A Mystery - Lip Sync Problem

[Janice805]

Last week I purchased a Toshiba 50" Plasma TV from Costco, along with a new HR10-250 receiver. And, signed up for Direct TV's HIDEF package. I've been enjoying a most spectacular picture, etc. with the HIDEF programming.

But, have been noticing (more and more) a LIP SYNC problem (only with the HIDEF channels). It's intermittent and hugely annoying after spending $$$$'s on all of this.

Had an audio-video guy out this morning (for another reason) but he seemed knowledgeable and said that's typical of an HDMI connection. So, he hooked up an additional COMPONENT VIDEO (red/green/blue) connection for me and said I should not have a lip sync problem with that connection.

After he left, I checked it out and guess what. Lip Sync still off. I guess I can assume that it wasn't the HDMI connection. Then I called Direct TV. AFter over a hour on the phone and two RESETS I still have the same problem. Then they tried to tell me it was the broadcasters. That doesn't make sense since THEY didn't have the same problem viewing the same channel as I did.

What's left? Anyone have any suggestions or are experiencing this problem with the HIDEF channels? Thanks in advance for any help.

P.S. Direct TV said I might have to do a CLEAR and DELETE (but to call them back). I didn't want to do that now because I have so much stuff recorded. Help ...

[phox_mulder]

This has been a problem ever since DirecTV started doing HD.
I've seen it on all the HD channels via satellite at one time or another,
but other times everything is synced perfectly.

Folks over at the AVS forums, www.avsforum.com , have been complaining about it for at least a year,
both straight HD recievers and DVR's, so it's not a DVR problem.
They've also noticed on DishNetwork's HD channels as well.

Sometime just changing the channel then changing back will sync things up.
Sometimes rebooting the receiver will sync them.

Once solution is to use an audio delay.
Many 5.1 surround decoders/receivers have a built in changeable delay.
Or there are audio delay devices, but they are in the $200-$300 range.

If you are just listening through the speakers on the TV,
there's not much you can do.


phox

[tvl76]

dido phox. I just switch to another channel and back. Most cases this will work, Other times I just put up with it.

[rminsk]

Try hitting the 8-second rewind button once. That sometimes works for me.

[Janice805]

Thanks all. What a pain in the ... oops. Now you'd think Toshiba or Direct TV would know that ... :)

What's the 8 second whatever button?

[HDTVsportsfan]

dido phox. I just switch to another channel and back. Most cases this will work, Other times I just put up with it.

This seems to be the consistant solution for me as well. Or just grin and bare it.

[rminsk]

What's the 8 second whatever button?The button with the circular arrow pointing counter-clockwise.

[tbeckner]

It might help if you quit watching the late night dubbed Asian movies. ;)

All kidding aside!

I would be upset if I just spent several thousand dollars to watch HDTV and some or all of the content appeared to be from a poorly dubbed Asian movie.

In 1975, I took back my first VCR a Sony Betamax, because they kept promising that it would record two hours of content on a single tape (at that time it would only record an hour on a single tape), and after three months of use the company took it back without question and gave me a full refund. If I spent several thousand dollars on a HD DVR and Television and extra money on HD content and it played all content like a badly dubbed Asian movie, I wouldn’t hesitate to return the equipment after exhausting all attempts to resolve the problem. This couldn’t be a widespread problem with HD equipment and content, or nobody would be paying for and watching HD content. In fact, I would advise that you dig deeper into this problem.

If this is ends up being a problem that cannot be resolved, then this is just another reason why I am waiting until at least 2009 (less than three years away) or after before I jump on the HDTV bandwagon. Hopefully by then all of the weird technical and content problems will have been solved, and the equipment should only cost half as much.

[tvl76]

For me the lip-sync situation is not a big deal. Considering the exceptionally clear picture I get. "Lip sync" occurs about 1% of the time. The other 99% of my HD viewing is well worth the price. I was sorry I held out for HD as long I did.

[JimSpence]

Once the networks etc know what they are doing this problem should go away. :)

[tbeckner]

Once the networks etc know what they are doing this problem should go away. :)Jim,

I agree, but how many years have they been broadcasting HD now? More than seven.

Wouldn't you think that they, their content suppliers (DirecTV/Dish/Cable/Telcos), and equipment manufacturers would have figured this out many years ago, or is this just an isolated abnormality, that is specific to a small number of and/or combination of equipment, content suppliers, and broadcasters?

It is hard for me to believe that HD broadcasts could have this problem after more than seven years of availability, at least in large numbers and that people would pay large sums of money for the equipment and content and put up with the problem.

And it is hard for me to believe that it is widespread problem across OTA, cable, and satellite content suppliers, major broadcasters, and equipment suppliers.

Do you or anyone you know have any details and/or statistics on the extent of the problem?

Unless somebody has different information, I am going to assume that it is just an isolated situation.

:)

[JimSpence]

When I first got HD I noticed it quite often. But now it does seem to be isolated. Obviously when everything goes HD (whenever that is) this won't be put up with.

I seem to remember back when color TV first came out, that each station had its own color saturation/hue levels. It was a pain to have to adjust your set for each station. But then there was only three. :D

[Steveknj]

FWIW, I get lip sync issues on my NON-HD D* Tivo. Again, it's not that often, but it happens once in awhile. Usually I just put up with it. I just attributed it to perhaps a small connectivty issue between the optical port of my audio receiver and the satellite box.