Octava HDS7A-UK -any opinions?

movie_fan · 09-10-2009, 12:32 AM

I'm considering a Octava HDS7A-UK LPCM decoder and would like to know your opinions. Anyone using one of these?

Nic Rhodes · 09-10-2009, 7:32 AM

I have used one here and like it. It plugs many gaps for older kit and is fairly unique.

movie_fan · 09-10-2009, 8:17 AM

Hello Nic,

would think of pairing it with my old AV32R.

Nic Rhodes · 09-10-2009, 8:20 AM

I still use an AV32R

movie_fan · 09-10-2009, 8:23 AM

Two features I would probably miss was the channel distance and BM with the Octava.

Nic Rhodes · 09-10-2009, 8:26 AM

That is the price you pay with legacy equipment and integrating modern equipement with needs not know during the design of legacy kit. It will however be very dependent on partnering equipment, both BM boxes, sources and speaker capabilities. What it does, it does well enough but it is really down to what you are tring to achieve here.

movie_fan · 09-10-2009, 9:59 AM

Does the Octava box need some kind of HDMI sink?

Nic Rhodes · 10-10-2009, 5:47 AM

not sure tbh, didn't try it without. Joe would know.

**bxd** · 10-10-2009, 12:19 PM

Hi,

I use a HDS7A-UK to extract the audio from the hdmi output on my PS3 and I'm pretty happy with it. I feed the audio output to a Sony TAP-9000es preamp. As Nic suggests it's giving my 'legacy' kit an extended lifespan.

The unit doesn't give you any control of speaker levels so you have to do that at the preamp stage if you can (although I don't find this to be much of a problem). The unit is a handy hdmi switcher and you can also switch analogue 5.1 audio (e.g. a dvd-audio player).

I haven't tried it without a hdmi sink either but I'll check if I get a chance.

Brian

movie_fan · 12-10-2009, 7:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bxd

I haven't tried it without a hdmi sink either but I'll check if I get a chance.

Hello Brian,

did you happen to try it?

Thanks,
Joao

**bxd** · 14-10-2009, 5:20 PM

Hi,

Sorry ... haven't managed to do this yet. I'll try and have a go over the weekend.

Brian

movie_fan · 15-10-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bxd

Hi,

Sorry ... haven't managed to do this yet. I'll try and have a go over the weekend.

Brian

Sure, no problem mate.

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that the Octava would have problems driving long interconnect cables. Anyone noticed this?

Nic Rhodes · 15-10-2009, 11:23 AM

I would probably say the opposite. Octava were one of the first units / manufacturers showing eye diagrams and they really understood the challenges facing long cables and I think they even used a pre emphasis to help this. If any manufacturer shows you an eye diagram, then you know they know what they are doing.Most don't.

**bxd** · 15-10-2009, 11:13 PM

Hi Joao,

It's probably not good news but I tried disconnecting the hdmi cable linking the Octava to my plasma display. When I do this I lose the 5.1 audio output from the Octava so it appears that you do need to have a hdmi sink.

Brian

pebulus · 22-10-2009, 1:27 PM

I've just ordered myself one of these from John at The Media Factory. Should be with me tomorrow so I'll try it over the weekend and report back. Going from PS3 into the Naim AV2 multichannel inputs.

as · 23-10-2009, 1:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pebulus

I've just ordered myself one of these from John at The Media Factory. Should be with me tomorrow so I'll try it over the weekend and report back. Going from PS3 into the Naim AV2 multichannel inputs.

i,ll be intrested in your review

pebulus · 24-10-2009, 12:13 PM

Well...... Let's just say that interfacing anything with the AV2 is a pain. Anyway, onto the Octava...

First test - CD.

A simple test - what does it sound like compared to the optical in on the AV2. This is the biggest let down ever. The sound has no bass at all. Maybe this is a setting on the PS3, but playing Dark Side of the Moon via the optical into the AV2 sounds fantastic. Switch to the multichannel inputs and there's nothing there. No bass, no separation, dull, lifeless and I have to turn the volume up to around 50 to get anywhere near the same volume as I get at 25 via the optical. Something must be wrong as this sounds terrible. I'll give the MF guys a call to see if they have any ideas.

OK, onto movies. Last night I watched a bit of Independence Day and it sounded great. Mind you, I still had to jack the volume control right up to levels I've never even dared approach before to get any kind of volume. Also, when loading a Blu Ray the speakers pop many times as the HDMI modes change. This is something I've not had before via the optical, at least not loud like that. I actually turned the volume down while the disc loaded as I value my speakers.

I'm going to try a couple of movie tests now - The Dark Knight and Transformers via optical and then multichannel to compare. At the moment I'm wishing I'd just bought an Oppo!

pebulus · 24-10-2009, 1:07 PM

The DTS soundtrack on The Dark Knight via optical sounds much better than the uncompressed TrueHD soundtrack via the Octava. The Octava is lacking any bass at all, and it sounds very chesty and dull. No top end, no bottom end.

Now bear in mind that I have my AV2 set to Large for all speakers, so I'm used to feeding them a full range signal. The Octava via multichannel does seem to have more dynamics to the sound, as you'd expect from uncompressed audio. As Batman lands on the van in the carpark there's a much more punchy thump, but with my kit, at least, this doesn't sound great at all. There is just no low or high frequency content getting to the fronts.

Intriguingly enough, the Octava ships with a little leaflet as well as the handbook. It says, and I quote, 'Your unit has been installed with all the firmware necessary. There is no need to install these ICs before use. Optional: In the event of compatibility issues, you may install the 2 chips attached. It should solve some common issues'. Yes folks, it comes with 2 small chips that you can install yourself! I'm not going to try these because it will void the warranty and I'm not sure I['m going to keep this unit given the performance so far. Definitely the first time I've ever seen chips supplied with a purchase though.

