Page 1 of Denon, Onkyo and the 5.1 DPL2 problem

Hi guys,
I read on some old postings in this forum that the Denon AVR1602/1802 and Onkyo TXDS595 are having problem decoding some DVD tracks. I was going to buy the Denon AVR1602 but stopped after reading this. Does the problem exist in the receiver itself or in the DVD code?

Any new information on this matter?

Thanks

Jaf

I think it`s a problem with the Cirrus Logic DSP Crystal chipset (not for prologic 2, dolby digital), but it only happens on certain movies, which contain certain extra information. Dolby are quoted as stating that they are "working with the content industry to disable the new features .... that trigger these problems". Denon said they were "keeping a list of affected customers" so they could sort a solution out for them. There is a contact number for Denon if you wanted to ring and find out the latest.
Denon: 01234 741200
Dolby contact: http://dolby.custhelp.com

(Info taken from What HiFi, April 2002)

This item was edited on Tuesday, 23rd April 2002, 11:32

Cheers RichardH,
Thnaks for the info as I am looking to buy the AVR1602. Do you think I should go for it despite the current issue or wait to see what will happen?
The reciever is sold at £230.

Jaf

Alternative might be the Marantz 4200 (£254 Richer Sounds website, but may be as cheap elsewhere), which I think uses a different chipset, and so isn`t plagued with the same problem. Personally, if you have your heart set on the 1602, I`d try and see whether a resolution is in sight before parting with the £££.
Mind you, on the discs listed as being affected, they both have DTS soundtracks too, so you would be able to lisaten to that instead. Only thing is that the DD soundtrack will be the default option, so you`ll have to select the DTS soundtrack option from the DVD menu - hardly an inconvenience, but perhaps a pain for the less technically minded members of the family.

I checked the Marantz 4200 option but the only problem with it is that you dont have the option of a second pair of speakers which I need to have in the second room. I have looked at Dolby`s web site and it seems that they are updating their coding machines so they will not raise the EX flag wich causes a temp or permanant mute on some decoders. On the Denon side, I have email them beofre you have sent me the phone number and still no reply. Denon is saying on thier web site that they are keeping a list of affected customers for future update but they did not say how.
I will give them a call and find out.

Cheers,

Jaf

I am a proud owner of the Denon 1602 and have first hand experience of the sound probs.

Apparently there are only 2 discs that are affected: Jurassic Park 2 and Pearl Harbor - I have played both these titles and found that the dolby soundtracks were almost totally muted throughout the films. JP2 has a dts soundtrack anyway, so I wasn`t terribly bothered, and if you are that fussed, I believe the region 1 version of PH has a dts sountrack an` all.

I wouldn`t lose too much sleep over the sound problems, as long as Dolby sort out all future discs.

One advantage the Denon has over the Marantz is the extra inputs if you decided, at some point in the future, to add a sacd player (quite fancy that meself). Don`t have any experience of the Marantz, but I do love me Denon :-)

I phoned Denon and they said that the problem lies within the way the signal is codded since the DSP used on the 1602/1802 model is Dolby ceritified. This means that the DSP had to pass a very stringent conditiones set by Dolby Labs. They quoted Dolby`s saying that no more software will be released with the offending EX flags until a solution is found. Denon does not know what the fix will be and what form it will take. Dolby is working as well to find a solution.

Thanks

Jaf

Well, you didn`t want Pearl Harbour anyway, did you.....

HyperFi is selling an Ex-Display Denon AVR1802 for £199 and Brand New Denon 1602 for £250 both are guaranteed. What would you go for ? It is decision time.

Thanks in advance.

Jaf

AVR1802 for £199 - I`d bite their arm off at the elbow! Usual price is double that. If it`s guaranteed it wouldn`t bother me too much that it`s ex-display.

The 1802 has a bit more power and a few more connections than the 1602.