Sony BDP-S370 Sound Drop outs

[admin_exported]

Hi,

New to the forum, but hoping someone can help me...

My Setup is

Sony KDL-32W4000 Television

Q Acoustics QTV2 Speakers

Humax Foxsat HDR

Sony BDP-S370 Blu Ray

A couple of weeks ago I took delivery of a new Sony S370 from Amazon following intial release reviews on the net and was heartily encouraged by WhatHiFi's review shortly afterwards. Excellent startup times and great picture. Here is my problem though - at random intervals during playback there is a one second sound drop out, which can happen at anytime no pattern.

The sound settings are the basic PCM ones as suggested in the manual as I do not have any fancy sound processors. Cables are good to as I have it linked to the TV with a 1mtr Van Den Hul Flat. The TV is linked to my QTV2 via the optical link. The Humax box does not give any sound problems and is linked to the TV via HDMI also.

To check finally I bypassed the QTV2 and listened via the TV speakers - still the same dropout. So it must be the Blu-Ray? I telephoned Sony support but to no avail, perhaps because the player is so new and does not yet have a track history of faults / charicteristics.

I have seen a post on a US website from a user with a similar problem, but he has had no answer to date. I love the player, but this sound glitch is very frustrating.

Any solutions would be really appreciated.

Many Thanks

Fred

 

[strapped for cash]

Hi Fred

Welcome to the forum!

I would contact Amazon and make them aware of the problem. Amazon's returns policy is generally very good, so hopefully they would be happy to replace your current player and agree to a full refund if you continue to experience difficulties.

It doesn't sound like a widely reported glitch so this would indicate you have a faulty unit. In which case, at the very least, the manufacturer's warranty should allow for a repair. As it's a new player, however, I would take it up with Amazon first and insist on a replacement.

 

[davejberry]

I have an older BDP-S350 and mine has started doing this playing CDs. I've checked the discs and can't see any obvious scratches or dirt. The BDP doesn't hiccup like my old CD player did, it just drops the pcm output to my amp for a second, then it comes back again.

I'm puzzled because some of the CDs are brand new? Does anyone know if this is an issue with the laser in a BDP not being as 'robust' with CDs?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. I'll wait a day or two to see if the forum reveals anything else before contacting Amazon. But good advice thanks.

 

[Dazmb]

Check this out mate:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B0038M1UTW/ref=cm_rdphist_3?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addThreeStar

A chap has posted a similar problem and other people have replied confirming same issues with W series Sony TV's. Sony D series are working fine. The main poster says he's on his 3rd replacement unit from Amazon, so it appears to be a bug in there somewhere. Not good news for you maybe, but at least that rules out your own gear.

 

[strapped for cash]

So this is a compatability problem between two products from the same manufacturer? Has anybody encountered this issue with the 370 connected to televisions from different manufacturers (i.e. is it a problem with the 370 generally or only when hooked up to a Sony TV)?

Not a helpful contribution, I appreciate, but you would think two products manufactured by the same company would work well together.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dazmb. Interesting - just read the review. Not looking good, but might try hooking the player up to my little LG 19" and see if the sound drops. If not it could be an issue with the W series TV's then. Will let you all know how I get on.

Cheers

 

[strapped for cash]

Yes, please do. I'm also wondering whether the problem can be attributed to the fact that you're sending multichannel (potentially 7.1) digital information to what is essentially a stereo television? Can the 370 output stereo rather than 7.1 channel data? Not that this ever caused a problem with my PS3 hooked up to a Panasonic plasma...

 

[Anonymous]

It is myself that listed the same problem on Amazon.com.

I have now had 3 of these Sony blu ray players (excellent customer service from the amazing Amazon as always) and when the third player showed the same drop-out of sound problem I felt it must be a compatibility problem so I hooked it up to my old Sony D-series and a small LG set for a few viewings and there is no sound problem at all.

After hearing other reviewers it does seem this annoying sound problem only affects the Sony BDP-S370 when connected to a Sony W-series TV set.

Sony were absolutely no help at all and my only advice would be to hold off on this player if you have W-series Sony TV. Which is a pity as it is otherwise an excellent machine, and is quite awful that two Sony products connected together present such a problem.

Perhaps one day Sony will sort it out.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks - its seems it is a compatability issue - I was sending basic PCM signals to the TV as opposed to the 7.1. You would think the boffins would test backward compatability when releasing these things, but then who would buy their latest TV's!! One last thing I might try is to connect the dvd directly to the digital Input of the QTV thereby bypassing the TV altogether for audio.

I'll report back........

