Not too intuitive for Newbie

[conmoto]

I'm enjoying my MC-700, but I can't figure out if I have issues or the unit does:

- Bluetooth has slight distortion. Sound quality is pretty good otherwise. I restarted the source material and 700, changed proximity of source, and changed source material. They all have slight distortion.

- On screen menu. By accident, I could all of a sudden see the MC-700 menu on my screen. I have no idea how it happened, but I'd like for it to happen at will! Is there any way to guarantee that it always pops up on my TV screen? Perhaps viewing the menu via MC-700 display is why I feel it isn't very intuitive.

-  I have a 3.1 system. Is there a setting I should chose to maximize this setup? So far "all stereo" sounds the best...I think, but that's primarily for music playback. What setting for movies?

[Gary Cook]

Welcome conmoto

Bluetooth is subject to external interference, it's not a quality audio medium. It's most likely that there is something in proximity causing the distortion. Try turning things off one by one, that might just reveal the source. Otherwise try a different Bluetooth source, a different phone, tablet etc.


From the MC-700 manual;

11. Info Button
Pressing the Info Button does two things.
It causes the On Screen Display to pop up and show the current Audio Mode and Volume settings.
The current Volume setting is always shown on the Front Panel VFD display, along with more
detailed status information. The Info Button causes this status information to toggle between
showing the name and designation of the selected Input, and showing the current input signal
type and Audio Mode currently selected


In regards to 3.1, in the set up menu you select the channels that you have out of 7.1, just turn off the ones that you don't have.

Cheers
Gary

[KeithL]

Here are a couple of things you can try......

With Bluetooth, it is possible for the signal to overload and become distorted at several points in the signal chain.
For example, try turning the volume down on the source device, and up on the MC-700.
If both your phone and its player program have separate volume controls, try fiddling with both of them...
(If the player program is overloading "the connection" then it will distort.)

The rear panel connector for the USB dongle on the MC-700 puts it right in the middle of a nest of wires - all carrying digital signals.
Often putting the BT module on a short USB extension cable, then trying it in different locations, will improve reception (which can clean up the signal).
(I think we've been shipping a little USB extension cord with recent units... if you didn't get one, just pick one up at your local store, they're nothing special.)

Also make sure the problem isn't your content itself...
(MP3 files, and a lot of Internet streaming content, just plain doesn't sound very good.)

[conmoto]

I've pressed the info button and still no on screen menu. My connection is Output ARC #1 from MC-700 to ARC into Sony XBR-65x950b. What am I missing?

Also, because I'm fumbling through setup via the MC-700 display window, I can't figure out how to shut down surround speakers so that the MC-700 can redirect signals to maximize my 3.1 system. Right now I'm using All-Stereo mode. I assume there is more to be gained in the other modes?

Thanks in advance for your input. This is a very useful forum.

[conmoto]

Discovery made!

When I turn on my TV I always go to the "home" button to access amazon prime, netflix, youtube, etc. For whatever reason, the MC-700 doesn't work in tandem with content accessed via the TV's home section. As soon as I choose a different TV input, all is well. Perhaps because "home" is fed via network  and not HDMI, it is not considered an input?

This discovery led me to finally see the MC-700 in its entirety, which allowed me to shut off my non-existent surround speakers. Now my 3.1 setup sounds better and restricts access to unused 7.1 options.