Audio in HD channels with RX-V661

[AbyssalLoris]

Sorry for starting a new thread on this. I added this to the bottom of my other thread, but I guess it is getting buried along with older posts. So maybe this will get someone's attention.

I'm revisiting my description of the problem http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36140 because I have an update. There is definitely an issue. It is not just signal level variation with channel.

I was watching some nature type program on a HD channel and I noticed that the volume goes up and down randomly. All connections are pretty solid. The sound just keeps going in and out. This only happens on HD channels.

I'm beginning to think the AVR has some issue with decoding HD audio. Now I don't know anything about what the HD channels broadcast. Do they use HD audio? The AVR is a Yamaha RX-V661. The cable box connects to the AVR by an HDMI cable and the AVR connects to the TV and speakers using an HDMI cable and speaker wires of course.

 

[jcPanny]

HD audio

BluRay and HD-DVD are the only source I am aware of for a Dolby TruHD or DTS Master Audio track and the HD player can decode these formats and send it to the receiver as PCM.

Satellite and cable do not have the bandwidth for high res audio tracks and if they did, they would use it for more statitions.

 

[AbyssalLoris]

Hmm.. so there can be no decoding issue? What the hell is it, I wonder?

 

[AbyssalLoris]

This is going to sound stupid, but it can't be a multichannel problem either can it? I'm not aware of cable broadcast being equipped for multichannel audio. Yet, when watching these HD channels (comcast HD channels), I notice that the music score seems to play well but the dialog is quite inaudible. I have only a stereo speaker setup. Is this a coincidence?

 

[darien87]

Now when you say the volume goes up and down randomly, do you mean during the program? Because I have the same receiver and I have noticed that sometimes the volume will go up or down when a commercial comes on, but I don't think it's ever happened to me during the program itself.

 

[darien87]

This is going to sound stupid, but it can't be a multichannel problem either can it? I'm not aware of cable broadcast being equipped for multichannel audio. Yet, when watching these HD channels (comcast HD channels), I notice that the music score seems to play well but the dialog is quite inaudible. I have only a stereo speaker setup. Is this a coincidence?

Do you have the AVR properly set up for 2 Ch? Because I would think that if you're cable box is sending a 5.1 signal and your receiver "thinks" you have 5 speakers, that would explain your lack of dialogue. But if you set the AVR for 2 speakers, it should convert the 5.1 signal to stereo.

 

[jcPanny]

Cable audio format

I am using an OTA antenna but some programs including sports, american idol, etc. will include a dolby 5.1 audio track. On cable, premium movie channels should also include the 5.1 digital audio. If you are using HDMI or a digital audio connection to the receiver, then it will get this signal. If you are using the Red/white RCA connections then you are limited to 2 channel.

 

[jake5717]

My Satellite does go up and down but only when an HD program goes into commercials (2.1) and then back to the HD program (5.1). I have the same receiver and other then the described issue I have had no experience with level fluctuation during a program. If they could figure out this problem that’d be great. Sometime I’ll be watching something on Discovery and the GF falls asleep then to commercials come on and it gets loud and scares her in her sleep. Kinda funny but I’m sure it’s not for her.

 

[AbyssalLoris]

Yeah that is pretty funny. But I had no idea that any cable broadcast carried multichannel audio . I live in the stone age. I should just go find my cave and forget about AVRs.

As for fluctuation, I do mean during program material. How exactly it varies, I'm not too sure of. More observation is necessary before I can tell you that. But I'm sure that I noticed very low volume on all HD channels and HD channels only. Also, on one particular HD channel, I clearly noticed that all music and background score was at proper volume, but dialog was inaudible. Maybe there was mostly dialog on the other HD channels as well and I'm basically not hearing dialog. Need to check on this.

In that case, the most likely situation is that I have not set the AVR properly to stereo format d'oh! That will be surprising as I'm fairly certain I should have done that but then as I never suspected multichannel audio, maybe I just didn't look carefully enough. I'll check when I get back home and report later.