[Reeveman]

I have a SIR4040R and use the optical audio out port to connect to my home theater. On movies encoded with Dolby Digital, I get audio dropouts that increase in frequency until I do a channel swap returning to the movie but now the dropouts have stopped. Eventually, they will return during the movie and the process begins again. This happens only with Dolby Digital movies from my DVR and no other source. I have replaced the optical cable but that hasn't helped. I have 6.2 installed on the DVR. Any help would be greatly appreciated since this problem drives me crazy.

 

[JimSpence]

Since your thread from two months ago didn't get any replies, you could have just resurrected the old one.
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5168770#post5168770
Anyway, providing more information would be helpful. You've supplied everything except the make and model of your HT system.

 

[Reeveman]

I have a Yamaha HTR-5850 receiver that the SIR4040R connects to. I've noticed that when the dropouts occur the audio icons on the HTR blink indicating what I consider to be a signal loss. I've searched the Internet looking for similar problems with this DVR but no luck.

 

[JimSpence]

What happens if you force the TiVo to output PCM instead of DD?
My guess is that your HT system isn't decoding the DD properly.

 

[Reeveman]

Jim,

I can't find the PCM option in my DVR menu, just DD. It could be my home theater receiver causing the problem but it doesn't do it on any other DD source. Thanks for the suggestions though. I'll root around some more to see what I can find.

 

[JimSpence]

On the audio menu is there another option other that DD? On my HR10 unit it is labeled as Dolby Digital Output and then two choices: Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital to PCM. My T60's two choices are: standard audio and Dolby Digital. Maybe your unit has different labeling.

Check the Audio Options in the manual.

 

[Reeveman]

Jim,

Under the 'Audio' section I have 'Dolby Digital' with the option to output and record in DD or output and record in standard audio. The only other menu item of interest in 'Audio' is the ambiguous 'Enhance Audio Output' section.

I sent Yamaha an email stating the same as what I posted here. I really hope to get this resolved because it's just plain irritating. However, I did just watch a DD movie that didn't have the dropouts. I guess once Dr. Restart got involved, it decided not to be a problem anymore.

 

[JimSpence]

I now have to step aside so that those with your particular TiVo can answer.

Do you have another device with optical output you can try connecting to the HT?

 

[leftstrat]

I have a Phillips DSR-708, and sounds like a similar problem. While watching a movie on HBO, or another station with DD 5.1, I'll get the audio "breakups". I've found that hitting the 8-second back button a couple of times, when the movie starts helps a great deal.

Maybe the cheap processors they put on these boxes can't actually handle multichannel sound in realtime all that well. I never seem to have that problem with standard two-channel stations.

 

[Reeveman]

One thing I haven't tried yet is to record one of the movies I've had audio issues with before then see if the same thing occurs on playback. Off the top of my head, I can't remember any movie I've played from the DVR has had the dropouts.

Leftstrat, I've never had audio problems with two-channel programs either. I don't want to replace it just yet since it sounds like an expensive hassle with the "leased" DVRs from the retailers.