Onkyo TX-NR905

[admin_exported]

Collected my Onkyo 905 from Richer Sounds today. I upgraded under their 14 day exchange option because the 875 didn't like my switcher box which enabled two outputs (TV and Projector) at the same time. Upgraded mainly because I didn't want to be switching HDMI cables (more particularly - didn't want to make life difficult for other family members). Also thought the internet facility would be useful.

The review in the March magazine says that the two HDMI outputs enables those with a flatscreen and a projector to switch between both without groping around behind the equipment. Maybe I'm missing something but it appears to me that you have to go into the menu system to switch between "main" and "sub" HDMI outputs - in other words it seems that it is NOT possible to have both outputs engaged simultaneously. I've re-read the manual and it seems that there is no way of having both outupts active at the same time.

The set up routine is more complicated than switching cables behind the receiver, especially for other family members not into the nuances of dealing with the technology. Maybe I'm missing something but I can only get either the TV or the Projector active at any time, I cannot get both active at the same time.. I have to go into set-up to switch between them - frustrating, especially when the switcher box worked perfectly with my previous reciever.

Am I missing or misunderstanding something or did the review miss something.

All advice appreciated

 

[VoodooDoctor]

No, you can only have one output active at a time. There is a discrete remote code to switch between the outputs as I use it on my Harmony remote, it's just not on the Onkyo remote.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply VoodoDoc. I also have a Harmony remote which I haven't programmed for the new 905 yet so it would be great if you could let me have the code so that I could set it to switch automatically. Looking forward to getting it all automated!

 

[VoodooDoctor]

The 905 is in the Harmony database so all you have to do is add it as a device and the button is automatically in the setup.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your earlier advice. Set up the Harmony remote for the Onkyo TX NR 905 and now its relatively simple to switch between HDMI outputs, have also set up some progammes which selects the correct output automatically.

However I'm encountering another problem. I've set all the sound options on the Onkyo under the various options DVD, CBL/SAT, Aux 1 (which is my Panasonic BD 30) to "Direct" as I assume that should give the best sound.

When I play Blu Ray the sound is output from all channels and is identified as such on the Onkyo display. Howeve when I play DVDs or SACD or DVD Audio on my Denon 2910 I'm only getting sound from the front two channels, though the display on both the Denon and Onkyo indicate that all channels are active (but DTS, for example, doesn't show up on the Onkyo display when a DTS disc is playing). I have the Denon set up to output audio in LPCM multichannel. Had a similar problem with the 875 before swapping for the 905 and setting the Denon to LPCM sorted it. Any ideas - what settings do you use for the sound options on the Onkyo?

 

[professorhat]

If the "Direct" mode is anything like the Direct mode on my Denon amp, it's designed basically for stereo i.e to cut out any unnecessary paths from the signal and reduce interference e.g. when playing back a CD. In my case, if I put my amp in Direct mode whilst playing a DVD, I wouldn't get Dolby Digital or DTS etc. as the processing for these are cut out.

My guess therefore is, you shouldn't have the amp in direct mode for Blu-Ray / DVD / SACD / DVD-Audio / Sky HD viewing as these all require the amp's processing abilities and the "Direct" mode is cutting them out.