HDMI Audio

[Girevik]

Hello everyone,

I'm brand new to blu-ray, and recently switched the TV I have my player hooked up to. I used an HDMI cable on the new TV (I was using component on the original), and it seems to me that the audio through the HDMI cable is very soft. I literally have to turn the TV all the way up and still have trouble hearing it. Is there any way to boost the audio at all?

[K_Williamson42]

What Kind of player do you have?? Have you changed the settings to output via HDMI?

[gonk]

Do you hear this with DVD's as well? Do CD's tend to work with the same volume setting as broadcast TV?

Both Blu-ray and DVD are recorded with lower audio levels than CD and VHS were. This is to allow for greater dynamics (going from a quiet passage to a sudden loud event) without the audio clipping. Broadcast TV, CD's, and VHS don't do this. The example I gave to a co-worker recently is that I tend to adjust the volume of my surround processor up by at least 10 or 12 dB when watching BD or DVD compared to when I'm watching TV because of this effect. If this is what you are hearing, it is not related to HDMI but is associated with the source material itself.

[Girevik]

Originally Posted by K_Williamson42

What Kind of player do you have?? Have you changed the settings to output via HDMI?

It's a Magnavox NB500MG1F (Walmart Back Friday special). I've not found a setting to switch it to HDMI, I think it auto detects it. None of the other cables are hooked up from the Blu-Ray, so I have to think it's recognizing it.

Originally Posted by gonk

Do you hear this with DVD's as well? Do CD's tend to work with the same volume setting as broadcast TV?

Both Blu-ray and DVD are recorded with lower audio levels than CD and VHS were. This is to allow for greater dynamics (going from a quiet passage to a sudden loud event) without the audio clipping. Broadcast TV, CD's, and VHS don't do this. The example I gave to a co-worker recently is that I tend to adjust the volume of my surround processor up by at least 10 or 12 dB when watching BD or DVD compared to when I'm watching TV because of this effect. If this is what you are hearing, it is not related to HDMI but is associated with the source material itself.

I don't recall having the issue with the DVD, but it's been a while since I've watched on in there. I can try it agin. I've never had a CD in it.

[My_Two_Cents]

Is the player set to bitstream or PCM? Switch it back and forth to see if that makes a difference.

[Zman2k2]

My first thought, is that you need to change the audio output to 2ch. Right now it's probably set up for 5.1 audio output through HDMI.

[Girevik]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Is the player set to bitstream or PCM? Switch it back and forth to see if that makes a difference.

Um, I have no idea what that means. I'll look around the menus to see if I can find a setting like that.

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

My first thought, is that you need to change the audio output to 2ch. Right now it's probably set up for 5.1 audio output through HDMI.

That I understand. I'll check that as well.

Thanks!

[Girevik]

For HDMI audio I have these settings available:

• "DB Audio Mode" with the options "Mix Audio Output" amd "HD Audio Output"
• "HDMI Audio Out" with the options "HDMI Multi(Normal)" and "HDMI Multi(LPMC)"
• "Down Sampling" on or off
• DRC (dynamic range control) on or off

I haven't had a chance to play around with the settings yet, but wanted to see if anyone here my know of the top of their head if any might make a difference.

[RBBrittain]

Here's the manual, if that helps any; audio discussion begins on PDF page 36 (numbered "34").

As I'm reading this thread, the player is connected directly to the TV; there's no mention of any home theater system. Thus, these would be your best options:

• BD Audio Mode: Mix Audio Output (default). Since you're listening thru your TV, there's no need to mess with TrueHD or DTS-HD MA, so there's no reason to disable secondary audio.
• HDMI Audio Out: HDMI Multi(LPCM). Your TV only has stereo speakers, so there's little reason to use anything other than LPCM; the setting says "Multi" but it'll have to mix down to 2.0.
• Down Sampling: On (default). Some soundtracks use a higher sampling rate than the standard 48 kHz, but your TV won't understand them without this being on.
• DRC: On. This reduces the dynamic range of Dolby (not DTS or LPCM) soundtracks, which should help address your volume concerns.

If you have a home theater with coax inputs (no HDMI or passthrough HDMI only), it's best to connect the player's coax output to the HT's coax input, then change HDMI Audio Out to "Audio Mute"; you'll then see a "Digital Out" setting which should be set to "Bitstream". DO NOT run your audio thru the TV; odds are you won't get surround sound from BDs, even over optical or coax.

