[Springheel]

I've been having exactly the same problem and it's driving me crazy. I notice it on both my TVs hooked up to Fibe (different receivers). Unfortunately I don't have a good alternative way to watch Netflix. I feel like this has been a fairly recent occurrence (started in the last year or so).

 

[57channels]

I have noticed the same thing. I asked my gf if she noticed it and she does not... But I hear a faint audio popping every ten seconds or so. The gf loves the Netflix app through cable, but if I'm alone, I'll watch it from my phone using the tv's chromecast and the audio is flawless.

 

[Springheel]

No one else is noticing this? It's been quite strong on both my TVs, especially noticeable when watching part 2 of Making a Murderer. The pops happen in exactly the same spots when I rewind, but don't happen if I play the same show on the same TV/Speakers using Chromecast. It's clearly a Bell issue.

 

[SimmZ]

A few weeks ago I found that my built-in Netflix App in my 2014 LG Smart TV (purchased January 2015) stopped working. I can still access the App itself, but each time I launch a movie or a serie, I have a "this title is unavailable, please try again". I think that my 2015 LG just stopped to be maintained, which is definitely possible as this is often the case with Smart TVs (that the manufacture drops update/supports after 3-4 years only). So I returned to my Bell Fibe's receiver built-in Netflix App and then noticed immediately again the "popping/clipping" sound in almost any shows/movies. I think I was watching the 3rd season of Daredevil (which is an amazing show, btw), but I am not sure, anyway...

I finally ended by purchasing a brand new Apple TV 4K, obviously not only for Netflix (as it cost 229$) for my main TV in the living room. The other TV in kid's playroom have a Xbox One S console on it, so I installed the Xbox Netflix App and in my third TV (in master bedroom), I have purchased a Amazon FireStick (basic) earlier in July, during the Prime Days for 29$ and Netflix is working flawlessly on it.

Sorry that I don't bring any solution to the built-in Netflix App in the Bell Fibe's receiver, but as for myself, I just gave up on this and find another (better) way to connect to Netflix.

 

[SimmZ]

By the way, my technical opinion on the problem is that the built-in Netflix App on Bell Fibe's receiver is doing some downsampling from 5.1 to something else. This explanation is obvious to me since when I watch the exact same show/movie on Bell's Fibe or on Apple TV 4K, the sound is totally different. On the Apple TV 4K I definitely ear native 5.1 audio and on the Bell Fibe receiver, sound is lower, muffled and I am pretty sure it's downsampled somehow to 2.1 or something else. I can't see any sound setting specific to the Netflix App into Bell Fibe's receiver however and my receiver is set to 5.1 native in the global setting. So I don't understand.

 

[ExDilbert]

The bit rate could be lower on the Fibe receiver. Bell limits most of their HDTV content to 720p so it wouldn't be good in their opinion if Netflix looked a lot better. Lowering the bit rate not only degrades video, it also degrades the audio. I wouldn't at all be surprised if Bell was limiting the bit rate for Netflix and the video and audio quality along with it. Some equipment will create pops when it switches in and out of DD or between DD formats. That could be what is happening here.

 

[otcal]

Fibe TV Netflix app audio popping

Hoping this is the right place to post this.

Here's the setup: We have a bonded-DSL-based Home Hub 3000 that's feeding 4 wireless Bell Fibe TV boxes. Entire system was installed in August 2018. 3 TV's are Samsung's, 1 TV is a computer monitor. All are connected via HDMI cables. One TV has the HDMI from the Bell box to a Yamaha receiver, and then HDMI to the TV.

While using the Netflix app built in to the Fibe TV boxes, all TVs and the receiver have a noticeable audio "crackle" during bass notes. It reminds me a dirty volume control from a 90's receiver. We've tracked it down that the crackle only happens with Netflix. All other channels and on-demand are fine.

Any pointers on what to check / change?

Thanks,

- Al

 

[57channels]

Hey.. I have the same issue. Its very annoying.. Like a snap crackle pop. If I'm watching a good movie i run it through my chromecast and it's fine there. But too bad as the tv app is so convenient other than the stupid sound. I wonder if Bell is aware of this. Seems like it should be a small fix somehow.

 

[machdiamond]

I have the same annoying issue.
Netflix on Bell Fibe and Yamaha receiver.
Hopefully someone will find a solution, I have been looking into this for weeks.

 

[machdiamond]

I thought Netflix via the Fibe box was super convenient, but I have now discovered (feel a bit stupid now) that it is much more compressed compared to the Netflix app in my Sony TV.

As a matter of fact, it appears that Netflix on Fibe is upconverted from 720p and does not even offer 5.1 (at least on my early non-4K Fibe box - the signal says 1080p but it looks upconverted).

I am pretty sure that the crackling comes from the data compression performed by Bell on the Netflix stream in order to limit its bandwidth. It does not become apparent on most systems but some Yamaha receivers like ours may not like it.

Bell is not allowed to limit the Netflix bandwidth streamed directly as an internet service, but they can if its via their box. Which is certainly in their interest but not ours.

So now I am watching Netflix directly on my TV. I have connected the fiber optic audio out of the TV into the Yamaha audio 1 input and the receiver recognizes automatically when I start watching Netflix, now in all its HD glory and 5.1 sound without crackling whatsoever.

The latest Avenger looks so much better that it convinced me to upgrade my Netflix account to 4K since my TV supports it.

 

[Teddis01]

Hi,
I am new to FIBE. Question please.

On my 4K Fibe per , the Native Netflix app. Is it delivering 4K ( for enabled content ) and 5.1 ?

My equipment is brand new I would assume it is at latest software revision .
Anyone know what is the latest version is the PVT ? Is there a thread tracker for that ?
Thank you

 

[Dr.Dave]

Welcome to the forum @Teddis01.

According to the link below, you can watch Netflix 4K titles on the Fibe 4K PVR as long as you have the Netflix premium plan. I don't know if the audio is 5.1 on the 4K box.

https://www.bell.ca/Fibe-TV/Promotions/4K-Receiver (scroll half-way down.)

The software on the PVR automatically updates when the technician installs it, so it should be OK. The ongoing updates are automatic.