audio problems - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

rstone · 2007-10-03, 02:49 PM

I am a rookie to the forum & cannot find this discussion. I am a new *C customer with Pany 50" & 505 receiver for the last month having audio problems with sporting events - the background audio is often louder than the announcer's voice & the background noise is sometimes distorted. I dont think its the broadcast because a friend has no problem with same broadcast on BEV. Any adjustments I can make? or is this a system wide problem?

Thanks

thewatcher · 2007-10-03, 09:38 PM

I don't have an answer to your question, but I experienced something similar when I watched Dirty Sexy Money last week oh high def, I found the background music so loud I could hardly hear the dialogue

jbracing24 · 2007-10-03, 11:08 PM

Quote:

the background audio is often louder than the announcer's voice & the background noise is sometimes distorted

How do you have the 505 hooked up? Are you using a surround receiver or just the TV speakers?

rstone · 2007-10-04, 10:06 AM

My 505 is hooked up with componet cables with TV speakers only.Audio setting- stereo.

jbracing24 · 2007-10-04, 12:07 PM

There are significant issues with audio from STB to TV, most of which are from the signal source rather than Star Choice. You will note variations of volume or distortion depending on the program or channel. Especially the HD channels are much lower, volume wise and often require a boost in TV volume (even in stereo) to get acceptable levels. Some sporting events tend to have too much background sounds, depending on the micing and can even drown out the commentary.
You have two methods of audio control. The 505 has the options 6,4,2. I have a 505 directly connected to an RCA TV with Compression OFF and Analog setting at Stereo. Your TV display should also sport audio settings. Turning off any effects settings will certainly help and turning down bass and raising treble will often increase the clarity.
But TV speakers are limited in what they can accomplish, despite the claim of the manufacturer. A good external sound system is often the best, even some the “Home Theatre In A Box” offer good results.

dmoes · 2007-10-04, 02:23 PM

I agree with jbracing24 that a separate sound system is a good plan.
I had similar problems when I was with Cable. Loud BG noise in sports and some shows especially cartoons had loud music and effects but almost inaudible dialoge. I was using an older prologic only system with no dolby digital. when I replaced the prologic reciever with a yamaha AV reciever and used the digital connections (SPDIF) the problem seemed to go away. I have never had the problem with *C since I have always had it connected to the Yamaha using spdif but I would think it to be the case since the surround/stereo encoding is created at the source.

rstone · 2007-10-05, 10:36 AM

Last night while watching baseball sportsnet ch#281 HD background noise at the beginning of the game was distorted-it sounded hollow like an echo. I called *C the tech man said yes we have the same problem here, to me an indication of a system wide audio problem. The same broadcast on sportsnet ch#417 the audio was fine. I seem to have an audio problem with my HD channels only & based on my phone call to *C the problem is not my equipment.

jbracing24 · 2007-10-05, 11:56 AM

Quote:

based on my phone call to *C the problem is not my equipment.

I must admit that I noticed the same effect on the new ABCWestHD last Sunday with the Nascar race. I couldn't tell you if it was just that channel because I had recorded the program and viewed that night. Would be interesting to know if the same results were heard on ABCHDDetroit or TSNHD. The hollow effect seemed to be worse after a commercial break and come to think of it, the commercials were fine, so it must have been in transmittion from Kansas City.

rstone · 2007-10-05, 12:20 PM

So are we saying the audio problems are from the broadcaster or *C treatment of the broadcast since non HD channels do not seem to have these audio problems? I don't want to spend $ at this point on a fancy sound system if it does not solve the problem. Why would a similar broadcast on BEV not have the same problems?- different equipment? Are the broadcasters aware of these complaints about their audio signals?

jbracing24 · 2007-10-05, 02:58 PM

There could be new problems that have reared their ugly head since 8PSK changeover. If that is the case, giving *C a call as you did helped you to realize that they are aware of issues. They will find the culprit, either broadcaster or their own "treatment" and fix it. I and others on this forum spoke loudly about dropouts on PBSHD and I can honestly say they fixed these issues. So, given time, they will find the causes, just be patient.
In the mean time, the idea of investing in a better sound system would be good to investigate.

rstone · 2007-10-05, 03:40 PM

Thankyou. I appreciate your comments & advice.

