Arcam DV139 crashing with HDMI glitches / no audio into TH42PX80

[admin_exported]

Bear with me on this, need some advice/experiences on HDMI connection glitches.

Just picked up an Arcam DV139 second hand (£1,000 off list on eBay, with 3 years left on Arcam warranty!) and run into some issues using HDMI connection to my Panasonic TH-42PX80. I didn't have an HDMI cable for a few days, so was using an Ixos SCART to feed signal. No issues with video or sound. Got a QED HDMI 1.3 compatible cable yesterday and plugged in, switched the Arcam machine on and...nothing. A click and then the Arcam ceased to respond to remote or button commands.
hmm.

Remove hdmi cable, go into setup on Arcam via SCART. Set video output to HDMI, turn machine off, remove SCART, reconnect HDMI, switch Arcam on, still nothing, no signal and no response to commands.

hmmm some more, read manuals, discover the bit about 'HDMI devices when connected will determine whether or not they can recieve HDMI signals' figure out that the Arcam doesn't think it can broadcast HDMI to the screen. Verify this by turning Arcam on first with HDMI connected, getting a DVD running, then turning on the screen, at which the Arcam promptly crashes and freezes.

Turn Arcam off, disconnect HDMI, reconnect scart, turn everything on again, reset up video output to HDMI, turn it off, disconnect SCART, reconnect hdmi, turn on, nothing.

Several hours later of unrepeatable variations on the above I finally achieve a 1080p output over HDMI from the Arcam. Irritatingly I couldn't figure out what 'fixed' or even causes the problem. My working theory is some combination of which box is switched on first, but exacerbated by each time the Arcam crashing I think it 'remembers' (but nowhere user editable) or resets to an output setting of something like 576i for the HDMI which the screen doesn't support, hence having to faff around with SCART to reset things.

So I now have picture (yay - but scared to turn the boxes off again), but no sound output from the Arcam to the screen over HDMI (boo).
The screen is outputting sound to my amp (an old school Rotel stereo only amp, no HDMI input/output) via phono fine from normal TV, but not from the DVD playing in the Arcam. I can get sound out of the Arcam to the amp via the phono outputs on the Arcam, but there's a delay noticeable on lip-synching with the picture (I've subsequently found a trim setting to delay the sound, but stil not perfect).

So my questions:

a) anyone else experience wierdness and glitches with systems not plugging and playing as expected over HDMI?

b) am I being thick, or should I be getting sound through the HDMI into the screen too?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

brotherharry:Bear with me on this, need some advice/experiences on HDMI connection glitches.

Just picked up an Arcam DV139 second hand (£1,000 off list on eBay, with 3 years left on Arcam warranty!) and run into some issues using HDMI connection to my Panasonic TH-42PX80. I didn't have an HDMI cable for a few days, so was using an Ixos SCART to feed signal. No issues with video or sound. Got a QED HDMI 1.3 compatible cable yesterday and plugged in, switched the Arcam machine on and...nothing. A click and then the Arcam ceased to respond to remote or button commands.
hmm.

Remove hdmi cable, go into setup on Arcam via SCART. Set video output to HDMI, turn machine off, remove SCART, reconnect HDMI, switch Arcam on, still nothing, no signal and no response to commands.

hmmm some more, read manuals, discover the bit about 'HDMI devices when connected will determine whether or not they can recieve HDMI signals' figure out that the Arcam doesn't think it can broadcast HDMI to the screen. Verify this by turning Arcam on first with HDMI connected, getting a DVD running, then turning on the screen, at which the Arcam promptly crashes and freezes.

Turn Arcam off, disconnect HDMI, reconnect scart, turn everything on again, reset up video output to HDMI, turn it off, disconnect SCART, reconnect hdmi, turn on, nothing.

Several hours later of unrepeatable variations on the above I finally achieve a 1080p output over HDMI from the Arcam. Irritatingly I couldn't figure out what 'fixed' or even causes the problem. My working theory is some combination of which box is switched on first, but exacerbated by each time the Arcam crashing I think it 'remembers' (but nowhere user editable) or resets to an output setting of something like 576i for the HDMI which the screen doesn't support, hence having to faff around with SCART to reset things.

