Low volume on TV when watching Blu-ray player (help)

[MazeRunner]

Recently got a LG 4k tv.

Hooked up my old Sony Blu-ray player (don’t judge me) to watch a movie and the sound Is VERY low.

I watched a movie on Hulu last night and the sound was great.

But watching a Blu-ray Disc on the Blu-ray player hooked up with HDMI, the sound is way too quiet. Almost sounds like they’re whispering the dialogue.

How can I fix this? Here’s the Blu-ray settings options:

- Digital audio output
- DSD output mode
- BD audio mix setting
- Dolby D compatible output
- Audio DRC
- Downmix


Any help is appreciated

[HDTV1080P]

If you are only using a two channel setup to a two speaker LG 4K TV, then change the digital audio output to 2 channel LPCM in the Blu-ray player menu. This will allow the Blu-ray player to send native 1 and 2 channel LPCM studio master audio over HDMI. 2 Channel LPCM will also allow the Blu-ray player to internally decode native 1 and 2 channel lossless audio to studio master LPCM, along with the ability to downmix 7.1 and 5.1 soundtracks to 2.0 LPCM over HDMI. Also BD audio mixing should be set to on for 2 channel LPCM in order to internally decode bonus pip secondary audio and Blu-ray disc menu sounds. If you are still having audio problems with the TV setup on LPCM, you could set the digital audio output to bitstream in case the LG TV has a lower volume for LPCM.

So two channel LPCM is your best setting if you do not own a A/V receiver. If you own a A/V receiver set the digital audio output to bitstream and the BD audio mix setting to off when bitstream is being used. Also you may have to turn up the volume on the TV when watching a Blu-ray, since the HDMI volume sources might be lower then the internal streaming apps. That would be a LG TV issue that a firmware update should be able to fix if LG is aware of the glitch (that is assuming the glitch exists, just mentioning hypothetical situations). Also hook up another HDMI source like a cable box, satellite receiver, videogame system, etc. Then test the audio over HDMI. If everything has low volume over HDMI, its a TV problem when using HDMI. If only the Blu-ray player has low volume over HDMI, then its a issue with the Blu-ray player menu settings when handshaking with the LG TV operating system.

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

If you are only using a two channel setup to a two speaker LG 4K TV, then change the digital audio output to 2 channel LPCM in the Blu-ray player menu. This will allow the Blu-ray player to send native 1 and 2 channel LPCM studio master audio over HDMI. 2 Channel LPCM will also allow the Blu-ray player to internally decode native 1 and 2 channel lossless audio to studio master LPCM, along with the ability to downmix 7.1 and 5.1 soundtracks to 2.0 LPCM over HDMI. Also BD audio mixing should be set to on for 2 channel LPCM in order to internally decode bonus pip secondary audio and Blu-ray disc menu sounds. If you are still having audio problems with the TV setup on LPCM, you could set the digital audio output to bitstream in case the LG TV has a lower volume for LPCM.

So two channel LPCM is your best setting if you do not own a A/V receiver. If you own a A/V receiver set the digital audio output to bitstream and the BD audio mix setting to off when bitstream is being used. Also you may have to turn up the volume on the TV when watching a Blu-ray, since the HDMI volume sources might be lower then the internal streaming apps. That would be a LG TV issue that a firmware update should be able to fix if LG is aware of the glitch (that is assuming the glitch exists, just mentioning hypothetical situations). Also hook up another HDMI source like a cable box, satellite receiver, videogame system, etc. Then test the audio over HDMI. If everything has low volume over HDMI, its a TV problem when using HDMI. If only the Blu-ray player has low volume over HDMI, then its a issue with the Blu-ray player menu settings when handshaking with the LG TV operating system.

Our roku is connected through hdmi and sounds great.

I changed it to PCM (no option for LPCM) and turned BD audio mixing on. The score and sound effects are all loud now, the dialogue has improved slightly but still sounds like it’s being played through a glass tunnel or something despite the score being loud as hell.

