Finally got my Integra back from repair

Shadowfax

Shadowfax

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And I guess I am glad I got the Integra version and not the matching Onkyo since it looks like the main difference is really the 3 year vs 1 year warranty.

Apparently, my 30.3 fell victim to the same thing many others with the same xx.x series of Integra units fail for. The main HDMI board just goes for no reason. I rarely watch more than 1 movie a week utilizing my HT setup and this receiver.

I went with Integra after a Harman Kardon unit failed. My first stereo was an Onkyo back in the 70s and I am still using a very good Cassette Deck from when they were still labeled Onkyo Integra. So I thought I would have similar experience with a newer Integra unit. Oh well, I just hope they replaced the board with one that was not from the same failed Quality Control run when they slapped them together.

I set it up with all Dynaudio Audience and my Mirage Omni sub. 82s, 42s, and the 122c. Luckily all my major settings were still intact and I only needed to run the Audyssey setup and adjust the bass.

After setup, I usually use the Train Crash from Super 8 to check things out. What an awesome scene with train cars flying everywhere, with the sounds to make you jump out of your chair several times.

It's great to be able to watch movies in surround again.

Brian
 
Surround sound (hi-res audio lossless) is very nice at home for watching flicks. ...'Super 8' is a cool flick with some young cool actors (Elle Fanning among them), and that train crash sequence is quite somethin' else indeed. ...Great workout for all the speakers, and subwoofers, and listeners.

Good that you're back in listening movie mode business Brian.

Merry Christmas Brian, and George!
 
Big B said:
I had the same problem with my Onkyo. Had to have the the HDMI board replaced. Cost $250.00
Barry
Click to expand...


I am pretty sure the only differences anymore between the Onkyo model and the matching Integra model is the looks and extra warranty. I paid $250 more for the Integra so It looks like we both broke even. I poked around the net and it seems like this is the most common issue Onkyo has with these HT units.
 
I'm currently researching A/V receivers and so far I have found that the HDMI issue mostly plagues or has plagued the Onkyo/Integra, Sony, earlier Marantz and non-elite Pioneer. However, each has or has had other unique issues. Electronics aren't perfect, never were and never will be. I'm kind of hoping at least some of these makes have eradicated most of their bugs these days. As an Owner of an Onkyo TX-SR705 I can tell you that they are known for heat issues and the HDMI implementation on them is not that good. The Integra line is probably a bit better, but being the same brand I'm sure the apple did not fall too far from the tree.
Glad the Integra is back, it's not a bad A/V receiver at all. (I'd choose it over NAD, McIntosh, Harmon Kardon, Sony and the regular Pioneers all without looking back).
 
Eric, may I share some of my experience and knowledge?

One of the best deals around is the Onkyo TX-NR818 AV receiver; still available at some places. ...Approx. $599 brand new.
...Audyssey MultEQ XT32 - No heat issue - No HDMI board issue.

Btw, your Onkyo TX-SR705 AV receiver is a very good one; just put a small fan on the top right rear corner (viewed from front).
And disable the Control for CEC-compatible components, disable the Power Control (CEC again), and disable the TV Control.
Furthermore, disable the Immediate Display (onscreen details like volume level, source, audio surround mode, ...).

Happy Holidays Eric!
 
I own an Onkyo 5008. Any suggestions on a new receiver or processor? These things change every 6 to 12 months. So I don't see spending big money. I also believe/hope 4k is not far off.
Barry
 
I'm still happy with my Integra DHC-80.3 SSP Barry.
And others are real happy too with their Marantz AV8801 SSP. ...Few members here own that Marantz.
- Then you need to add a multichannel amp(s) with that.

On the AV receivers front (top choices):
- Onkyo TX-NR5010
- Denon AVR-4520CI
- Onkyo TX-NR3010
- Onkyo TX-NR929
- Onkyo TX-NR818

* Your Onkyo TX-NR5008 AV receiver (MultEQ XT32) is an excellent unit; why do you want to change?
For roughly 5-10% better sound with a pre/pro (channel separation and imaging)? ...Something else is missing in your life? :)

What speakers are you powering in your multimedia room?

** If you want to better your 5008, you won't get much better (perhaps 5% better sound quality from the two SSPs above, and few extra features; and perhaps not needed at all), and it's going to cost you marginally more; just the Marantz pre/pro is already more money than your 5008 (the Integra as well), and you need seven or nine channels of amplification to go with it.
{Your 5008 has the HQV Reon-VX video chip processor. Its implementation is not perfect, even if extremely versatile;
don't use it - in particular on the analog video side.}

*** Best is to always let a good quality video source do all the video 'crunching'. ...Next best; your display (or front projector).