So I now have picture (yay - but scared to turn the boxes off again), but no sound output from the Arcam to the screen over HDMI (boo).
The screen is outputting sound to my amp (an old school Rotel stereo only amp, no HDMI input/output) via phono fine from normal TV, but not from the DVD playing in the Arcam. I can get sound out of the Arcam to the amp via the phono outputs on the Arcam, but there's a delay noticeable on lip-synching with the picture (I've subsequently found a trim setting to delay the sound, but stil not perfect).

So my questions:

a) anyone else experience wierdness and glitches with systems not plugging and playing as expected over HDMI?

b) am I being thick, or should I be getting sound through the HDMI into the screen too?

You need a coaxial for (the best) sound. I don't think the Arcams carry audio through hdmi. I want to buy the same or similar dvd player - is the picture brilliant?

 

[Anonymous]

According to the manual it does output HDMI sound.I've tried faffing around with the audio output options (hdmi, pcm, bitstream) but no difference. The screen manual also says that that input accepts HDMI audio. Wierd. Might try getting in touch with Arcam tech support.

Picture is great, sound is just superb.

 

[Anonymous]

For anyone still reading or who stumbles across looking for something else, outdated firmware seems to be the root of the problem. Supplied an ISO image from really helpful Arcam customer support, burnt to disc, loaded and upgraded. Job done.

 

[Anonymous]

hmm, I spoke too soon. Semi-randomly I'm back to no HDMI signal at all, the two boxes just don't want to talk to each other again. Same old cycle of check settings, set up, power off on/connect disconnect, but no dice this time round. Really annoying and having to use the component connections (which don't support the upscaling to 1080p) and split audio out. HDMI version conflict between TV and player? Sketchy cable connections?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

brotherharry:hmm, I spoke too soon. Semi-randomly I'm back to no HDMI signal at all, the two boxes just don't want to talk to each other again. Same old cycle of check settings, set up, power off on/connect disconnect, but no dice this time round. Really annoying and having to use the component connections (which don't support the upscaling to 1080p) and split audio out. HDMI version conflict between TV and player? Sketchy cable connections?

It could be a conflict between tv and player. When the Denon DVD1940 first came out, Samsung screen owners were having problems with this dvd player. The Arcam is hdmi 1.1 compatible. I'm not sure if that would have anything to do with it. I doubt it as you can't really buy new 1.1 hdmi cables and the 139 is a fairly new product.

Without wishing to sound condescending, you are saving the changes you make in the settings before unplugging the scart and plugging hdmi? You could connect both together and see if it works that way?

 

[Anonymous]

I'm now on Component connection which does give better image and lets me access higher res and progressive scan than over Scart. Right now I'm prepared to be completely condescended to if it will result in a fix. Yeah, saving changes and trying both leaving component connected and unconnected whilst making changes.Arcam support were of the opinion that HDMI is just sketchy with too many inconsistencies in implementation between manufacturers combined with black magic of setup. Interestingly the chap I spoke to said he doesn't use HDMI at all in his setup, just component....
If I can be bothered, I'll do an exhaustive all options session to see if I can trigger a recognisable signal. I'm going to audition a Marantz SR-8002 at the weekend, so it will be interesting to see if that will take the HDMI signal from the DV139. If that is the case, I might take the screen back to the shop as not suitable for purpose.

 

[matengawhat]

you may have a problem taking it back on those grounds - most of it seems to be down to handshaking beween different appliance as all the big companies have designed their own sytems/software and yes they are all supposed to be compatible but there not. i had major issues with hdmi switching in arcam and sony with toshiba. the hdep35 just would not work through the hdmi switching on either of the av amps - but works perfectly if connected direct to the screen. works fine with my onkyo receiver though no issues!!! very very frustrating.

 

[matengawhat]

also just had a thought for you - i had the qed hdmi cable and it would not work with my sony tv was an early lcd panel because the plastic moulding around the plug was to big for the hdmi socket to fit perfectly in to the back of the tv so did not plug all the way in - sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't swapped cable for one with a thinner surround and works fine. that really annoyed me for days nearly took tv back as thought fault on socket but completly down to the cable - the tolerences for faulty connections on hdmi is minute - if not in right cause all sorts of glitches. have you tried another lead - different brand?