TiVo HD Dolby Digital vs. PCM

[areichman]

I'm trying to use my TiVo HD via HDMI with my Harman Kardon AVR 247 receiver (i.e. the TiVo is connected to the receiver via HDMI and then the receiver outputs to the TV via HDMI).

With the TiVo set to output audio as "Dolby Digital", my receiver only gets audio for my HD channels. When I attempt to change to a standard def channel, I don't get any audio unless I change the TiVo to the "DD to PCM" option.

I was assuming that if the SD channels weren't broadcasting in Dolby Digital, the receiver would simply switch over to a mode suited for PCM. But it appears that the receiver still thinks the TiVo is still sending Dolby Digital audio when it doesn't exist.

What am I missing? Is the solution to always use the TiVo in PCM mode unless I know I have a Dolby Digital signal?

[ilh]

If you change audio sources on your receiver and then back to the TiVo, does the audio start working for non-DD? If so, it sounds like your receiver is getting confused and not trying to reacquire audio.

[areichman]

No, I can't get the receiver to play the audio from my SD channels on any mode. I've cycled through all of the Stereo, Dolby PL, DTS, etc. modes and nothing. I've cycled source inputs. I've even turned the receiver off and then back on.

The Left and Right front speaker icons on the front of the AVR just flash as if there is no signal coming from the TiVo. The only way I can get sound for these SD channels is for the TiVo to output in PCM mode.

But again, the channels actually broadcasting a DD track are fine.

[brettatk]

I saw this post (#46) on another forum:

http://www.highdefforum.com/showthread.php?p=590072

Looks like he had the same problem as you and for him it turned out to be a bad receiver.


Also check out the following forum:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=868358

You will probably find some good info there as well or atleast you can ask other people who have used the same receiver what might be the problem.

[areichman]

I just spoke with a TiVo rep about this and he claimed this was normal behavior. According to the rep, in order to watch a channel with a non-DD audio track, you have to go into the settings and tell the Tivo to convert to PCM. He said the Tivo will not switch automatically. So my receiver is correctly switching to a PCM mode, there just isn't any audio being by the Tivo.

This doesn't seem right to me, seeing as the Tivo can obviously switch between DD and PCM when I toggle between a DD channel and the main Tivo menu. I can't see myself going into the Tivo menu every time I switch channels just to turn DD on or off.

[Rdian06]

I just spoke with a TiVo rep about this and he claimed this was normal behavior. According to the rep, in order to watch a channel with a non-DD audio track, you have to go into the settings and tell the Tivo to convert to PCM. He said the Tivo will not switch automatically. So my receiver is correctly switching to a PCM mode, there just isn't any audio being by the Tivo.

This doesn't seem right to me, seeing as the Tivo can obviously switch between DD and PCM when I toggle between a DD channel and the main Tivo menu. I can't see myself going into the Tivo menu every time I switch channels just to turn DD on or off.

I have a Tivo Series 3 and a HK AVR 347. I leave the Audio Setting at Dolby Digital so that my receiver can decode the signal. I get audio just fine on SD and HD channels. Every once in a while when I switch channels, the HK gets confused about the resolution and doesn't reacquire. I then switch sources to my other HDMI and then switch back and it reacquires.

There is a firmware update for the HK AVR 247/347s that you might want to apply that may address the issue. However, it requires hooking your HK receiver up to a computer via a serial port.