Yahama HDMI sound not working when tv is off

[helpsought]

Hi,

Hope you can help me. I've connected a WD TV Live via HDMI to a Yamaha RX-V471 home theater system. I've connected a Samsung TV to the HDMI out of the RX-V471.

Everything is working fine, I can find the stuff on the WD TV Live, have sound through the RX-V471 connected speakers and sound and image through the Samsung from the WD TV Live, as long as everything is 'on'. As soon as I turn the tv off, I'm also losing the sound on the RX-V471. The red HDMI symbol on the RX-V471 disappears then. The reason I want to be able to still have sound is to search for instance for a internet radio station on the WD TV Live, shut the tv down as soon as I've found it, and play the sound through the RX-V471.

So, it seems like the RX-V471 does not process the HDMI signal anymore once the tv is shut down. Funny thing is, this used to work! Probably changed some setting somewhere...

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Grador]

From a similar experience with PC software, I would say the issue is most likely with the WDTV freaking out when the HDMI conditions change. Try turning your receiver on, then the WDTV and see if the HDMI light comes on. Did you recently update the WDTV software?

[helpsought]

Thanks for your reply, have tried your suggestion, but no HDMI light. Indeed, I have upgraded the firmware.... No idea how to get back to the previous version though.

[Grador]

I would try researching how to downgrade the firmware, making sure to see if it is a dangerous procedure, I myself do not know. Hopefully someone else here will have a suggestion for you, or maybe try here WDTV Forum - WDTV Media Player - Index

[TLS Guy]

Hi,

Hope you can help me. I've connected a WD TV Live via HDMI to a Yamaha RX-V471 home theater system. I've connected a Samsung TV to the HDMI out of the RX-V471.

Everything is working fine, I can find the stuff on the WD TV Live, have sound through the RX-V471 connected speakers and sound and image through the Samsung from the WD TV Live, as long as everything is 'on'. As soon as I turn the tv off, I'm also losing the sound on the RX-V471. The red HDMI symbol on the RX-V471 disappears then. The reason I want to be able to still have sound is to search for instance for a internet radio station on the WD TV Live, shut the tv down as soon as I've found it, and play the sound through the RX-V471.

So, it seems like the RX-V471 does not process the HDMI signal anymore once the tv is shut down. Funny thing is, this used to work! Probably changed some setting somewhere...

Any ideas? Thanks.

These are the new HDCP code rules. If the TV shuts down then the HDMI output must shut down for DRM reasons.

You need to go to page 176 of your WD live manual. Unfortunately in order the hear your music without the TV you have to go to the set up menu and select audio pass through via HDMI.

You will have to undo it when you want to watch video. Sorry, but I'm sure you can not undo the upgrade, that would be illegal and I bet it won't let you.

[Grador]

It seems you can trick it to loading an old firmware. I believe this not to be illegal but due to the above suggestion that it may be I will refrain from posting a link to instructions.

The choice is yours in the end, a simple google search found the instructions quickly.

[TLS Guy]

It seems you can trick it to loading an old firmware. I believe this not to be illegal but due to the above suggestion that it may be I will refrain from posting a link to instructions.

The choice is yours in the end, a simple google search found the instructions quickly.

A Google search also show those units to be POS with buggy software!

[cpp]

Just for the heck of it, have you tried composite cables to see if everything works the way you want it. Searching google WDTV has had a lot of issues with HDMI.
Check the WD forum as well
Important: WDTV HDMI/HDCP Video+Audio Output Simul... - Western Digital Community

[helpsought]

Thanks all for your replies. In short, I've ultimately chosen for connecting also through composite.

Right now, I can watch video content from the WD TV Live, with the sound from either the RX-V471 or the TV set. I'm using the HDMI-port on the RX-V471 for this.
On the other hand, if I (for example) choose a radio station on the WD TV Live (still through HDMI), than switch to the port on the RX-V471 where I've connected the composite, I can still listen to the internet radio once I've shut down the tv. The sound is not as clear as through the HDMI, but my immediate issue (not being able to shut down the tv while keeping the sound through the RX-V471) is now solved.

Whether or not it is illegal, I don't feel comfortable with trying to downgrade the WD TV Live, it works for the better part, so I'd rather don't touch it.

Once again, thanks very much!