**** Most people having video issues from their SSP's or AV Receiver's HDMI boards because of heat related issue is because manufacturers don't use a heat sink on top of the video processing chip(s), and that people are activating all CEC features (or not disactivating them from their default settings), and are not using the video Pass Through feature of their units.
 
Glad to help Barry.

* Use a fan on the top rear right corner of your 5008 Barry. ...Read post #9 from the previous page.
And in addition of what I've recommended (important recommendations by the way) do this too:
In the HDMI Monitor Setup, select Through for the Resolution.

Let your source (Blu-ray player, etc.) do the video processing, or your HDTV. ...That way your HDMI video processor doesn't have to work so hard, and with a fan on top (a quiet one, USB powered or some' else) it helps dissipating the heat.
And that CEC from hell is also a heat contributor! ...That's why all the Control related to it should all be disable.

And Barry, anything you're not sure about; proper audio or video selection, or any issue at all you might have with your 5008, just let me know. AV receivers and pre/pros (SSPs) from Onkyo/Integra and Denon/Marantz in particular (other brands too, but I'm a big Audyssey's fan) I am quite knowledgeable about; real life experience, and readings from the best.

On some other audio sites I had my own threads on all AV Receivers and Surround Sound Processors.
Here at the Shark aquarium most members are hi-fi stereo (solid, 3-dimensional) people.
And because this thread right here is about Integra (Onkyo) products (AV receivers and AV processors), then it's perfect for sharing and exchanging knowledge and experience on them products, plus much more.

Most members here know much more than me about high end stereo, because they compared a lot of high end hi-fi products, in real life situation.
And I know some about other some. ...Audio, be it solid stereo or multichannel, is always a complement.
And with music you can also have moving pictures, on your screen, not just from your imagination.
So video is also part of the equation (part of AV). ...And there too there is some that I know some about.

AudioShark is the start of a great site; we have analog experts, computer experts (PC & Mac), smart phone experts, digital music server experts, high resolution loudspeaker experts, amplifier experts, and a great bunch more of other friendly experts from all life avenues. ...Audio, Video, Music, Movies, Wines, Musicians, Artists of all trades.
 
NorthStar said:
Eric, may I share some of my experience and knowledge?

One of the best deals around is the Onkyo TX-NR818 AV receiver; still available at some places. ...Approx. $599 brand new.
...Audyssey MultEQ XT32 - No heat issue - No HDMI board issue.

Btw, your Onkyo TX-SR705 AV receiver is a very good one; just put a small fan on the top right rear corner (viewed from front).
And disable the Control for CEC-compatible components, disable the Power Control (CEC again), and disable the TV Control.
Furthermore, disable the Immediate Display (onscreen details like volume level, source, audio surround mode, ...).

Happy Holidays Eric!
Click to expand...

It so happens that the Onkyo TX-NR818 is on my list of A/V receivers I am mulling over. I figure Onkyo resolved the heat issues a while back. However, I'm still a little sceptical of the HDMI implementation. One big thing for me is HDMI pass thru, I need it for my Roku. The TX-SR705 does not do HDMI pass thru even though the manual says it does. The truth is that it does it in a round about way that is software driven and non-compatible with most devices. In truth, it does not work, now this could be an underlying hardware issue as well, but it's hard to tell. Onkyo is also not real good in the sound department for music anyway. For HT applications Onkyo is great. I'm looking for something that handles both very well. So Onkyo may soon drop from my list. That said though, if the TX-NR818 has redesigned the HDMI pass through and cleaned up other problems and has improved music sound, then it may stay on my list which would really lessen expense for me as I will need a supplemental amp with that unit anyway, but it would be easier to afford only paying $600 or less for the receiver. I have yet to go out and physically look at any A/V Receivers as I am still in the reading up and asking question mode and have too many on the list. I'll be going out to look at them when I narrow the list down to maybe 4 or 5 maximum.

