No video output from TX-NR609

I installed a TX-NR609 receiver in my living room about 2 months ago. This acts as the video hub, switching all sources (TiVo HD, Apple TV, DVD player, etc.) to my plasma TV (A Panasonic TH-50PX6U).

I have found that the 609 is rather buggy. I have intermittent success with getting the Net apps to function properly. The Onkyo 2 iPhone remote app works sometimes. My hope is that a future firmware update (I'm running the latest available) may improve these issues.

However, the most annoying problem so far is the complete loss of video output from the 609. This has happened 3 times so far, where none of the sources connected to the 609, nor any of the displays from the 609 itself (volume level, setup menu, net menu, etc.) will display on the TV. The TV is just black. Power-cycling the receiver and TV will not solve the problem, nor will switching inputs. The only way to restore video display to the TV is to factory reset the 609 by holding the VCR/DVR and Power buttons simultaneously. This is quite annoying, because I then lose all of my net app account information, as well as video and audio settings.

If I disconnect the HDMI cable from the 609 and plug it in directly to the source, the video returns, which eliminates the HDMI cable and the source device as causes of the problem. It's definitely an issue with the 609 itself.

I contacted Onkyo tech support, and they told me I should have the unit serviced. However, there is no service center in the San Francisco Bay Area (really?!), and the closest service center is 400 miles away in Simi Valley. This means shipping the receiver there, waiting for it to be serviced, and then waiting for it to be shipped back. Since this is the hub of my living room entertainment center, that basically means the living room is out of commission until the 609 is returned. When I asked about just advance-shipping a replacement unit, I was told that Onkyo would not offer that. It is beyond Amazon.com's return window, but I'm contemplating trying to get them to take it back as defective and go another route.

My question to the forum is this: has anyone else experienced this issue, and if so, is there a particular video setting that might be causing this which I could avoid instead of it being a hardware issue? I have made sure that HDMI-CEC is disabled (as my TV and other components do not support it). My TV supports 1080i and 720p, and I have left my receiver set to Auto for resolution. Any helpful advice would be appreciated

onkyo service centers are usually pretty quick, 2-3 weeks. but that doesnt change the fact that it sucks to go without the brain of your system. sounds like the hdmi is going out, this is an incredibly common thing for onkyo's going back to the start of their digital amp. It would be fun to know what the percentage of their units have had this problem. my 607 spent a couple weeks in the shop for hdmi issued and a "hum" in the sub outs. the same issues my 606 had. I was able to return the 606 and decided to get 607. Ive had it back now for 2 months. so far hdmi is good but "hum" is back in the sub outs. I slipped it in to the shop 1 week before the warranty ran out. Ive seen pointing my customers to onkyo exclusively for the past 3 years. starting to see the same issues with them. starting to reconsider brands.
anyway, your going to have to run your video cables to the tv and the audio cables to the 609 until you decide to send it in. unless you enjoy resetting the 609 every so often, lol. good luck

Thanks for the info. I just noticed that I was not on the most recent firmware for the receiver. I had done the update to the December 2011 firmware, but not the March 2012 firmware. The receiver is updating now, and I'll see if it makes any difference. Probably not, but one can always hope, right?

that may do it. if not, and your tv has enough hdmi inputs, and will pass true digital signal, you could run all the hdmi to the tv, then run a single toslink cable to the receiver to get you by.

Even if my TV had enough HDMI inputs (which it doesn't), it's mounted above the fireplace mantle, and I only have one HDMI cable run to it. Thus, I need some kind of HDMI switch with the source components.

Firmware update completed yesterday, and no issues so far. The problem usually takes at least a couple of weeks to rear it's ugly head, so time will tell.

hopefully the update took care of it and its smoooooth sailing....................

Hi installer68,

We've had good reports so far on this update.

My receiver is less than six months old and has the same problem. The firmware update did not fix it. An authorized repair place is twenty minutes away and I'm taking it in. I'll report back the progress.

Hi pel999,
Please keep us posted.

Although I don't have my unit back yet, I did stop buy the authorized repair center and had a chat with the technician. The problem is the HDMI board. Apparently (according to him) Onkyo has had a tough time this past year with these boards in a number of products, i.e., poor quality control from the supplier.

They have switched boards and/or suppliers, and the new boards are supposed to solve the problem. Firmware updates, etc., won't fix this problem. This, by the way, did not alter the technician's opinion of Onkyo. He believes their products to be reliable and that they have been working to solve the problem. Admittedly, if you have a receiver that fails in this way, that's small consolation.

I should have the unit back on 4/23 and I can report any further news.

Hi pel999,
Yes, please keep us posted and thank you for choosing Onkyo.

i was having the same problem with the video not coming up on the screen. seems to be working fine now. but now i am having a problem with the Net online part when i turn on the unit sometimes it just is a blank screen and i have to kill the power to the unit and then its fine for a few days. been happening more and more. anyone else having this problem? i have not done the firmware update yet. thought id ask first. thanks

Hi bigmantj20034,

I would try to update the firmware and see if the same thing happens. Let me know if this resolves the issue?

OnkyoUSA wrote:Hi bigmantj20034,

I would try to update the firmware and see if the same thing happens. Let me know if this resolves the issue?

ok ill give that a try. thanks

Hi bigmantj20034,
Please keep us posted. Thank you.

i did the firmware update and so far its working fine. another question i have is i was watching Transformers Dark of the Moon in English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 and the Receiver Downgrades it to 5.1. i have it set up with front highs instead of the surround back. i have played other movies in 7.1 but this blu ray gets downgraded. Any ideas what this might be caused by? is it possible that it was setup for 7.1 with surround back and not front highs? Thanks for the help.

Hi bigmantj20034,

What is the make and model of your blue ray player?

TESTING

i have a Sony BDP-S360 not top of the line thats for sure but it does the job, i have it set to bitstream thats what one of the techs told me to do from Onkyo but the receiver still down grades it from 7.1 to 5.1. thats the only movie that i have had trouble with so far with 7.1

Hi bigmantj20034,

You will need to have the "Surr backs" on in order to hear a true 7.1 channel output as this should work without incidence.

oh really? why does it give you the option for front highs? sorry just kinda confused. I appreciate the help

Hi bigmantj20034,

Because it's either going to be "surr back" or "front highs". Please see page 13 of the manual for more information.

ok thanks ill take another look

Hi bigmantj20034,

Please let us know of the outcome and thank you for choosing Onkyo.

I last posted with a warranty-covered HDMI output board replacement. That was successful but was followed by an LG tv HDMI input board failure. Having had that fixed, I now have a failure of the Onkyo 609's HDMI input board. It's still under warranty, but this is disappointing.

I mention the LG HD TV problem only because the serviceman for that used virtually identical words to that of the serviceman for the Onkyo. "Their suppliers gave them a batch of bad boards." He also went on to state a frequent failure rate for HDMI boards in all products.

This is a hardship on consumers.