Sony BDP-S370 Sound Drop outs

[Anonymous]

I've just received a Sony KDL-32EX703 (firmware: PKG4.034EUL-0106) and Blu-ray BDP-S370 (firmware: M03.R.567 release 09-Jun-2010): I also have problems with intermittent sound drop outs and sound and picture going out of synch.

Andy (What Hi-Fi) - many thanks for pursuing with Sony.

 

[Ronald Archiebald]

I have the Sony S370. It is plugged straight to my TV through a HDMi cable and it works just fine. No issues.

My Tv is non-Sony btw.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ronald you just reminded me: I should have added that I'm using an HDMI connection as well. Out of interest what firmware version does your player have please?

 

[DrizztDan]

hHi i am currently having issues with poor volume levels with my blu ray S370 but it never drops out.

 

[Ronald Archiebald]

hillre:Thanks Ronald you just reminded me: I should have added that I'm using an HDMI connection as well. Out of interest what firmware version does your player have please?

Hello there. It is the latest version 567. I just find it really odd that these new Sony TV's have this compatibility issue with the S370 when they are of the same make!!!

My TV is about 3 -4 years old and is just HD Ready yet it plays anything beautifully. No sync issues or sound drops or anything.

It is just bewildering to me.

 

[Dupes]

Ronald Archiebald:

I have the Sony S370. It is plugged straight to my TV through a HDMi cable and it works just fine. No issues.

My Tv is non-Sony btw.

Hi Ronald - seems this issue only effects The BDP370 when plugged only into a Sony TV direct via HDMI, (and not a sound system other TV's or non HDMI connection - bizarre indeed)

But so pleased to have found this thread (in one way at least) - not just my machine effected! Mine is BD370 and HDMI to new Sony EX503 TV and had the same very annoying issue. I thought it was just layer changing and applied to all BD players. It is incredulous Sony would release a product not compatible with its own TV's. And do nothing about it until What Hi fi got involved. The new firmware seems to have made it less frequent, but its still dropping out a few times in a film.

I emailed Sony support - as expected I had the response saying they new nothing about this and asking what TV, cable etc etc I had, despite me saying this was a known issue and mentioning WHF. I replied to re-iterate and got the below.

I have forwarded your details and the answers to my questions to our Customer Relations team, who shall be investigating this issue further and contacting you in due course.

So even referencing this thread, Amazon and other feedback, seems Sony customer support staff are unware of this issue.
I have not heard anything since either. Pretty, no, extremely poor show.

Also no idea how this BDP is still making the top 3 of the BDP reviews with this issue! I don't think Sony will do anything quickly until this issue is highlighted in the press and all the gadget mags and sales are effected - in my experience with the TV and BDP sony are polite but useless to sort things, like releasing the new TV with manuals that only cover half the features and don't say how the use them!

Thanks tonnes though for your help contacting Sony, Andy - totally sterling job and no doubt the only reason they are looking at it as they sure don't care about or collate the customer feedback.

Is there any update from Sony on an ETA of a fix at all Andy.

Any plans to write an article in the mag - sure it would chivey them up - maybe get their ceo to comment on this unbelieveable balls up and how their customer support is devoid of knowledge?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi. I'm from India and am having the same issue with my BDP-S370 which is connected via HDMI to a Sony KLV-32S400 TV set. The issue seems to be particularly severe with DVD, but also does occasionally occur with BD, playback.

The BDP-S370 is a lovely piece of kit, It can even play NTSC movie DVDs at 1080P/24.

 

[Ronald Archiebald]

Hello KM. Just out of curiousity, how much does the S-370 retail for in India?

Thx.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Ronald Archiebald. The Maximum Retail Price of the BDP-S370, in India, is Rs 9, 990/-. It comes with two Blue Ray Discs (Michael Jackson "This Is It" and Legion) and an HDMI cable, in the box.

You can get it in some shops for Rs 9, 700/- odd. I paid the Maximum Retail Price because I purchased it at a Sony Centre. Some stores sell shop soiled kit - that's why I paid the extra and picked it up at the Sony Centre.

For your reference, 1GBP = around 60~65 INR

 

[Ronald Archiebald]

Thank you KM. I hope you're enjoying the S-370 as much as I am. It is a great little blu-ray player.

 

[Anonymous]

i put a questions to you all a few day ago i have had the same problem with my s370 the (sound drop outs) as well sony sed to update firmware i did this and it seemed fine. put then i have a difrent problem with a film called brother when i played it sounded muffled in places. put when i playerd lord of the rings it seemed ok some one sed it mae be the dvd it self so i took it back and got another cope that seemes muffeld as well. put i took the film to my dads and played it on this samsung blu-ray and it was fine can some one ples/help. is it my player or the film.

