Onkyo receiver only lasted 3.5 yrs.?

[Evileagle]

Double-stick tape would be my best guess at how to attach them, that or some type of epoxy. If you're interested in doing some tweaking down the road, it's possible to modify the fan in the receiver to run 100% of the time - it blows directly at the heatsink & cools very well.

[Skakruk]

If you're interested in doing some tweaking down the road, it's possible to modify the fan in the receiver to run 100% of the time.

The fans they put in these receivers tend to be quite loud.

[Evileagle]

The fans they put in these receivers tend to be quite loud.

Often true, but I would disagree regarding this particular unit (pioneer vsx-819). To my ears, it sounds no louder than an average 80mm/30cfm pc fan - the particular model is a Nidec D08A-24PG. I suppose the noise could annoy some, but it's all relative. Only one way to find out

[Skakruk]

To me the average 80mm/30cfm pc fan is pretty damn loud, but fair enough - I guess you could always replace the Pioneer's with a better one.

And you're certainly right about the internal fan cooling very well. I would only be concerned that the receiver might have some kind of fail safe mechanism to stop it working if it detects a fan error (disconnection in this case)... or am I expecting too much of an entry level AVR?

I wonder why they don't just have the power amp sections in these AVRs bolted to great big external heatsinks (side mounted facing outwards), like some of the separate power amps out there (Rotel etc.).

[Evileagle]

I wonder why they don't just have the power amp sections in these AVRs bolted to great big external heatsinks (side mounted facing outwards), like some of the separate power amps out there (Rotel etc.).

... or am I expecting too much of an entry level AVR?

I think you've answered your own question, albeit indirectly Having external heatsinks requires a bit more thought in the design process regarding internal organization, so I wouldn't expect mainstream offerings to consider this.

Incidentally, the receiver will detect a stopped/locked fan & presumably shutdown - it uses the same protection pin on the μC for abnormal voltage detection. It is, however, possible to jump the pins on a transistor & cause it to run always without disconnecting it & causing shutdown.

Here's some receiver porn to give you an idea of what we're dealing with (chipamps removed). (vsx-818):

[Skakruk]

I think you've answered your own question, albeit indirectly Having external heatsinks requires a bit more thought in the design process regarding internal organization, so I wouldn't expect mainstream offerings to consider this.

Yeah, maybe not the majority of mainstream offerings, but I was thinking more along the lines of the TX-NR90x's etc.

Here's some receiver porn to give you an idea of what we're dealing with (chipamps removed). (vsx-818):

I cannot view that image. Not even directly on the hosting site ("Unauthorized referrer")...

[Evileagle]

Yeah, maybe not the majority of mainstream offerings, but I was thinking more along the lines of the TX-NR90x's etc.



I cannot view that image. Not even directly on the hosting site ("Unauthorized referrer")...

Fixed the pic, looks like bbzzdd doesn't like anyone linking images to non-anandtech sites.

Not sure I see what you mean wrt the tx-nr905's heatsinks, it looks to have the familiar internal design, with two fans directed at the them. I think mainstream offerings don't bother with this type of setup because convection cooling performance will be similar enough with a well ventilated chassis above & below the heatsinks, even though this may preclude more than one heatsink being used.

My main concern in this particular case is the stamped-on fins - at idle the 818's surface is almost untouchably hot, but the fins are several degrees below the base temp. It's rather unfortunate that pioneer uses these types of heatsinks (however larger) in their elite amplifiers imho. Yamaha uses similar types in their lower end only, Denon & Onkyo seem to avoid them entirely (or at least the price range apt for them ).

[SkaarjMaster]

Interesting stuff. Yep, I'm definitely putting the receiver somewhere else. I think that's what happened to the 503, it's still working but those two channels went out. I should be ordering very soon if I'm lucky.

[Evileagle]

Tbh I still think there's a connection problem or bad opamp in your onkyo. Multiple simultaneous failures (i.e. 2 channels) don't just happen out of the blue - something common to them upstream of the signal likely failed. I remember reading over at anandtech, someone said the x05 model year series had problems with channels going out, possibly the same as yet unknown issue with the 503.

[SkaarjMaster]

OK, this is ridiculous. I can't access the auto speaker calibration or manual calibration because I don't have a video source directly connected to the new Pioneer receiver. Any ideas?

Um, it looks like I might be able to go HDMI from the receiver to my new BenQ LCD monitor, but how do I do this without screwing up the video signal and settings from the DVI source of the computer video card? I don't think I can use either CRT or the old LCD as these all have VGA or DVI signals only.

Nevermind, the manual just said the OSD will not appear with HDMI so I'm screwed on that. What about monitor out on the receiver with RCA cord and somehow converting this to DVI or VGA to go into my new monitor?

This is all I can find right now, but I have to be able to get cheaper. The signal only has to display the OSD screen, not any complicated video.
http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-...rodPVC980.html

[Evileagle]

I think you might be sol here...the only way to do this is to use a transcoder, as you've found already. Some devices can change the color space output (such as a PS3) from YPbPr to RGB in order to use a passive adapter (progressive only), but your 819 appears to have no option for that in the manual. Does the monitor have anything other than DVI/HDMI + VGA inputs? There's always a chance that the monitor can accept YPbPr, as some projector VGA inputs do, but I wouldn't count on it.

[SkaarjMaster]

What's the smallest and most inexpensive video device I can buy to use an RCA to RCA, so I can see the freakin' OSD screen?

Also, the specifications for that Pyro device says OSD menu system. This won't override the OSD coming from the receiver, will it?

What about one of these two things from the monitor out to one of my computer video cards? Will this work at all?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2486497
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2486496

[Evileagle]

What's the smallest and most inexpensive video device I can buy to use an RCA to RCA, so I can see the freakin' OSD screen?

Also, the specifications for that Pyro device says OSD menu system. This won't override the OSD coming from the receiver, will it?

What about one of these two things from the monitor out to one of my computer video cards? Will this work at all?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2486497
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2486496

Probably some portable TV or DVD+LCD device with composite input.
http://completed.shop.ebay.com/i.htm..._ipg=50&_rdc=1
http://electronics.shop.ebay.com/Por...=p3286.c0.m282

The pyro converter will override whatever video signal is input to it with it's own OSD when active - it has no way of 'knowing' that the video signal it's converting is in fact another OSD, so there will be no conflict.

S-video <-> composite is very easy to do passively, although your card is S-video/component output only.

[SkaarjMaster]

Silly me, of course it's S-video OUTPUT.

Anyway, would this work?
http://cgi.ebay.com/CCTV-Composite-V...d=p3286.c0.m14

[Evileagle]

Silly me, of course it's S-video OUTPUT.

Anyway, would this work?
http://cgi.ebay.com/CCTV-Composite-V...d=p3286.c0.m14

Looks fine to me, although if you could think of any other use a portable lcd might be, it may be a better investment for $46.