RE: DVD5 - QUIRKS?

Hi cchua1,
Before even attempting to answer most of the 'problems' you have, please can you state EXACTLY how you have connected the dvd5 - av2- cable- plasma, and what cables you have used to do so, (co-ax, component, scart etc) as these, I suspect, are the cause of the majority, if not all, of the foibles you list, along with the way the av2 has been configured with the interconnects.

Steve
The units were connected by the local Naim dealer. So, I assumed he got everything right! Anyway, to summarize, DVD5 was connected to AV2 via one coax digital, two DIN multi-channel connectors (multi-channel analogue) and two RCA analogue interconnects (direct). DVD5 was connected to plasma TV via DVI-HDMI (XLO Ultra). AV2 connected to two NAP 250Mk2 via 4-pin DIN connectors and one NAP 250Mk2 via a specially-modified DIN connector (for center channel, NAP-250Mk2 was bridged to allow biamping) and 1 REL Storm III subwoofer via RCA. Except DVI-HDMI interconnect (XLO Ultra), all other cables supplied by Naim dealer. Speaker cable to Totem speakers were NACA5. Look fwd to get your inputs!
Chris

Hey Chris..
That sure sounds like one heck of a system!! <drool> It must look & sound absolutely amazing.
I'm just grabbing 5 mins here as on lunch, so will try to answer part 1.
I would also guess that as your dealer connected it all (& it sounds like with excellent quality interconnects) will have it absolutely correct.
So..Plasma does not 'auto detect' the output of the DVD5. Neither does mine!! but mine is only connected by component and in my case, & I guess yours with dvi - the panel simply cannot auto detect. THey used to know which one was 'last switched on' when connected with scart leads by one of the pins (I think number 18 IIRC) going 'live' & so switching to that component.
To get round this should be simple.. but not 100% certain now as you have DVI. With me I found which input the component connection was , in my case it is AV4. From the remote that came with the panel I switch the panel to AV mode via the tv/av button, then select AV4 by pushing the appropriate button.
I would guess that your panel would need something very similar in the way of instruction as to asking it to switch to the correct input via the remote. I would search your instruction book to find out if the DVI input has its own button on the remote or if it is assigned to an 'AV' input, and use the remote to swith to it when you turn on the DVD5..

Hope this helps with this one.. will come back to you later when back from this place..

PS.. Is that Naim screen saver for the panel cool or what!!

Steve
Your suggestion was somehow helpful. The plasma was able to show the DVD5 output w/o the need to turn "off & on". Strange ... it didn't work like this a number of times before. I remembered that I got "snow" a no. of times. Hope the "cure" continue to work.
For some reason, the white/red specks seems to be much less. I didn't have much time to spend watching the DVD5 tonite - it's 1 am and I just finished my management report. Hopefully, the picture returns to its former resplendant beauty.
When it performs flawlessly, the picture and sound of my Naim HT system is awesome.
And yes, the Naim screen saver is extremely cool!
Thks for your help/advice,
Rgds
Chris

Chris..
Glad to hear about the white / red flecks.. they do have me a little puzzled. I was going to suggest possibly rfi but with the quality of a dvi lead I would doubt it...

[QUOTE] [Secondly, I have to manually select the audio mode from the DVD menu to get Dolby Digital sound. The default mode in "Auto" seems to be stereo./QUOTE]
This is also (hopefully) somewhat simple..
It's down to the individual dvd disc what is selected as std. The AV2 in AUTO mode automaically detects what the incoming signal is ( DD, DTS, Stereo etc) and decodes it correctly.
Try putting in Star Wars 1 & you will get THX DD, as std <ironically wonders why> even better, put the disc in and press play, you will see the AV2 display go from stereo (opening credits) DD when the THX screen comes up.. back to stereo for more credits, before settling on 3/2/1 for the film.. all without any input from you at all!
If Adam is reading this.. a wish.. as the DVD5 is now linked to the AV2 via cat5, any chance of a bit of wizardry that interrogates the inserted DVD disc and automatically sets it to our favourite decode (DTS in my case) if that is present?

Hope this helps again Chris, more later!

Chris

On the red & white flecks are they running in stripes across the background of the picture?

I had this effect on my plasma and discoverd by accident that it was pickup of interference thru' the mains and/or video signal cable simply from the way they were hanging in relation to radiated fields from god knows where exactly, just when I had almost decide I had a fault in my DVD player . I wiggled and gently moved these two leads around and found a different position for them which got rid of the noise flecks on the picture. I managed to get them propped in that position and have had no trouble since. Incidentally using the ferrite cores clamped around the leads did NOT work.

Stange, but worth a try

regards
GEOFF

Steve
You are right again about the audio starting from "Stereo" and changing to "3/2/1" etc. Looks like I don't have to manually set the audio output anymore.
Although I had previously thot that stereo is superior to DD 5.1 for music videos, I have changed my mind. DD 5.1 has subjectively more frontal presence (center channel speaker) and the rear ambience is also quite attractive.
Geoff
Yes. The white/red specks did run in stripes across the plasma TV screen. The specks were only noticeable against a black or dark background. The problems was substantially reduced (but not completely eliminated) when I wiggled the cables a bit. But it can sometimes come back. Spent an hour watching music DVDs tonight and the problem only occured sporadically and at a less bothersome intensity for a few seconds. Strange!
Thks guys for your inputs.
Rgds
Chris

Chris,

I'm in KL as well. Wondered whether we might get together sometime and compare systems. I'd like to get a look at a decent Naim HT system. You can get me on 0123831538.

Colin Lorenson

Colin
I will be away for most of Feb 05 (Chinese New Year + business trip + company incentive trip) but will be happy to let you have a listen in Mar 05. My no. is 012 227 8470.
Rgds
Chris

Chris,

Cheers, I'll catch up with you later.

Colin