Sony 301 - digital optical audio goes on and off for Bluray discs only

[jfrankowski]

Just bought the Sony 301
Problem using dobly digital optical jack -
Plays regular dvd's ok in 5.1 and dts so the connection and settings are good.
But while playing a Bluray disc, the sound goes on and off about every 3 seconds.
I called and emailed Sony but they just throw darts saying the problem is in my applifier.
Can anyone help me???
email me at jjfrankowski@comcast.net

My setup is:
B&K Reference 20 A/V System Controller
B&K AV5000 series II 5 channel amplifier
Martin Logan electrostatic speakers (5)
Velodyne 18" sub-woofer (2,000 watts)
70" Sony Grand Vega XBR LCD projection HD TV

[jermwhl]

You are trying to push too much audio through your optical cable. If you want the full capabilities of BD sound, you will need an HDMI connection.

Either that, or switch to DD/DTS regular instead of PCM or the HD audio tracks.

[clyon]

Originally Posted by jermwhl

You are trying to push too much audio through your optical cable. If you want the full capabilities of BD sound, you will need an HDMI connection.

Either that, or switch to DD/DTS regular instead of PCM or the HD audio tracks.

Uh, I use the toslink & NEVER had that problem, I just don't get 5.1 PCM. Someday I will hook that up.

[jfrankowski]

Originally Posted by clyon

Uh, I use the toslink & NEVER had that problem, I just don't get 5.1 PCM. Someday I will hook that up.

what is toslink

[clyon]

Originally Posted by jfrankowski

what is toslink

That is what "digital optical jacks" are called.




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK

[jfrankowski]

Originally Posted by clyon

That is what "digital optical jacks" are called.




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK

That's what I'm using - even tried 2

[Living Near Shamu]

Originally Posted by clyon

That is what "digital optical jacks" are called.




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK

Hey, mine doesn't have that gold thing. Instead, it has a plastic cover there.

[jermwhl]

Originally Posted by clyon

Uh, I use the toslink & NEVER had that problem, I just don't get 5.1 PCM. Someday I will hook that up.

My old Sony reciever was like that when I tried playing certain BD's. I had to switch it from PCM to DD5.1 and it worked fine. I had just assumed it was becuase there was too much bandwidth, the toslink couldn't handle it.
Once I upgraded to my Onkyo, I haven't had a spit or sputter from the HDMI's.

Specifically, 300 comes to mind. The audio would cut in and out. If I switched it from PCM over to regular DD/DTS (can't remember which it had) it worked fine.

[jfrankowski]

Originally Posted by jermwhl

My old Sony reciever was like that when I tried playing certain BD's. I had to switch it from PCM to DD5.1 and it worked fine. I had just assumed it was becuase there was too much bandwidth, the toslink couldn't handle it.
Once I upgraded to my Onkyo, I haven't had a spit or sputter from the HDMI's.

Specifically, 300 comes to mind. The audio would cut in and out. If I switched it from PCM over to regular DD/DTS (can't remember which it had) it worked fine.

Just talked to B&K Components Ltd., the manufacturer of my audio gear, and they said they started noticing this audio problem when the lastest batch of Bluray players came out - the Sony BDP S301 included. B&K said the issue is with the Blu ray players but B&K is actively trying to find a solution, so as not to loose their customers - B&K is high end expensive stuff.
I loaded the 2 firmware upgrades from Sony, 3.30 and 3.70, and they seemed to help a little.
Sony must know they have a problem, otherwise they wouldn't be putting out these upgrades, 2 in one month.
If any of y'all have any pull with Sony, can you yank their chain about this.
Besides, how many customers even understand what 'firmware updates' are.
I'm sure most would take the player back to the store.......
Thanks - Joe

[cawgijoe]

My old Denon AVR-3300 works fine via Toslink and the PS3 set to Bitstream. No sound issues. I have a 5.1 system.

That being said, I would follow other's advice here and set the PS3 to output in Bitstream first......if that doesn't work, set the PS3 to only do regular Dolby 5.1.

[JeffGott]

Originally Posted by jfrankowski

Just talked to B&K Components Ltd., the manufacturer of my audio gear, and they said they started noticing this audio problem when the lastest batch of Bluray players came out - the Sony BDP S301 included. B&K said the issue is with the Blu ray players but B&K is actively trying to find a solution, so as not to loose their customers - B&K is high end expensive stuff.
I loaded the 2 firmware upgrades from Sony, 3.30 and 3.70, and they seemed to help a little.
Sony must know they have a problem, otherwise they wouldn't be putting out these upgrades, 2 in one month.
If any of y'all have any pull with Sony, can you yank their chain about this.
Besides, how many customers even understand what 'firmware updates' are.
I'm sure most would take the player back to the store.......
Thanks - Joe

I would tend to agree this is an issue with the player. I have a Sony BDP-S300 connected to a Sony STRDA4300ES receiver via Monster 1000 cables. I had audio dropouts and small video blips periodically while watching bluray moveis. I just upgraded to 3.70 and the problem is worse. Now the video goes to "snow" for a couple seconds and then everything returns.

If I connect via component cables, I don't see a problem. I am going to experiment more this weekend using different receiver inputs, cables, etc.

Any other suggestions would be welcome.

[jfrankowski]

Originally Posted by jermwhl

You are trying to push too much audio through your optical cable. If you want the full capabilities of BD sound, you will need an HDMI connection.

Either that, or switch to DD/DTS regular instead of PCM or the HD audio tracks.

Well, how come the regular dvd's play fine - does Bluray have that much more audio content?
Swtich to DD/DTS regular - that's how I have it set up...

[jfrankowski]

Originally Posted by jermwhl

You are trying to push too much audio through your optical cable. If you want the full capabilities of BD sound, you will need an HDMI connection.

Either that, or switch to DD/DTS regular instead of PCM or the HD audio tracks.

Thanks for the great fast replies. I didn't realize so much help is out there.
But I still have the problem....
Maybe some day I can be of assistance, but this one is really got me stumpted - I need to fix it to enjoy Bluray.
I have a vast background in audio, video and software (UNIX and DOS) since 1979.

[blujacket]

It may very well be your B&K. Some receivers are having trouble with the higher Dolby 640 & DTS 1.5 bitrates. You may have to call B & K and ask them.

[jfrankowski]

Sounds resonable - the B&K is about 11 years old.

[clyon]

Check your speaker wires, they could be shorting (touching). When you installed your new player you probably pulled/moved one of the speaker wires & now one is touching, look closely, it just takes one little frayed wire.

[musicman1999]

Originally Posted by jfrankowski

Just bought the Sony 301
Problem using dobly digital optical jack -
Plays regular dvd's ok in 5.1 and dts so the connection and settings are good.
But while playing a Bluray disc, the sound goes on and off about every 3 seconds.
I called and emailed Sony but they just throw darts saying the problem is in my applifier.
Can anyone help me???
email me at jjfrankowski@comcast.net

My setup is:
B&K Reference 20 A/V System Controller
B&K AV5000 series II 5 channel amplifier
Martin Logan electrostatic speakers (5)
Velodyne 18" sub-woofer (2,000 watts)
70" Sony Grand Vega XBR LCD projection HD TV

Does the problem occur when using DTS or DD or both?Some pre-pro's or receivers have an issue with DTS with a high sampling rate and it causes cut offs like that.


bill

[jfrankowski]

DD and DTS - I'll check with the maker

[bootman]

Is digital out on the 301 set to bitstream or PCM?

If PCM, try it on bitstream (or vice versa)
I think your B&K will like bitstream better since PCM will be downconverted to two channels only.