ONKYO TX-NR905

If if you listen to 2 channel music using pure audio or direct and there are no bass coming from the sub, than Onkyo did not do their research very well. Most people have bookshelf speakers rather than floor standing speakers.

I think it is within the setup that I miss. I know Onkyo engineers are not that stupid. How can they miss on people who uses small speakers with subs. It's not like it is new to the market.

The pure audio and the direct mode sounds quite good. My left and right speakers just disappear. The staging and the depth on SACD 2 channel music is simply amazing. My previous receiver was the Sunfire Ultimate Receiver II and I thought that was the best sounding receiver out there. I took a gamble with the 905 and boy what a delight. I just need to figure out how to get the sub to start working while using pure audio and direct mode.

I will contact Onkyo to see what they have to say. I would be a SHOCKER if they tell me that there are no sub sound if you are using pure audio and direct mode.

That sucks!!

Another question I have is when I am watching a DVD movie (TOY STORY 2 or Gladiator) with DTS-ES sound track, I don't see the DTS-ES showing on the display window of the receiver. It just shows DTS but not DTS-ES. Is it because I have a 5.1 speaker setup and not a 7.1 speaker setup? Is there a setting with the 905 so I can hear the DTS-ES sound track?

I just got off the phone with Onkyo. They told me you can not hear the sub while listening with Pure Audio and Direct mode. If you have satellites speakers, you need to listen in Stereo mode ONLY for 2 channel music listening. I have to check out the Stereo mode today to see if it will sound any better than Pure Audio and Direct mode.

Regarding the DTS-ES, they told me it must be in a 7.1 channel setup to get full DTS-ES sounds. (That sucks!!)

So far, the only 2 complaints I have with Onkyo products is that they make you spend more money to full fill their products. Now I will have to buy 2 more surround speakers for a 7.1 setup so I can listen to DTS-ES. I will also have buy 2 full range speakers so I can listen to Pure Audio and Direct mode!

I was setting up the receiver last night and I came by the Bi-Amp & BTL Capable. Since my speakers are satellites, do I need to adjust the setting to either Bi-Amp & BTL? My satellite speakers my blow up since it is not full range speakers. My speakers are rated 4 ohm and recommended power rating at 50-150W for each channel. But before I set the receiver to either Bi-Amp & BTL, I wanted to get some advice before I blow up all my satellite speakers!! ha ha ha

I looked at the back of my front L/R speakers and can not do a bi-amp. So, BTL is not an option.

Regarding separates, I bought some separates last year and the hum or buzz sounds coming out of my speakers was quite annoying. I had people told me to buy a cheater plug to take out the hum sounds but that did not work. I tried numerous methods to get rid of the hum sound but nothing worked. I spent more time trying to get rid of the hum sounds than enjoying my new separates. I tried brands like Parasound, ADCOM and Classe. They made the hum sounds from my speakers.

I now switched back to receivers because it's dead quiet and not more hassle of trying to get rid of the hum or buzz sounds. Separates also takes up my audio rack space.

Dlcockrum - You are correct, nothing is perfect. Back than, I thought Onkyo products sucks! Now, they have improved the sound quality quite much and the styling design is probably the best I have seen on the Market. My complaints for the 905 are minor but so far, I really enjoy listening to it. Harman Kardon makes nice looking receivers as well especially their new Flagship receiver is coming out this year I believe.

Ericjcabrera - Thanks for the good the advice. The problem is that Atlantic Technology do not make floor standing speakers. HA HA HA

I am screwed!!! However, I can buy another Twin Polar surround speakers to match my surround speakers.

MORE COMPLAINTS AGAIN WITH ATLANTIC TECHNOLOGY!!!!

Why don't Atlantic Technology make floor standing speakers? Their THX Certified speakers sounds excellent! I previously owned the Energy Veritas V2.4i systems and it did sound anything close as good as the Atlantic Technology and costing a lot more than the Atlantic. Higher price speakers does not actually sound better in my experience anyway.

I am sure what are the specs for a full range speaker but below are the specs for my front speaker:

Type: Sealed-box, 3-way Sealed-box

Drivers:

(2) 5-3/4" polypropylene woofer

(2) 3" composite cone midrange

(1) 1" cloth dome tweeter

Frequency: 80Hz – 20kHz

Response: (3dB)

Nominal Impedance: 4 ohm

Sensitivity: 90dB

Recommended Amplifier Power: 50 – 150W

Size: (W x H x D) 7.6 x 23.0 x 11.7in

Weight: (each) 26.75lbs

Magnetic Shielding: Yes

When I listen in Pure Audio and Direct, my front L/R speakers do sounds pretty good in the bass section. I know it will not pump out massive bass from a powered subwoofer but than again, neither can a floor standing speakers.

