Big Audio Problem 9241

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MIke D,

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I have 9241 receiver hooked up to a high end home theatre system. I am getting a really bad audio signal from the bell box. I have tried both, the HDMI and tos-link and still the same out come.The audio is severely fading in and out. This is happening on all the channels and has in general a really low out put compared to all the other sources on the home theatre receiver. I didn't see any other posts that sound quite like my problem but I missed one out there I apologize for missing it.
 
I'm not sure what SD channels do it, but I think all HD channels are ok. The easiest place to hear it is to go to galaxie music though.

I'm hooked up to my receiver with an optical audio cable, but use HDMI direct to my TV (receiver doesn't have HDMI).
 
Yeah HD channel seems ok, well I'm almost using only one (RDS, the french version of TSN) and yesterday I have watch the Montreal Canadiens game and it didn't do it.
But my girlfriend tody was watching some show on 2-3 SD channel and I have ask her to know if it was still doing it and she said yes.
 
What is with ExpressVu and sound levels lately? Allow me to explain;

Volume levels started fluctuating, seems to be randomly, about two weeks ago. I have a 1/2 mute feature on my TV and sometimes when 1/2 muted the volume level is as loud as it is when not muted at all! It seems like it's happening in the vocal frequency range. For example, I was watching an IMAX original on HDNet at a low'ish volume. During narration the volume of the narrators voice would noticeably increase where the music and background noise seemed to stay about the same. This is happening on both HD and SD channels. The TV is connected directly to the box (9241 PVR) via HDMI. I've reset just about everything I can think of, and I have not changed any settings. It's driving me crazy :mad: and I absolutely dread trying to explain this to some nutter at Bell...

My TV is a Toshiba 46XV645. It has a 'dialog enhancement' feature but it is switched off.

This seems like some kind of auto-leveling algorithm gone awry; perhaps a lame attempt by Bell to 'enhance' dialog?

Are any of you experiencing this phenomenon? Anyone know of a fix?

Thank you.
 
Discovery (SD) & History (SD) are the worst for me.
Straight HDMI from the 9241 to a Sharp 52"

As far as I can see, right now Bell owes me 4 AAA batteries for my remote.
If this keeps up, they owe me a new remote after the contacts wear out on the volume control.

Davester.
 
I have a similar problem on Shaw. For example, I'm currently watching Band Of Brothers on HBO HD Canada. Every time someone is speaking, the volume of background sounds goes down. Perhaps this is supposed to make dialogue easier to understand, but it makes it actually harder for me.

DCT6412III connected via digital optical to Marantz SR6003.
 
I have volume variations in programming across all channels during television programming.
57 (moderator) has suggested it may be "IR Spray" but I read the thread he referred us to and I still don't understand.
I am using a Panasonic Plasma display and the satellite box is above and slightly behind the display.
The variability happens even when all Remote Controls are pointed 180degrees away from the satellite box.
Has anyone absolutely conquered this situation?
All the best.
rural orphan
 
Very true, it's especially frustrating in this case because we are paying good money to rent an item that isn't working properly. If I bought a TV that did this, I would be returning it right away. No doubt bugs are there with all technology, but there is also things like quality control on these things. With bell too, i'm paying to rent this thing in order to use their services that I'm also paying for, and without a properly working receiver I can't even use the services I'm paying for from them. All their technology (I know they don't make them, but they pick what I can use) are the items they require me to use, and sign a contract up front, so whether its good or not I'm stuck paying for it, Unless someone knows how to get out of a rental contract becuase the item isn't working as represented...
 
Same problem here.....very annoying. I notice it through the tv speakers and through the sourround sound with the tv off. It is definitey from the reciever.
 
To clarify --

The overall volume is not increasing, i.e. the volume display does not appear on screen as the phenomenon occurs.
 
reidw -- fair enough, but this isn't new technology. I understand features and the need to introduce them to stay ahead of obsolesence, but volume is volume. From what I can tell there was no new audio related 'feature' introduced with this last firmware update (please correct me if I'm wrong), yet something broke.
 
