefit from additional speakers. The problem with the home space vs. theatrical is that the theater is large enough for the sound to have room to resolve in the intended position. In a smaller room, your proximity to the speakers makes things difficult. That's why Dolby used to recommend placing surrounds up high, to make them more diffuse. However, as they've added more speakers to the rear, they're depending more on the steering logic to handle generalized placement. 7.1 in the home exists solely to address the issues of recreating a 5.1 EX soundfield properly in the home space, letting you recreate the general effect of 15+ speakers in an array in the theater.

Similarly, DPL-IIz Height, at its core, addresses the generalized placement of ambient sounds that are mixed out-of-phase in the side surrounds. In the theater, these sounds resolve the way a dipole speaker does. In a home space, it's more difficult to get that effect because of the room size. By shifting the out-of-phase sounds partially to a set of speakers mounted high on the front wall, you can mimic the dipole-like diffusion that these sounds get in the theatrical space simply by nature of being mixed out-of-phase per existing mixing standards.

Now, is any of this needed? No. But then, let's be honest... NONE of this stuff is needed. But damn, it's cool when you do it right!

cstmar01 · August 2010

kuntasensei wrote: »

Yeah, proper placement is key. However, smaller rooms would actually be the ones that get the most benefit from additional speakers. The problem with the home space vs. theatrical is that the theater is large enough for the sound to have room to resolve in the intended position. In a smaller room, your proximity to the speakers makes things difficult. That's why Dolby used to recommend placing surrounds up high, to make them more diffuse. However, as they've added more speakers to the rear, they're depending more on the steering logic to handle generalized placement. 7.1 in the home exists solely to address the issues of recreating a 5.1 EX soundfield properly in the home space, letting you recreate the general effect of 15+ speakers in an array in the theater.

Similarly, DPL-IIz Height, at its core, addresses the generalized placement of ambient sounds that are mixed out-of-phase in the side surrounds. In the theater, these sounds resolve the way a dipole speaker does. In a home space, it's more difficult to get that effect because of the room size. By shifting the out-of-phase sounds partially to a set of speakers mounted high on the front wall, you can mimic the dipole-like diffusion that these sounds get in the theatrical space simply by nature of being mixed out-of-phase per existing mixing standards.

Now, is any of this needed? No. But then, let's be honest... NONE of this stuff is needed. But damn, it's cool when you do it right!

sure.

Sherardp · August 2010

kawizx9r wrote: »

Point I was getting at is, if you can do 5.1/6.1/7.1/9.1 or whatever your receiver is capable of, it doesn't mean you have to.

More speakers doesn't generally mean better sound (for HT or music at once).

I completely agree with this. Unless you have a very large room there is no reason to do 9.1 or those added height channels. IMHO that is.

kuntasensei · August 2010

My room is 12'x18'... and though there may be no reason to do 9.1, it sure does sound awesome.

Regardless, to the OP, the 1007 is a damn nice AVR no matter how many channels you run, and it is a worthy upgrade (especially at the prices they're dropping for now).

Onkyo AV Receiver questions

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