 

[strapped for cash]

In principle, neither setting should result in an intermittent loss of sound. However, if you found a solution by changing the settings on your 370 then at least that's progress. If you have a set up that now works then hopefully that's problem solved.

 

[Anonymous]

Finally found a forum where this issue is being discussed, so thankyou!

I am having exactly the same issues with my BDP-S370, but by the looks of things, only when playing DivX files. I also get the 1-2 second sound dropout at random intervals ranging from every 5-15 minutes. However, I don't have these issues when playing DVD-Rs that have been used to create a 'proper DVD'. Nor do I get the same issues when playing original DVDs or BDs.

At first I thought it was the DivX file itself, so tried playing the file back on my laptop from the same DVD-R (data disc) and experienced no problem whatsoever, so can only presume it is indeed the BDP-S370 causing the problems. I copied a number of DivX files to a USB memory stick, plugged this into the BDP-S370 and the same problem exists! Therefore not a problem with the laser or anything like that.

I can only presume that it is a DivX playback issue (for me anyway) and maybe a problem with the Codecs installed on the BDP-S370, although if that was the case, surely I would not be able to play these files completely?

Totally stumped on this one, although heartened (I guess) that others have the same issue and it's not just me. Anyone else tried testing different types of playback, i.e. original discs, data discs, DivX, USB etc and if so what are the results?

Cheers, Nick

 

[strapped for cash]

mrtuft:
Finally found a forum where this issue is being discussed, so thankyou!

I am having exactly the same issues with my BDP-S370, but by the looks of things, only when playing DivX files. I also get the 1-2 second sound dropout at random intervals ranging from every 5-15 minutes. However, I don't have these issues when playing DVD-Rs that have been used to create a 'proper DVD'. Nor do I get the same issues when playing original DVDs or BDs.

At first I thought it was the DivX file itself, so tried playing the file back on my laptop from the same DVD-R (data disc) and experienced no problem whatsoever, so can only presume it is indeed the BDP-S370 causing the problems. I copied a number of DivX files to a USB memory stick, plugged this into the BDP-S370 and the same problem exists! Therefore not a problem with the laser or anything like that.

I can only presume that it is a DivX playback issue (for me anyway) and maybe a problem with the Codecs installed on the BDP-S370, although if that was the case, surely I would not be able to play these files completely?

Totally stumped on this one, although heartened (I guess) that others have the same issue and it's not just me. Anyone else tried testing different types of playback, i.e. original discs, data discs, DivX, USB etc and if so what are the results?

Cheers, Nick

Welcome to the forum!

Are you also having this problem with the 370 connected to a W series Sony television, or is your TV from a different range or manufacturer? Might help to clarify if this is specifically a compatability isssue with W series Sony televisions, or likely to afflict owners of different equipment who are considering buying a 370 (that includes myself).

On the one hand, it's a selfish question, as it would put my mind at rest that I shouldn't encounter problems with the 370. On the other, if we can isolate the issue as specific to certain products, and Sony are made aware, it might be possible for them to resolve the problem with a firmware update, thus helping frustrated contributors to this thread.

 

[Anonymous]

strapped for cash:
So this is a compatability problem between two products from the same manufacturer? Has anybody encountered this issue with the 370 connected to televisions from different manufacturers (i.e. is it a problem with the 370 generally or only when hooked up to a Sony TV)?

Not a helpful contribution, I appreciate, but you would think two products manufactured by the same company would work well together.

Mine was connected to a Panasonic - no problem.

 

[strapped for cash]

As would be the case with myself. Still intrigued to find out if mrtuft has a W series Sony TV?

 

[strapped for cash]

Should add, it's largely irrelevant from my end as audio will be processed by my Yamaha 1065 receiver. So the equally pertinent question is whether mrtuft is only using his television speakers or a separate surround sound system?

Were you using your Panasonic TV for sound playback, Samson D?

 

[Anonymous]

No, sounds goes through my Q acoustics.

 

[strapped for cash]

Ah, as contributors to the thread experiencing problems are not, so far as I can understand, using a separate surround system, it is not unreasonable to suggest that the problem is only experienced through television speakers, though a greater data sample (i.e. anybody experiencing this issue clarifying how their set up operates) would help confirm this. Furthermore, the problem may just be with W series Sony televisions hooked up directly to the 370.

Presumably the WHF review team only tested the 370 through a dedicated surround system? Or does the test include playback through television speakers as well?

Clarifying these points might allow the team or forum users to lean on Sony to get the problem sorted. If in every other respect owners are happy with the 370, presumably they would be pleased to keep the player if the sound drop out issue is resolved (I can't speak on their behalf, of course)?

