Can NOT decode significant Bolby Digital 5.1 DVD''s!!!!!!

I am fuming mad. Here, I bought this supposedly excellent cutting-edge receiver that will decode any and all the movie sound tracks out there today. What happens? The very first DVD I tried, Atlantis, and I get audio dropouts in Dolby 5.1. I try all the modes, and only on Dolby 2 can I have no dropouts. Of course I bought this on-line, and it''s a hassle to return.

Good sound, lots of power, great low impedance drive, 192khz/24bit DAC''''s and THX features, great remote

None!

This is an excellent receiver! It has so much power and the sound in stereo is so good. I didn''''t know a home theater receiver could sound so good in stereo. I was worried about the audio dropouts, but not to worry, both those DVD''''s, JPIII and Pearl Harbor both have DTS tracks which perform great. Again, remember that it is not a problem with the Onkyos, because other brands, Pioneer, Kenwood, Denon, and Marantz have the problems. This receiver is powerful and clear even at the loudest volumes. I am using it to drive two 4ohm tower speakers in front, which drove a previous Pioneer Elite(which I returned), and also a Denon 3802 into protection while listening to stereo(direct mode). This Onkyo has far surpassed my expectations. I origionally wanted the Denon 3802, but after it quit on me, which was at a very high volume mind you, I returned it. The Denon is good, but the 797 just sounds better, which really is all I wanted.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 3802, Yamaha RX-V1200/2200, Pioneer Elite

Full Range with lots of home theatre sounds.

For the price I cannot think of many that I would list as I may not be operating this unit correctly.

For the money I feel this to be a good A/V value. It seems to have the inputs/outputs needed to power most anything out there in the middle of the road catagories. I am dissapointed that this does not have (I cannot find or figure out how to) a tape 2 input for my graphic equalizer. I was able to connect the EQ through the tape input and CD through the EQ but this seems redundant. Does anyone know how to accomplish this with out additional equiptment? Setup: ~ Onkyo TX DS 797 ~ Klipsch Speakers - KSW-15 SUB, KLF- 20''s, RF-3''s, RC-3''s front/back. ~ Kimber Kable speaker wire & inter connects, ~ Sony 51 disc CD Player (Jury still out on this. I am too lazy to change discs.) ~ Sony 27" Trinitron (upgrade to a 32" soon) ~ Sony 4 head VCR. ~ Direct TV

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR-65, Onkyo TX 88

Do Not buy a new Onkyo receiver. They contain defects and will not play new DVD''s from Universal Studios properly (i.e. Pearl Harbor, Jurassic Park 3, Atlantis, etc...). This is true of ALL 797''s, 898''s, 989''s, etc... Be forewarned!

Power, clarity, sophistication. Excellent replacement for my beloved Carver Receiver - a powerhouse.

As of a few hours ago, I developed an odd clicking or snapping noise when a digital siganl is present. I recall at least one other post on a problem similar to this, so I may not be a fluke, but inherent in the design. Being replaced Wednesday, but I am now at least a bit leary!

Overall, great unit! The various reviews posted had a great influence on my decision process, and I don not regret it. However ....

Almost all the available surround modes (missing DTS 96/24)
DTS-ES Discrete is especially noteworthy
6th channel of amplification built-in
50mhz component video switching (for 1080i HDTV)

Problems with certain newly mastered Dolby Digital DVDs

All the glowing reviews below are true. Even my wife noticed the sound difference when I was setting this up as the replacement for my Pioneer Elite, especially from the surround channels. DTS-ES Discrete simply sounds amazing on Gladiator and Rush Hour 2. DPL2 and DTS:Neo 6 are great for watching television from satellite. While shopping, it really was a toss-up between the 797 and the Denon 3802. The deciding factor was the higher bandwidth component switching (in hopes that XBOX finally releases some 1080i games, and one day I'll have the Dish network HD receiver). THX certification was a plus though, since all my speakers are THX from the previous setup, and its nice to keep everything the same.

I had read about the Pearl Harbor and JP3 troubles, and we encountered this problem for the first time when renting Atlantis: The Lost Empire. The Blockbuster version was the standard issue...it only has DD 5.1 and of course, the dropout issue reared its ugly head. Since it had been less than 30 days I was tempted to return the unit and go with the Denon for $200 more, hoping 27mhz on component video would be enough, but in the end, after purchasing Atlantis Collectors edition in DTS and watching that, I was newly convince that I made the right choice.

If for some reason, a majority of new releases display the problem, then I'll return it within my 30 day limit, but will probably just buy it again to get another 30 days. Hopefully Onkyo, Dolby, someone...will issue a definitive statement about where the problem lies soon, and the receivers will either be fixed for free, or the DVD mastering process will be fixed so that the problems no longer occur on future movies.

