Blu-Ray audio dropout and sync issue

[DGilberts]

Hi guys

I sat and watched John Wick tonight, an awesome movie. But during the first act I noticed a few slight drops in the audio followed by a slight audio to screen sync/delay.

Will this be a problem across all Atmos encoded movies?
Is it a player or receiver issue?

My player has always been set on bitstream since my system was calibrated and my equipment is in my signature. I have changed the player back to PCM and it improved it straight away.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Best regards

[fredreed]

I would try other movies using the atmos setting and if it happens with other movies I would have a look at the audio cable and I would also get someone to look at your setup. It could be how the equipment is set up.

[JackKnightStarman]

Lionsgate authors there films differently than other Atmos using Studios. Take you player and change the audio from bitstreaming to pcm. If you still have audio drop outs than you have a defective disc. Otherwise your Blu-ray player old and not able by firmware update to be updated to decoding Atmos without interference. I have the same problem with my player, and every time I watch a Lionsgate title that has Atmos, I have to due what I just told you to try.

[Scarriere]

That's a seriously nice player you've got and I doubt the issue is to do with that.
What Jack said above is probably the best bet.

[schan1269]

Looking at the sig(via Tapatalk), what player do you have?

I've bought all new BD players just this year(all multi-region LG). None of them have issues with John Wick(nor any other Lionsgate).

My recently retired Sony 350(it quit playing center channel audio on, ironically, Sony titles) skips on everything Lionsgate that has branching.

This. Is. Not. A. New. Issue. With. Lionsgate.

[Tech-UK]

As the other posters have said, some BD players have issues with Atmos encoded tracks when bitstreaming.

Setting the player to output PCM should fix the issue, as you have done. Also check for any firmware updates for your player.

Looking at the manual for your player, it features the DTS-HD Master Audio Essentials decoder, which means when you set the player to output PCM, it will down sample 192kHz DTS-HD MA tracks to 96kHz and output 5.1 as 7.1. There are very little Blu-ray's that feature DTS-HD MA with fs of 192kHz, but just to make you aware of the Essentials decoder. If you bitstream, then you will get the full 192kHz fs and 5.1 tracks will be output as is.

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

As the other posters have said, some BD players have issues with Atmos encoded tracks when bitstreaming.

Setting the player to output PCM should fix the issue, as you have done. Also check for any firmware updates for your player.

The problem is not...Atmos.

The problem is Lionsgate branching.

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by schan1269

The problem is not...Atmos.

The problem is Lionsgate branching.

Branching in what regard? In terms of the way the files are broken up on the BD?

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

Branching in what regard? In terms of the way the files are broken up on the BD?

Do I know the complete "technicalities behind it"?

No.

But it is the way Lionsgate preps the branching along with the DRM scheme(I read somewhere, they tied them together).

The audio dropouts are caused by a momentary lapse in the players playback. That makes the AVR "lose the codec*" and have to figure it out again.

Easiest way to explain it...

The same thing happens when trying to play CD in a DVD/BD player over an HDMI connection. Every time you hit a new track(branch in Lionsgate), you get a 1/3 to 1/2 second audio gap** waiting on the AVR to process* the signal.

Newer(as of 2014 models, sold new since Sept '13) models keep up with the branching scheme.

So, yes..this has been going on for two years now.

*if the player is set PCM...

1. Make sure your player can send 5.1/7.1 PCM.
2. You lose the Atmos data.
3. The branching problem disappears.

**The very same reason Spotify/Pandora/IHeart etc all now have "gapless playback". Roku and ATV over HDMI.

[DGilberts]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

As the other posters have said, some BD players have issues with Atmos encoded tracks when bitstreaming.

Setting the player to output PCM should fix the issue, as you have done. Also check for any firmware updates for your player.

Looking at the manual for your player, it features the DTS-HD Master Audio Essentials decoder, which means when you set the player to output PCM, it will down sample 192kHz DTS-HD MA tracks to 96kHz and output 5.1 as 7.1. There are very little Blu-ray's that feature DTS-HD MA with fs of 192kHz, but just to make you aware of the Essentials decoder. If you bitstream, then you will get the full 192kHz fs and 5.1 tracks will be output as is.

Wow thank you for this information. So with my set up play John Wick and Star Trek Into Darkness (IMAX version) using PCM output and all others play using Bitstream to ensure I'm listening to the full kHz?

Many thanks

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by DGilberts

Wow thank you for this information. So with my set up play John Wick and Star Trek Into Darkness (IMAX version) using PCM output and all others play using Bitstream to ensure I'm listening to the full kHz?

Many thanks

The only difference...

The cool lights won't turn on on the AVR display.

[DGilberts]

Originally Posted by schan1269

The only difference...

The cool lights won't turn on on the AVR display.

Are ok. Well i don't have any displays on anyway, hate the distractions.

DTS HD codes:
I just picking up a previous comment about the downsampling on my Blu-Ray player.
My player has the DTS-HD Master Audio Essentials decoder, while the receiver has the DTS-HD Master Audio decoder. Tech UK says the player will downsample to 96kHz. So if the receiver does it will it be the full 192kHz.

