My Yamaha receiver has been working flawlessly for years, but recently it doesn't want to recognize Dolby Digital audio any more. DTS works fine, but if I play a DVD and select Dolby Digital it uses PCM mode. Hopefully it's something simple I've overlooked, but I've already been through the manual and tried all the menu options. Also tried switching back and forth between coax and optical audio cables with no luck. The DVD I'm testing with plays in Dolby Digital mode just fine on my other home receivers (both Yamaha and Sony).
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Audiofan
Hi Whitesox, thanks for the suggestions! I finally got to the bottom of the problem, and it turned out to be the new Toshiba DVD player I recently purchased (model SD5000). I never had to make any adjustments to a DVD player before to make it play dolby digital signals, but this new Toshiba essentially comes with Dolby Digital diabled as its default setting. You have to go into its setup menu and switch it's digital audio mode from PCM to Bitstream.
What's strange is that even with the default settings on the Toshiba it would play in DTS mode correctly.
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If it is a new DVD that may be a problem, as signal changes may be frustrating this old machine... but it is likely the cabling from the DVD player to the reciever. Are you on the right channels/settings? is the optical cable and digital cable recieving digital output from your DVD player? Try changing those settings and you should be in good shape
Thanks! good luck!
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Given that the Sherwood is a basic stereo/Dolby Pro Logic receiver, and that we have had sources where digital audio (coax and optical) are the standard for Dolby Digital and DTS for well over 15 years, and that HDMI is established now as the de facto standard for AV connections on many home AV products.... perhaps it's time to retire the Sherwood and look for something new.
Entry level price points for new, fully spec'd, AV receivers capable of dealing with HD audio, DD, DTS, Dolby ProLogiic- and ProLogic II have never been cheaper.
Sherwood is still a good brand. It has been joined by Yamaha (
RX-V377BL); Sony (STRDH750); Denon (AVR-S500BT) and Pioneer (VSX-524-K) at the entry-level price point of $249. In real terms these are probably a fraction of what you paid for the Sherwood all those years ago.
Another option is used equipment. There are some really good pre-HDMI AV receivers from Denon, Yahama and Pioneer available in the used market.
Depending upon transmmission bit rate, if the transmission is > then 6130 bit rate it will automatically change to 'STRAIGHT' mode and in this mode only two front speaker will work.
Over 10 years old? Could be bad capacitors... if you have the expertise, you can try taking it apart and checking them with capacitance and ESR (equivalent series resistance) meters. Otherwise, you can try to see if any capacitors are exhibiting any "bowing" or leaking; if the top of the capacitor is bowed or puffed out - even slightly - or if there is a brown or white residue around the base of the capacitor, you can guarantee the capacitor is bad. Note that not all bad capacitors exhibit these physical attributes... but you can be sure a good capacitor won't.
If all of this sounds too complex, your only recourse will be to take it to a reputable electronics service shop.
PCM mode will not output dobly digital, use the digital cable connection, not RCA cables, set DVD audio output menu to Dolby digital or DTS. On DVD software menu setup select audio then Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby Surround.
set it on dolby digital mode not sterio mode should be differnt modes on a ch only use prologiic or spin the mode dial to doby digital on movie on direct tv wont be dobly fake suround more less but center should work change settings modes
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