Home Theater Setup problem - need some input

[Gatsu]

I love watching movies and playing games in 5.1 surround sound. Gaming I haven't had any issues. Sound is flawless. But with movies on the other hand, I've had nothing but problems getting the audio where I need it to be.

The problem:
Whenever I use the Xbox 360 to watch Netflix or a DVD movie, the audio is wonky. By wonky I mean I have to crank the volume up on the receiver into the 40's to hear any dialogue. It maxes out at 50 I believe. I only have to have it on 30-35 max for games unless I want to keep the neighbors up. I can go in and manually adjust each speakers volume, but that doesn't seem to help at all.

My setup:
Receiver - Sony Str-K660p
Vizio 48" HD TV (1080p)
Xbox 360

The receiver has 2 stereo inputs, an Optical input and a coaxial input.
The TV has HDMI, Component, Composite, S-Video, VGA, and Coax in, HDMI, optical and stereo out
The Xbox has HDMI, Optical and Stereo out.

I have the 360 running to both the TV and the Receiver. To the TV via HDMI, to the receiver via Optical.
The 360 is set to Digital Output - Dolby Digital

I have my Receiver set for Optical input, A.F.D. Auto mode, which is supposed to automatically detect the inputs and use the best settings. I can also choose Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Pro Logic II Movies or Dolby Pro Logic II Music.

I've tried using different cables, tried connecting the TV to the receiver via optical instead of the 360. Tried tweaking the volumes and distances for each speaker, that didn't help at all. I even went out and bought a different DVD/bluray player to try....same issue. So I obviously don't have something connected or set correctly.

So I'm trying a hard factory reset and see if maybe that will help if I start fresh.

But if not, how would you guys suggest I have everything hooked up since my receiver can't take HDMI inputs?

[ark_ader]

Netflix and lovefilm drives me nuts with my 5.1, so you are not alone.  Yet (as you say) games work perfectly.

My suggestion is to revert to quad speaker support (if you have it) which is not what you are wanting.  You are not alone with this problem. 

[Necroticart]

Honestly you need to upgrade your receiver to something more modern with a better overall sound and more inputs
Amplifier Output Details Yours
70.0 Watt - 6.0 Ohm - At 100 Hz - THD 10.0 %
compared to a modern Denon which will Output 
110 Watt (6 ohms, 1 kHz, THD 0.7%) A big difference at 6 Ohm and not only that the new receivers have room correction algorithms such as Audyssey that will automatically set the volume for each speaker and help avoid distortion it will also help setup your speakers and sub woofer so the bass from your sub kicks in at your crossover frequency. 

[orion]

I agree, replace the receiver. I had an old Sony that I couldn't hear dialog out of the center channel unless I cranked it way up. Not much you can do with it unfortunately. It finally died and I replaced it with a Yamaha, and it didn't have this problem. I will never buy another sonny surround sound receiver again...

[Hoopz]

I too have a Sony receiver (albeit it HDMI ports) and have the same issues.  I'll probably upgrade it at some point to something better quality than Sony.

[lanman31337]

I guess I'm the only lucky one with a working Sony.  I've had an STR-DN2010 for about two years now hooked up 7.1 with zero issues whatsoever.  I can use a piece of software on my computer to adjust levels, I can stream movies and music from my PC to the receiver via DLNA, and it works very well with a HTPC, cable box, Wii and PS2 hooked up to it.

[kahlid74]

Alot of programs down scale the volume too.  It's possible this is happening to you.  A new receiver would help but I would first look through all the settings you can to see if there is any audio scaling occurring.