HD-A1 Audio Distortion...Please Help
 

Hi all,

I just finished watching F&F:Tokyo Drift (my 2nd HD-DVD) and was disturbed to hear several instances of audio distortion throughout the movie. The problem sounds like a sampling issue (clipping), but I can't find any controls that allow me to change the options. The only time I hear this issue is in dialog during relatively quiet scenes (Center channel only as far as I can tell). The problem also seems to come and go, but is definately encoded on the disc as it is repeatable when I go back and watch the scene again.

Here's my setup. HD-A1 connected via SPDIF (Toslink) to a Sony STR-DE925 receiver. The receiver identifies the DD+ as a DTS 3/2 input. If I had the ability to connect via the 5.1 analog connections, I'd have made an A/B comparrison, but unfortunately, my receiver doesn't support that input. Alos of interest, the problem goes away when I switch the A1's digital output to PCM instead of bitstream.

I also notice the problem with my other disc, U-571, but not during the movie. The problem was only apparent, very very apparent, during the documentaries included on the disc.

Has anyone heard of this type of problem, and if so, how did you folks resolve the problem?

Any ideas? Anybody?

It's weird. It almost seems more likely that there's something wrong with the DTS encoder in the A1. Because if your receiver has worked fine with DTS before, it shouldn't be any different coming from the A1. How do DTS DVDs sound? Either through the A1 or another DVD player.

Spiky,

I just tried the DTS track from my Xmen 3 DVD tonight and heard none of the problems I was hearing with the DD+ tracks from my HD-DVDs. Something's definately different. Any chance it could be that the HD DVDs are putting out a higher bit rate DTS stream? What else could be different?

I think the A1 makes a 1.5Mb stream, which is double what DVDs are encoded with. So it could be your receiver can't handle "full" DTS. But you'd have to double check that, I'm not positive what the A1 does, exactly.

I've had similar problems since I got my unit in April. DTS dvds are fine through the A1, but HD DVD using a digital connection causes major distortion. It does work if I turn the receiver off and on again, but if I change a chapter, it goes back to distortion. But I won't be worrying once I get one of those nifty Onkyo receivers. I'm using the analog now, but I'm not an audiophile and would be fine using 1 cable for sound.

This was exactly the problem with my JVC receiver. It couldn't handle the full bitrate DTS. Today, I received the Denon AVR587 receiver and tested it with the A1 using the optical cable and it most certainly handles the signal. I'm glad there's nothing wrong with my A1. This is one of Denon's base models, but it has enough bells and whistles to suit me. 7.1 with EX and DTS-ES decoders, something I've yet to have.

I can tell a difference in sound. The Denon's sound is much fuller than the old JVC I was using. I haven't even done test tones yet or really messed with it, I just hooked up the speakers, connected optical, and put in Batman Begins on HD DVD just to sample everything.

I'm far from an audiophile, so full DTS sound is more than enough for my ears, although I will try out the analogs on this and see if I can hear a difference between the DD+ and TrueHD tracks, something I couldn't do with the JVC.

I'm going to mess around with the receiver this weekend and see if I can get full use out of it with all the settings, but there's more buttons and options than I'm used to.

Hope there are some Denon owners out there in case I have any questions.-biggrin-

I'll answer one before you bother asking:
Yes, the remote is stupid. ;)

That's one I can cross off. :)

Combine this with the A1 remote, and I have a lethal combo.