In summary, I guess I was asking a lot to expect a £250 box to approach the sonic performance of the converters in a £2500 processor, but I am still disappointed in the sound from this box. It could be that the AV2 isn't handling the multichannel signal properly, or that the PS3 has a setting I'm missing. Either way this was not the exciting audio experience I was looking forward to.

Anyone had better luck? I know these get modded for Meridian kit so I can't believe this is all there is....

as · 24-10-2009, 2:52 PM

does it say what compatibility issues there are

pebulus · 24-10-2009, 5:11 PM

Nope. Very odd. I wouldn't open it up anyway due to the little security tab. Have emailed TMF to see if it's me expecting too much or a compatibility issue. I suspect the former as all my other kit plugs into the same inputs ok and at the correct level. My iPod playing mp3s sounds better right now...

as · 24-10-2009, 6:27 PM

i was thinking of getting one for my denon avc a1sr. also i have seen on other forums that the sound from a ps3 was flat. so maybe its the ps3

pebulus · 25-10-2009, 1:07 AM

Could be, although it's fine via the optical output of the Octava, which is also derived from the HDMI signal from the PS3. I also use the PS3 for CD playback via optical into the AV2 and it sounds fantastic.

**bxd** · 25-10-2009, 10:23 AM

Hi,

I've had a few problems with video with my unit which I've largely solved by changing the chip. I was having colour issues between my source (PS3) the Octava and monitor (Panasonic HD-8 Plasma). I still get it from time to time but I usually switch the unit to another input and back again to cure things.

I've never tried my PS3 with CDs but I'll give it a go if I get a chance. You might want to check what the PS3 is actually sending out to the Octava on it's hdmi output.

Also, the output levels from my Octava (feeding a Sony TAP-9000ES 5.1 channel preamp) are such that I only have to turn up the volume a little to get it pretty loud, so your problems with levels may be related to your particular processor rather than the Octava unit.

Edit: I've just been having a play with some CDs on my PS3.

I can compare the direct optical output from the PS3 (to my Sony TAE-9000ES pre-processor) and the hdmi output from the PS3 (fed to the Octava/TAP-9000 preamp). I can't hear any differences between the two when I switch between the two inputs on the TAP-9000ES unit_ it all sounds fine to me.

Brian

as · 25-10-2009, 3:05 PM

thanks fotr that info. pebulus must have the setup wrong on ps3 or maybe a chip needs changing in the octava

pebulus · 25-10-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bxd

Hi,

I've had a few problems with video with my unit which I've largely solved by changing the chip. I was having colour issues between my source (PS3) the Octava and monitor (Panasonic HD-8 Plasma). I still get it from time to time but I usually switch the unit to another input and back again to cure things.

I've never tried my PS3 with CDs but I'll give it a go if I get a chance. You might want to check what the PS3 is actually sending out to the Octava on it's hdmi output.

Also, the output levels from my Octava (feeding a Sony TAP-9000ES 5.1 channel preamp) are such that I only have to turn up the volume a little to get it pretty loud, so your problems with levels may be related to your particular processor rather than the Octava unit.

Edit: I've just been having a play with some CDs on my PS3.

I can compare the direct optical output from the PS3 (to my Sony TAE-9000ES pre-processor) and the hdmi output from the PS3 (fed to the Octava/TAP-9000 preamp). I can't hear any differences between the two when I switch between the two inputs on the TAP-9000ES unit_ it all sounds fine to me.

Brian

Thanks for the info Brian. I'm speaking to Joe at TMF tomorrow to see if he can help with this. It's not the AV2 processor, since anything else plugged into the same inputs sounds fine. My PS3 is set to output all the various formats up to 5.1 (since I don't have 7.1 speakers). Is that the same as yours? I've found a post from a guy over at **another*** forum site who has had the same issue, so at least I'm not alone with this. He also get's the loud pops in the audio as the disc loads. Have you experienced those?

Peter

movie_fan · 25-10-2009, 10:39 PM

Well, I decided to get one but can't get it to work. No sound out of it.

I don't have it connected to a display, so I think that is the problem. I've emailed TMF right now about this, and I'm guessing I'll have to install the upgrade chips with the static EDID.

Let's see what TMF says.

Joe Fernand · 25-10-2009, 10:56 PM

Hello all

As per BXD's post the supplied 'alternate' chips handle EDID differently from the installed chips so aren't likely to cause or cure any audio problems other than being able to force your Source into a particular output mode.

If you plan to run the unit without an HDMI Sync connected we may need to provide a custom chip set.

I'll be in touch with pebulus and movie fan tomorrow.

Joe

**bxd** · 25-10-2009, 11:39 PM

Hi Peter,

I'm running a 5.1 set-up and I've had no issues with clicks or pops as I switch things around.

Brian

as · 26-10-2009, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Fernand

Hello all

As per BXD's post the supplied 'alternate' chips handle EDID differently from the installed chips so aren't likely to cause or cure any audio problems other than being able to force your Source into a particular output mode.

If you plan to run the unit without an HDMI Sync connected we may need to provide a custom chip set.

I'll be in touch with pebulus and movie fan tomorrow.

Joe

does that mean you will do custom chip set. so that you can use the octava without being connected to a tv

pebulus · 26-10-2009, 3:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bxd

Hi Peter,

I'm running a 5.1 set-up and I've had no issues with clicks or pops as I switch things around.

Brian

Hmmmm.... Well then I await to see what TMF come up with. I've tried every combination of settings on the PS3 and compared other devices on the same input on the preamp so it's definitely something in the Octava that's not working right. You never know, it could just be faulty - stranger things have happened