Clipping Problem with Cornwalls and HK AVR7200

[MikeGinIllinois]

I've got a puzzling problem going on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

1. Harman Kardon AVR 7200 running in 8 channel direct mode connected to a

 

2. Samsung BluRay BD-F7500

 

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/BD-F7500/ZA

 

3. with two Klipsch Cornwalls as fronts, two Klipsch Synergies as Surrounds, and a couple of Sony's as rears.

 

This problem ONLY happens with BluRays. I played "The Martian" in DTS 7.1. When I encounter heavy bassy areas, like a hatch closing or heavy winds my fronts, left and right, "clip." Imagine someone is in the speaker with a static charge sending a "jolt" into the speaker causing it to snap or crackle. The crackling only happens in my fronts.

 

If I change the codec to Spanish 5.1 or English 5.1 with narration the clipping goes away. For this movie you can't have English 5.1 all by itself.

 

I have swapped out the amp, the Samsung Bluray and my audio cables. I also swapped out the Bluray DVD. In the setup of the Samsung I have fiddled with the audio settings.

 

I have changed the "Digital Output" of the Samsung from PCM to "Bitstream - Reencloded DTS". I have changed the Downmixing Mode from Normal Stereo to Surround Compatible. I don't really know what I am doing in this section of the Samsung.

 

The idea here was that by running 8 channel audio direct from the Samsung to the HK I could let the Samsung do the decoding and send the decoded elements directly to the amp which doesn't support DTS 7.1 or newer high end codecs. It seems like I only get the clipping (and only during bassy "explosion" types of sounds) when I run high ended codecs like DTS 7.1. Otherwise all is fine.

Does anyone have a suggestion or observation they can offer? I'm pretty puzzled by this.

 

Thank you!

Mike Gallery

Crystal Lake, Illinois

 

Edited June 1, 2016 by MikeGinIllinois

[zobsky]

 Have you tried listening via the headphone output of your receiver ? It's highly unlikely that your speakers are responsible for something like this unless the capacitors or drivers are toast.

Edited June 1, 2016 by zobsky

[MikeGinIllinois]

I did try using headphones just now and the clipping occurs with them, too.

 

This only happens when I've selected the DTS 7.1 codec. It must have something to do with a high end CODEC, I'm thinking.

 

Thanks.

 

Mike

 

[CECAA850]

Does your crossover change with the different outputs?  If you're running them as "full" with no crossover, maybe you're hearing the driver bottom out.  It will sound like a brief clack.

[Deang]

You're driving a lot of speakers with 100 wpc. Depending on the size of your room - you are probably overdriving the receiver.

[CECAA850]

You're driving a lot of speakers with 100 wpc. Depending on the size of your room - you are probably overdriving the receiver.

 

 

You and I both missed the "happens with headphones" comment it seems.

[Deang]

Yeah, that's a weird one.

[CECAA850]

Here you GO.

[MikeGinIllinois]

Thanks, guys. You spent some time trying to help me out! I *think* the "DTS Bomb" problem may well describe what I am experiencing.

 

I'm going to try recabling my setup. I did call Samsung support. Some gal in the Philippines had no idea what I was talking about.

I'm also going to run an optical cable from the Samsung to the HK. As I understand it that will automatically change the decoding from DTS 7.1 to DTS 5.1.

 

Finally, just because I want to use my HK 7200 and 7300 amps (I have 4 in the house!) I will buy an Oppo. Has anyone had any experience with Oppo Bluray players? The 103's and 105's they make all come standard with 7.1 audio analog outputs.

Mike

[Deang]

A lot of us use the Oppo players - good stuff!