Occasional Audio Dropouts

[Rand]

A Denon AVR-3312IC, an Oppo BDP-93 and a Sony Bravia XBR are all hdmi 1.4 connected and internet connected. All components have successfully downloaded and installed updates more than once. Absolutely the nicest sounding/looking system to date in my life, but… occasionally, maybe 3 or 4 times per disk play, there’s a complete dropout of the sound for a second and once I noticed that the picture flickered at the same time. I can’t say for sure that it happens with dvd’s, but it’s happened with at least the last 3 blu-ray disks, brand new right out of the wrapper.
Is this just normal life with hdmi and blu-ray or is there a possible correction I can make?
This is my first experience with a complete hdmi connected system and the peculiar thing that I noticed is, if I turn on the Denon (which is the hub of the system) and an audio/visual source before I turn on the tv, as the tv is starting up it will pause the audio for a moment. I have to say that it more than concerns me that the tv is given that sort of capability through a hdmi connection, especially when it’s not an output device in this arrangement.

 

[j_garcia]

I would check with Oppo on that one, since it does sound like the player or possibly handshake between the player and the receiver. I had something similar with my 83SE but they have since fixed most of my problem discs with firmware updates.

 

[Rand]

j_garcia, Thanks for your quick response to my problem. I guess that's what'll have to do; see what Oppo support has to say.
Thanks again,
Rand

 

[TLS Guy]

j_garcia, Thanks for your quick response to my problem. I guess that's what'll have to do; see what Oppo support has to say.
Thanks again,
Rand

It sounds like a handshake problem between your Oppo and the receiver.

It could be either the cable, the OPPO, or the Denon receiver. With the quality of the gear you have, you should not be having that problem.

I would change the cable first. After that it will be hard to tell which unit has the HDMI/HDCP repeater handshake problem. Can you borrow another BD player? I can't see how to resolve this without swapping out equipment.

The audio muting while the TV makes its initial HDCP handshake is normal and required. HDMI is a two way communication.

Your TV only needs to make an initial handshake, as an end device. Your BD player and receiver have to make repeated handshakes, throughout play. It odes not take much to upset these repeater handshakes.

Onkyo seem to have the most trouble with HDMI boards currently. Posts on HDMI issues seem to be picking up again, mainly Onkyo related. It is very hard to get the scale of the problem form the NET, however during my researches due to the up tick in those kinds of posts, I have a feeling that Denon are currently having more HDMI issues than perhaps they should.

The Onkyo problem is credible because of multiple reports of HDMI problems occurring multiple times in the same receiver after going for repair more than once.

However, swap out the cable first and then try and pin down whether it is the OPPO or Denon unit.

The bottom line is that you should not put up with this problem. If either of these units are under warranty, then you need to sort it out while any warranties are in force. Units performing this way have a habit of progressing to total failure of their HDMI boards, so you should not take this lightly, for what you have laid out for these two units.

 

[agarwalro]

The easiest way to verify the handshake hypothesis is to eliminate the receiver from the chain and connect the Oppo directly to the TV. If it still flickers, the problem is not due to the receiver. If it does not flicker, try a different player through the receiver.

Onkyo seem to have the most trouble with HDMI boards currently. Posts on HDMI issues seem to be picking up again, mainly Onkyo related. It is very hard to get the scale of the problem form the NET, however during my researches due to the up tick in those kinds of posts, I have a feeling that Denon are currently having more HDMI issues than perhaps they should.

The Onkyo problem is credible because of multiple reports of HDMI problems occurring multiple times in the same receiver after going for repair more than once.

However, swap out the cable first and then try and pin down whether it is the OPPO or Denon unit.

The bottom line is that you should not put up with this problem. If either of these units are under warranty, then you need to sort it out while any warranties are in force. Units performing this way have a habit of progressing to total failure of their HDMI boards, so you should not take this lightly, for what you have laid out for these two units.

Man what is with you and this crusade against Onkyo . I'm sensing deep emotional trauma, were you inappropriately touched by an Onkyo? Sorry, I couldn't resist .

 

[TLS Guy]

The easiest way to verify the handshake hypothesis is to eliminate the receiver from the chain and connect the Oppo directly to the TV. If it still flickers, the problem is not due to the receiver. If it does not flicker, try a different player through the receiver.

Sorry, but that is absolute nonsense.

The TV only makes an initial handshake, since it is an end device. The receiver on the other hand, has to make continuous repeated handshakes. This is called repeater architecture and required on all devices that receive and output HDMI. The initial handshake only, like a TV is infinitely more stable and far less complex from an engineering standpoint.

Most of the HDCP issues involve repeater architecture with need for constant HDCP code handshakes. So his Oppo player being stable on direct connection to the TV means nothing in regard to this issue and will shed no light whatever on the OP's problem.

 

[TLS Guy]

The easiest way to verify the handshake hypothesis is to eliminate the receiver from the chain and connect the Oppo directly to the TV. If it still flickers, the problem is not due to the receiver. If it does not flicker, try a different player through the receiver.
Man what is with you and this crusade against Onkyo . I'm sensing deep emotional trauma, were you inappropriately touched by an Onkyo? Sorry, I couldn't resist .

I have never owned an Onkyo unit, but serviced a few, that has convinced me I would never want to own one.

Onkyo has now been sold and we will see what that brings.

 

[ahblaza]

I have never owned an Onkyo unit, but serviced a few, that has convinced me I would never want to own one.

Onkyo has now been sold and we will see what that brings.

