DVD SpDif playback problem in MCE 2005

[jmbarker3]

Dear All,

I have searched every forum going and I havent been able to encounter a similar problem, so I hope somebody can help.

The specification of my PC is detailed below. My Media Centre PC (running MCE 2005). Its fantastic and works in every respect except as follows:

When I play back DVD's through MCE, I encounter the following problem:

If I leave everything on default (set to "SpDif Pass through") then the audio comes through garbled - I can see the AV Unit purple DTS/5.1 blue light flashing on and off like it doesnt have a clean connection.

With much fiddling of the NVidia settings, the best that I can acheive is:

1. a very, very slight (but noticable stutter) on the image
2. the DTS or Dolby 5.1 sound is connected (light comes on) but has a very tinny/garbled sound.

Occassionaly (with additional fiddling) I can get an absolutely perfect signal/sound/image, but after a few seconds, this will return to the previous problem being suffered.

Is it becasue I am playing back through S-Video/TV? I have connected my PC to a monitor and the signal has been fine (though I havent tested the SpDif Audio at the same time)

I dont think that the problem relates to my AV Unit of the SpDif cable as the screen flicker still ocurs when these are disconnected. Also, I have no problem with Audio playback from My Music.

Is my DVD player the problem? I dont think it is, because with a monitor connected and standard speakers, it works like a dream.

Its quite bugging because TV playback from recorded TV works like a dream.

Am I missing a setting somewhere, or do I just need to buy a DVI TV?

PC Specification
++++++++++++

210 M Biostar
2.6 Celeron
512 Meg RAM
Samsung CD/DVD Player/Writer (all the settings relating to DMA and buffering, are all optimnised).
Sparkle GeForce 5200 128 Meg (with MCE 2005 drivers installed)
Goldmate TV Card (MCE 2005) compatible
MCE 2005 (with every possible update installed)
NVidia Pure (full version, with every possible update installed)
Optical Toshlink (SpDif) to my Sony AV Unit

[WheresMyArtisan]

Do you have an alternative codec to try?

Try playing a DVD that's been copied to your hard disk, just in case the drive has problems.

Basically try and rule out every component until the problem goes away, as you've already been doing.

Is your CPU running at 100% when this happens? What process is hogging it? Does it play OK when Media Centre is in a small window? Do you use a different resolution on your monitor and TV?

Your machine spec looks adequate to me, but I don't know how demanding the NVidia codec is.

It sounds like the problem isn't with the Amp or sound cable, as the picture is also suffering.

[jmbarker3]

Thanks for the response.

Copying the DVD is perhaps a little to complicated for me. I will try an external DVD player instead. Dood idea

I dont think that the DVD Player is the problem as I dont have any difficulty playing DVD's through a monitor!

I have tried all of the Codecs - Nvidia, WinDVD, Power etc. All returned the same problem.

My TV refresh rate is 60 Hz, if this helps. There is talk of DVD's operating at 50Hz - could this be impacting?

My onboard sound chip is a RealTek ALC655 AC97 Revision 2.3 (Optical Out).

Is the problem that my chip doesnt support DTS.

John

[JonLeach]

Originally Posted by jmbarker3

Thanks for the response.

Copying the DVD is perhaps a little to complicated for me. I will try an external DVD player instead. Dood idea

I dont think that the DVD Player is the problem as I dont have any difficulty playing DVD's through a monitor!

I have tried all of the Codecs - Nvidia, WinDVD, Power etc. All returned the same problem.

My TV refresh rate is 60 Hz, if this helps. There is talk of DVD's operating at 50Hz - could this be impacting?

My onboard sound chip is a RealTek ALC655 AC97 Revision 2.3 (Optical Out).

Is the problem that my chip doesnt support DTS.

John

Sounds exactly what i have had.

same problem everything was working sweet. i thought i had a hardware problem,
but it turns out to be a decoder issue.
nividia codec audigy2, spdif out to pre amp. worked ok until it stopped playing dd, dts. only played a dvd in 4 channel stereo via spdif bizarre!!

removed hardware soundcard etc same problem.

installed a power dvd codec aftrer uninstalling nvidia codec same fault. installed power dvd codec wirth nvidia codec installed and used deccheck to change to power dvd codec everything started working again.

removed powerdvd codec checked deccheck and set nvidia codec to spdif. everthing is still tip top.

for a free powerdvd codec get it from cole2k website

hope this helps
Jon

[jmbarker3]

Jon,

That sounds like a strange fix, but if worked for you I'll give it a go.

Just to confirm, are you suggesting that I should:

1. reinstall NVidia codec
2. install the PowerDvd codec
3. remove PowerDvd codec
4. re-set NVidia codec

Many thanks

John