[spencer_uk]

Thanks. I upgraded the firmware and then set the volume to relative. This seems to have done the trick as the volume is now around -17 ish which is similar to my old amp which was thx certified. Probably need to turn the subwoofer down as it was a real shaker....

[aerobaticant]

Hi owners!

I'm considering replacing my ageing Yamaha 5.1 receiver with the 709.

This may be a silly question but what colour is the display on the front of the 709? The photos on the Onkyo web site show the display of the black version as distinctly green (yuck), however the silver version has a neutral grey/white.

Is this a photographic effect or is it really green?

[liamt]

from memory on the black one its green. to be honest it looks nice. better than my old silver yammy with orange text.... i would have preferred blue though like my old denon

pic:

[aerobaticant]

Hmm, in your photo it looks pretty similar to the pics of the silver version:

Certainly not as green as:

[liamt]

yeah, its not as green as that pic. i think they overdid the saturation. it is green though. i actually think green is less eyecatching, which can be a good thing when watching a movie. you can dim the display anyway.

the 709 is an awesome amp. better than previous denon and yammaha i have owned. its the first one where i can get the remote to turn off my TV too... the magic 'all off' button works a treat

[aerobaticant]

Thanks for that.

Roll on Saturday and a trip to Richer Sounds!

One further question springs to mind - I think I've seen this mentioned in another thread but can you select the audio to come from an optical input while the video comes via HDMI? This is for Sky HD that doesn't output Dolby Digital via HDMI.

[liamt]

yup. that all works fine enjoy saturday!

btw - updates take some time so plug it in and do an update first

[aerobaticant]

Well, I bought the 709 and eagerly got it home to try.

Firstly, the display is definitely not as green as on the Yamaha web site. (thanks liamt)

Secondly, setting the CBL/SAT HDMI input to take its audio from an optical input was a breeze.

This is where the fun begins:

I have a full-HD 22" LG TV in the kitchen wired HDMI from the living room as well as the 46" Samsung in the living room itself. My plan was to use the two HDMI outputs to feed the two TVs. However it transpires that if I enable audio via HDMI (so I can hear sound on the kitchen TV) the Amp's speakers get disabled!

Anybody out there in Onkyo-land tried something like this?

The upshot is that RS are swapping it for a Yamaha RX-V771 which should arrive tomorrow. According to its manual I should be able to do what I want.

[liamt]

copied from my thread here:

content from AVR to another AVR?

The problem you face is that from your Onkyo AVR :
1) can only enable audio on both HDMI outputs, or on neither.
2) the HDMI output on both outputs is limited to the common subset supported by both receiving devices.

To run the TV in both rooms, perhaps you could split the HDMI signal currently running from the TV source(s) into the Onkyo and thereby run them into both AVRs? If you have multiple sources, you could either get multiple splitters, or a single combination switch / splitter (e.g. 4:2). There are quite a few available.

i didnt realise that the amp's speakers got disabled. thats a bit pants. it apparently send the common signal over hdmi out - so the LG might only be stereo and limit. not sure as i havent tried it yet

what i have is a sony streamer that pulls content from a NAS box on the network. that streamer has hdmi to my onkyo and optical going into my conservatory to my yammy amp and mordaunt short speakers. the only limitation is that i can only listen to content via the streamer in the conservatory.

so, i cant hear TV or blu-ray stuff, i made that thread as i would like the additional (i often like to listen to music in the conservatory when mrs is watching tv in lounge) ability to send the virgin sound to the yamaha. i have my TV on a swivel bracket so i can turn the TV so i can see it in the conservatory, it would be nice to hear the football commentary.

you could have also run speakers from the zone2 to some in the kitchen if needed.

enjoy your yammy!

[spencer_uk]

Hi - has anyone got this setup to a ps3? I am going through hdmi with my ps3 setting at linear PCM. The amp picks up a signal displaying THX cinema but there is a slit lag in the sound dubbing. Speech is slightly out. Now I can put I an av delay however my questions are:
- should I be using linear PCM or bitstream? Presume the former
- should I try to force thx or just leave as multichannel in?
- are there any other settings I should use / set?

Sky HD sound is fine

Thanks in advance for assistance.

One last thing - there seems to be a product recall of this model. I checked on the onkyo website and mine was not affected. Other than the amp switching itself off does anyone now what the other problems might be?

