TiVo Tivo Sound Volume on HD Channels

Markjp · 09-01-2014, 22:32

Just had my V+ box swapped for a Tivo box today and I have noticed that there is a marked decrease in the sound volume on HD channels compared to SD channels.

Is this a common issue or is there a fault with my Tivo box?

Stephen · 09-01-2014, 23:26

Its not an issue as such. Its simply due to the sound on HD channels being in Dolby Digital 2.1 or 5.1. There is more dynamic range so it appears the volume is lower.

Thats the basics of it I think.

For me it used to be the same on the V+.

arcimedes · 10-01-2014, 09:18

The other issue I find is there can be enormous variation from programme to programme on the same channel. You expect it when Dolby digital 5.1 is being transmitted compared with just stereo but this occurs when the amplifier doesn't report a change of signal. I even notice a change from day to day.

Stephen · 10-01-2014, 09:42

My AV amp doesn't have that effect. Its pretty consistant between programmes on the same channel.

arcimedes · 10-01-2014, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

My AV amp doesn't have that effect. Its pretty consistant between programmes on the same channel.

Hm! I wonder if it depends on how you get the sound? I use an optical lead between the Tivo and the amp. Might be time for a new amp that uses HDMI?

steveh · 10-01-2014, 10:55

The V+ and Tivo will convert the MPEG Layer 2 audio of the SD channels to PCM for your amp unlike the Dolby Digital signal that they will pass through, and it's not unlikely the different decoders they use could result in different volume levels in the V+ and Tivo.

If your setup is defaulting to Dolby Pro Logic II when it has a stereo signal then the centre channel will come through at a higher volume than for a natively 5.1 mastered programme. It does seem to vary a little between decoders though how much the difference is.

TV programming was traditionally mastered to different volume standards than cinema and channels don't always match up different sources well. Back in the days when everything was mono or stereo some channels took the cheaper way out and used to rely on limiters to keep volumes consistent, but that kills the point of home cinema sound. Some of the music channels also used to process the audio like radio stations do for maximum loudness, don't know if they still do.

Markjp · 10-01-2014, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Its not an issue as such. Its simply due to the sound on HD channels being in Dolby Digital 2.1 or 5.1. There is more dynamic range so it appears the volume is lower.

Thats the basics of it I think.

For me it used to be the same on the V+.

Didn't have an issue with my V+ box.

Tivo is connected to TV via HDMI only.

It's going to be a pain to have to adjust the volume levels between HD & SD channels

OLD BOY · 10-01-2014, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markjp

Didn't have an issue with my V+ box.

Tivo is connected to TV via HDMI only.

It's going to be a pain to have to adjust the volume levels between HD & SD channels

You get used to it. It could be worse. It could be Monday.

scrooge · 10-01-2014, 16:18

I keep hoping they fix the intermittent loss of audio bug when resuming from pause or after fast forwarding. Pressing pause again and then play usually brings back the sound.

spiderplant · 11-01-2014, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markjp

Didn't have an issue with my V+ box.

Tivo is connected to TV via HDMI only.

It's going to be a pain to have to adjust the volume levels between HD & SD channels

Try changing the Dolby setting on the TiVo. Maybe you had the V+ set to convert to PCM?

Gemini43 · 17-01-2014, 11:47

We don't watch anything in HD, mainly because the sound is so low we struggle to hear some of the dialogue; especially with the loud background music 'They' insist on using on everything these days! Also, quite frankly, we can't see much improvement in the quality of the picture in HD either! Because we record most of the stuff we watch and HD recordings take up so much more space, we don't bother with the HD channels at all now.

paultrademark · 17-01-2014, 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Try changing the Dolby setting on the TiVo. Maybe you had the V+ set to convert to PCM?

Sorry to bring this up here, can someone explain in layman terms the difference in that setting on the TiVo.. I can't notice anything different?

Gemini43 · 17-01-2014, 12:43

Well said. Same here!

spiderplant · 17-01-2014, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by paultrademark

Sorry to bring this up here, can someone explain in layman terms the difference in that setting on the TiVo.. I can't notice anything different?

If you are tuned to a channel with Dolby audio (mainly the HD channels), either the TiVo can pass this through to the HDMI & optical outputs unchanged, or convert it to stereo (a.k.a. PCM). But you'll only be able to hear Dolby if your TV/amp/whatever supports it.

The audio on the SCART output is always stereo, because SCART can't support Dolby at all.

paultrademark · 17-01-2014, 23:14

Thanks SP, i have mine on Dolby Digital, my amp supports it.