I've had issues with the volume level of the SA 8300 SD since I got the thing a year ago. I've done my best to ignore it: the TV volume must be very high to get a good volume level from the box, even when it's turned up as high as possible. I have to keep my TV volume at 65 or so, which is frustrating because when I turn on my PlayStation the TV is BLARING!

I rarely record shows to VCR, but I've had to do so recently and the playback on the tape is very quiet and I'm forced to turn the TV very loud, usually it's not loud enough. I use the COPY TO VCR function.

What can I do to fix this? I've tried using both VARIABLE and FIXED volume settings in the past.

I've had issues with the volume level of the SA 8300 SD since I got the thing a year ago. What can I do to fix this? I've tried using both VARIABLE and FIXED volume settings in the past.
I have the same problem with sound from the TV connected by the analogue (red and white connecter) stereo cables from the SA8300HD. The sound to the 5.1 reciever thru fibre is at the appropriate level. When I get my new TV I will connect it via HDMI cable and see how that works.

The volume should be set at fixed. You could also try setting the audio range to "narrow", this decreases the dynamic range of the STB, which is good when listening via the TV.

These settings only affect the analogue audio outputs. The digital outputs remain unaltered.

Some TVs also have an "volume equalizer" or "midnight mode" or something similar. Try searching the user menus for that.

I had this same problem. Weak volume ability. I can connect my TV to the SA8300HD PVR via an HDMI connection, but when I do that, the 8300 volume control has no effect at all.

So now I'm sitting there having to use the TV remote to control the sound (sound control is far better by the way) and also have the 8300 remote handy for all its features. Ideally I'd like to program the TV volume control into the 8300 remote volume switch, but it's a new model of TV and none of the codes in the 8300 remote library recognise the TV remote frequencies.

Think I'm going to have to get one of these Harmony remotes people keep mentioning. Any other suggestions?

I use the "audio leveler" in audio setting of my TV (PX500) to increase the volume coming in from 8300HD's output2 (which is much quieter than output1 via HDMI).

1...but when I do that, the 8300 volume control has no effect at all.

2. Ideally I'd like to program the TV volume control into the 8300 remote
1. Like I said in the second paragraph of post 3...digital audio is not affected.

2. Did you run the "scan" through all the frequencies on the 8300 Remote? What make/model TV do you have?

57

I'm gonna play with those settings (fixed and narrow) you mentioned in the SA8300 box to see if that makes a difference.

The TV set is an HP DLP. I did go through all the frequencies the SA8300 remote is capable of, but only the ones for TV. I might try all the VCR and AUX codes as well just to see if there's something there too.

I did read somewhere I think that HP is doing something different with codes. I think it was in reference to the Harmony remote, and HP was working with Harmony to get the new set ready for download from the Harmony site, or something like that.

Thanks

Iron

I'll have to check into that.

Thanks

Lexx, when you check the TV frequencies, use the volume control or channel change, NOT the on-off switch. The on/off switches are sometimes discrete and will not be "caught when you go through the scan.

I would't bother with the VCR/Aux settings, but you can try.

I find that this is channel-specific. I don't ever watch LIVE TV through my 8300HD PVR. I play only recorded shows. I have an HDMI connection to my Dell 4200. Some shows are normal as regards volume, while other shows I need to crank my 4200 to full blast to get just a normal volume. This is just another one of the lovely 'features' we get with this "PVR". Note, still again, my TiVo records all the same channels (except the HD channels of course) and its volume levels are always fine. There is something in the 8300HD in how it descrambles audio on digital channels that is somehow screwed up.

...Dale

I don't think the issue is with the 8300HD, the volume on some channels is simply lower than others (on any digital STB). This is especially true of channels that are DD5.1 (available on HD channels). See the Digital Home FAQ "What's available in DD5.1". DD5.1 channels are often 10-20 dB lower than others.

This has been discussed in many previous threads.

TiVo records analogue if I recall, analogue channels don't have these issues because the sound is equalized. This is not the case for digital channels.

There may also be an issue with the HDMI connection to the TV for audio. If not properly configured, you may only be hearing some of the sound on the TV. Have you tried the analogue audio connection to the TV with the audio range set to "narrow"???

TVs also don't have the dynamic range or amp capabilities of a separate A/V receiver. People with A/V receivers simply crank up the volume and then "complain" when they switch back to a loud channel.

It's the 8300SD that I'm using, and I've tried the recommendations with no luck. As Lexx mentioned, I need both my TV and 8300 Remote on hand to control the volume. And the TV needs to be at a very high volume. I am using RCA cables, but with the SD there's no other option.

In order to record a show to VCR for viewing on a separate TV, I had to setup a mixer that essentially served as a pre-amp. PVR audio to mixer to VCR and PVR Video straight to VCR. A complicated and what should be a very unnecessary setup, imo, to record a program from the PVR to a VCR.

My VCR works perfectly at the appropriate volume from my SA8300HD. I haven't used it much lately, but I have used it. Perhaps there is an issue with your STB or your setup.

I had experienced low volume when I used the Y audio cable. The audio cable from the 8300 was pluggued into the back of my stereo as well as my PS2 audio (using the Y cable). Even when the PS2 was off (front switch), the volume was much lower than if the PS2 was unpluggued or off with the back switch. I then used another input to avoid that problem.