HDMI connections

[RayintheUK]

Anyone know anything about HDMI connections between a DVD player and TV? My friend has recently bought an LG HD-ready flat panel and an LG HD DVD player. He has wired it up using composite connections and separate audio and all was well. He then bought a pro-quality HDMI lead and connected the DVD to the TV using just that lead. The picture is superb, but the sound is a real crock! It doesn't seem to matter what settings we use on the DVD player, the sound is crackling (like it's peaking), both on 48 and 96KHz, on Bitstream and PCM.

I guess it can only be one of three things - the DVD player HDMI socket is duff, or the lead, or the TV, but is there anything else we haven't thought of? The TV doesn't seem to have a PCM setting, but the DVD player is supposed to be matched to it. Changing the video resolution has no effect on the sound quality (no surprise there), other than to appear to change the range of crackle. It's very disappointing for him that, having bought the latest technology, it gives a brilliant picture but such poor sound.

He's now managing by running the picture via HDMI, muting the TV sound and running the sound through an amp, but the whole idea was to cut down the number of connections and peripherals needed. We'll take the DVD player back tomorrow (as it's the easiest option - the lead was special order due to the length), but any further suggestions/tests/thoughts most welcome.

TIA

Ray.

[BobSch]

I'd go back to the dealer for advise — with a threat to return the whole kit if they can't get it sorted .

[sacherjj]

PCM would be the most compatible (just pure digital audio without any weird encoding) so if the TV doesn't have a setting for audio, that is probably all it supports. Here is the most compatible setup I've been able to setup:

Audio(HDMI): PCM
Downmix: Normal
Digital Out: Off
Dolby Digital: D-PCM
DTS: Off
48/96: 48

Although it is strange that you would have much of a problem with the same brands. I would pressure the dealer a little. It seems really odd to have a clipping issue with digital audio. It would almost have to be the TV overdriving after decoding.

[meika123]

I just recently purchased a new Plasma TV, and a new HD Directv receiver. I was going to buy a new digital a/v receiver to use with my system. I hooked everything up with HDMI cables, WHEW!!-those things are expensive.
I have an older Pioneer Pro-logic receiver now, and the sound was so good, I decided to stay with what I had. Being true digital on sound and picture is really fantastic. Just recently bought the new King Kong DVD. Wow-what an experience.
Don't know what your problem would be, Ray. Mine is awesome.

Dave in NC

[poolhound]

Sounds like it may be a cable problem, possibly a loose connection. There should be nothing special that you need to do using HDMI. Just hook it up, make sure your DVD output is set to use HDMI and the TV recognises the input and thats it.

I have mine setup this way although I do also have an optical setup that goes through my home theater system. This is the best thing to do for any movies etc as I dont think you would get Dolby Digital through the TV.

Ray - I know you are in the UK but I have heard good things about this online vendor/manufacturer.
http://www.monoprice.com/
I know a few people who have bought their products and the quality is good and the price is way better than getting conned by those MONSTER guys!!!

Jon

[LCHIEN]

Ray, I think although HDMI is supposed to carry digital audio allegedly few TV receivers support the full decoders to support it.
That leavs the option of connecting the analog audio outputs of the DVD player to the analog audio inputs on the TV and settling for plain old sound (R & L) or if the DVD has audio decoders it will have 5, 6, or 7 outputs which the TV probably doesn't support.
He'll probably need a A/V receiver with digital audio inputs - one cable from the DVD, either electrical or optical, and the A/V receiver will decode the 5-7 channels and have speaker amplifers and then all you need is 7 or 8 speakers.

[Joe Lyddon]

Get a Multimeter, Ohm Meter, continuity tester, etc.

Get both ends of the cable in front of you, looking at you.

For each point of the cable connections, touch one wire of the Meter to one end and the other Meter wire to respective cable point of the other end.

You should see the Meter steadily deflect while the wires are solidly held in place.

If you have alligator clip jumpers, they're nice; alligator clip at each end of a piece of wire.

While holding the wires firmly together, wiggle the cable close to the connectors to see flucuations in contact... The meter should continue to be deflect steadily...

If the meter does NOT deflect at all, there is a break in the cable for That point/part of the cable.

If the meter jumps all over the place while you're wiggling the cable, there is a bad connection in the cable.

....

If the cable is Good, it must be one of the other pieces of the puzzle.
Test them out the best way you can... Audio to other Audio devices... Video, same way, if possible.

[mnphats]

Ray - I know you are in the UK but I have heard good things about this online vendor/manufacturer.
http://www.monoprice.com/
I know a few people who have bought their products and the quality is good and the price is way better than getting conned by those MONSTER guys!!!

