Missing modes on RDC-7?

[pepar]

I recently purchased an RDC-7 and am in the process of setting it up. The bax and te unit both say "THX Ultra2" and, sure enough, I can turn on a THX Ultra2 subwoofer, set the distance between the two rear surrounds and slect Bouindary Gain Compensation. But my Listening Mode Setup stops at 3-6; I have NO 3-7. THX Setup. Theater-Dimensional or any of the other additional modes. My version is listed as 3.09.0011. Am I missing something? Help!

[Burke Strickland]

Pepar -

Menu Item 3-7 "THX Setup" (described on page 44 of the manual) applies only to "THX Cinema" or "Pro Logic THX" DSP listening modes and is limited to settings for "Subwoofer on/off", "Re-Eq on/off" and "Surround Speakers: Surround L/R, Surround Back, Surround L/R, Surround L/R+Back". "Theater-Dimensional" is a separate listening mode and its settings are what is under menu option 3-7 when "Theater-Dimensional" is selected as the DSP mode. The various DSP listening modes can be easily selected with the "DSP >" and "DSP <" buttons located toward the bottom of the remote on the far right hand side below the "Input Selector" grouping.

The THX Ultra 2 settings you are looking for (Panorama, Dimension, Center Width) are available under menu selection 3-6, but not on the "first page". When you select menu option 3-6, at the bottom of the screen you will see a "down arrow" (actually just an "arrow head", or triangle pointing down, inside a small rectangular box). Highlight that and click on it, and you will see the addition THX Ultra 2 options that eluded you before. (There is also an "up arrow" at the top of the "first page" that takes you to the same place.) This is NOT described in the main manual, so it is no wonder people have trouble finding it. However, the options are shown in a table under menu option 3-6 on page "Upgrade 11".

Burke

[pepar]

neither intuitive nor un-intuitive

Most of these are 'set it and forget it" settings. I found it, set it and forgot it. IR's reply had to do with being on 3-6 and pressing "DSP" to access 3-7. I'll enter menu tomorrow morning to remind me how I managed it . . zzz

[pepar]

Pepar -

Menu Item 3-7 "THX Setup" (described on page 44 of the manual) applies only to "THX Cinema" or "Pro Logic THX" DSP listening modes and is limited to settings for "Subwoofer on/off", "Re-Eq on/off" and "Surround Speakers: Surround L/R, Surround Back, Surround L/R, Surround L/R+Back". "Theater-Dimensional" is a separate listening mode and its settings are what is under menu option 3-7 when "Theater-Dimensional" is selected as the DSP mode. The various DSP listening modes can be easily selected with the "DSP >" and "DSP <" buttons located toward the bottom of the remote on the far right hand side below the "Input Selector" grouping.

The THX Ultra 2 settings you are looking for (Panorama, Dimension, Center Width) are available under menu selection 3-6, but not on the "first page". When you select menu option 3-6, at the bottom of the screen you will see a "down arrow" (actually just an "arrow head", or triangle pointing down, inside a small rectangular box). Highlight that and click on it, and you will see the addition THX Ultra 2 options that eluded you before. (There is also an "up arrow" at the top of the "first page" that takes you to the same place.) This is NOT described in the main manual, so it is no wonder people have trouble finding it. However, the options are shown in a table under menu option 3-6 on page "Upgrade 11".

Burke

My DVD player, even though the only audio connection is optical, has "analog" listed on the RDC-7's front panel display. As such, nothing beyond 3-6 is available. I had to put a DVD in the player for the RDC-7 to switch to "digital" input and THAT made 3-7 available.

In your second paragraph I get the impression that you are referring to the OSD. I have not yet set that up; I have a flat panel monitor for my HTPC with an s-video input in addition to VGA that I will be using. At this point, I have accessed all the necessary settings via the front panel display, but I will check out your suggestion when I set up my flat panel with the RDC-7.

As always, thanks for your assistance!

Jeff

P.S. Have you checked out my HT upgrade website?

[Burke Strickland]

The "set and forget" settings can be aggravating when you want to change them and they're not readily apparent. Frustrating as it may be to try to find them, I guess it isn't too awfully illogical for optional DIGITAL Sound Processing (DSP) settings to appear only when the unit is in "digital" operation, since IR's "ergonomic" design decision was to provide only the menu options that are relevant to the operational mode in effect at the time. But, while that is supposed to be less confusing by not cluttering the menus with a lot of extraneous options not relevant to the operation at hand, like the disappearing menu choices in Windows, that can lead to a lot of wasted time trying to find settings that you KNOW are supposed to be there SOMEWHERE!

In your second paragraph I get the impression that you are referring to the OSD.

Yep, the second paragraph in my previous post is referring to the menu structure as you would see it via the on screen display (OSD). Actually, all of the "relevant" 3.6 menu options should scroll in succession on the front panel display. Of course, if you aren't in a "digital" mode, the options that only apply to digital operation won't show up there, either. Kind of quirky that the 3-7 options for DSP modes wouldn't show anywhere until you put in a DVD, but then again, those modes would not apply to analog playback. (Via "Theater-Dimensional" mode, you can make a digitally-played stereo CD sound like you're listening in a barrel -- or a barn.) :>)

P.S. Have you checked out my HT upgrade website?

Yes. Impressive documentary. I wonder where you got that beautiful hardwood floor? (That's your business, not mine.) :>) I think you're right about the acoustical advantages of the room being slightly "out of square". As I followed the photo trail showing progress step by step, it seemed to end in a loop with shots of the projector (couldn't get past that). But what I saw up to that point still shows a lot of work accomplished between where you started and where you are now. It will be VERY nice when it is all finished.

Burke