Learn from each other - Easy improvements to get the best out of your system

[rendu]

Hello, there are already a few similar threads but, I thouht maybe it was worth to start one regarding functionality. There is a lot of functionality in our systems and I am sure that we do not get the best out of it. Just would like to share easy and CHEAP examples of how to get some more our of our systems.

My example: Use the Zone 2 of your amp with a set of wireless speakers for 60 Eur. I have added wireless speakers to my Zone 2 preouts. The set is composed of a trasmiter that gets the preout from the amp. Then you have the 2 speakers which can be placed anywhere in the house. The speakers are either plugged to the electricity or with batteries. This set only costed 60 Eur and allows you to use the Zone 2 anywhere in the house and the sound is very decent. I have one of the speaker in my bathroom and the other in the kitchen, so someone can be in the livingroom wathching tv and I can be in the kitchen listening to the radio.

 

[Messiah]

I like the idea of the thread and like the idea you have suggested.

What speakers are you referring to?

 

[rendu]

They were actually in one edition of the WHF magazine some years ago. The brand is Rimax.

http://www.rimax.net/esp/html/ficha_descripcion.asp?id=350&tipo_producto=7

 

[Cofnchtr]

Hi,

Don't need zone 2 - just crank the volume up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lol.

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.

 

[The_Lhc]

I can see this turning into a Viz style Top Tips column...

 

[Anonymous]

Hi guys , dont know how to start a page on my problem, so sorry for the hijack

Samsung Blu Ray BD-P4600 feeding into a Wharfedale LTF37 LCD TV.

Problem: When using HDMI (a variety of cables have been experimented with) I lose the Main Audio (Front/Speaking) Background sounds usually hardly noticeable are the only thing heard. Picture is fab.

If I use a scart all is well or if I use the video / audio coloured leads all is well, but with both of these options the picture quality suffers. I have tried many many alterations of settings but cannot get ordinary Stereo through the TV!

Anyone know what is happening here?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Rosie

You need to set the Samsung's audio output to downmix, which will then give a stereo signal the TV can handle. At the moment it's trying to process surround sound, which it can't do, hence your problem.

See pp40-41 of the Samsung manual for instructions on how to do this.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Andrew, you have kind of answered a question I have regarding my set-up...... It goes like this. When watching Blu-ray via HDMI through our Onkyo 608 ( in standby ) all is fine with the sound via the tv ( also via HDMI from the 608 ) apart from the the black bars top and botom. when we do the same with the onkyo On, and the surround turned down, this gives us a much more pleasing full screen picture ( after all I have paid for it ) bur really dodgy sound ,as though some of the chanels are missing ( as per Rosie ) is there a way of fixing this without adjustment to the Bluray output ( BDPS370) every time we dont want full surround sound. The picture adjustment ( size ) settings we currently use, are split between the Tv and the Onkyo and seem to give us the best results for general daily use.

Your comments and suggestions would be apreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew

Will go try it ,thanks again and and sorry for the hijack

 

[Andrew Everard]

No, probs: and the answer to scrapingby's question, courtesy of m'learned colleague Mr Kerr, editor of the WHFSV Ultimate Guides and general AV Brain the Size of A Planet, is:

"Found this, from the Onkyo manual’s preferences section:

HDMI
■ Audio TV Out ␣

Off: HDMI audio is not output.
On: HDMI audio is output. This preference determines whether audio received at the HDMI IN is output by the HDMI OUT. You may want to turn this preference on if your TV is connected to the HDMI OUT and you want to listen to the audio from a component that’s connected to an HDMI IN, through your TV’s speakers. Normally, this should be set to “Off”.

• If “On” is selected and the audio can be output from the TV, the AV receiver will output no sound through its speakers. In this case, “TV Sp On” appears on the display.
• When “TV Control” is set to “On”, this setting is fixed to “Auto”.
• With some TVs and input signals, no sound may be output even when this setting is set to “On” (➔ 52).
• When the “Audio TV Out” setting is set to “On”, or “TV Control” is set to “On” (➔ 52) and you’re listening through your TV’s speakers (➔ 17), if you turn up the AV receiver’s volume control, the sound will be output by the AV receiver’s front left and right speakers. To stop the AV receiver’s speakers producing sound, change the settings, change your TV’s settings, or turn down the AV receiver’s volume.

Sounds to me that currently there’s an issue with the player’s audio output settings. So, I’d say turn everything off first, then turn it all back on. First, reconfigure the BD’s audio output to the AV amp (just the once) using its auto mode. That should ensure that the BD player is always providing the correct audio stream into the receiver. Then, finally, use the receiver’s toggle on/toggle off Audio TV out mode to determine whether the amp’s speakers will be working, or the television’s. Oh, and with said mode enabled, make sure the amp’s speakers are turned right down."

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Andrew, it seems to make more sense now, its amazing how a quote from the manual can give clarity, when it's not just one of many,many pages you have to trawl through to try and find, let alone get your head round the relevant section.