[Patrick Exe]

Hi guys

Apologies if this has been covered before - I have done a search but couldn't find anything that exactly matched my problem.

Basically, as in the title, dialogue on all Sky movie channels and HD sport (and using Dolby Digital) drops out to be virtually inaudible. When switched from DD to Normal in the Sky sound settings the sound is ok but like the rest of you, I pay a lot for the Sky sub and I want it working perfectly!

Sky technical support are no help - any ideas?

Cheers

[derek500]

Originally Posted by Patrick Exe

Basically, as in the title, dialogue on all Sky movie channels and HD sport (and using Dolby Digital) drops out to be virtually inaudible.

All HD channels and Sky's Movie channels broadcast in Dolby Digital 100% of the time. Are you referring to specific programmes that are DD 5.1?

Are you connected to an amp by optical?

[Patrick Exe]

Yes, connected to the Amp by optical and it applied to all Sky movies and HD sports - weird because watching the cricket you could hear the ball hitting the bat fine but not the commentary!

Have checked the settings on the amp - it's showing as optical

[Badger0-0]

Most amps have seperate settings for different modes.

Re-check your settings when in 5.1/DD mode.

It may well be that you just need to turn the centre gain/volume up a few notches.

[Badger0-0]

Another thought (not knowing the Sky box )

Is it set to downmix to 2.1?

[Patrick Exe]

Cheers Badger, I will certainly adjust the settings when I get home tonight. I have had the box 18 months without any problems and (unless my children have sabotaged the remote!) with the same settings so I can't understand why I have the problem now.

I don't quite understand what you mean about downmixing to 2.1? I understood the Sky box outputs in 5.1 where appropriate - how would I check if it is, in fact, only outputting 2.1?

Many thanks for your help - this problem is making an all inclusive package from Virgin Media that little bit more attractive!

P

[kevmarshall]

Services - System Set Up - Sound Settings - Optical - Set @ Dolby Digital

But you have already checked that.

What Amp is it?

Do you have A & B zone settings for speakers?

Check you don't have amp set for B zone by mistake.

[digigriffin]

I noticed this the other night when watching spider man 3 from anytime.

I had put this in the planner and had watched the first hour the night before with no issue.

So sat down to watch and the audio was terrible, dropping out all the time.
I was recording the movie Greece in hd at the time.

Stopped it playing, back the live programme and started it again, still dropping out.

I waited 20 minutes until it had finished recording and played it and the audio was perfect.

So for some reason my skyhd box was having difficulties with the audio on an hd movie when recording an hd movie at the same time.

[VRS Dave]

Hi, I've had exactly the same problem as digigriffin twice this week, never happened before.

Box is 7 months old so given my other issues of constant recording failings, signal loss and that juddering sky news scroll bar I have a man from sky calling tomorrow.

Cust Services seemed to think there was some sort of power loss occuring due to it being 2 HD programs which can be corrected.

[Patrick Exe]

Hi Guys - thanks for the help so far.

Kev, my amp is a Sony Str DA1200 - when I switch to say Sky Sports HD it briefly comes up with the message Dolby Digital 3/2.1. Forgive my all round ignorance but is this relevant.

Have also tried increasing the centre speaker vol with no effect.

Any ideas? - it's frustrating because I don't want to blame Sky when it's some weird setting on my amp! (Unfortunately I have no other device like a DVD outputting DD to test)

[derek500]

Originally Posted by digigriffin

I noticed this the other night when watching spider man 3 from anytime.

Also, when watching Spider-Man from Anytime. Near the end of the film there were two, two or three second dropouts. Never had them before.

Watched Bourne Supremacy tonight off Anytime. Perfect as usual.

[derek500]

Originally Posted by Patrick Exe

Hi Guys - thanks for the help so far.

Kev, my amp is a Sony Str DA1200 - when I switch to say Sky Sports HD it briefly comes up with the message Dolby Digital 3/2.1. Forgive my all round ignorance but is this relevant.

If your'e watching a regular DD transmission on Sky Sports, you should only be getting sound from the left and right speakers as it's DD2.0 (stereo).

If it has DD on the EPG it is 5.1 and all your speakers should be activated.

Some amps automatically convert DD2.0 to Pro-Logic (pseudo surround sound) which will activate all the speakers.

[kevmarshall]

Originally Posted by Patrick Exe

Hi Guys - thanks for the help so far.

Kev, my amp is a Sony Str DA1200 - when I switch to say Sky Sports HD it briefly comes up with the message Dolby Digital 3/2.1. Forgive my all round ignorance but is this relevant.

Have also tried increasing the centre speaker vol with no effect.

Any ideas? - it's frustrating because I don't want to blame Sky when it's some weird setting on my amp! (Unfortunately I have no other device like a DVD outputting DD to test)

I am almost certain it is NOT the HD box. Pretty sure 3/2.1 is the way some amps will show 5.1 being received.

I'm sure your amp has the facility to feed 5 speakers + sub in one room (Zone A) PLUS two stereo speakers in another room (Zone B)

If you don't use zone B it could be that "someone" has pressed the button on the amp to switch to these non-existent speakers!

Have you checked on the front of your amp that the speaker A-B icon doesn't show SP B ? Pressing this button on your amp would probably turn off the main front L & R speakers!!

[Patrick Exe]

Thanks for your replies.

Amp is saying "Sp A"; reset amp to default settings also (which I reasoned would get over any accidental button pushes!) but no change.

What I can't understand is that all sound except for the dialogue/commentary does come through.

[kevmarshall]

Time to ask someone who knows your amp like tha back of their hand I reckon....................


Try Sony Support

OR

Integrated Amps & Receivers Forum.

[Patrick Exe]

That's the conclusion I had come to! Many thanks for your help.

P