Low volume on Sky HD channels and other things

[stevee1966]

My Sky+ box packed in a few weeks back so i've upgraded to Sky HD (£75 + £60 installation and no need to sign up to broadband, calls or multiroom - so a good deal all round). A few problems though :-

Noticed that the volume on HD channels is much lower than on standard definition channels, which is a pain when switching from one to another. Anyone else have this problem ?

Also some Sky1 HD and Channel 4 HD content displays as 4:3 aspect even though my box settings are 16:9 and the equivalent Sky1 and Channel 4 SD channels display as widescreen.

Also my previous sky+ box was connected via SCART so when switching on my tv, i could press SKY button on Sky remote and picture immediately displayed. On my HD box i connect with HDMI so when i switch tv on i need to scroll through AV inputs until correct one is selected. Any way of getting SKY button to switch to correct channel automatically.

Finally, what should the Sky HD box output display be set at. It was set to AUTOMATIC which displays SD channels at their default lower resolution, and HD channels at 1080. I've changed the setting to be 1080 for all channels. I'm assuming the HD box is upscaling the SD channels ?

Thanks for any info.

 

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem with the volume being considerably lower with HD. My TV is the Pioneer, so can't comment on settings, but it switches to the relevant HDMI channel when the Sky box is turned on.

R

 

[Anonymous]

If you press the help button on sky remote and switch audio description to on problem should be solved

 

[stevee1966]

mikeyd:If you press the help button on sky remote and switch audio description to on problem should be solved

Surely not. Isn't "Audio Description" an audio commentry describing the action taking place on screen, ie, to aid blind people.

I did try HELP but Audio Description said UNAVAILABLRE so i was unable to chamge it anyway.

 

[stevee1966]

Tried again at lunchtime. On HD channels i could change Audio Description to ON but settings wouldn't save, so went into Sound Setings, changed it there and amazingly it seems to work.

Cheers

 

[stevee1966]

stevee1966:mikeyd:If you press the help button on sky remote and switch audio description to on problem should be solved

Surely not. Isn't "Audio Description" an audio commentry describing the action taking place on screen, ie, to aid blind people.

I refer back to my previous posting. Audio Commentary set to ON does exactly what it says on the tin and gives a running audio description, therefore is of no use in the solution to the problem of HD channels having quieter volume than SD channels (even though by changing this setting to ON the volume does increase).

 

[Anonymous]

Hi there folks knew to the forum so hi. I have to agree the sound levels on the HD Channels are very low indeed compared to the SD Channels, the sooner Sky address this the better for everyone concerned.

 

[bigblue235]

There have been rumours that this will be addressed in a coming firmware update, but nothing concrete as such.

It's something that every Sky HD owner notices, and is quite irritating! I've just got into the way or turning the volume up automatically now

I've read that it's to do with the Dolby Digital track, but I'm not sure why the problem doesn't seem to be aparent on non-HD Sky+ boxes, which have DD output too?

 

[Anonymous]

Ive read elsewhere that sky had sorted the volume issue out, was to do with only connecting your Sky HD by component apparently the volume improves a lot, of course the down side to doing that is that you will lose the 5.1 i will try it though and report back.

 

[sc1]

I have also noticed the volume issue. Didn't think there was anything that could be done but glad to hear there may be a fix on the way.

I would not set the display output to automatic, though I have seen it suggested elsewhere that you should. Just keep it at 720p or 1080i. If you set it to auto the box takes a few more seconds each time you change channel as it changes to the correct resolution. It doesn't sound like much but after a while it becomes immensely irritating, as unfortunately do most of the niggles with various sky boxes.

When will they release a machine that doesn't have issues? It is like sky has taken a leaf from the Microsoft book of how to release your product in releasing it as soon as they possibly can and then spend the next 5 years sorting out the bugs in it!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

dazb:Ive read elsewhere that sky had sorted the volume issue out, was to do with only connecting your Sky HD by component apparently the volume improves a lot, of course the down side to doing that is that you will lose the 5.1 i will try it though and report back.

You can't get 5.1 through hdmi - you have to use optical - so it would be no difference if swapping hdmi for component. The new boxes don't have component.

Are you guys running your HD box through an amp or straight to the screen. I got a new HD box on Friday - I have it connected to my AV receiver with HDMI and coaxial. In the sound settings on Sky, turn the volume up to about three quarters. Mine is fine now.

 

[Anonymous]

Im connected via optical straight to my Yamaha RX-V363. I have the volume set to maximum in the Sky Settings whenever i watch a movie in Hd the volume on the amp goes to at least 39 DB before i am satisfied.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

dazb:Im connected via optical straight to my Yamaha RX-V363. I have the volume set to maximum in the Sky Settings whenever i watch a movie in Hd the volume on the amp goes to at least 39 DB before i am satisfied.

Do you have Dolby Digital set in the audio settings?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes i do have Dolby Digital set just waiting for sky to get there act together now.