If you get a home theater later on, get one with HDMI inputs and TrueHD & DTS-HD MA decoders. This player only outputs those formats as HDMI bitstreams; any other output is downshifted to "core" DD/DTS. If you have this kind of HT, run HDMI from player to HT for surround sound, then again from HT to TV for picture; then change BD Audio Mode to "HD Audio Output" and HDMI Audio Out to "HDMI Multi(Normal)" for HD bitstreaming.

[Zman2k2]

Originally Posted by Girevik

For HDMI audio I have these settings available:

• "DB Audio Mode" with the options "Mix Audio Output" amd "HD Audio Output"
• "HDMI Audio Out" with the options "HDMI Multi(Normal)" and "HDMI Multi(LPMC)"
• "Down Sampling" on or off
• DRC (dynamic range control) on or off

I haven't had a chance to play around with the settings yet, but wanted to see if anyone here my know of the top of their head if any might make a difference.

-DB Audio Mode. Mix will allow you to hear secondary audio, like a directors interview track during playback. HD audio output is just the main audio track. Your choice.
-HDMI Audio Out- Multi (Normal) and Multi (LPCM). That's what Ricshoe was talking about. One has the player do the decoding of the audio track, one lets the receiver/TV decode. Try each one, and see if there's an audible difference for you.
-Downsampling. I believe you have the player directly connected to your TV, correct? If so, I would turn downsampling on. This mixes the 5.1 audio down to 2-channel, so that your TV is able to play most of the audio. If you are connected to a receiver, turn this off.
-DRC is dynamic range control. If you're connected to a TV, I would turn this on as well. TV speakers aren't capable of the range of sound a receiver/speaker setup would be, so this will help as well. It evens out the sound so quiet passages and loud sounds are more even in their output.

Good luck.

[BIslander]

The HDMI Audio setting doesn't matter when connected to a TV. There's a note on p14 of the manual explaining that the HDMI handshake will produce a downmixed two channel output when the player is connected to a device like a TV. That happens regardless of the HDMI Audio setting.

Downsampling is not the same as downmixing, which is a reduction in the number of channels. Downsampling with this player means outputting tracks recorded at 96 kHz at 48 kHz and sholuld be used when the receiving equipment doesn't support the higher sampling rate. But, with HDMI, the handshake takes care of that.

DRC only affects Dolby tracks. With TVs, it's often a good idea to use DRC.

If I were you, I'd try a regular analog stereo connection to the TV to see if the output volume is better. I'd also compare volume with diferent types of discs - BD, DVD, and CD - to see if there's a difference.

[dvs1270]

these type of issues prompted me to start buying audio components. best decision i made last year. i literally re-watched ever movie i own. now i want more.

[Girevik]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

As I'm reading this thread, the player is connected directly to the TV; there's no mention of any home theater system. Thus, these would be your best options:

• BD Audio Mode: Mix Audio Output (default). Since you're listening thru your TV, there's no need to mess with TrueHD or DTS-HD MA, so there's no reason to disable secondary audio.
• HDMI Audio Out: HDMI Multi(LPCM). Your TV only has stereo speakers, so there's little reason to use anything other than LPCM; the setting says "Multi" but it'll have to mix down to 2.0.
• Down Sampling: On (default). Some soundtracks use a higher sampling rate than the standard 48 kHz, but your TV won't understand them without this being on.
• DRC: On. This reduces the dynamic range of Dolby (not DTS or LPCM) soundtracks, which should help address your volume concerns.

If you have a home theater with coax inputs (no HDMI or passthrough HDMI only), it's best to connect the player's coax output to the HT's coax input, then change HDMI Audio Out to "Audio Mute"; you'll then see a "Digital Out" setting which should be set to "Bitstream". DO NOT run your audio thru the TV; odds are you won't get surround sound from BDs, even over optical or coax.

If you get a home theater later on, get one with HDMI inputs and TrueHD & DTS-HD MA decoders. This player only outputs those formats as HDMI bitstreams; any other output is downshifted to "core" DD/DTS. If you have this kind of HT, run HDMI from player to HT for surround sound, then again from HT to TV for picture; then change BD Audio Mode to "HD Audio Output" and HDMI Audio Out to "HDMI Multi(Normal)" for HD bitstreaming.

Those settings seemed to help. Thanks!

This is just in my basement gym, so there's no receiver in my future there. I do have a reciever in my family room, but niether it nor my TV there has HDMI so I'll have to go with component and digital audio.