Mark, who purchased Onkyo? I have an Onkyo TX-NR809 on preorder until the new stock arrives, they are temporarily out of stock for another week or so, you have me a bit rattled here, I've been using an Onkyo TX-SR702 for seven years now without incident, so this 809 is my first HDMI equipped receiver purchase. I have given J&R music world credit card info and will be charged when shipped. I am somewhat leary at this point especially since you mentioned the company sale. I respect your opinion and insight in these matters, I am in a quandry at this point, please advise as to what to do, buy a different receiver or what, thanks Mark, I look forward to your reply.
Best Regards, Jeff

 

[bikdav]

I Stumbled On This

Who was interested in Onkyo? Apparently Gibson. Go to digitaltrends.com and punch in Gibson buys Onkyo in their search section. I would have up loaded it here. But, I couldn't figure out how [I'm a disaster at up loading files].

 

[TLS Guy]

Mark, who purchased Onkyo? I have an Onkyo TX-NR809 on preorder until the new stock arrives, they are temporarily out of stock for another week or so, you have me a bit rattled here, I've been using an Onkyo TX-SR702 for seven years now without incident, so this 809 is my first HDMI equipped receiver purchase. I have given J&R music world credit card info and will be charged when shipped. I am somewhat leary at this point especially since you mentioned the company sale. I respect your opinion and insight in these matters, I am in a quandry at this point, please advise as to what to do, buy a different receiver or what, thanks Mark, I look forward to your reply.
Best Regards, Jeff

Gibson, have what I understand to be a controlling stake in Onkyo, certainly a large one.

I have done enough digging around on the HDMI issues of the current crop of Onkyo receivers, to not recommend them.

So my advice is to select something different.

 

[agarwalro]

Sorry, but that is absolute nonsense.

The TV only makes an initial handshake, since it is an end device. The receiver on the other hand, has to make continuous repeated handshakes. This is called repeater architecture and required on all devices that receive and output HDMI. The initial handshake only, like a TV is infinitely more stable and far less complex from an engineering standpoint.

Most of the HDCP issues involve repeater architecture with need for constant HDCP code handshakes. So his Oppo player being stable on direct connection to the TV means nothing in regard to this issue and will shed no light whatever on the OP's problem.

Thanks for the explanation, I stand corrected.

 

[j_garcia]

I would still ask Oppo as what happened with me was a handshake issue as well, and for some reason, I had to reset the player to default settings TWICE before it would clear whatever it was that cause my issue after upgrading to the latest firmware. Even though it sounds like a handshake issue, there are settings in the player that affect that handshaking as well. It is worth a shot.

 

[TLS Guy]

I would still ask Oppo as what happened with me was a handshake issue as well, and for some reason, I had to reset the player to default settings TWICE before it would clear whatever it was that cause my issue after upgrading to the latest firmware. Even though it sounds like a handshake issue, there are settings in the player that affect that handshaking as well. It is worth a shot.

Well, that is the voice of experience which accounts for a lot.

I would still change HDMI cables before doing anything else.

Then by your report, see if all the updates to the Oppo have been done, and then if that fails reset it.

However, if that fails, I don't see how to resolve this without swapping out equipment.

 

[Rand]

Occasional Audio Dropout

Thanks for all your help on this matter everyone.
Today I ordered a couple of certified cat 2 hdmi cables from Monoprice and I guess I'll have them in a few days at the most. I'll post back after I test with a new cable.
Oh and TLS Guy, What you said about the tv muting the sound on start up makes sense. When that occurs it's a real fast fade out fade in, whereas the audio glitch I'm experiencing is very abrupt.
Thanks again,
Rand

 

[Rand]

Occasional Audio Dropout

The new cable took a little longer to ship than I guessed, and in the meantime the Denon downloaded and installed an update. I then manually had the Oppo check for updates, it said it was up to date so I reset it back to defaults and gave it all a try, using the last blu-ray that briefly dropped the audio at least 3 times the last time I played it. This time it played without incident.
And again thanks to everyone for your generosity.
Sincerely,
Rand

 

[Rand]

A few months ago I discovered the real cause of the audio dropouts I was experiencing and, even though it’s been about a year and a month since I last posted to this thread, I wanted to give it an accurate conclusion.
The occasional dropouts did start reoccurring after that listening test that my last post was based on, but my life got extra busy and I just had to put it aside for awhile. And since I was in the process of designing a media system for my employer, I was counting on to soon have components available to me that I could use to swap out at home to troubleshoot the problem. Luckily I never had to do that.
And just so you don’t think I’m crazy for putting up with a problem like this for so long. Most of my system’s use is for movies, and I don’t remember the dropouts ever occurring during a movie… only music dvd’s. Oddly, I only seem to know this in hindsight.
About 4 months ago I was listening to a Pink Floyd dvd and I started to hear an occasional high frequency distortion in my right front speaker. In the meantime the dropouts were getting worse too. Their duration was longer, still a fraction of a second, but it was always both sound and picture now. I also noticed the receiver’s display would go blank when they occurred.
I tracked down the high frequency distortion to a bad midrange speaker. That was easy because I could recreate it. I knew what song and where in the song I would hear it. So after a few back and forth speaker swaps I had it. Called Polk, the speaker was, of course, just out of warranty; they sent me a new midrange for $70.60 including freight and tax. Now my system again sounds as good as a living room system of this caliber can sound, and the unexpected bonus… not one dropout since the speaker replacement.
Sincerely,
Rand

 

[j_garcia]

That's good that you found out what it was and that it wasn't a compatibility / ghost in the machine sort of thing. Well, technically it was, but one that was relatively easy to fix.