Receiver won't detect DD EX??

Chuck_G · Post by **Chuck_G** » Wed May 12, 2004 6:04 am

I have been testing my new receiver to make sure everything works and with one exception I am very pleased with it.

the one thing so far I have been disappointed by is I can't get it to detect Dolby Digital EX. DD5.1, DTS, and DTS-ES all seem to work fine (the DTS-ES is reported as matrix not discrete, anyone know of any DVDs with matrix and discrete so I can see if it detects the difference). I have tried Star Wars:Phantom Menace, Star Wars:Attack of the Clones and Cast Away (all claim to have DD EX according to the setup menus). Cast Away also has DTS-ES and that is detected properly (reported as DTS-ES matrix).

I have multi channel detect set to auto and surround back decoding set to auto. Anyone have any ideas? Anyone can verify their receiver detects the above movies as DD EX?

Thanks

Sorry forgot say my receiver is Sony STR-DE995. I know its not a great receiver but it was in my price range for the time being.

Chuck_G · Post by **Chuck_G** » Wed May 12, 2004 11:04 am

I have done a little research to determine which movies carry what types of soundtracks.

If some one that has equipement to decode DTS-ES matrix and discrete in addition to Dolby digital EX and owns any of the below listed movies could verify at your leisure that your equipment detects the multichannel soundtrack as listed I would appreciate it as I think my receiver may not be decoding properly.

DD EX

Atlantis
Finding Nemo
Signs
Toy Story 2
Gladiator
Die Another Day
World Is Not Enough
Lord of the Rings (both)
X Men
Jurrasic Park III (not collectors ed.)
Harry Potter (both)

DTS-ES MATRIX

ET (2 disc special ed)
Jurrasic Park III (not collectors ed)
T2 Judgement Day (Ultimate Ed)

DTS_ES DISCRETE

Cast Away
Gladiator
Lord of the Rings (both)

I own each of these movies and tonight I will attempt to play a few minutes of each to determine how my reciever detects each one.

The reciever is still under warranty so if it is defective I can get it fixed or replaced I just hate to have to disconnect everything and drag it back to the store and wait for them to determine what to do.

Thanks for any help.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed May 12, 2004 6:43 pm

It would be helpful if you would tell us what receiver you have?

Chuck_G · Post by **Chuck_G** » Thu May 13, 2004 6:09 am

Receiver model is listed in first post (Sony STR-DE995)

Well I spent about 3 hours going through my library of DVDs playing them, selecting the desired soundtrack from the setup or language menu and discovered in some cases that the reciever DID detect Dolby Digital EX.

It seems (no real proof though) that the DVD authors are not real careful about how the soundtracks are listed in the menu are how they are authored on the disc. I have found DVDs where the menu states DD EX but when played only detected as DD5.1, I have found DVDs where the menus states simply Dolby Digital but the web site says it is EX and when played it IS detected as EX. It also seems that if there multiple versions of a disc (collector's edition, special edition, gift set, etc.) that they don't necessarily have the same soundtrack.

Examples:

LORD OF THE RINGS:FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
listed on web site as EX, menu says EX, receiver detects 5.1

LORD OF THE RINGS:TWO TOWERS
listed on website as EX, menus says EX, receiver detects EX

ATLANTIS
listed on website as EX, menu simply says DD, receiver detects EX

GLADIATOR
listed on two websites as DD EX and DTS-ES discrete, menu only
lists DD 5.1, receiver detects DD 5.1

CAST AWAY
listed on two websites as DD EX and DTS-ES discrete, menu states
DD EX and DTS-ES, receiver detects DD 5.1 and DTS-ES matrix

I guess the short version is I was worried my amp wouldn't detect DD EX but now I have verified that it does, and it is consistent on its detection. I have played Cast Away at least ten times now to see if it would detect it diefferently (checking to see if it was an intermittent problem) but it is detected the same way each time. So maybe software quality isn't what it should be or the decoding chip has a glitch (wouldn't do me any good to return it since all the 995s have the same chip), or maybe my DVD player isn't passing all the information accurately as it should.

The sound is great and the picture is fantastic so I guess thats what I am really after

Thanks

akirby · Post by **akirby** » Thu May 13, 2004 6:30 am

Apparently some discs have the flag set and some do not.

Here's a good discussion on it from avsforum:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre ... tecting+EX

The last post has a good link for a list of 6.1 DVDs.

Chuck_G · Post by **Chuck_G** » Thu May 13, 2004 9:49 am

Thanks for the link, after last night thats what I figured it was but its nice to see other people have experienced the same thing.

chuckken · Post by **chuckken** » Thu May 13, 2004 5:49 pm

Chuck_G...My receiver detects DD EX every time... I have it hooked up through i-Link for my DVD player and optical for Sat...but it always shows in either mode.

johnny_utah · Post by **johnny_utah** » Fri May 14, 2004 12:36 pm

Chuck_G wrote: Sorry forgot say my receiver is Sony STR-DE995. I know its not a great receiver but it was in my price range for the time being.

Chuck

I had the STR-DE685 and the STR-DE895 (i think that was the model number of the first) and I had a huge problem with both. I have an Infinty Entra Sub 2 (12" sub with a 250watt amp) and after a while with the 685 my sub would very randomly emit a static type noise. I took the receiver to be repaired twice (because of tests) neither time resulting in a fix. The second time I was lucky enough to have the unit replaced and purchased the 895. Same thing. So I thought it was the sub. I took out the amp and had it replaced with a new unit. Same thing. So I was then fortumate enough to take it back and get my money back. Very long stories here, but I got an Onkyo 601, and have had NO PROBLEMS AT ALL! I definately have now doubt in my mind it had something to do with the circuitry in the Sony receivers.

Now that being said, I mentioned all that because the 685 and the 895 are in the same product line as the receiver you purchased, albeit you did get the top model in the line, but it is followed by the 895.

Second the purchase price of the STR-DE995 is in line with the Onkyo 601 receiver I purchased (it is a great receiver), if you are able and want to take it back.

This is just what happened to me, and I tried so much stuff and went without a receiver for so long, anyway... hope this might help you.

Chuck_G · Post by **Chuck_G** » Fri May 14, 2004 1:02 pm

thanks for the heads up. So far I have not had any problems with the sound quality itself all my speakers (including subwoofer) work great.

Had I paid anywhere close to full price I would have definitely went with the Yamaha or Onkyo in the same price range but because of a clearance sale I got it for half price (including the 4 yr extended warranty) so I thought it was worth the gamble.

I really wasn't planning on buying a new amp for another 3 years or so and at that time I want to buy a high end one (I plan on being able to spend about $3000 for the amp and another $6000 for the speakers). The $200 I spent on this really doesn't hurt my plan and it gives me a new toy until I am ready.

akirby · Post by **akirby** » Fri May 14, 2004 5:00 pm

chuckken wrote:Chuck_G...My receiver detects DD EX every time... I have it hooked up through i-Link for my DVD player and optical for Sat...but it always shows in either mode.

It can't detect it if the flag on the DVD is not set. That's the problem with some DVDs.

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Receiver won't detect DD EX??

Receiver won't detect DD EX??

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