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DTS audio not getting recognized by Pioneer VSX-921

by Gary Boyle
(Quispamsis Canada)

I have a new Pioneer VSX-921 receiver and a Toshiba Blu-ray player, also new. The receiver is not picking up the DTS and I do not know why. HDMI between the two, bitstream turned on in the Blu-ray...but everything comes across as Dolby Digital.

ANy suggestions would be great.

Hi

I'm not sure I can offer much help with your problem.

The Pioneer VSX-921 is capable of decoding DTS audio, and so if it receives DTS via bitstream then it should automatically pick this up and decode it.

The only thing that springs to mind is, are you sure you are sending a DTS soundtrack from the Toshiba? Many DVDs and Blu-ray discs will have both Dolby Digital and DTS versions of the soundtrack on the disc.

Dolby Digital is usually set as the default format. This means that if you just pop the disc in and press play, then it will play Dolby Digital. To play the DTS version, you would normally have to go into the audio setup menu (sometimes hidden under languages) and select the DTS version to play.

Are you sure you are doing this? And are you saying that when you do select DTS, the receiver still only gets the Dolby Digital version?

Is the Toshiba Blu-ray player capable of sending DTS via bitstream?

Hope that helps.

Paul (Site Editor)

Feel free to join in this discussion by adding your own comments below...

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Comments for DTS audio not getting recognized by Pioneer VSX-921

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Same problem
by: Anonymous

I have the same problem with the VSX-921 and Pioneer BDP-440 (Blu-ray player)............

Regards,
Michel

same ol same ol
by: Anonymous

I'm actually having the same problem with my 921 and my Sony bx2. Transformers 2 only has 1 english track, which is dts-hd. However there is no dts readout on the receiver itself. Same with dolby digital hd.

Conversely when I put in the regular dvd of Grinch and select the dts track it lit up perfectly. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with Bluray audio only having 1 option for a track therefore not having a need for it to light up on the display??

Anyone have any explanation as to why the dts and dd indicators don't come on???

No HD Audio
by: Paul (Site Editor)

Hi

Strange, these two latest comments have come in over the last couple of days. There seems to be something going on - but I'm not sure what!

Firstly, make sure the Blu-ray player is set to bitstream to the receiver, and that you are connected with an HDMI cable.

If the Blu-ray player is decoding before it sends the audio then you will not see DTS (or Dolby) on the display of the receiver.

If you are sure you have everything set correctly (and you are definitely bitstreaming an HD audio track), try updating the firmware of the receiver. According to the manual this can be done via the internet or USB.

I can't think of anything else to try.

Bear in mind, if the Blu-ray player is decoding the HD audio first, you are hearing the same thing as if you were bitstreaming.

Hope that helps.

Paul

Fix
by: Anonymous

There are actually several settings for your BD player that will affect whether it outputs the right signal. On mine here is what I had to do: "BSD Output Mode = Off" "BD Audio MIX Setting = Off" DTS (Coaxial Optical) = DTS" "DTS Neo6 = Off" "Audio DRC = Auto" If you have any of these settings please make sure they are set properly.

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About Home Cinema Guide

Paul started the Home Cinema Guide to help less-experienced users get the most out of today's audio-visual technology. He has worked as a sound, lighting and audio-visual engineer for around 20 years. At home, he has spent more time than is probably healthy installing, configuring, testing, de-rigging, fixing, tweaking, re-installing again (and sometimes using) various pieces of hi-fi and home cinema equipment.