My Onkyo 805 receiver sounds garbled when applying effects

[Gizmo99]

I am connecting to the back of my computer SPDIF output -> my receiver (onkyo 805).

Without applying any effect (DIRECT), it sounds fine. If I apply any other effects like THX. The sound becomes echo like, low and garbled. So I turned it up and the reciever started shutting off (yikes!)

1) Why does it sound garbled ? Does it have to do with the signal already mixed? (does that question even sound right)

2) Is my receiver busted ? Should I take it for repair ?

[Face]

It can't drive your speakers.

[GEBBY44]

I'd have to agree with Face, although the fact that many people have done tests with the 805 specifically driving 7 4-ohm speakers makes me wonder if it's something else. I remember some of them said that it had no problem putting a full 190 watts into a 7 channel 4-ohm setup, so it makes me wonder if possibly you have some bad DSP board.

[Gizmo99]

Thanks for the replies.

It cant drive the speakers. Hmm.. Why is it when it put it to DIRECT (no effects), the sound doesnt sound echo-like and low?

What tests can I do to verify its not a bad receiver

[Mike21]

Hey Gizmo

The source of the problem may be your soundcard. What do you have?

[Gizmo99]

Hey Gizmo

The source of the problem may be your soundcard. What do you have?

I actually use the built in sound from my Asus P6T motherboard.

Could this be the case where the sound from the motherboard is ALREADY coded and I am sending a coded signal the the recevier ?

[Mike21]

Hi Gizmo.

You may be introducing jitter into the 805 from the soundcard and/or the coax (?) cable. Although the 805 has great Burr Brown DACs, I do not think they are equipped to deal with computer generated jitter.

The easiest way to find out would be to hook up a USB to coax and/or Toslink converter which also contains a jitter reduction chip. I suggest you check out the following:
> Musiland LILO - $99
> Hagermann HAG USB - $129
> Cryoparts Pop Pulse - $130
> Trends UD10 Lite - $140 w/ 12v charger

If your computer is running Windows XP, you should download the free ASIO4ALL software which will bypass XP's kernel mixer.

To take advantage of the ASIO4ALL driver, you will need to download an outside media player such as JRiver Jukebox (free), Fubar 2000 (free) or Media Monkey (I think its also free).

Let us know how you make out. :)