Dolby HD:
Is there any differences between the player and receivers downsampling of this code?

Funny thing is i think it sounds better when the player is unpacking th code and sending the sound via PCM.

Cheers guys, learning more every day on here.

[DGilberts]

Originally Posted by schan1269

Looking at the sig(via Tapatalk), what player do you have?

I've bought all new BD players just this year(all multi-region LG). None of them have issues with John Wick(nor any other Lionsgate).

My recently retired Sony 350(it quit playing center channel audio on, ironically, Sony titles) skips on everything Lionsgate that has branching.

This. Is. Not. A. New. Issue. With. Lionsgate.

I have a UD7007 by Marantz playing through a 1403 Marantz receiver. Changed the player output to PCM and i have no issues with this disc now, also the sound appears to have a more Dynamic range (that might just be my ears playing tricks though).

Thanks

[johnlink]

With a new Sony BDP-S1500 Blu-ray player I had audio dropouts about once every hour, whether I played a DVD or watched Netflix. When I noticed a dropout I rewatched the video where the dropout was and there has never been a dropout on the second pass. I bought another unit of the same model and again I'm hearing audio dropouts. I've gotten the audio dropouts using three different HDMI cables including a new cable. I've been wondering whether I've been observing a defect in the BDP-S1500 player, but after reading this thread I found an audio setting in the player that is described in the manual as follows:

[Digital Audio Output]
[Auto]: Normally select this. Outputs audio signals according to the status of the connected devices.
[PCM]: Outputs PCM signals from the DIGITAL OUT (COAXIAL)/HDMI OUT jack.

The setting had been on Auto but I've changed it to PCM. Based on what I've read in this thread I'm hoping that I will no longer experience audio dropouts. Does that seem likely?

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by johnlink

With a new Sony BDP-S1500 Blu-ray player I had audio dropouts about once every hour, whether I played a DVD or watched Netflix. When I noticed a dropout I rewatched the video where the dropout was and there has never been a dropout on the second pass. I bought another unit of the same model and again I'm hearing audio dropouts. I've gotten the audio dropouts using three different HDMI cables including a new cable. I've been wondering whether I've been observing a defect in the BDP-S1500 player, but after reading this thread I found an audio setting in the player that is described in the manual as follows:

[Digital Audio Output]
[Auto]: Normally select this. Outputs audio signals according to the status of the connected devices.
[PCM]: Outputs PCM signals from the DIGITAL OUT (COAXIAL)/HDMI OUT jack.

The setting had been on Auto but I've changed it to PCM. Based on what I've read in this thread I'm hoping that I will no longer experience audio dropouts. Does that seem likely?

Time wil tell, but you're probably OK. Auto settings may be creating issues with the receiver, but PCM is clean from the player to the receiver. Try different content (PCM discs, DTS and Dolby stuff, just everything) and check it out. Music CD's too.

[johnlink]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Time wil tell, but you're probably OK. Auto settings may be creating issues with the receiver, but PCM is clean from the player to the receiver. Try different content (PCM discs, DTS and Dolby stuff, just everything) and check it out. Music CD's too.

After changing the audio output setting to PCM, last night I streamed Netflix and again had audio dropouts. Today, with the audio setting on PCM, I will watch a DVD and observe whether I have dropouts.

[kingdoxie]

Same thing happened to me on John Wick. It happens right after he gets the dog and is backing his Mustang out of the garage the next morning; it's a slight skip or bump in the image. The next shot is of him at the gas station and the audio is out of sync.

I have an older Vizio player so I thought that was it, but the reasons above with Lionsgate Atmos branching make sense. Lionsgate has always been cheap and inconsistent in regards to lossless audio codecs: standard release of Red had lossy audio (special addition had lossless) when practically all other new releases had lossless, or how all Lionsgate movies in Red Box have lossy audio.

[johnlink]

Originally Posted by kingdoxie

Same thing happened to me on John Wick. It happens right after he gets the dog and is backing his Mustang out of the garage the next morning; it's a slight skip or bump in the image. The next shot is of him at the gas station and the audio is out of sync.

Did you rewind and replay the section where there was a glitch? If so, what happened?

[stevebzzzzz]

Help....

I have tried different DVD's from Different Sources on two different Blu-Ray players (One of them brand new), and the audio is out of sync, and skipping. Also, when I play the DVD's in my computer dvd player, they work fine.

So it's not the disks, and it's most likely not the players. What else could it be???

Thanks,

Steve

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by stevebzzzzz

Help....

I have tried different DVD's from Different Sources on two different Blu-Ray players (One of them brand new), and the audio is out of sync, and skipping. Also, when I play the DVD's in my computer dvd player, they work fine.

So it's not the disks, and it's most likely not the players. What else could it be???

Thanks,

Steve

hey steve, how about telling everyone the titles of these discs as well as the type of each disc (Blu-ray, dvd) this way folks will know what your talking about and may be able to relate and say "I've had that problem with that Blu-ray disc or DVD disc by title. also, they may have a fix for you or point you in the direction of others that have had that disc to determine if it's a known issue or not.