KOMO 4 in Seattle

[Hi Ho]

I know there are some members from Washington here. I have a question.

I am still in the dark ages of TV with a standard 27" CRT and basic cable so I receive KOMO's analog broadcast. For several years, they have been broadcasting only in mono, no stereo, no ProLogicII surround. This has always annoyed me. Everything sounded so dull coming only from the center speaker. All of the other stations have good stereo sound with prevalent ProLogic encoding.

Now, a couple days ago I noticed KOMO's broadcast is suddenly in stereo. Yay! Well, something isn't quite the same as all of the other stations. There is plenty of stereo seperation and it sounds much better than it did before I but I hear very little to nothing coming from the rear speakers. Does anyone else in this area notice this? Does KOMO or ABC simply not do much matrix encoding? The thing is, identical commercials playing on KOMO and any other station lack the surround effects on KOMO. Isn't it true that if something was produced using matrix encoding and it is received as a stereo signal then the matrix encoding would still be there no matter what?

 

[mtrycrafts]

I know there are some members from Washington here. I have a question.

I am still in the dark ages of TV with a standard 27" CRT and basic cable so I receive KOMO's analog broadcast. For several years, they have been broadcasting only in mono, no stereo, no ProLogicII surround. This has always annoyed me. Everything sounded so dull coming only from the center speaker. All of the other stations have good stereo sound with prevalent ProLogic encoding.

Now, a couple days ago I noticed KOMO's broadcast is suddenly in stereo. Yay! Well, something isn't quite the same as all of the other stations. There is plenty of stereo seperation and it sounds much better than it did before I but I hear very little to nothing coming from the rear speakers. Does anyone else in this area notice this? Does KOMO or ABC simply not do much matrix encoding? The thing is, identical commercials playing on KOMO and any other station lack the surround effects on KOMO. Isn't it true that if something was produced using matrix encoding and it is received as a stereo signal then the matrix encoding would still be there no matter what?

Yes, you are correct. If it is matrixed and the signal is a true stereo, then a Dolby pro logic/II shoud decode it.
I suppose you have the system properly level matched?
How do you know the station is sending a stereo signal? Maybe not enough separation to decode the matrix? Have you called the station? Or, are they even helpful?

 

[Hi Ho]

The system is as level matched as possible using my ears as I have no SPL meter.

It is definetly a stereo signal. There is no doubt. The difference from a couple days ago is substantial.

I have actually emailed them several times in the past and they have always responded promptly (sometimes within minutes!). I have emailed them and I will see what they say.

Now, after going through the trouble of posting this thread I have decided that there is sound in the surrounds but it isn't nearly as prevelant as it is on other stations.It's not like this is a big deal but I'm picky about these things.

Another station, KIRO 7, has zero bass. It's just painfull to listen too. It must be cut off somwhere above 100hz. Male voices sound tinny. When I'm wathing KIRO my subwoofer turns off. I actually just emailed them about it but they have a disclaimer, "We are not able to reply to each individual email, thanks for your feedback".

 

[zipper]

Our locals out here are a joke. They'd rather show "paid programming" than sports. I've never noticed the stereo thing with KOMO..........I have DTV & only watch KOMO when MNF is on. Seems to me it's not been an issue. But I know guys that have HD via CATV & they have problems with the MNF broadcast (KOMO)all the time.

 

[Hi Ho]

Hmmm, I've never had a problem with the local stations. I like our local stations better than any other locals I have seen. I would rather watch KOMO news than the others. The others are just too "preppy", don't know how else to describe it.

KOMO was one of the first stations in the country to have HD, I believe, and they have obviously concentrated on that.

Anyway, it is stereo now and it is sounding much better than before.

 

[zipper]

I find it aggravating to turn on the tube on a Saturday a.m. in the fall & see that all the locals are showing ads for the "Ab trainer", or some guy who wants to make you a millionaire......... meanwhile Oklahoma vs Nebraska is being shown around the rest of the country. Of course I'm a CFB nut so it bothers me more than the avg person..........thank goodness for the ESPN Game Plan.

The MNF broadcast on KOMO HD has been plagued by pixelization & delayed sound, but neither Comcast or KOMO can answer why.

I don't have any issues with the talent on the locals.........just the programming. Remember when MNF was delayed until 7pm?

 

[Hi Ho]

Hahaha, well that may explain it... I'm not a big sports watcher so I guess I didn't miss those things.