Maybe it’s time I finally get a 4k player

[HDTV1080P]

LPCM AND PCM are the same thing. Both 4K Blu-ray players and standard 1080P Blu-ray players have the exact same sound quality over HDMI. The only advantage of 4K Blu-ray players is that they offer better picture quality when playing native 4K Blu-ray discs. A 4K Blu-ray player will connect to any display with a HDMI input, but since you already own a 4K display, I recommend that you buy a 4K Blu-ray player to get a better picture quality.

However, you could end up having the same audio issues with any new Blu-ray player. I suggest you connect your LG TV and Sony Blu-ray player to the Internet to see if there is a firmware update that will fix the issue (get the latest firmware update for both devices). Also play around with the Blu-ray player audio settings more. While having 2 channel PCM set as the output in the Blu-ray player should be the best setting. Maybe your LG flat panel does not like PCM, DTS, etc. You could change the digital audio output to bitstream but if your LG TV does not accept DTS then you also need to turn on Dolby Digital compatible output on. With BD audio mix off when bitstreaming.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

Recently got a LG 4k tv.

Hooked up my old Sony Blu-ray player (don’t judge me) to watch a movie and the sound Is VERY low.

I watched a movie on Hulu last night and the sound was great.

But watching a Blu-ray Disc on the Blu-ray player hooked up with HDMI, the sound is way too quiet. Almost sounds like they’re whispering the dialogue.

Try another HDMI input. What level is your volume set to? Try resetting the audio options on your LG. If you're maxing out the volume to get results with the player but the Roku is, say, 75% lower then somethings wrong. 3-4 points is okay, but if there's a huge difference, that's an issue.

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by chip75

Try another HDMI input. What level is your volume set to? Try resetting the audio options on your LG. If you're maxing out the volume to get results with the player but the Roku is, say, 75% lower then somethings wrong. 3-4 points is okay, but if there's a huge difference, that's an issue.

I've had the blu-ray player hooked up to my smaller bedroom TV and never really thought about it, but I always had to turn that TV up to 40 just to hear it at a decent level, when anything on the Roku is fine to hear at 10-15.

Same with the new LGTV.. we use TV at 10-14 volume for the Roku which is plenty loud.. but when I connect the blu-ray player.. turning it up to 30's is still whisper quiet. I'm afraid to turn it any higher.

I've messed around with the sound settings and tried every option, different HDMI cords, still too quiet.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

I've had the blu-ray player hooked up to my smaller bedroom TV and never really thought about it, but I always had to turn that TV up to 40 just to hear it at a decent level, when anything on the Roku is fine to hear at 10-15.

Same with the new LGTV.. we use TV at 10-14 volume for the Roku which is plenty loud.. but when I connect the blu-ray player.. turning it up to 30's is still whisper quiet. I'm afraid to turn it any higher.

I've messed around with the sound settings and tried every option, different HDMI cords, still too quiet.

What model is the SONY player?

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by chip75

What model is the SONY player?

BDP-S3700

Firmware is updated

[chip75]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

BDP-S3700

Firmware is updated

BD Audio Mix Setting is set to On/Off?

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by chip75

BD Audio Mix Setting is set to On/Off?

I’ve tested out both and still the same result

[chip75]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

I’ve tested out both and still the same result

How do Apps play through your player?

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by chip75

How do Apps play through your player?

Just tried Tubi on my old player and the app itself is a 2-3 seconds slower but the movies play fine and with normal loud volume.

Blu-ray’s still quiet and TV needs to be turned up to 40-50. Tubi app on the player sounds good at 18-22 Tv volume level

[chip75]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

Here’s the Blu-ray settings options:

- Digital audio output
- DSD output mode
- BD audio mix setting
- Dolby D compatible output
- Audio DRC
- Downmix

How are settings for above? from what I can see it seems to be a common issue.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by chip75

How are settings for above? from what I can see it seems to be a common issue.

I checked my SONY player and everything is Off apart from Digital Audio Output (Auto) and Downmix, which I've set to Surround.

I don't have any issues with volume. I will try and check my older SONY player later.

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by chip75

I checked my SONY player and everything is Off apart from Digital Audio Output (Auto) and Downmix, which I've set to Surround.

I don't have any issues with volume. I will try and check my older SONY player later.

Tried those settings and still quiet. At this point I’m going to blame it on the player. It’s almost 7 years old and was pretty cheap to begin with.