Audio differences between HD and broadcast

[wmiller]

Hi,
I don't know if I have set up my receiver/plasma audio incorrectly or not but I notice a lack of depth sound or somewhat of a tin can sound when I watch shows in hd. I set up the audyssey but it sounds better turned off. I have a Denon 2808 and Polk surround sound speakers and a polk 650 sub. But I just find it odd that the audio sounds like a cheap radio. Any suggestions on how to improve the audio?

Thanks,
Wendy

 

[bandphan]

wendy, whats your source for the broadcast cable, sat, ota?

 

[Pyrrho]

Hi,
I don't know if I have set up my receiver/plasma audio incorrectly or not but I notice a lack of depth sound or somewhat of a tin can sound when I watch shows in hd. I set up the audyssey but it sounds better turned off. I have a Denon 2808 and Polk surround sound speakers and a polk 650 sub. But I just find it odd that the audio sounds like a cheap radio. Any suggestions on how to improve the audio?

Thanks,
Wendy

Wendy, you need to give us more information. For example, if you have not turned off the plasma TV's speakers, it probably does sound like a cheap radio. You will want a digital audio connection going from the TV (if it has a built in HD tuner that you are using) to the receiver. But whatever the source, you should be sending the audio, via digital connection, from it to your receiver for processing. And you should have your TV speakers off, or turned all the way down.

If you want more suggestions, you need to say what the source is and how everything is connected.

 

[wmiller]

Hi guys.
I am sorry if this double posts but I didn't see it after I refreshed.

I have dish network sat, and it is connected to the denon via hdmi and the plasma is connected via hdmi to the receiver as well. I have the tv speakers turned all the way down and the denon controls all audio/video.

I just think it is odd that I get this cheap tinny sound with hd stations. I must have set something up wrong.

Thanks!!

Wendy

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

Is your volume all the way down, or can you actually bypass the TV speakers at all? Most newer TV's if not all you can disable any sound coming from the TV itself.

May not help but if you're going through the receiver anyway, might as well eliminate whatever is redundant.

Edit: going to go on a long shot here, but does your receiver offer seperate EQ settings for each input? If so, check that the EQ for the assigned HDMI input is not all out of wack.

Sometimes crazy settings happen to find their way into receiver menus and you would never know unless you actually look.

 

[Midcow2]

What type Dish Network receiver ?

..

I have dish network sat ...

I recently upgraded to the DishNetwork 722 DVR and it provides excellent sound through HDMI. I connect the DishNetwork 722 to the AVR and then from the AVR to the TV. All using just HDMI cable. my sound is brilliant and robust. I am not using the TV speakers at all only the video picture

The Denon 2808 is an excelelnt high level receiver that supports HDMI 1.3a and you should be getting top-notch sound.

Good Luck!

 

[bandphan]

shot in the dark, but do you have the denon set to a dsp program like hall?

 

[Pyrrho]

Hi guys.
I am sorry if this double posts but I didn't see it after I refreshed.

I have dish network sat, and it is connected to the denon via hdmi and the plasma is connected via hdmi to the receiver as well. I have the tv speakers turned all the way down and the denon controls all audio/video.

I just think it is odd that I get this cheap tinny sound with hd stations. I must have set something up wrong.

Thanks!!

Wendy

So you are having trouble with the sound coming from your dish network satellite (not from the TV's built-in tuner)? For that, it seems like you have everything connected properly. (If it were a built-in tuner issue, I would look for an optical or coaxial digital audio connection from the TV to the receiver, as the HDMI connection is probably for video [and possibly audio] from the receiver to the TV, not the other way.) As ThA tRiXtA and bandphan suggest, you will want to check your sound settings on the receiver to see if you have some DSP mode that you don't want processing the sound for the input on the receiver to which the dish network sattellite is connected. Many receivers allow different settings for different inputs, which is nice when one wants to use different settings for different sources, but it does mean that properly setting up one input for the right processing mode does not set up the other inputs for the right processing mode.

Do other sources sound fine, like DVD or whatever? If so, I would think it is likely some setting you don't want for the input of the receiver to which the dish network satellite is connected.

 

[wmiller]

My Dish receiver is the ViP 622, right now I have the hdmi for the tv plugged into the 'monitor' jack on the denon and I have rca for audio. The instructions said to use the tv as a monitor-could that be it?

I will switch around the optical I use on my cd changer to see that makes a difference.

You know it looks easy to plug everything in and I obviously have done something wrong.
My speakers sound fuller with audyssey turned off and I have the receiver set to 5 channel. The pro logic, Neo, etc. settings sound "thin" too.

Speakers are set to A, speaker size small. The hdmi cable is for 720 which is what my tv supports not 1080, would that matter? Could it be hdmi monster cable I am using? I know when I run my ipod thru the receiver I really have to turn the volume up.

I wonder if there is a reset on the receiver and start over from scratch the whole setup process. I'll have to look in the manual.

