HDMI question regarding Onkyo TX-SR706

Hooksta

My brother-in-law has one of those Onkyo all-in-one 7 channel receiver/speaker systems that has two HDMI in jacks and one out. However, the audio doesn't process via the HDMI cable. He had to run BOTH HDMI and a fiber optic audio cable from his Direct TV box to his receiver. From there he runs just a HDMI cable to the TV.

I thought audio and video was carried over the HDMI cable. I am considering buying the Onkyo TX-SR706 (THX 2) receiver that has 4 HDMI in and one out. Will I have to do the same stupid thing as him or will my audio come over via the HDMI. It says 1080p-compatible HDMI digital video switching (4 in, 1 out). What do you think? I won't make the purchase if I have to also use fiber optic in addition to HDMI.

Thanks

Smthkd

Audio and Video "is" carried via HDMI. Your brother in law dosen't have his receiver setup right!!!

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Hooksta

I'm pretty sure that not all HDMI receivers are created equal. There is a distinct difference I have read about but I can't remember what exactly I supposed to be looking for.

Besides there isn't much to screw up. HDMI in, HDMI out = no sound on his receiver. HDMI in + fiber optic in, then HDMI out = sound on his receiver.

deadhead68

You are correct, they're not all equal. Some are "pass-through" only. That means they just pass the audio and video to the TV, the receiver does not process the audio via the HDMI. You will have nothing to worry about with the 706 as it will process the audio.

DeadHead68

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bfocussvt

Very true. Like the lower end Sony's and older HK's, the receivers could not process audio, only video. Audio needed to be carried by the way of a coaxial or optical cable. More than likely (100%) the receiver cannot process TrueHD or DTS-HD MA so passing audio (other than PCM) over HDMI wouldn't make any difference as you'd be limited to legacy formats, i.e. DTS, DD, DD EX, etc...

He may be able to link signals (HDMI1 with Optical2, HDMI2 with Coaxial 3, etc..) so that everything switches seamlessly.

As a proud owner of a 706 you would have nothig to worry about, the 706 will process video and audio on a single HDMI cable. One tip; when you get it change the speaker Ohms to 4, not 6. Your receiver will run almost 10 degrees cooler.

Enjoy,

jkkyler

A stated the 706 will do switching (which is what you want as opposed to passthrough). Your brothers Receiver may or may not do switching some receivers will let you 'pair' audio/video sources with each other and some will also have a setting that toggles between passthrough and switching modes check the manual. That being said the 706 will definitely do what you want but I highly reccomend that you keep the ohm rating matched to your speakers to avoid damaging your equipment.

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Hooksta

Was allowed to open my receiver tonight and hooked it up. I have one HUGE question. I am coming from an Onkyo 703 THX model which would allow me to adjust each speaker volume independent of one another. In other words, all the speakers had an individual speaker setting from -9 to 0 to +9. For example, I could bump up the center channel volume a few extra digits to ensure the vocals came through effectively over the surround sound. I have read through most of the manual and I can't seem to find this option on the 706 THX. Am I missing something or did Onkyo eliminate this very useful setting?

Going to change my Ohm input in a moment.

The unfortunate thing is I will have to try to do an exchange. UPS must have played hockey with my reciever the styrofoam was destroyed and my new receiver has this nice nick in the top right corner...including a broken front face).

Loves2Watch

Yes they still have a channel level adjustment.

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Hooksta

Can you tell me the steps to access this feature please? My Father who visits from time to time has lost some of his hearing and cannot hear the spoken voice amongst the "booms and explosions" of the normal THX Cinema setting. I kind of have to agree with him. I was watching Batman on Blu-Ray last night and had the thing turned up pretty loud to hear what was being said and then the explosions and action scenes were about to bring the house down.

Loves2Watch

Then I would say that the center channel is not positioned properly. Is it at ear level, in the open (not in a enclosed shelf) and aimed directly at the listener? All of those things will effect the dialog and should be adjusted prior to setting the SPEAKER DISTANCE setting on the receiver.

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Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Hooksta

I think I finally found it under Speaker Setup/Level Calibration. When I selected it I could hear white noise from each speaker I selected. All were set at ZERO. So I raised the Center up to +4dbs. The white noise got louder in the center channel. I think this will do what I am trying to do.

I think the center channel is the most important piece of a surround system (biased personal opinion) so I am trying to bump the center up just a bit over the other components.

Took a while, but hopefully I found it.

Thanks for the help!

Loves2Watch

Glad you found it. Take a look here as well - Surround Sound System Speaker Placement Guide

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Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

ImRizzo

bump

Hooksta

I think because my brother-in-law has "pass-through" HDMI that is why he gets sound on his TV and not his receiver. When he adds the fiber optic line to the receiver (ie from a DVD player or Xbox) then he also gets audio from the receiver and speaker system. The cool thing is he gets both options this way. For example, my sister (his wife) may just want to hear the tv only (you know some women....ha ha....I did say "some," not all). Under his setup he can do that.

Now my new receiver the (706 Onkyo) processes the HDMI signal...so this is super smooth. I literall have my speaker wires hooked up and then nothing else but HDMI cables. AWESOME! HDMI from the Direct TV, Xbox, and Blu-Ray go in their appropriate places on the back of the receiver and then one set out to the TV. Very simple and effective and my wife loves that she never has to change the video mode on the actual TV ever again. The only thing I noticed is I have to choose to either use the receiver for sound or use the tv. I can't use both like my brother-in-law. No biggie, but I thought I would be able to do both. I suppose if I tell it to pass through the HDMI audio and also ran separate fiber optic lines I could do the same as he does. I won't be doing that though.

Eddie Haskell

I've been searching for an answer to a couple of questions I have and this looks like as good a place as any to ask
I presently have an Onkyo HTR-550 receiver which came as part of a complete home surround system. This receiver does the video only on the HDMI input so I have to have the toslink (fiber) connection for my audio, I'm not real fond of this and want to switch recievers and I'm looking at the Onkyo 706. I also have the Sony BDP-S350 BD player which from what I read has some audio limitations of its own
Here are the questions I have:
#1: Will I get true HD audio with this BD player and reciever combination? If not, is the BD player the weak link and is there a firmware upgrade coming from Sony that will make this combination work the way it is supposed to work? (I know it's 2 questions but they pertain to the same subject)
#2: If I use the HDMI as my only connections for audio and video from my BD player and my cable box into the 706 will I have to always have the reciever on to view these 2 components? I don't like to use my sorround sound for everything I watch, I don't see any reason to hear 2.5 men in surround sound, as my system is right now I have to have my reciever turned on to watch anything on my TV that uses the HDMI cable as it's video connection...don't like that