Dolby Digital Distortion

[webbiegareth]

Hi all,

I'm having MAJOR problems with my home theatre system (Yamaha YHT-185). Basically, I'm finding I'm getting bad distortion/crackling audio on some HD-DVD's, when running Dolby Digital Plus. It only happens on the Harry Potter series and the movie "300".

I've tried different sound cards, different cables... but it's either the way the sound is being output, or it's the AV receiver itself.

Here's the sequence I've found so far:

I've found the sequence which starts the problem, and which fixes the problem.

Step 1: Play Harry Potter. Crackly sound. Stop movie.

Step 2: I swap with the Italian Job. Play a bit, sounds perfect, stop movie.

Step 3: Play Harry Potter again. Sounds perfect! What the!

Step 4: While it's playing, turn off the AV receiver. Wait 5 secs, then turn it on. It's crackly again!!!! Stop movie.

Step 5: Play Italian Job again. It sounds perfect!

Step 6: Insert Harry Potter... and it sounds fine!!!!

Can anyone out there explain this kind of behaviour? I'm at a total loss here...

Some movies tend (Italian Job) to "reset" the AV receiver into a good state, but when you power cycle the AV receiver, it goes nuts again for certain movies.

Have I got a dud receiver? Has anyone experienced this before?

Regards,

- Gareth

[LukeF1503559517]

I feel for ya mate, I had a similar problem with an old dvd player.

Just a stab though. If your using an E1 and happen to be using the coaxial output, trying using the optical output instead. This is what solved my similar problem.

Other than that mate i wouldnt have the slightest, although a bit more information might be able to help eg what player, connection you are using.

All the best.

[webbiegareth]

It happens two ways:

[1] Samsung 40" LCD's fibre digital output straight to the amp;

[2] HTPC's onboard audio, connected to the amp via coaxial spdif cable.

I can't figure it out... I played Italian Job for a few seconds, then turned it off and turned on live HDTV (channel 10 - whatever is on right now is using dolby digital). Sounded great.

I then turned off the amp, then turned it back on.... and channel 10 was all crackly/distorted.

This is driving me insane...

[LukeF1503559517]

Sounds like soundcard drivers too me.

Try unistalling the sound card drivers, and installing new ones (make sure to get the latest off the website.)

Also you might wanna check to see if anyone is having the same problem with your sound card.

[geoff888]

Sounds like soundcard drivers too me.

Try unistalling the sound card drivers, and installing new ones (make sure to get the latest off the website.)

Also you might wanna check to see if anyone is having the same problem with your sound card.

Sounds like the avr if it's happening with FTA as well.

[LukeF1503559517]

Sounds like the avr if it's happening with FTA as well.

Sorry, I assumed that the HTPC had a HDTV tuner. My bad.

If its two inputs, it seems to be a bigger problem than i thought though. I'd send it straight in, if its still under warranty that is.

Edited June 4, 2008 by LukeF

[webbiegareth]

Yep I do have twin tuners in the HTPC... but I decided to hook up the TV directly the Yamaha just to test it out (via the optical connection this time, as my HTPC only has coax). Same thing.

I gave up and contacted Yamaha today - they think it's the AVR too, so I have to take it in to them. They believe it's actually the firmware, and that a firmware upgrade will fix it up. So I'll drop by very early next week, wait for it to be done on the spot, then find out if that really was the problem.

Strange... I wonder how many other people with Yamaha YHT-185's have also had this problem?

Edited June 4, 2008 by webbiegareth

[webbiegareth]

It was the firmware... it was updated this afternoon, and the problem is fixed. WOOHOO!!!!

[Juicester]

sweet, good to hear you got it fixed. Now i will be updating my firmware too to try and fix my same problem - when i manage to get a day off work, as the Yamaha service centres near me all close at 5pm and arent open on the weekends!