As for my TX-SR705, I made a cooling fan rig for it a week after I got it (aluminum heat-wicking raised plate with two larger PC fans mounted in pre-fab holes running in exhaust mode located right over the two hottest spots. I have it on to top vents blowing up and out as there are bottom fans that blow in. That makes for good air flow and I have not had a problem with heat. (However, even with "quiet" PC fans, it can get a little loud when the bottom fans kick on). I disabled the immediate display a long time ago. I never enabled the TV control as there is no reason to for me. CEC compatible components aren't even mentioned in the manual or white papers.
I'm looking for a better A/V receiver as I said (one that is geared towards music as well or even better than HT) and today's are better as many have an improved Audessey or similar set up and better designed amp (Class D amps are used now as opposed to the A/B amp in my TX-SR705. Also in some cases the DACs have improved a little or I should say the DAC implementation has improved since all DACs are nearly the same, if not the same. I mostly by-pass the dac in my Onkyo as much as I can as it just isn't that good.
 
Eric, in your 705 the HDMI video inputs are 100% automatic video signals pass thru (native). What comes in is unaltered and virgin outputted.

The video processor inside your 705 is a Sage/Faroudja FL2300 video chip; Faroudja Edge Directional Correlation Deinterlacing (DCDi). Though it will de-interlace and scale any input, it will do so only to 720p.
All your SD sources - we' re talking DVD, VHS, non-HD cable or Satellite - can be output as 720p on HDMI, while all your HD sources (Blu-ray, HD Cable, etc.) will be passed through, without any video signal degradation at all.

* Many people, myself included, have top notch video processors in their pre/pros or receivers but don't use them at all!
Today's BD players that cost only $100 can output a perfect video picture from both standard DVDs and HD Blu-ray discs.

Why do you think that the high end Surround Sound Processors don't have any video processing in them!
That's the duty of your sources, or your flat panel HDTV or HD front projector (true video/picture components).

You can be sure that your 705 doesn't do anything other than simply let the video signals totally untouched; unlike some hi-end receivers where they alter the white and black levels by clipping them, even on video passthrough mode!!!

When your 705 is set for an HDMI monitor, all analog signals will be transcoded to digital by your 705 as well as passes through signals in their native formats.
Setting the HDMI monitor to off disables HDMI output, but will allow transcoding between analog composite and s-video input to any other analog output as well as pass through; component video will only pass through. Digital video input is never converted to analog by your 705.

=> Your 705 may not provide another redundant scalar to 1080p resolution, but it will not choke it off the signal quality as it passes it along.

________________

For music listening quality; experiment with Pure Audio mode, Stereo with Audyssey MultEQ XT engaged, etc.
Try even plain jane stereo mode with the Treble tone control for some CDs (no Audyssey).
You have so many options for music listening that I'm sure you did try some of them, but try ALL of them.

And if you don't like your 705 for any reason whatsoever (video, or audio, ...), then simply purchase another unit, from Onkyo, or from any other brand.
Make sure you have thirty days to make your mind. Who knows, you might like a Marantz receiver. :) ...Yamaha? ...Pioneer?
{I had them all, love and hate them all, all at the same time! :D} ... Post #11 just above; I stick with it though.
 
NorthStar said:
Eric, in your 705 the HDMI video inputs are 100% automatic video signals pass thru (native). What comes in is unaltered and virgin outputted.

The video processor inside your 705 is a Sage/Faroudja FL2300 video chip; Faroudja Edge Directional Correlation Deinterlacing (DCDi). Though it will de-interlace and scale any input, it will do so only to 720p.
All your SD sources - we' re talking DVD, VHS, non-HD cable or Satellite - can be output as 720p on HDMI, while all your HD sources (Blu-ray, HD Cable, etc.) will be passed through, without any video signal degradation at all.

* Many people, myself included, have top notch video processors in their pre/pros or receivers but don't use them at all!
Today's BD players that cost only $100 can output a perfect video picture from both standard DVDs and HD Blu-ray discs.

Why do you think that the high end Surround Sound Processors don't have any video processing in them!
That's the duty of your sources, or your flat panel HDTV or HD front projector (true video/picture components).

You can be sure that your 705 doesn't do anything other than simply let the video signals totally untouched; unlike some hi-end receivers where they alter the white and black levels by clipping them, even on video passthrough mode!!!

When your 705 is set for an HDMI monitor, all analog signals will be transcoded to digital by your 705 as well as passes through signals in their native formats.
Setting the HDMI monitor to off disables HDMI output, but will allow transcoding between analog composite and s-video input to any other analog output as well as pass through; component video will only pass through. Digital video input is never converted to analog by your 705.

=> Your 705 may not provide another redundant scalar to 1080p resolution, but it will not choke it off the signal quality as it passes it along.

