Potential fly in the DSP-AX863SE ointment........a bit of advice please

[Fisty1967]

Hi Everyone,

Having just bought a set of KEF3005's (bargain £505 fron 7oaks), I've spent the last 2 months trying to decide which AV amp to buy.

I finally decided on the 'sound as a pound' denon 1909 - until I read the review on the Sony 2400.

But then got really excited, when I read the review and comments on the Yamaha 863.

Did my research, and found I could get one for £480 - which made it even more tempting.

Was just about to order - when I read a post in another forum......

"Grumble Grumble. I really wanted to get another Yamaha but after some research it appears that it can't apply matrix processing to the rears if it's decoding TrueHD/DTS MA. Hmm. I'll have to wait and see how the Sony 920 and Pioneer 1018 stack up against it. I'm certainly not giving an Onkyo any houseroom."

Page 69 of the manual also says that...
If the Dolby TrueHD audio signals are input and “SUR.B L/R
SP” is set to “NONE”, the left and right surround back channels
are not directed to the surround left and right speakers.

Now, I'm using a 5.1 setup (or will be when I get an amp

) and hoping the BR disks I watch boot out HD sound.

My question is, 1) how much will I miss by the 863's inability to direct the rear channel sound from TrueHD soundtrack to my surround speakers ? 2) Should I get hung up about this issue ?

If its a big snag, I will go ahead and buy the Denon. If not - AX863 here we come.

Would appreciate any advice you can offer.

 

[Anonymous]

hi Fisty, sorry i cant answer your question but i am after buying the yamaha. where can i get it for £480? cheers

 

[Fisty1967]

Yesterday, Digital direct had it on for £480, Amazon UK £490 (via Hughesdirect) and Superfi £499.

I see today all apart from superfi have put their prices up by at least £100 (probably on the back of What Hi-Fi Review and 5 Stars).

I'm tempted to order anyways before the prices get hiked again.

 

[Sorreltiger]

Just a thought based on my experience with the 3800. ÿIt wouldn't surprise me if the system is basically similar and it took me (and a number of others) some time to work out as the manual isn't very helpful.

Firstly, you certainly AREN'T going to get 7.1, matrixed or otherwise, if you haven't any rears connected (surround back). ÿAfter the set-up, the rear channels will be set as NONE. ÿThis is a 5.1 system.

ÿIf you have a 7.1 system, then the rears will be recognised. ÿDTS Master 7.1 discs will play as such. ÿTo matrix 7.1 from 5.1 discs, it's necessary to force the receiver to use PLIIx Movie in the Ext Surround settings. ÿThat's easy to achieve for broadcasts, using the remote,ÿbut you have to go into the set-up menu to do it for DVD and Blu-Ray. ÿI believe I and/or another 3800 owner posted the exact instructions a week or so ago (sorry - now I can't remember how to do it off hand!!!)

ÿHope that helps - as I said, I'd be surprised if the system isn't more or less the same.ÿ

 

[PIPPI]

I've got the DSP-AX861SE witch is basically the same without HD Audio decoding on-board, you have to tell the yammy not to use auto to detect but use PLIIx MOVIE or EX/ES.

Choice Functions

AUTO Activates the optimum decoder to play back

signals in 6.1/7.1 channels when this unit

recognizes a signal flag being input.

PLIIxMovie Plays back Dolby Digital or DTS signals in 7.1

channels using the Pro Logic IIx movie decoder.

PLIIxMusic Plays back Dolby Digital or DTS signals in 6.1/

7.1 channels using the Pro Logic IIx music

decoder.

EX/ES Plays back Dolby Digital or DTS signals in 6.1/

7.1 channels using the Dolby Digital EX or DTSES

decoder.

OFF Does not use any decoders to create 6.1/7.1

channels