[spencer_uk]

Btw it is an old ps3 - not the slim one.

[whooshavf]

Originally Posted by spencer_uk

Btw it is an old ps3 - not the slim one.

One or two tips here -
FAQ: Setting up a PS3 to an Onkyo amp

[whooshavf]

New problem for me
Streaming pushing music from Windows Media Player on Win7 PC to my 709 was fine
Then - updated firmware
and
Disconnected and moved amp to new location (off for about a week)
Nothing else changed

Now when I try and stream I get this

Error occurred on your device

Device cannot be controlled
Your device is currently locked by another user or device. Please try again later
HRESULT 0x80040369
UPnP Error:705

Any ideas ?

[audioenthusiast]

Hi,
I'm looking at upgrading my AVR, and the 709 is at the top of my list.
I currently have a 508 as part of the one-box system that came with 5.1 speakers. I've already upgraded the speakers, and want a more capable AVR. Needs pre-outs as I want to use my stereo amp to drive the fronts. So this led me to the 709. This stereo system also means that the AVR is only to be used for film/TV, not music.

Other options are the Yamaha 771 or Marantz 5006, which both come up cheaper.

So my question for you...
How does the 709 do at reigning in a sub that booms sometimes? My sub is a BK XLS200, but it's right in the corner and I can't move it. It's great for music, but not for film right now.

liamt, if you're reading this, I see you also have an antimode. How does Audyssey's correction compare with the the antimode? I don't really want the extra expense and extra box of an antimode.

Also if anybody has compared this AVR to others at or below its price point with pre-outs, please let me know what you found.

My speakers are all XTZ.

[liamt]

the antimode seems to help boom. you can always buy a granite block from argos etc to put under it.

the onkyo has many more options than my old yamaha or denon. it might be the LFE rather than bass though?

i cant really say too much about the antimode as we are currently redecorating the lounge and nothing has been setup right since we moved in. hopefully it will all be finished this weekend and i will be able to tell you.

you can always play with just moving the sub around slightly and it can make a huge difference

i always use 5.1/7.1 stereo for music now. not as pure but sounds better to me

i generally listen to music in my conservatory as its what we use for a smoking room

[audioenthusiast]

Thanks for that.

I should maybe have phrased myself better regarding the antimode. I meant to say that I can't afford to get an antimode too, so do you find that the 709's Audyssey does anywhere near as good a job.

A granite slab is something I'm considering actually. I know that a small movement in position can make a difference, but I really don't have any play at all. My sub position is as per the pic in post #2 here: XLS200 - My story so far, and FF vs DF.
I know it's not ideal, but the arrangement I have with my girlfriend is that I'm allowed to buy whatever I like, but she gets to choose the colour, and can veto placement options.
The unit you see there is open-backed, and has 6-8 inches clear between it and the wall behind.

As for 5.1/7.1 music, I only use that on the rare occasion we have a party. For my own listening pleasure, I'm very happy indeed with the XTZ 99.36 floorstanders and matching A100-D3 amp. But I have now got the option of going 2.1 with my BK, and that's allowed me to run the 99.36s in sealed cabinet mode which has improved things further.

[liamt]

couldnt you put the sub elsewhere - such as behind the couch? im limited now as i have just had a new wood floor layed and forgot to buy a long sub cable!

the 709s Audyssey is 2 steps up on basic Audyssey and seems better than the denon. as i say, i cant help too much on the antimode as my room wasnt set up well before. i managed to tweak my sub manually too. the antimode was more of a rushed birthday pressie as i didnt know what i wanted so i asked for that you can grab them for about £110 so they wont break the bank if you really need one.

if music is ok but the movies are too much it sounds like you need to lower the LFE level which im sure you can do. IIRC you can even set it for each device too, which could be useful. but check into that as i may be wrong. all my AV kit is in storage at the moment so i cant find out.

[audioenthusiast]

I'm using the sub's high-level input for music, and low-level for AV. Both have individual gain controls. That's one of the things that attracted me to BK. And I have played around with the sub level. But I think on my 508, it is just the level of the sub output - can't control the LFE and the audio below the crossover of other channels (which of course also goes to the sub) separately.