Compared to the 898, I couldnt justify paying $500 more for 1 extra channel of amplification, a nicer looking front, and 10 more watts per channel. If the 898 had been upgradeable like the 989, or had a HUGE power difference, then it may have been more attractive. For the money, competing with 5.1 channel receivers from Yamaha and Pioneer Elite and the rest of the mid-fi companies, I don't think you can go wrong with the 6.1 channel 797 from Onkyo. Now if they'll just fix that annoying DD bug.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TX-828 w/ED-901
Pioneer Elite VSX-07TX

Sound quality, all the surround modes, not a bad remote, value, manual is easy to understand, intuitively easy to use

Nothing of importance

This reciever is an excellent value, and the sound quality is outstanding in stereo as well as surround modes. I too noticed a problem playing the Pearl Harbor DVD in THX mode, and at the time I wasn't sure if it was my DVD player or the receiver. It played flawlessly in DTS mode, and I have to say it is the only DVD with which I have had this problem. Besides, I don't think I could watch another 5 minutes of that awful movie anyway.(No this is not a movie review, I know!)

This is my first surround reciever, and it was very intuitive to hook up and use right out of the box. However, there are plenty of ways to tinker with the sound. My wife gets upset with me because I am constantly fiddling with all the settings (if you like to fine tune the sound, this will give you plenty of options.) I have no regrets at all with the receiver, and I recommend it highly for its sound quality and value. As for the potential glitch with THX on a handful of movies, you'll have to decide how much that might be an issue for you.

Similar Products Used:

Looked at Denon 3802

Build Quality, Sound quality, Power, lots of surround formats.

Nothing I could find

This is an excellent receiver for the $$. I had the sr7200 which i liked but it didn't have the versatility or features of this Onkyo. The Marantz was warmer but the Onkyo is more nuetral which is fine by me. This unit is quite awesome in the HT performance area. You are in for a trip to HT heaven with this baby!You do need an outboard amp for the second rear center if you plan on going 7.1(the 797 has a pre-out for the second rear channel). I only run one rear center so this doesn't really concern me. Music is natural and uncolored. Overall i would really recommend this receiver to anyone looking in the under $1000 range. I don't think there is a receiver that can match it for it features and price in this range.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR700,SR7200

This addresses the sound drop off issue with certain DVDs. The following is a cut and paste from the Onkyo website.

Onkyo Press Releases


Questions or concerns about new DVDs including Jurassic Park 3 and Pearl Harbor? - 12/21/01

Valued ONKYO Customers,

During a recent software testing session in our labs we have encountered a problem with several newly released DVDs that we want to make you aware of. Specifically we have experienced problems with Jurassic Park 3 and Pearl Harbor. The problem in question is related to audio dropouts at various points throughout both movies when playing the Dolby Digital soundtrack. After conducting a thorough investigation into this issue we have identified what we believe to be the cause of the problem and would like to make you aware of our findings and a recommended solution.

· Our testing shows the audio dropout problem to be isolated to the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The DTS 5.1 soundtrack plays back without exhibiting any problems. Therefore we strongly recommend that you switch to the DTS soundtrack when available to realize the full potential of your equipment and the home theater experience. Likewise you can also play back the disc using Dolby ProLogic or ProLogic II without any problems. You can select these alternative audio options from the DVD’s software menu, which frequently load automatically after playback begins. Typically the additional audio tracks can be found in the opening menu under “Audio” or “Languages”, but may vary slightly from disc to disc. If you have questions regarding your specific equipment please contact our Customer Support Department.

· Although we have only been able to verify the problem with Jurassic Park 3 and Pearl Harbor, we have been informed by Dolby Laboratories that other soon to be released DVDs may exhibit a similar problem. Unfortunately we do not know of any specific titles at this time. However we will update our web site as more information becomes available.

· We have been able to verify that the problem exists on the majority of our new receiver line. We are currently testing other models and will post the results in the near future. We understand that other equipment manufacturers are experiencing similar problems.

· Based on our exhaustive testing and after consulting with Dolby Laboratories it is our opinion that the problem is related to the audio encoding software that was used to master the DVDs in question and that the problem is ultimately a software problem. Dolby Laboratories, the movie studios in question, Onkyo, and other manufacturers are working together to prevent a similar problem from recurring.

Thank you for your understanding and patience regarding this matter. We will keep you updated as we gain further information.

Regards,

The Onkyo Product Development Team

Ease of use, PL II.

No front cover for the input selectors (like those in TX-DS898). Front Panel looks cluttered.

Power/Features:
Plenty of power with lots of features (PL II, DTS ES, DD, 6.1, EX). Great sound! PL II for CD and gaming is much better than my previous receiver. Audio sounded more dynamic. Front A/V and optical input is a plus - especially for video games.

Ease of Use:
This receiver is so easy to setup, it only took me 20 minutes to get everything up and running (I have never use an Onkyo product before). The GUI is easy to navigate and allows tinkering of most functions. The remote is some what ackward at first, but after a few minutes of getting used to (plus reading the manual), I have no problems with its functions.

Overall:
Great receiver for the price.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer VSX-26TX, Technic