 

[Anonymous]

Was at work when I posted earlier, so had to wait until I got home to confirm my TV model number. It is a Sony Bravia and it is the KDL-40V4000 model. Therefore, I take it that this problem is not just restricted to the W series ?!

Just to add, I know the problem exists when using the TV's speakers alone. Just running a test now using my surround sound system (Sony DAV-DZ260). Will report back if I get any issues using this.

Well, a good 25 minutes using the DAV-DZ260 for sound and not a single audio drop! So obviously an issue then when using just the TV's speakers. Not sure if this will have an affect, but am going to try playback using just the TV again, but this time with an optical cable connecting the Blu-Ray and the TV as well as the HDMI cable which was the only cable used before when having the problems.

OK, a good 20 minutes of playback connecting TV and Blu-Ray with both HDMI and an Optical Cable and no audio drop at all. Problem would seem to be resolved for me, although will need to conduct a longer test when I have time just to be sure.

 

[Anonymous]

Just to report back - have gone direct to my QTV-2 via the digital optical output on the blu-ray and so far have had no drop outs - so as many have suggested, seems to be a problem related to Sony TV Speakers predominantly W Series. I wonder if anyone from the Editorial Team at What Hi-Fi has dropped into this particular thread and if they have any views on the subject?

One would imagine that if enough buyers are affected by this glitch, that Sony may consider issuing an update to the Blu-Ray Software as some may not have the luxury of a seperate sound system to bypass the problem.

Any Ideas Mr Editor????

 

[Anonymous]

Just to add that I'm having exactly the same problem when playing DVDs on my S370. It's connected via HDMI to my Sony 32W4000 TV.

Has anyone heard anything from Sony yet or is it best to return the player (which would be a shame!)?

 

[Anonymous]

I "was" (hopefully its gone) having the same problem. though on a different sony tv. I found it maddening. The sound would drop out randomly, for a second or less, while watching the bluray of "Avatar".

TV: KDL-46EX700. Bluray Player: BDP-S370

Here's what I did to solve the problem:

1) updated the TVs software, (my region has resently had a patch posted by sony 21-05-2010, the players software for my region says its upto date)

2) change the cheapo HDMI cable i was using to a PS3 sony cable (also pretty cheapo, "1.3a Catagory 1")

3) reset both TV and player to factory settings (mostly to get a baseline)

...after these steps the problem would still occur, but only once or twice throughout the entire movie (originally it would happen 6-12 times say)

4) Changed in the Players "Audio Settings" : Audio (HDMI) to PCM

......yippie!!

Problem gone, movie played start to finish without a drop out. Hopefully this helps, though im not actually sure which of these steps or combination of steps actually solved the problem.

fingers crossed

EDIT: I may have spoken too soon , the problems back, though with a different bluray movie this time , still only once or twice during play back, and seems to happen soon after you bring the "options" menus up for either the tv or the player

...

 

[Anonymous]

Wow. Guess I'm not the only one.

I just watched my first Blu-ray (The Last Starfighter) on my bedroom set-up and had this exact same problem. I have the BDP-S370 (US model) hooked up to a Bravia KDL-32EX308 via HDMI. The sound dropped out around 8-10 times throughout the film. I tried the PCM switch to no avail, so I guess you can add my Bravia model number to the list of TVs that don't get along with this player.

Has anyone tried component video and standard audio cables instead of HDMI? Might be worth a try until there's a patch. I did e-mail Sony, btw.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Jeremy,

I've e-mailed Sony who have escalated by question to the next level - i.e there is no immediate off the shelf fix. I'll report back on any response. It would be a shame to revert back to component input as it's such a pin sharp player at 1080p. But if you can't stand the sound blips - as you say for those without surround sound amps it may be the best bet.

Cheers

 

[strapped for cash]

So it's sounding increasingly like an issue limited to use of the the 370 with Sony televisions, though specifically when the television is used for sound duties.

It might be worthwhile, for anybody who hasn't done this yet, to check whether they have installed the latest firmware on both their TV and the 370...

Ideally you should be bitstreaming audio to your receiver rather than outputting audio in PCM -- so far as I understand, assuming you have a receiver capable of decoding lossless audio, you won't be getting lossless sound via PCM (somebody please correct me here if I'm wrong)? In other words, even if outputting audio via PCM resolves the sound drop out problem, it's not ideal for those who also use an AV receiver.

I don't know if WHF staff can exert any influence over Sony here? There seem to be quite a few posters complaining about this same problem...