Anyway, if you do get it set up again I'd love to hear your opinions on what Audyssey can do for a poorly-positioned sub. If you have the time and willingness, maybe even try putting the sub right back into one of the alcoves your HC extension thread shows for your floorstanders, and seeing if the 709 can fix any bad sound?

And no, I really can't go anywhere else. Not even behind the sofa. Going behind would mean taking high and low level cables to the back somehow, and I have a solid concrete floor. Also i had heard subs perform best in the front half of the room.

Thanks for the tips though.

[liamt]

i have to put the sub there now due to messing up on the cable purchase. if its terrible i will have to chase out going around 1 door, 1 3m patio door and 3 walls! fingers crossed on the antimode!

subs are 'supposed' to be omnidirectional (i find they arent really) and cant you run cables around the room under carpets?

[audioenthusiast]

Originally Posted by liamt

i have to put the sub there now due to messing up on the cable purchase. if its terrible i will have to chase out going around 1 door, 1 3m patio door and 3 walls! fingers crossed on the antimode!

Well good news for me, if not for you! Please do update me on how that goes, including without the antimode.

Originally Posted by liamt

subs are 'supposed' to be omnidirectional (i find they arent really) and cant you run cables around the room under carpets?

Simple answer to that is no. High and low level cables together there will probably mean a lump in the carpet. And taking the carpets up to do it will probably mean a shouty girlfriend. Especially if I then change my mind if it makes it worse!

[liamt]

Originally Posted by audioenthusiast

Well good news for me, if not for you! Please do update me on how that goes, including without the antimode.

Simple answer to that is no. High and low level cables together there will probably mean a lump in the carpet. And taking the carpets up to do it will probably mean a shouty girlfriend. Especially if I then change my mind if it makes it worse!

if you pull up the edges you will find 5mm of gripper and usually about 10mm of space between the walls. you can easily get chunky wires there, if all else fails

should be all setup over the next few days if not this weekend. hopefully by sunday i should be all up and running and enjoying blu-rays again!

[audioenthusiast]

Hi, me again. I'm hoping to collect my 709 today :-)

liamt, did you get to test your 709's MultEQ against your antimode?
If you've any thoughts on how I should set it up, I have a thread here: New AVR upgrade - connections and cabling

On page 42 of the manual, it talks about macros, but not about how they work. Do you know if it's all done by the remote learning functions of your other devices? Or is it HDMI control?

I have a Harmony One, and I'm happy with how that controls everything. Is it possible to make the 709 act completely dumb, and not try to power on when it gets signal from something else, or power other things on when it wants them?


Also, how smart are the amp stages? I want to give myself the option of using my stereo amp as a front power amp or not.
I plan to set my stereo amp to the same gain as the power amp part of the 709 by experimentation. Then plug the stereo into front pre-outs. Both AVR and stereo amp outputs will go to a Beresford TC-7220 switch, and on to the speakers.
So my question - Does the 709 have any setting to switch between the pre-out and the power out? Or are they both on, all the time?

[liamt]

Originally Posted by audioenthusiast

Hi, me again. I'm hoping to collect my 709 today :-)

liamt, did you get to test your 709's MultEQ against your antimode?
If you've any thoughts on how I should set it up, I have a thread here: www.avforums.com/forums/av-amplifiers-receivers/1620805-new-avr-upgrade-connections-cabling.html

On page 42 of the manual, it talks about macros, but not about how they work. Do you know if it's all done by the remote learning functions of your other devices? Or is it HDMI control?

I have a Harmony One, and I'm happy with how that controls everything. Is it possible to make the 709 act completely dumb, and not try to power on when it gets signal from something else, or power other things on when it wants them?

The remote just seems to know some. Like the watch tv and all off buttons. They just use codes you input. It can learn too. It can change hdmi stuff I think like channels.

Hard to tell with antimode. Seems to lessen the boom but there wasn't much due to the room layout and aydessey calibration

My 709 has loads of speaker terminals and I can switch between layouts like fw fh & sr etc. I guess it's one of the extra features over yours. I would imagine your fh would also work for the fw. If manual says you can get fw I guess you do that. The amp has the most comprehensive set of options I've seen on an amp.