Joeyboynj - All their speakers sits on speaker stands. My L/R are the same. They sits on stands which stands about 49 inches tall and they do look like floor standing speakers. I don't consider speakers which sits on stands are full range floor standing speakers. They still consider satellite speaker to me. Again, I am not sure what is consider a full range floor speaker? Did you look at my specs for my L/R speakers?

Joeyboynj - below are the specs for my L/R front speakers:

Type: Sealed-box, 3-way Sealed-box

Drivers:

(2) 5-3/4" polypropylene woofer

(2) 3" composite cone midrange

(1) 1" cloth dome tweeter

Frequency: 80Hz – 20kHz

Response: (3dB)

Nominal Impedance: 4 ohm

Sensitivity: 90dB

Recommended Amplifier Power: 50 – 150W

Size: (W x H x D) 7.6 x 23.0 x 11.7in

Weight: (each) 26.75lbs

Magnetic Shielding: Yes

I was just tweaking the auto MIC and got some odd numbers again for all 8 seats. Below are the results from the auto calibration:

LEFT FRONT SPEAKER: +1db
CENTER SPEAKER: -1db
RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER: +2db
LEFT SURROUND: -2db
RIGHT SURROUND: -3db
SUBWOOFER: -3db

Nothing really matches with the results. When I listened to movies and music, I noticed I had to turn UP the volume quite a bit in order to hear sounds coming from all speakers. So, I went back to the setup menu and adjust all the sound level calibration and here are the NEW adjustment I have made:

LEFT FRONT SPEAKER: +5db
CENTER SPEAKER: +5db
RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER: +5db
LEFT SURROUND: +4db
RIGHT SURROUND: +4db
SUBWOOFER: +4db

Once I boosted those levels up higher, I did not had to keep on turning the volume up way high so I can hear sounds. Everything made a huge difference. The mid bass and the subwoofer bass was powerful and blended together quite nicely. Here is a question for you, what if I adjust all the sound level calibration all the way up, how would that effect the sounds for music and movies? Maybe I will try that tonight but for sure, I will not have to turn up the volume very much to get louder sounds from my speakers. Also, because my speakers are 4ohm, I wonder that is the reason why I need to crank up the sound level calibration and crank up the volume to get reference sound.

My other question I have is the Subwoofer, do I set it to 120Hz (LPF of LFE)? I have set all my 5 satellite speakers
to 80Hz (THX) but my subwoofer is not THX certified. My subwoofer is the Definitive Technology Supercube Reference if that helps. You can take a look at the specs at:

http://www.definitivetech.com/documents/manuals/SuperCube%20Reference/SuperCubes_Manual_12909_read.pdf

Thanks everyone for all the great advice! My 905 starting to sound much better and much improvement. So far, the 905 sounds spectacular on movies! The 5 channel sound separation was very close to realistic in the real world. Movements from speaker to speaker is very realistic. Onkyo products is a lot better than I thought. I had the Sunfire Ultimate Receciver II and it cost $2500 more than the 905 and the Sunfire didn't sound anywhere close to the 905 when it comes to movies. I have not yet focus on the music side of the 905 and I am now starting to setup the 905 for SACD, DVD-Audio and 2-Channel CD listening tests.

Everybody ready to help me hook up my universal player?! I have a Pioneer Elite DV-79AVi player and need help on setting it up so it will play SACD Multichannel, DVD-A Multichannel and regular 2-Channel CD playback. I wanted to set this universal player to the best performance as possible through the 905. I hoping it will not be too complex to hook it up.

Anyone got a first advice for the Universal player? So far, It looks like I just need 5 composite cable sets for SACD and DVD-A multichannel music BUT what about playing regular CD? Do I need to get another 2 composite set and hook it up to the CD connection on the back of the 905? Or just hooking up with the 5 composite cable sets is enough to play SACD, DVD-A and CD?

If you need to look at the user's manual for the 79AVi, here is the link to PDF:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pio/pe/images/portal/cit_11221/278097930DV79AViOperatingInstructions.pdf