volume problem on my new tv

Posted by: Wiltshireman on 28 October 2012

Hi folks. I have been using a basic Sony blue ray player for about three years with a 32" Philips lcd tv with no issues at all, I only have a low need for any tv quality I have been more than happy with my lot as Music is of far more importance to me and have no need for any AV experience. I recently built a new living room so I the found I needed a larger tv so I bought a 42" Philips and found on normal tv viewing using a Humax HD Free-sat reciever the improvement over lcd with led etc that I have a really excellent picture and a more than adequate volume BUT today I decided to play a blue ray disc and have found the volume very poor infact it makes for a difficult watch not being able to really hear anything at anything but a low level of volume. There is nothing distorted but just less than loud.

 

One peculiar thing is that ordinary dvd's are louder by 50% on the volume control. I have checked everything and all connections are perfect and the set up of the tv should be as they should be. I have not been able to contact a help line but thought someone here might know the answer failing that I will make a phone call on Monday morning. Thanks 

Posted on: 29 October 2012 by Richard Dane

You should check the mixdown settings on your Blu-ray player.  It may be that these need changing, or else set to a 2 channel PCM default.  It's common for multi-channel soundtracks on discs to seem much quieter when forced into mixdown.  Better if there's a dedicated 2 channel track.

Posted on: 29 October 2012 by tonym

That's a strange one. I presume you're using the HDMI connection to the TV for sound? Check the BluRay player's set for stereo sound output - it might be that this TV reacts differently to the input of multichannel audio than your previous set.

Posted on: 29 October 2012 by pjl2
Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

  It's common for multi-channel soundtracks on discs to seem much quieter when forced into mixdown. 

Glad someone else has noticed, I was beginning to think it was just me! Not only quieter but "phasey" and unfocussed too IMO. Turning up the volume doesn't seem to help all that much - everything seems strangely vague, like enlarging an out-of-focus photograph.

 

Peter

Posted on: 30 October 2012 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by pjl2:
Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

  It's common for multi-channel soundtracks on discs to seem much quieter when forced into mixdown. 

Glad someone else has noticed, I was beginning to think it was just me! Not only quieter but "phasey" and unfocussed too IMO. Turning up the volume doesn't seem to help all that much - everything seems strangely vague, like enlarging an out-of-focus photograph.

 

Peter

Yep, and the centre channel seems recessed, resulting in hard to hear voices. Blu-ray is much better here in my experience as it will have a proper stereo mix.