2007-10-03, 02:49 PM	#1
rstone Rookie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: hamilton, on Posts: 6	audio problems I am a rookie to the forum & cannot find this discussion. I am a new *C customer with Pany 50" & 505 receiver for the last month having audio problems with sporting events - the background audio is often louder than the announcer's voice & the background noise is sometimes distorted. I dont think its the broadcast because a friend has no problem with same broadcast on BEV. Any adjustments I can make? or is this a system wide problem? Thanks

2007-10-05, 10:36 AM	#7
rstone Rookie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: hamilton, on Posts: 6	audio problems Last night while watching baseball sportsnet ch#281 HD background noise at the beginning of the game was distorted-it sounded hollow like an echo. I called C the tech man said yes we have the same problem here, to me an indication of a system wide audio problem. The same broadcast on sportsnet ch#417 the audio was fine. I seem to have an audio problem with my HD channels only & based on my phone call to C the problem is not my equipment.

2007-10-05, 12:20 PM	#9
rstone Rookie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: hamilton, on Posts: 6	audio problems So are we saying the audio problems are from the broadcaster or *C treatment of the broadcast since non HD channels do not seem to have these audio problems? I don't want to spend $ at this point on a fancy sound system if it does not solve the problem. Why would a similar broadcast on BEV not have the same problems?- different equipment? Are the broadcasters aware of these complaints about their audio signals?

2007-10-05, 03:40 PM	#11
rstone Rookie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: hamilton, on Posts: 6	audio problems Thankyou. I appreciate your comments & advice.

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2007-10-03, 09:38 PM	#2
thewatcher Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SW Ontario Posts: 124	I don't have an answer to your question, but I experienced something similar when I watched Dirty Sexy Money last week oh high def, I found the background music so loud I could hardly hear the dialogue

2007-10-04, 10:06 AM	#4
rstone Rookie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: hamilton, on Posts: 6	audio problems My 505 is hooked up with componet cables with TV speakers only.Audio setting- stereo.

2007-10-04, 12:07 PM	#5
jbracing24 Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Thorold Ontario Posts: 2,265	There are significant issues with audio from STB to TV, most of which are from the signal source rather than Star Choice. You will note variations of volume or distortion depending on the program or channel. Especially the HD channels are much lower, volume wise and often require a boost in TV volume (even in stereo) to get acceptable levels. Some sporting events tend to have too much background sounds, depending on the micing and can even drown out the commentary. You have two methods of audio control. The 505 has the options 6,4,2. I have a 505 directly connected to an RCA TV with Compression OFF and Analog setting at Stereo. Your TV display should also sport audio settings. Turning off any effects settings will certainly help and turning down bass and raising treble will often increase the clarity. But TV speakers are limited in what they can accomplish, despite the claim of the manufacturer. A good external sound system is often the best, even some the “Home Theatre In A Box” offer good results.

2007-10-04, 02:23 PM	#6
dmoes Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Peterborough Ontario Posts: 298	I agree with jbracing24 that a separate sound system is a good plan. I had similar problems when I was with Cable. Loud BG noise in sports and some shows especially cartoons had loud music and effects but almost inaudible dialoge. I was using an older prologic only system with no dolby digital. when I replaced the prologic reciever with a yamaha AV reciever and used the digital connections (SPDIF) the problem seemed to go away. I have never had the problem with *C since I have always had it connected to the Yamaha using spdif but I would think it to be the case since the surround/stereo encoding is created at the source.

2007-10-05, 02:58 PM	#10
jbracing24 Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Thorold Ontario Posts: 2,265	There could be new problems that have reared their ugly head since 8PSK changeover. If that is the case, giving *C a call as you did helped you to realize that they are aware of issues. They will find the culprit, either broadcaster or their own "treatment" and fix it. I and others on this forum spoke loudly about dropouts on PBSHD and I can honestly say they fixed these issues. So, given time, they will find the causes, just be patient. In the mean time, the idea of investing in a better sound system would be good to investigate.