HD200 AC3 audio problems

[jasmithvr6]

Originally Posted by TexasTruck

As stated above when the AC3 audio track is 640kbps (high quality) the audio is not correct over toslink. I have the same setup, from the HD200 I have HDMI to TV and fiber to my Denon amp. When I play my backup copy of Dark Knight Bluray, the audio sounds like I'm underwater or something, pretty obvious. Someone discovered if you down convert the audio to <= 448kbps the problem goes away. I did this and AC3 over toslink fiber worked.

In other words, if the videos you're watching don't have 640kbps audio (high quality), then you're more than likely going to be ok.

Thanks for the explanation Texas. That makes sense. I assume when you refer to "high quality" audio at 640kbps, more likely than not we're talking Bluray? Are there any other instances where this type of audio problem would rear its ugly head?

[_Demo_]

A workaround has been added to the latest beta firmware. Please let me know if it fix the problem for your files or not.

Thanks

_Demo_

[wayner]

Originally Posted by _Demo_

A workaround has been added to the latest beta firmware. Please let me know if it fix the problem for your files or not.

Which version is that? I updted my firmware when I got my units about a week ago but I still get the audio sounding like its underwater problem.

[jm9843]

It's a newer firmware version - dated the 17th.

[valnar]

I saw the notes on the latest beta firmware. Terms like "temporary fix" and "workaround" above. What does that mean? How is the "workaround" be implemented if it's not a total fix for 640k AC3 audio?

[Beefcake550]

valnar....sometimes things that are broken (640kbps AC3) are out of your hands, but you know how to "fix" or "get around" the broken part on your own until the broken piece can be fixed "correctly".

This means that Sage probably put in a work around so that AC3 tracks that are 640kbps will now sound correct, but they are still trying to get it fixed the right way.

Hope that makes sense to you.

It's kind of like a situation were you can't make a left turn, but you could make 3 rights to get to the same spot (consider city blocks). You want to be able o make that left turn eventually, but the 3 rights get you there anyhow.

-Brian

[valnar]

No. I mean what was done to make it work? If it's not playing 640k audio the correct way, then how is it playing them at all? It's not exactly something you can fudge. Is it being downsampled in software/hardware to 448k? Are they throwing away surround info and concentrating only on the front channels? Just curious as to what the aural diminishment is compared to a "true" fix. Or is there any?

[wayner]

Originally Posted by jm9843

It's a newer firmware version - dated the 17th.

Great - I will try that. I assume that I just choose the Update from the settings menu just like I did when I was doing the initial setup.

By the way, if we ever wanted to roll back to an older firmware version how would we do that?

[_Demo_]

Originally Posted by valnar

I saw the notes on the latest beta firmware. Terms like "temporary fix" and "workaround" above. What does that mean? How is the "workaround" be implemented if it's not a total fix for 640k AC3 audio?

It is only an implementation detail where we had to work around a bug like Beefcake550 explained. The sound data sent to receiver is not different in any way.

Originally Posted by wayner

By the way, if we ever wanted to roll back to an older firmware version how would we do that?

If you want to go back to the release version simply go to the update screen and don't enter the beta code. The update will then install the most recent release version (20081201-0 for now)

_Demo_

[jm9843]

Originally Posted by _Demo_

Please let me know if it fix the problem for your files or not.

I tried two different high-bitrate ac3 mkv files that were exhibiting the problem and they both playback perfectly now with the 12/17 beta firmware.

Good job implementing the work around Sage!

[valnar]

Originally Posted by _Demo_

It is only an implementation detail where we had to work around a bug like Beefcake550 explained. The sound data sent to receiver is not different in any way.

Excellent! Thank you.

[MarkV]

Somewhat related (well, it's related to audio on the Hd200) -

My audio is sent over HDMI to a Radiance XD scaler that converts it to coaxial digital and sends it to my old Denon receiver (I know, not ideal, but I'm too cheap to upgrade right now).

On the HD100, everything is fine.

On the HD200, when I'm watching video, everything is fine; however, when the HD200 isn't sending audio, the Denon is flipping back and forth between digital on the coaxial input and analog. Basically, it looks like the coaxial input comes alive every second or so, the receiver locks it and then it drops.

Any ideas?

Mark

[valnar]

The release firmware, (which I think is the 12/30 beta firmware) is now available, but there is no mention of a proper AC3 fix. So I assume Sage is still using the aforementioned workaround?

Not that it matters of course.... just curious.

[PiX64]

Any updates on this one? I am still having an issue playing any AC3 audio from HDHR recordings, and ripped DVD's....I have component out of my hd200 to my tv, and toslink into my onkyo 7.1 receiver. Audio doesn' twork correctly. voices are so low and muffled that they can almost not even be heard...Im losing patience on this one and really dont' want to abandon the hd200....something has to work!

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by PiX64

Any updates on this one? I am still having an issue playing any AC3 audio from HDHR recordings, and ripped DVD's....I have component out of my hd200 to my tv, and toslink into my onkyo 7.1 receiver. Audio doesn' twork correctly. voices are so low and muffled that they can almost not even be heard...Im losing patience on this one and really dont' want to abandon the hd200....something has to work!

Make sure you have turned up the volume all the way on the HD200. This happened to me before and unbeknownst to me someone had cranked down the volume on the HD200.

Gerry

[PiX64]

Thanks Big Gerr, I tried that and no luck... The audio is mainly missing for voices, and when i can hear them they are so low an muffled (almost as if they are underwater) that i can't make them out.

[Narflex]

Try the beta firmware and you should be fine. Just enter 2382 on your remote on the system update menu.

[PiX64]

Also done. i am and have been using the most recent beta firmware which was released yesterday, and i think there was one today as well (this one fixed the network browsing issue)....

*EDIT* - Could it be that my receiver isn't accepting the AC3 over optical in bitstream mode? I have a ps3, and i am able to successfully watch blurays with optical out set to bitstream on the ps3......Just a thought