[liamt]

Originally Posted by audioenthusiast

Hi, me again. I'm hoping to collect my 709 today :-)

liamt, did you get to test your 709's MultEQ against your antimode?
If you've any thoughts on how I should set it up, I have a thread here: www.avforums.com/forums/av-amplifiers-receivers/1620805-new-avr-upgrade-connections-cabling.html

On page 42 of the manual, it talks about macros, but not about how they work. Do you know if it's all done by the remote learning functions of your other devices? Or is it HDMI control?

I have a Harmony One, and I'm happy with how that controls everything. Is it possible to make the 709 act completely dumb, and not try to power on when it gets signal from something else, or power other things on when it wants them?

Also, how smart are the amp stages? I want to give myself the option of using my stereo amp as a front power amp or not.
I plan to set my stereo amp to the same gain as the power amp part of the 709 by experimentation. Then plug the stereo into front pre-outs. Both AVR and stereo amp outputs will go to a Beresford TC-7220 switch, and on to the speakers.
So my question - Does the 709 have any setting to switch between the pre-out and the power out? Or are they both on, all the time?

I think I answered a question from another thread lol. Oops.

[audioenthusiast]

Originally Posted by liamt

I think I answered a question from another thread lol. Oops.

I think you possibly answered the first half of my post and then drifted off to something else!

Well I've bought my 709 now, and will be setting it all up tonight and tomorrow.


I'll be going it without an antimode, and hoping the multEQ does the job well enough.

As I have a Harmony One, I won't be using the packaged remote at all. And I think I'll turn all HDMI control off too, as I can see things getting confused (myself if not the equipment!) if they're getting commands from both remote and HDMI. At the moment, if I've been using my TV or blu-ray through the AVR, then turn everything off with the Harmony, then the AVR turns itself on the next time you turn the TV on.

As for the question about using pre-out and amp out for fronts, any idea? I can't find it in the manual. Are both on all the time while that channel is in use? Or do you switch between them in a menu? It'll make a difference to how I set things up.

By the way, I won't be using its FH/HW/rears - just plain 5.1 for me. My room is set up for FH speakers, but I found that makes no improvement overall from 5.1. Certain scenes it sounds better, some it's actually worse, but most there's no difference in the slightest.
So as it makes no difference to me, I may as well please the girlfriend by having two fewer speakers
I'll probably use the powered zone 2 when I get the kitchen done towards the end of the year though, it'd be easy to get some cables through to there.

[audioenthusiast]

Well I now have my 709. I've set it up but fully, I've got a couple of cables due in the post.
A couple of aesthetic questions for other owners though.

Is there supposed to be a cover for the hole on the front panel with USB, mic port etc? I thought I saw one on a display model but mine doesn't have it.

Have you managed to cleanly peel off the big green Spotify sticker off the front? Any tips to avoid leaving residue behind?

[liamt]

Originally Posted by audioenthusiast

Well I now have my 709. I've set it up but fully, I've got a couple of cables due in the post.
A couple of aesthetic questions for other owners though.

Is there supposed to be a cover for the hole on the front panel with USB, mic port etc? I thought I saw one on a display model but mine doesn't have it.

Have you managed to cleanly peel off the big green Spotify sticker off the front? Any tips to avoid leaving residue behind?

I desticker all my AV kit. They are usually the plastic labels that come off easily. I didn't have a cover to the plate section

[audioenthusiast]

Ah yes, it came off easy enough.
And as for the hatch cover, maybe I saw it on a different product.

[audioenthusiast]

And now a setup issue. Anybody able to help?
I'm getting no output from the front pre-outs. (or any of the other pre-outs except the subwoofer - I checked).
Any idea why?
I don't have to run the auto-setup again with the external amplification setup, do I? I was really hoping to be able to easily swap between just using the 709's internal amps, and using the better-quality amplification for fronts.
I can't see anything in the manual about pre-outs being disabled sometimes.

[liamt]

Originally Posted by audioenthusiast

And now a setup issue. Anybody able to help?
I'm getting no output from the front pre-outs. (or any of the other pre-outs except the subwoofer - I checked).
Any idea why?
I don't have to run the auto-setup again with the external amplification setup, do I? I was really hoping to be able to easily swap between just using the 709's internal amps, and using the better-quality amplification for fronts.

how would you easily swap? do you have 2 sets of speakers? the fronts get hooked up to the stereo amp and then you feed RCA back to the 709. thats how i guess it works?

have a search as i was looking at doing this and was basically told no point.