Sound levels/different odd on HD channels?

zzyzxuk · 12-02-2008, 06:14

I have the sound output from my V+ box hooked up to my older Hi-Fi system (a 12 year old Sherwood amplifier which has a built-in "Pro-Logic" setting, and from the hi-fi, I route the sound to a basic 6-speaker system.

Since I've switched to V+ from the regular Virgin box, I've noticed that when I watch Torchwood on the HD channel, the sound levels are VERY odd... Voices that should be loud are a lot softer than they should be, and the sound effects/incidental music are WAY too loud.

Does this channel send sound signals through in a different way to the others, and how should I be setting up my sound system to cope - or is this just wierd/poor sound recording on the part of Torchwood? It's really quite difficult to watch this programme with the sound the way it is as you have to turn the dialog up to hear it, but then get deafened when a sound effect comes through...

Anyone else have the same thing happening for them?

ShadowTD · 12-02-2008, 10:39

Hmmm. No, but that's because I've got the V+ hooked up via optical. Torchwood is broadcast in 5.1. V+ may be doing something daft to the audio before it gets to the analogue audio outs.

I'd suggest deactivating the ProLogic processing on the amp. I know it'll only be two speakers, but see what it sounds like.

zzyzxuk · 14-02-2008, 07:10

I've not been in an electronics shop in 10 years, so a lot of the tech has changed since I last understood it, so I had to work out what you meant by "optical", but I think I have it now...

My receiver is 10 years old, and I'm running the sound out of the V+ box into the receiver via old RCA cables, and the receiver only has ProLogic in it, not the newer version of ProLogic, and definitely not 5.1.

Would upgrading to a newer receiver, that could handle 5.1 likely solve this? I've seen a few other posts on the internet about other people having issues with the sound on Torchwood, but I'm curious if they are also like me, with a box that doesn't have 5.1? Or is this just some wierd mixing on the part of the BBC's producers?

jonbxx · 14-02-2008, 07:36

Just a guess, but I'm wondering if the Pro Logic feed in this case is taken from the DD 5.1 feed. As DD 5.1 has a much bigger dynamic range (quiets quieter, louds louder) you end up with a quieter Pro Logic signal in most cases.

Dunno, are most TV feeds compressed so standard TV speakers can handle the dynamic range?

ntluser · 14-02-2008, 08:19

The irritating thing I find between channels is the constant need to fiddle with the sound levels on the TV as the broadcasting volume has not been normalised between channels. You are watching one channel at a comfortable level. You then change channels and find that the volume on that channel is set at a whisper or at a megaphonely deafening level.

It would be nice if the broadcasters could come together and agree an industry audio volume broadcasting standard but I won't hold my breath.

Tod · 14-02-2008, 09:41

Like when you watch Setanta and they go to an ad break - the increase in volume blows your head off!

I have my V+ connected to my 5.1 amp via optical. The BBC HD channel is a lot quieter than other channels, and when the BBC change from 5.1 sound to Pro-logic there is a difference in volume also. Sounds great however, even if you do have to adjust the volume to suit every time.

ShadowTD · 14-02-2008, 09:48

@zzyzxuk: I would heartily recommend that you upgrade your receiver. Dolby Digital is like night and day compared to good old Pro Logic. Pro Logic II also sounds much clearer than the slightly 'muddy' surround of PL 1. Whenever I'm watching Torchwood in HD, I'm always amazed by the fact that TV can look and sound this good!

But for the time being, does turning off the Pro Logic processing make it any clearer?

14-02-2008, 13:07

If virgin pass through the Dolby Digital from the beeb then it will sound quieter than standard PCM stereo audio. Dolby audio typically is quieter, happens on Sky boxes too.

popper · 14-02-2008, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzyzxuk

I have the sound output from my V+ box hooked up to my older Hi-Fi system (a 12 year old Sherwood amplifier which has a built-in "Pro-Logic" setting, and from the hi-fi, I route the sound to a basic 6-speaker system.

Since I've switched to V+ from the regular Virgin box, I've noticed that when I watch Torchwood on the HD channel, the sound levels are VERY odd... Voices that should be loud are a lot softer than they should be, and the sound effects/incidental music are WAY too loud.

Does this channel send sound signals through in a different way to the others, and how should I be setting up my sound system to cope - or is this just wierd/poor sound recording on the part of Torchwood? It's really quite difficult to watch this programme with the sound the way it is as you have to turn the dialog up to hear it, but then get deafened when a sound effect comes through...

Anyone else have the same thing happening for them?

its interesting and odd at the same time, the reason, i to have had exactly the same sound faults high background and low (half the volume)voice for a long time now.

the odd part is im on a samsung 2100c and SCART directly to a SANYO 24", i never did work out why the sounds that way as i dont really use it much, but i wonder if this tv has the same built-in "Pro-Logic" circuit/chip inside and thats our problem!

its obviously nothing to do with the HD broadcasting or more than sterio as i dont have that, and i also hear this so called 'reversed sound level effect' on a lot of channels, feature films and adverts are especially prone to this effect it seems.

its a pity VM and NTL before them, didnt put at least some basic sound chip options in the stb firmware and a GOOD sound page to control these, as my DVB-T STB has a basic mono/sterio firmware/chip switch and that cleared this weard sound right up on the odd times that DVB-T broadcast had also shown the same effect.

zzyzxuk · 21-02-2008, 10:06

Well, took the plunge and decided to upgrade the receiver. (Which was NOT cheap after one adds in the new cables, etc.)

Torchwood now sounds fine, so I guess the problem really was with the way my old PL1 receiver was handling the sound feed.

ShadowTD · 21-02-2008, 15:32

Awesome. What did you go for in the end?

zzyzxuk · 22-02-2008, 10:33

On a limited budget, so couldn't spend that much - got a Denon AVR-1907 from Richer Sounds.

ShadowTD · 25-02-2008, 09:17

Awesome amp - good choice. If it wasn't for (stupid) HDMI then that amp would have everything covered. Even so, it's amazing for the money.

AndyCambs · 25-05-2008, 13:12

I've got a similar problem - just using the HDMI cable through to a Samsung HD television - and having recorded a programme from BBC HD, I find that it's barely audible even with the television volume turned up fully.

Anyone have any suggestions as to how this might be improved.

clayts · 27-05-2008, 04:04

Dolby Digital is higher quality but is compressed so it is always going to be of a lower volume than the standard PCM audio you get from non-HD channels

Good amps know this - hence why you have to crank the volume on amps when playing back HD stuff recorded in DD, or DVDs, etc....