HD300 HD audio issue driving me nuts!

[kkelley929]

Ha all,

I get a cracking and popping sound when playing any movies with HD Audio content.
I have searched here and through Google and am having no luck so I have decided to go ahead and post my issue in hopes someone can help me.

I have a couple of HD300s deployed and the one hooked up to my main HT (only location where I can play HD Audo tracks) is where I am having problems. Whenever I play any HD-Audio tracks I get a popping and cracking sound throughout the movie. This happens on all HD Audio tracks (plus a couple of low res videos out of about 60). If I switch to something like regular DTS the movie plays fine.

I have played with the audio settings for what seems like forever but to no avail. My reciever is a Denon AVR4308 CI (HDMI connection to HD300) and I can't seem to find anythng on the internet that would point to any issues there.

I have the HD 300 hard wired through a Netgear WNDR3700 router which is pretty new. Could the issue be here?

I am thinking that it isn't the source material because in addition to the rips I make with MakeMKV (backup and MKV files), I have optained some moves from other sources and get the same result.

Any help here would be GREATLY appreciated!!

[rtrski]

Do you have another HDMI cable you can try?

If this is only on HD Audio and not on DTS tracks, you can't try the TOSLink. I don't think the router would be to blame (if it was a throughput issue you'd see the picture going pixellated or stuttering too, not just audio issues I bet). And I assume you have the HD300 (and Sage) set to provide the full HDAudio passthru if present.

I don't know the details of that Denon but some receivers only have one HDMI that takes in the HD Audio...are there other HDMI input ports you could try there?

[kkelley929]

Thanks. I am starting to think connection issue as well. I will experiment with TOSLink and swapping the HDMI cable....

When you say full HDAudio passthrough do you mean the HD Audio Output = Enabled setting?

Thx!

[kkelley929]

ok, tried another cable and still having problem. Noticed after replying with other message that TOSLink is NOT an option.

I also tried another HDMI port. no dice. According to my Denon manual, there is no mention of any port being different than another. It is 1.3a HDMI compatable....

[White94Cobra]

I think we may be experiencing a similar issue. It only happens with HD audio. I have a Marantz receiver and do not have the issue with any other HD-capable equipment.

My thread.

[rtrski]

Originally Posted by kkelley929

ok, tried another cable and still having problem. Noticed after replying with other message that TOSLink is NOT an option.

I also tried another HDMI port. no dice. According to my Denon manual, there is no mention of any port being different than another. It is 1.3a HDMI compatable....

Yeah, TOSlink can't carry the necessary data rate for HD Audio, that's HDMI only. If your receiver is HDMI 1.3a and a different cable doesn't work, I'm out of ideas; it's sounding more and more like it is the HD300 after all.

I guess contact Sage and see what they suggest.

[kkelley929]

Yep, I'm stumped too. I just swapped my HD300's and have the same result so it is unlikely that there is defective HW.

[rtrski]

No, but maybe they can point you to some tests you can run and error threads you could provide them to diagnose an issue they could correct in firmware. As the 'pink' cast issue also shows, the firmware isn't absolutely 100% perfect yet.

(Guess I should have asked - did you try the last beta firmware? Have to type in 'beta' using the numeric keypad on the remote while in the firmware update screen for it to see when you do a check for upgrade)

[kkelley929]

I did update the firmware... I have also verified that the source file isn't the problem. When using AnyDVD and playing directly from the server to the HD300, I still get the problem.

I do have a support ticket open now. Hopefully, we can get this figured out before too long.

In the meantime, I'm going to experment with playing different source materials from the drive on the pc. I have only tested DTS-MA and not True-HD. Not sure if that will help with troubleshooting but it will be interesting to see if this is occuring with both formats.

[kkelley929]

Ha all,

I have a similar thread over in the extenders section but am now thinking this is more of a server software problem.

I get a cracking and popping sound when playing any movies with HD Audio content through my HD300 connected via HDMI to my main theater. This happens on all HD Audio tracks. If I switch the audio track to something like regular DTS the movie plays fine. BR disks played locally play HD Audio content fine.

I have played with the audio settings for what seems like forever but to no avail. My reciever is a Denon AVR4308 CI (HDMI connection to HD300) and I can't seem to find anythng on the internet that would point to any issues there.

Below are some additional things I have tried:

- Swapped HD300s
- Swapped HDMI Cables
- Updated Denon firmware
- Updated HD 300 beta firmware
- Uninstalled k-lite codec packs
- Verified HD300 is set to HDMI bitstream out
- Confirmed source files aren't problem. Even got the issue playing from BR Disk using AnyDVD.
- Experimented with the Video and Audio settings to the Nth degree in the detailed set-up.
- Ensured that HD audio output is enabled

Any help here would be GREATLY appreciated!!

* merged with existing topic *

[kkelley929]

Moderator, I guess I'll leave it here then. However, it seems to me that the context of my situation has changed. Rtrski has been a great help but now that this seems to be more of a SageTV software configuration issue than an extender issue, I was hoping to get some more eyes on this....

[kkelley929]

FYI, looks like I am on to something. On antother thread, someone was having issues with DTS-MA audio problems at 1080p.

I changed my Video Out to 1080i and audio is great now... Support wanted me to send back both my HD300s but it surely looks to be a firmware issue now.

[vexhold]

Holy Cows!! I saw this thread a while back and thought you were a tad nutzo and your setup or tv must be the problem... But now, I just installed a new movie and tried it... MAJOR STATIC.. It's a DVD where christmas music plays while it shows a fireplace in the background.

If I leave it "As Is" I get static and the music in the background, if I hit the AUDIO button on the remote, static goes away and I hear only the fireplace crackling with no music.

I hope you get some answers so I can fix mine as well.

Also: This is the first DVD I did a complete rip with menus, and the main menu audio works great, the crackling doesnt start till you hit PLAY.