No sound in showtime or high def channels

helene g · 02-12-2006, 01:28 PM

I have lost the sound in my hi def channels, all of showtime and some hbo channels. There is no problem with other premium channels or local, but the weird thing on showtime is that it broadcasts with subtitles. DTV doesn't seem to know the answer. Has anyone else had this problem? I live in the SF bay area.

JimSpence · 02-12-2006, 02:07 PM

Have you checked your audio connections? If you are using optical digital, maybe it has come loose.
It would help if we knew what receiver you are using?

helene g · 02-12-2006, 02:49 PM

Hi
I'm using a Denon 3806 av receiver and a hd tivo directtv receiver. I did check connections, but if there was a loose connection wouldn't it effect all channels? This is specific to all showtime and hd channels and some HBO.

morgantown · 02-12-2006, 03:10 PM

Are you loosing just HBO E&W on HBO? Those are the only ones with DD5.1 (dolby digital 5.1 surround sound). If you are using the optical connection unplug, and reseat as Jim mentioned. That has happened to me a couple of times.

I don't claim to know the techinicalities of why DD5.1 is more suseptable to a loose/bad connection. But, it is.

helene g · 02-12-2006, 05:21 PM

Hi

Thanks.

I think you are on to something. I didn't find a loose connection, but when I went into TIVO settings and chose "standard audio" instead of output and record in Dolby I got the sound back. My next question is how to get it to output and record in Dolby.

Oh and oddly enough I still have subtitles on HBOH.

Helene

morgantown · 02-12-2006, 06:04 PM

Well that is interesting.

My Sony receiver sometimes does not like to decode the DD5.1 so I have to change the output setting and then change it back. Not sure what you settings are with the Denon, but give that a try. On the Sony, changing it to "auto format decode" and then back to surround sound (sometimes more than once) often does the trick.

Sometimes a cleaning of the optical ends can help as well. Just a little windex on a paper towel...no major effort. Can you see the red light at the end of the cable that connects to your Denon.

I'm still leaning towards the A/V receiver as a culprit, although that does not explain the subtitles when you do have sound.

timb2112 · 02-12-2006, 06:58 PM

Good Luck!

Either fiber optic works or it doesn't. I don't see how a little Windex will help. The cable after all is transmitting light, and you can see it when you disconnect the cable from your Denon.

I have a B&K AVR-507 and I have never been able to receive DD 5.1 audio. I have set it to output and record in 5.1 with no success. It works fine in standard audio. My receiver worked fine with a Sony SAT-HD300. The HR10-250 is basically a POS. The TIVO works great but the DD issue is really frustrating.

Make sure your Denon is set to Auto. That way it auto defaults to the best available audio signal.