Yes, this appears to be a different issue from the IR spray and why I didn't merge threads (yet). One must read carefully. Based on post 2, it might even be a problem at the source - broadcaster, not service provider?
 
YES! This the exact problem I've been complaining about for some time to our cable company who blows it off like I don't know how to use a television correctly.

And yes it's incredibly ANNOYING!

It seems as if somewhere in the broadcast chain they are applying a volume maximizer effect. Any time there is a low volume, within about 1 second, the maximizer cranks the volume up to max level to compensate. It's like an auto leveller that needs to always be playing back sound at a maximum level.

It's not as evident in programs with a constant drone or soundtrack because there aren't low volume sections to get boosted.

But it's highly evident in dramas where there are gaps in the dialog or background music.
The only quiet backgrond sounds (footsteps, swishing pants, wind, blankets rustling) get rapidly cranked up to super high volume. As soon as some louder sound in the program breaks the 'silence', the volume just pushed down again. It's like having an A.D.D. version of Dennis the Menace going nuts on your volume control.

I've fiddled with the variable/fixed audio output and the dynamic compression settings to no avail.

Our cable provider doesn't have anyone who can fix or understand this problem. But then I realized they just subscribe to Bell for many of their channels and decided to come here and read this form. Like I say, our cable company just subscribes to Bell Expressvu for most of their channels, they they lower the picture quality and rebroadcast everything onto the channel map. Sometimes when the head end operators have fallen asleep we see hours of Bell subscription error screens instead of actual programming. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

So please, please let's hope Bell can solve this and our cable company can get around to updating their Bell receivers with the fix.
 
Was with Bell years ago on 9200 and never had this issue. Was with Rogers most recently and switched to Bell in last week with Bell 9241.

Happens frequently on both SD (CP24 ch 503 for example) and HD channels. Randomly sound goes up and down on it's own. More frequently during commercials but happens throughout program.

SETUP
Bell 9241 connected to Sony A/V receiver via component cables and optical audio cable.

Very annoying. Drives my wife mad as it is very noticeable since switching from Rogers.

I just can't win hahaha
 
It's happening to me on galaxie radio, as well as it seems often on SD channels. There was another post around, that we aren't alone for sure. Does anyone have this problems with a non 9241??
 
I wonder if Bell might have dome something to the dynamic-range-control feature of Dolby Digital in the latest firmware releases? That feature is enabled (at least on the 9242) on the page reached by Menu -> System Setup (6) -> Dolby Digital (7). It's the RF Mode setting. Those of you who are experiencing the volume fluctuations: what are your settings on that page?
 
I have the same sort of problem, only opposite results. My 3100 and 4100 SD receivers are really really quiet on most channels. (ie. movie networks, some 500's and 600's) But on other channels, ie. tsn, cp24, global, it has perfect, non-fluctuating sounds.

Someone said this has gone on for years?

Any idea if this supposed fix will attempt to fix this sort of problem?

I wonder if anyone else has this same problem.

Running 4100 SD onto 52" LG LCD with optical and 3100 SD onto 28" Panasonic rear projection on coaxials.
 
I'm just getting off the phone with bell support. Took 45 minutes of him going to level 2 and then to level 3. Long story and much arguing later, the tech came back after level three and apologized becuase this is a known issue (after telling me it wasn't) and they are working hard at a resolution, and plan to release an update this weekend (hopefully) that should address these problems (both freezing and audio problems). Should be out by next week. He's putting my a note on my account about how long this has gone on for etc etc etc. He wouldn't issue a credit (I saw someone else got 40 dollars from calling executive). He told me to call back once this new software is updated, and hopefully the problems are fixed, and I should have no problem getting a credit (easy to say, and not give the credit I guess).

So bottom line, if the tech doesn't know about the problem, get him to call or transfer you to level three, they seem to be the only ones that know it. At least on my account when I call again it's very clear that it's a software issue on their end. I think they owe rental fees back from when I got this thing in november... We'll see..
 
I don't know if the 9241 has that dynamic range thing. Just dolby vs pcm settings, then line or RF modes. I've tried a few settings there and it's no better.
 
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