Shaw/DCT2500: inconsistent volume!? - Page 2 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

57 · 2005-01-11, 05:54 PM

Compression works for analogue audio outputs, but doesn't for digital (on the STB).

Some people use "night mode" (compression) on their receivers to "solve" the issue. This is, however, not the correct solution. Hell, we've got 90-100dB of dynamic range, whey the hell should I "squeeze" it?

My variance is not as high as someone previously mentioned. I listen on my Yamaha at about -50 to -40 dB for normal programming. For movies, I sometimes turn it up a bit, but I'd do that on any channel...

Alan Bealby · 2005-01-11, 07:25 PM

idearat

Thanks for the feedback. What you found is about what I was hoping would happen. At the expense of less dynamic range, the difference in loudness is reduced. Not good but may help some people a bit. The obvious solution is to have all TV channels handle their audio tracks in a consistent manner. I have given Shaw hell when a couple of channels had their sound levels all over the map and cancelled one channel while they were having sound problems. It was corrected after a period of time. The latter course of action only works for channels that can be ordered individually. That is one of the good things about the newer digital channels that can be ordered individually.

HD03 · 2005-01-15, 12:10 PM

It would be interesting if someone with an SPL meter did a check on this. I turned on the compression and it seems to me that the SD and HD are closer but there is still a variance within the SD channels--ie some just seem louder than others.

satanshollow · 2005-01-19, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deemo

Not entirely true from my experience.
The HD channels are significantly lower volume than the other channels.
I have been "blasted" when I switch from HD to SD so far - but maybe I am alone here?

I have found the same thing. Last night we watched Amazing Race on HD before going to bed. We left it on that channel. When I got up to put the news this morning (global) it almost knocked me down it was so loud

Pretty annoying that so many channels have different volume leves. We pretty much have to set the volume for each channel!

thefaulkner · 2005-01-19, 07:50 PM

I've been living with the quiet HD channels (or loud SD channels) for some time as well. In my experiences, it is because Dolby Digital is much "quieter" than PCM or analog stereo. I don't think it matters how it is connected, but it is the broadcast itself, which is always DD 2.0 or DD5.1 in HD.

android604 · 2005-01-23, 03:16 AM

I believe those audio setting only apply to 'legacy' audio - RCA for the days of TV speakers, and Dolby Pro-Logic Recievers... DD/DD5.1 has the compersion encoded as flags which let you set compersion on your reciever.

I've set my audio to "TV Speakers"... using the RCA connection to my TV, the volumn is the same on Analogue, Digital and HD.

When using the coax/optical to my Reciever, the SD is louder than HD. However, on my reciever, I can enable compersion/night mode(max compersion) which does decreases the volumn change, it also takes out the loud booms and quiet voices...

Andrew

2005-01-11, 05:54 PM	#16
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,346	Compression works for analogue audio outputs, but doesn't for digital (on the STB). Some people use "night mode" (compression) on their receivers to "solve" the issue. This is, however, not the correct solution. Hell, we've got 90-100dB of dynamic range, whey the hell should I "squeeze" it? My variance is not as high as someone previously mentioned. I listen on my Yamaha at about -50 to -40 dB for normal programming. For movies, I sometimes turn it up a bit, but I'd do that on any channel... __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

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2005-01-11, 07:25 PM	#17
Alan Bealby Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 1,377	idearat Thanks for the feedback. What you found is about what I was hoping would happen. At the expense of less dynamic range, the difference in loudness is reduced. Not good but may help some people a bit. The obvious solution is to have all TV channels handle their audio tracks in a consistent manner. I have given Shaw hell when a couple of channels had their sound levels all over the map and cancelled one channel while they were having sound problems. It was corrected after a period of time. The latter course of action only works for channels that can be ordered individually. That is one of the good things about the newer digital channels that can be ordered individually.

2005-01-15, 12:10 PM	#18
HD03 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary Posts: 106	It would be interesting if someone with an SPL meter did a check on this. I turned on the compression and it seems to me that the SD and HD are closer but there is still a variance within the SD channels--ie some just seem louder than others.

2005-01-19, 07:50 PM	#20
thefaulkner Join Date: May 2004 Location: Calgary Posts: 27	I've been living with the quiet HD channels (or loud SD channels) for some time as well. In my experiences, it is because Dolby Digital is much "quieter" than PCM or analog stereo. I don't think it matters how it is connected, but it is the broadcast itself, which is always DD 2.0 or DD5.1 in HD.

2005-01-23, 03:16 AM	#21
android604 Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 35	I believe those audio setting only apply to 'legacy' audio - RCA for the days of TV speakers, and Dolby Pro-Logic Recievers... DD/DD5.1 has the compersion encoded as flags which let you set compersion on your reciever. I've set my audio to "TV Speakers"... using the RCA connection to my TV, the volumn is the same on Analogue, Digital and HD. When using the coax/optical to my Reciever, the SD is louder than HD. However, on my reciever, I can enable compersion/night mode(max compersion) which does decreases the volumn change, it also takes out the loud booms and quiet voices... Andrew