cyclones22 Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Hi all, I think I may have a bad Dolby Digital processor in my 3805. First of all, let me explain that I'm pretty new to this entire HT thing. I had the opportunity to get some nice speakers and a tv for outstanding prices and jumped in with both feet. My setup includes the following: LG 52" RPLCD, Denon 3805 AVR, Bravo D2 DVD player, Klipsch RF15x2, RC25, RB15x4, RW12. Now, here's the problem (it may not be after all is said and done and this could be perfectly normal)...I've run the auto setup on the 3805. Everything appears to sound great. Keep in mind that this is 95% home theater use, music rarely. I started noticing that my left surround speaker had an audible hissing type sound during quiet scenes on certain movie dvds. I usually listen at about -30 to -22 as I live in an apartment and don't want to disturb the neighborhood. I can hear the hissing because my left and right surrounds are right next to the couch (I know, not the best placement, but that's besides the point). There is hissing on the rest of the surrounds too, but it's not even noticeable at that sound level. It started to drive me nuts just thinking about it, so I unplugged the center and the mains and tested the surrounds (left/right and 2 rear). I popped in some dvds and turned the volume up to range from -5.0 to 0.0. It's pretty noticeable at that level from close range, which I guess is understandable given the center and mains would be dominating the sound stage at that volume. But here's the interesting part...I used 5 dvds which had both DTS and Dolby Digital tracks. Every single one of the DTS tracks were incredibly clear at those volume levels. No hissing period. But when I switched it to Dolby Digital on the same scenes, the hissing type sounds return. The DVDs I used were Open Range, Master and Commander, Pirates of the Caribean, Kill Bill and FOTR. I also used Dances with Wolves Extended and Matrix Reloaded (Dolby Digital only for both). Now, I need the opinions of you experts here. Is there something wrong with my Dolby Digital processor or is that kind of thing to be expected? I just can't imagine that DTS is that much cleaner on every single DVD I tried. Any opinions/advice is most welcome. I need to decide if I need a new receiver since this is still under warranty (bought it from Crutchfield, so I know I'm safe) or if it's an acceptable norm. Thanks in advance, cyclones22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwinr Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 I'm not that technical but I just finished setting up a friends Onkyo/Klipsch Reference/M&K sub/Toshibe DVD player system and using a spl meter adjusted all speaker outputs to the 75db reference level. We then played Master and Commander and a number of other dvd's using both dts and dolby digital. Absolutely no hiss using either format. Perhaps the more technically minded in this forum can offer more insight. Edwin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMcGoo Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Hiss tends to be a problem of mid-Fi receivers. Go to a dealer that has Denon and Klipsch; see if you can replicate the problem. I doubt that your Denon is defective; other 3805s may do it just as much. Klipsch tweeters tend to make such problems worse due to their high sensitivity. I recommend moving the surrounds farther away so that the problem is not so obvious. Also, try turning off the acoustic room correction on the Denon. My receiver is dead quiet with any digital source. The Sunfire amp that I added has a bit of very faint hiss on my Reference 7 system. It is inaudible when program material is playing. When program material is not playing, my ear must be less than six inches away to hear the faint hiss. I am perfectly happy to ignore the situation. Even the noise sensitive dog ignores the hiss. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclones22 Posted June 29, 2004 Author Share Posted June 29, 2004 Thanks for the replies edwinr and McGoo. I hope it's not defective, as I'd hate to have to ship it back and be without it for who knows how long. It doesn't strike you as odd that the DTS tracks sounded incredibly clear to me? I know you'll get those who say DTS sounds better than DD anyway, but it just seems bizarre to me. But you're right McGoo, it is inaudible when program material is playing out of the speakers. Thanks again, cyclones22 EDIT: Okay, I don't think it's a "hiss" to my understanding. It sounds like static and if I pause my DVD player and turn the volume up to 0.0, there is absolutely no hiss. I'm going to call Denon and ask them what's going on because it doesn't happen in DTS NEO 6 mode either...or even much on PLIIx only mode...it does happen in DD+PLIIx and DD. Thanks again for the replies. EDIT II: Denon says it is abnormal and to exchange the receiver. Big kudos to Crutchfield for accepting my exchange with very little fanfare and sending a new 3805 my way today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Donalson Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 Something you may want to try before you send the unit back is a different dvd player. If the prob. persists with a diff. player, try different interconnects, too. This will help point in the direction of the problem. IF it's the player/interconnets, the new receiver will perform the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclones22 Posted June 30, 2004 Author Share Posted June 30, 2004 Thanks for the reply, Steve. Unforunately, I've already tested it w/2 other dvd players I have. Also have used optical/digital coax in my testing and the static-like sound still appears in DD mode only. I'll have my new receiver on Friday night, so I'll post my results on Saturday. Thanks for the input. cyclones22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Donalson Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 Very good. From what I gathered from your original post was the that noise seems to be prominent in the left channel. Is that the case? If so, you may want to try swapping your left and right surrounds at the back of the receiver. See if the problem moves or stays in that channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclones22 Posted June 30, 2004 Author Share Posted June 30, 2004 Did that as well, Steve. It's definitely more prominent on the left side amplifiers, than the right. The left rear surround has the next highest level of static/distortion. I've swapped speakers, plugged the left surrounds into the right connectors and vice versa and tested with 3 foot cable runs. Perhaps my unit has faulty amplifiers? The center channel and mains sound perfect in DD as well as DTS. It seems to only be the surrounds in DD mode and moreso the left side than right, but still present on the right. I can't wait to get my hands on the new receiver and test again this weekend. I'll be holding my breath when I do. Hopefully I'll hear some clear ambient/surround sounds and that's it. cyclones22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwinr Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Woops pushed wrong button... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwinr Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Let us know how you get on with the new receiver. I agree that DTS sounds better than DD on many discs. I notice this particularly on the Roy Orbison DVD "Black and White Night" - although could be in part due to the fact that the recording technicians spent more time on the DTS soundtrack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Donalson Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Certainly points to the receiver in that case! Could be faulty amp(s) or something within the DSP board. I'm sure the new receiver will correct all issues you are currently having. Please keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclones22 Posted July 2, 2004 Author Share Posted July 2, 2004 After setting up my new receiver...to my relief, I guess I just had a bad unit. There was no distortion/static sound from any of my surround speakers at a 0.0 volume level. For the 20 second or so bursts I listened to each scene, the DD processing sounded as clean as the DTS as far as extraneous noise level. I'm glad I didn't have to try and find a new receiver! cyclones22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwinr Posted July 2, 2004 Share Posted July 2, 2004 Good news. Now you can enjoy your setup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Donalson Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 Excellent! Denon makes good stuff so I'm sure you'll enjoy that for sometime to come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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