Jon

Agreed. I returned my over priced Monster cable and bought from an ebay dealer for a fraction of the cost. I can't see a difference in quality between the two.

Jim

[jziegler]

Sounds like it may be a cable problem, possibly a loose connection. There should be nothing special that you need to do using HDMI. Just hook it up, make sure your DVD output is set to use HDMI and the TV recognises the input and thats it.

I have mine setup this way although I do also have an optical setup that goes through my home theater system. This is the best thing to do for any movies etc as I dont think you would get Dolby Digital through the TV.

Ray - I know you are in the UK but I have heard good things about this online vendor/manufacturer.
http://www.monoprice.com/
I know a few people who have bought their products and the quality is good and the price is way better than getting conned by those MONSTER guys!!!

Jon

I;m not familiar with this stuff, but I have a little Monster cable (all bought at a discount, I beleive) and it is a good quality, well made cable. Of course, I can tell no difference between it and the generic high quality cables that I ordered from a closeout/surplus electronics component supplier a few years ago. Monster is a lot of hype, but also does have quality, and in the regular mass market stores, tends to be about the only quality cable that they have in stock...

For the original question, unfortunately I can't really help. I've never gotten to use HDMI...

Jim

[RayintheUK]

We returned the DVD player and exchanged it - problem still exists. The cable will be changed next (I hope that will cure it). If not, it must be the TV itself. Even if the sound problems are cured by a new cable (and there is absolutely no doubt that the picture has improved using the HDMI lead), he will still be better off running the sound through his dedicated AV amplifier. But you know what it's like if something doesn't work like it should - you've just got to get it right!

Ray.

[Joe Lyddon]

I guess you didn't understand my post... (sorry)

The cable is probably bad... of all of the parts, that's the one that it will usually be bad.

Good Luck!

[LCHIEN]

Ray, does the TV have a digital audio decoder?
HDMI does not carry analog audio, only digital audio.
Many TV's do not have digital PCM audio decoders.
That's usually the province of AV receivers which have multichannel
amplifiers. Also the TV usually just support two speakers and not the
whole array.

you may just be picking up bleedover of the PCM signals.
I'm assuming that when you say you select the different audio modes
you are adjusting tem on the DVD player. Some players have complete Audio
decoders (They'll have 7 or so audio outputs on the back)
Yu'll have to run them (at least the R&L) to the TV audio in to use the TV's speakers.

[RayintheUK]

I guess you didn't understand my post... (sorry)

Not so, Joe - I understood perfectly and know how to do a cable continuity test, but the length and current routing of the cable made this less easy to do than swap the player, which is what we did. That's eliminated the player (unless the supplier's got a bad batch), so the cable will be replaced next. Due to its length, it's a special order - we'll just have to wait and see.

Ray, does the TV have a digital audio decoder?
HDMI does not carry analog audio, only digital audio.
Many TV's do not have digital PCM audio decoders.
That's usually the province of AV receivers which have multichannel
amplifiers. Also the TV usually just support two speakers and not the
whole array.

The TV is an LG model 50PX4D and has a single HDMI input socket. I cannot imagine that a manufacturer (especially one as large as LG) would fit such an input and then not equip the set to handle the signals received through it, can you? That said, nowhere in the audio setup menu on the TV is there any mention of PCM. I think I'll contact LG and see what response I get - the dealer is a box-shifter only, no technical department worth a rub.

The DVD player (LG DNX 190MH) has a fully array of outputs and a very comprehensive menu, including both Bitstream and PCM adjustments. The saga will roll along a little more, but will need to go on hold until I get back from my imminent vacation.

Thanks for all the input!

Ray.

[LCHIEN]

...
The TV is an LG model 50PX4D and has a single HDMI input socket. I cannot imagine that a manufacturer (especially one as large as LG) would fit such an input and then not equip the set to handle the signals received through it, can you? That said, nowhere in the audio setup menu on the TV is there any mention of PCM. I think I'll contact LG and see what response I get - the dealer is a box-shifter only, no technical department worth a rub.

...
Ray.

Sorry Ray, according to the specs on the internet
it only has stereo (analog) audio channels.
No digital decoder.

They fit the input to handle the Hi-def picture. High performance digital audio would add to the cost, although the connector of choice carries it.

At that price most people are looking for a Monitor rather than a complete TV receiver, so the inclusion of tuner and two-channel sound is merely window dressing.

Maybe they expected that those springing for an expensive video set would've popped for the A/V receiver.

[Joe Lyddon]

OK Ray,

That must be on LONG cable... are you sure it doesn't exceed length specifications?

Sounds like they didn't even design the Player to output high quality audio... the DVD player I recently got, has very poor audio... with those very small speakers!

Good Luck & thank you for keeping us posted.