Thanks,
Wendy

 

[BobSD]

Maybe I can help because I do not use the high tech to explain it is all Greek to me. I have the same Sat reciever 622, you have and you have a great AVreceiver for both picture and especially sound! Go into your TV menu and go to audio and turn your TV speaker to OFF. With your 622, if you have a HDMI cable comeing out of it going to your AV reciever HDMI in, your should have more then one IN, so you can use HDMI 1 in. Then you should use a HDMI cable to the receivers' monitor out of your AVreceiver to your TV HDMI in. But now you have to tell your receiver what you have going to your TV, also make sure your TV is On the correct "IN" HDMI. see it could be on Analog=RCA, Componet etc. So you will not be getting the HDMI sound. You also could use Optical Digital out on your Sat 622, for sound but then you must set your receiver audio to optical, Just remember all the sound you want coming out of you sat/622 is going to your Receiver and to the speakers, not to your tV then to your speakers. Hope this helps, if all fails get someone who knows Audio systems to help you out! Oh Do Not hook up RCA jacks to the back of your SAT 622.

 

[trnqk7]

I have the Dish 622 as well-it does support audio over HDMI now (didn't when it first came out). I also have a Denon 2807 receiver. Run the hdmi from the 622 to the HDMI 1 of the denon. In Denon's setup menu, make sure that the input you have for the satellite is set for video from hdmi 1 and also audio from hdmi 1 (another menu I believe...). Then from the HDMI out on the Denon, run to the TV. As mentioned, make sure to turn the TV's speakers off in the TV's menu or just turn the volume on the TV all the way down. I don't experience a "thin" sound from my 622/Denon combo, in fact, the audio is quite good I think. I bet you just have a setting messed up or it could maybe be the RCA's that are causing the poorer audio quality. Let us know!

 

[Pyrrho]

My Dish receiver is the ViP 622, right now I have the hdmi for the tv plugged into the 'monitor' jack on the denon and I have rca for audio. The instructions said to use the tv as a monitor-could that be it?

Possibly. Saying "RCA for audio" is unfortunately too vague to tell us whether it is a single, digital connection (called "coaxial") or dual analog for regular stereo (or something else, like multichannel analog). If the former, than your connection should be good for the audio, but if the latter, it is not ideal.

I will switch around the optical I use on my cd changer to see that makes a difference.

You know it looks easy to plug everything in and I obviously have done something wrong.
My speakers sound fuller with audyssey turned off and I have the receiver set to 5 channel. The pro logic, Neo, etc. settings sound "thin" too.

If the sound is always "thin", you will want to go into the menu for the receiver and make sure you have the subwoofer set to "on". You will also want to check the settings on the subwoofer, to make sure the volume isn't turned down all the way, or that the crossover is set all the way down, etc. Look at the manual for your subwoofer (you can probably download a copy from Polk's web site if you don't have the original).

Speakers are set to A, speaker size small.

Good. Is the subwoofer set to "on"?

The hdmi cable is for 720 which is what my tv supports not 1080, would that matter?

No, that will not matter.

Could it be hdmi monster cable I am using?

Almost certainly not. Although, for the future, I recommend buying less expensive HDMI cables. Anything HDMI 1.3 certified should work well.

I know when I run my ipod thru the receiver I really have to turn the volume up.

That might mean that you have a variable output level on your Ipod, and that you should turn up the output of the Ipod (it might simply be marked as "volume"; you will want to consult the manual for your Ipod for that). This, however, is not important to your other problem.

I wonder if there is a reset on the receiver and start over from scratch the whole setup process. I'll have to look in the manual.

Thanks,
Wendy

Reading all of your manuals is a good idea (especially the one for the receiver). Take your time, and relax. Getting stressed will make it harder to figure it all out. And don't feel stupid if you find the manual confusing, as there are quite a few poorly written manuals, and modern surround receivers are complicated. If this is your first receiver, there is a good chance that reading the manual will cause you to have some passing thoughts about strangling the swine who wrote it. But don't dwell on such thoughts, as that is a distraction from setting up your system!


Basically, you want to send the audio and video digitally if possible. If your Dish receiver can output the sound as well as the picture via HDMI, and if your receiver can accept the sound as well as the picture via HDMI, this would be a good choice. Alternatively, an optical digital connection or a coaxial digital connection would be good as well.

You don't need to send the audio to the TV at all, just the video, since you are handling the audio with your surround system.

 

[wmiller]

Hi Bob,
I miss spoke about the RCA- are for my dvd. hank you for your excellant explanation!
I didn't see an option in the tv menu to turn off the speakers, just turn them all of the way down. I will double check tonight-
The HDMI is out from sat-in receiver and HDMI out monitor (receiver)-in-TV. All audio and video assigned to hdmi to the default hdmi which is 4.

Could this affect my audio? On the denon remote I have button to run the tv set to "tv/sat" or should it be just "sat"? Umm-so many questions. I am going to overstay my welcome here soon.

Last night I played around with the setup menu and I thought I heard an improvement. Tonight I am going to see if I can somehow restore all settings to their default and redo the whole set up process for audio. I need an interpreter for all of the options!!

Thank you so much.