________________

For music listening quality; experiment with Pure Audio mode, Stereo with Audyssey MultEQ XT engaged, etc.
Try even plain jane stereo mode with the Treble tone control for some CDs (no Audyssey).
You have so many options for music listening that I'm sure you did try some of them, but try ALL of them.

And if you don't like your 705 for any reason whatsoever (video, or audio, ...), then simply purchase another unit, from Onkyo, or from any other brand.
Make sure you have thirty days to make your mind. Who knows, you might like a Marantz receiver. :) ...Yamaha? ...Pioneer?
{I had them all, love and hate them all, all at the same time! :D} ... Post #11 just above; I stick with it though.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bob! That explains why my Roku will not work directly with my Onkyo. The Roku can output a 720p signal to the TV directly, but looks like ass. I have it set to 1080p (looks great), but the Onkyo can not pass a 1080p signal. That explains why after an hour and a half of experimenting with every option on the 705 I could not get a picture when trying to go direct. Frankly, if what you say is true it may be that there is something wrong with the HDMI board. I did finally figure out a way to hook the Roku up to get sound from the Onkyo though and use it for concerts and movies while everything else just uses the TV sound. The only thing I have to do is turn the sound all the way down on the TV when I engage the receiver, no big deal.

I have played with all the settings for music listening, sometimes I even play with the surround settings just to see what happens for fun. I have the bass tone set a notch back because the Paradigms are more than able to handle bass and it was too much before set at +2 so now it's flat at 0. I have the treble set at +2 which I find to be correct. However, that is only in Stereo mode. I usually use CD direct mode (no audesey, tone control or anything) and let the Marantz CD player do all the processing and it breaths life into my CDs, it's wonderful! I use stereo mode when listening to records mostly. I might try Pure mode for fun, haven't done that yet for records. Hmm, I have the preamp hooked up to the TAPE jacks, perhaps I can try Direct mode as well there. Actually, while I have tried every mode for CDs, I have not for records...could prove interesting.

I don't do the 30 day thing or anything like that on anything because it is a huge hassle and expensive (I can imagine the cost of shipping a 40 to 45 pound unit and UPS just raised rates another 4.7%! I won't be purchasing locally from a store and just try returning anything without hassle to a store just because the unit doesn't meet your needs...never goes well. All that is why I will spend months researching a purchase if need be to make sure I am getting the best thing I can to meet my needs. I spent a total of 8 months researching my speakers for about 2 hours a day and more when it came time for audition mode, so this is not my first rodeo. Did the same thing with my car which turned out to be a lemon in the end in my opinion and I think part of it was my error of getting it from Canada. Nothing wrong with Canada or anything, but not getting one built in the states proved to be a problem when I got it. (I can't remember why I insisted on getting a vehicle outside the boarders of where I live, but I won't be doing that again)...I digress.

I am considering just keeping the 705 and getting an amp, but I also may benefit from better processing and Audessey available on more recent receivers which is why I am looking more strongly at Marantz & Yamaha, but also like the offerings on the Onkyos as well. I'm doing a whole spreadsheet to compare units across brands and digging deep.
 
I should look into the Onkyo's or Integra's next time I'm in the market for an AV receiver. I've been using Denon for quite some time now (5 or 6 in the house, various generations). I've been happy with them, but wouldn't mind a change. I trust Bob's opinion.:scholar:
 
socfan12 said:
I should look into the Onkyo's or Integra's next time I'm in the market for an AV receiver. I've been using Denon for quite some time now (5 or 6 in the house, various generations). I've been happy with them, but wouldn't mind a change. I trust Bob's opinion.:scholar:
Click to expand...

In general (for AV receivers & SSPs); Denon's sound is more reserved, smoother. ...And higher up in the chain (flagships), potent.
Marantz's sound is a little more refined with its (HDAM) module amps (top tiers models).
Onkyo/Integra's sound is clear, a good match with smooth speakers; great movie surround sound.
Yamaha's sound is clean, "natural, with higher 'dumping' factor (verve).
Pioneer's sound is homogeneous, ICY, serviceable (moss).

--> This is just a fun general own personal perspective using my own words in my own related life experience contexts. :)

* Best sound is the one that matches your speakers, room, and ears with equal balance/aplomb all around your own personal preference. :)

_______________

And each of these brands use their own system to EQ the sound, or not (Audyssey, YPAO, MCACC), and that, is your own personal journey into the higher dimensional audio stratospheric atmosphere; be it in stereo and/or multichannel audio.

And in audio like in wines you have some better years and less good years.
 
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