Wendy

 

[BobSD]

hi, do not thank me the other people gave better replys if you can understand the language. These are my gurus. I do have a denon 2805. Got A idea!? Forget the EQ, it is not necessary.
1. press the menu button or the system setup button which ever get you to you options, skip auto setup, go to 2. speaker setup, use the arrows to scroll down and enter large or small for each of the speakers you have in the set up same for sub-wubwoofer it is step 5. in the Speaker setup. Do not forget to hit the enter key for each speaker. OK all your speakers should be reaDY to go.
2. Input Setup, then go to, mine is 1. digital in assignment you will be using the TV button on your remote, so use the arrow to highlite the TV box, tthen I think you go up or down arrow till HDM1 shows in the window. Do not think you must hit the enter button just make sure that stays in the window for TV
Always go to return when you want to go back or get out of menu.
Oh have a glass of wine or something to like my gurus said help relax. There is nothing you can break, and ask questions all you like! You can also look at the recivers display and if the little letters it says analog you are still not set up right, should say DIG.

 

[wmiller]

Wow guys, I cannot thank you enough for all of your help. I did go in the receiver menu last night (WITH the manual I might add) and it does sound better. I mean there are so many for the options and I am just beginning to understand what the choices mean.
It appeared that some of the speakers configuration was set wrong (could have sworn I set them to small) and I boosted the crossover frequency (what ever that means) to 80 Hz from the default 60Hz for the sub which seemed to help.
I also have much better sound coming from the Pure Direct mode. I turned off the night mode (not sure the purpose of it but better audio) so I am getting there.
Bob, I agree, sounds better with the EQ off!!

Alright ONE last question and I promise to be gone...For you dish users, I went into the menu and looked at the sound set up-should it be set to Dolby Digital/PCM/Line? Mine wasn't and that seemed to help.


BTW-had 2 glasses of wine and maybe that is why it sounded better, LOL!!

Wendy

 

[BobSD]

happy to hear your sound is improving!! That night mode is really for late TV when you do not want to hear all the boombs and bangs and then hear a neighbor telling you to lower your volume. Not to use when listening to music for it will cut out alot of the audio ranges. For the select in the back I would think Dolby Digital would be best but try the others and see which sounds best to your ears. Hope you do not mind my asking this question, for some one not that knowlegeable in seups department, how did you come to select such great componets and speakers! So you got alot of smarts!!! I was hoping to hear your sound had improved because you should have an impressive sound! Oh 80% cross over is a great starting point!! The larger the number the sooner that range will kick in. But to me you have to be carefull with the Sub-wo not to over dominate. What kind of music do you like?

 

[BobSD]

Forgot to add, and some may disagree, but your whole system is just as good as your weakest link, that being your speaker wire, get the best your can afford, and be sure that you have the Minus(left) on the receiver connected to the minus(left) on the speaker, alot of the new speaker wire is not clearly defined, like the good old black and red wire days.

 

[Pyrrho]

Forgot to add, and some may disagree, but your whole system is just as good as your weakest link, that being your speaker wire, get the best your can afford, and be sure that you have the Minus(left) on the receiver connected to the minus(left) on the speaker, alot of the new speaker wire is not clearly defined, like the good old black and red wire days.

Wendy, before you run out and buy expensive speaker wire, read the following:

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

You should never spend a lot on speaker wire, as it is a waste of money. Read the information at the link above for some good advice on what you need (as the wire should not be too small; keep in mind, the smaller the number of the "gauge", the larger the wire). You can also search this site for people arguing about speaker wire.

 

[trnqk7]

That website is good advice-but keep in mind, you can spend whatever you want on speaker wire, if it's what you want. What I think people here want to tell you is that you should be prepared for there to minimal, if any, differences between speaker wire of adequate gauge that costs $1 per foot vs. $500 per foot (or more...). Spending that much money on speaker wire is more of a decorative type thing, not a performance enhancing one. Sure, it's good wire. But it's probably no different than what you can buy at Blue Jeans Cable, Monoprice, etc. They will all sound the same. The expensive stuff might just look "better".

On a continued note-you can purchase the materials yourself to make your cables "look" like the expensive ones. I'm sure monoprice and parts express carry some of the supplies and a quick search would turn up others. Depends on how much of the DIY route you want to take. Several members on here have made their own and they look quite nice.

Just remember-you will not see a performace increase from spending more money on cables as long as the gauge is adequate (really, as long as the resistance is low enough and there is not any capacitance/inductance in the wire either...but that's poor design). You will gain only in the "looks" dept-and only then if you are not inclined to DIY with the cabling. But if spending big bucks on cables floats your boat, you are not wrong...just poorer than you need to be

 

[BobSD]

Thats interesting, read the the suggested reading about wiring. Most of my wire cost me between $0.98 - $2.00 a ft. Did not exactly break the bank considering I paid 7K for my speakers. before I up graded to my new speakers some one suggested trying monster wire, which is a little more pricy then lamp wire, but it sure made a world of difference to my ears, and even delayed my up-grading for several years because of such an improvement in the sound over the cheaper wire I was using. So, I am at a lost as to where your coming from with speaker wire, are you suggesting that you go to Hardware Hanks for your speaker wire for $0.16 a foot?? Not trying to be disputatious, maybe I can learn something?