 

[Andy Madden]

Glad to help - i'll try and chase this up and report back with any more news if i can...

 

[Anonymous]

so what do you think is it my player or dvd disc?

 

[Dupes]

mav35:so what do you think is it my player or dvd disc?

HI Mav35

My knowledge of the sound techno is v limited, but I understand there are different outputs for different recording or DVD/film types. SO perhaps this disc is outputting a certain type, but your BDP settings are not on automatic (to detect the best setting for any given disc). Maybe try going into settings for sound and set to Auto.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks mate i will try that 2mor i let you no?

 

[Dupes]

Hi didn't have time yesterday, but below are my settings - see pages 19-21 on the (english) user guide

TV type = 16:9 (assume you have a widescreen tv)

Screen format = Original

DVD aspect = pan and scan

Cinema conversion mode = Auto

Output video format = HDMI (guess this is correct for you given the sound drop out issue)

BD/DVD rom 1080/24p output = Auto

ycbcr = auto

HDMI deep col = Auto

pause mode = Auto

Audio (hdmi) = Auto (this may be the key ones)

DSD output = off (unless you play super audio CD's?)

bd audio mix setting = off

dolby dig (coax/optical) = Dolby Digital (assume connected to #sony TV which does have a decoder)

DTS (coax/optical) = DTS (assume connected to #sony TV which does have a decoder)

Audio DRC = wide range (could be why muffled?)

Downmix = stereo (if connected just to TV)

Thinbking about it this last one might be something - if you have it set for surround but its just connected to a stereo TV not a surround system?

I expect other on here can advise more and correct these setting for the BDP370 connected by HDMI to a Sony Bravia TV only. But barr the drop out the rest seems to work ok. 2001 a space odessey on blu ray is awesome with these settings!

 

[Anonymous]

Many thanks for the update Ronald. It is completely unbelievable. I'm going to test the player via my HP monitor which supports Full HD and also inform John Lewis from whom I bought the TV (the player was included free of charge). I'll inform Sony of this and await a response. ;-)

Regards,

Ryan Hill

 

[Anonymous]

i am sure all of these are standerd setings enway all the above are the same as my player put Audio DRC is in auto so i have change it to wide range i will put a film on later 2night to if that has worked?

 

[Anonymous]

This is my first time on the forum and I'm somewhat relieved that the sound drop-outs with the S370 are a known problem. I'm on my third player, purchased recently from the local retailer, who kindly exchanged the player on two occasions. I have the S370 connected to my KDL40Z4500 via HDMI lead. No surround sound system. I thought it was me being stupid when the third player started to show the same problem as the first two. The sound dropping out every 20-30 minutes during DVD playback. I intend to buy the Sony wifi USB dongle to connect to the internet and download the latest firmware which will hopefully sort the issue once and for all. I was very close to return the player yet again until I found this forum. I shall sit and wait like many others, for Sony to come up with a fix. It beggars believe though, that a company like Sony brings a product to market which is not compatible with its own range of TVs. I emailed Sony this morning and, judging by the amount of feeds in this forum, they should now be aware of the problem. Happy days. J.

 

[Anonymous]

to dupes. i have changeed the audio drc to wide range as i sed in my reply it was on auto so i have change it to this i put on a film last night solomon kane and it seemed to be fine not sure if me changeing this has sored it out or not not sure what drc meens put i fined my slef trying to find problems with this player thanks i will be glad when sony sort this problem out?

 

[Anonymous]

Just registered to say I am experiencing the same problem of sound dropping out. My BDP-S370 is connected to Sony's 40W4000 TV. Wrote an email to Sony referring to WHF as well (Sony Netherlands in my case) and got a standard reply pointing me to the support page of the player. D'oh! Like I had not gone through all information on those pages before deciding to write my email in the first place. Extremely unhelpful. Tried again with another email asking them to give a more useful response instead of one from their box of default answers. Have not heard from Sony since.

 

[Anonymous]

Just to follow on from my first feed. I ordered the Sony wifi dongle online, allthough quite expensive at £70. Couldn't wait for it to arrive, so burned the latest Sony firmware upgrade to a CD and updated my S370 that way. The process was fairly straight forward but the sound still drops out every 20-30 minutes during DVD playback. No change there. I have not had a reply to my email to Sony's support. J.

 

[Anonymous]

Me again. Just visited another forum on the same subject and found the news that, apparently, Sony are now aware of the sound drop-outs and that a S370 firmware upgrade is planned for release early July. Can anybody confirm that? J.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Just spoken to Sony's all-round technical guru Eric Kingdon, who confirmed that yes, there is a firmware upgrade coming to address the problem.

It should be available next week, either as a download to web-connected players or in the form of a disc in the post for other users, and those with problems can contact Sony's customer service people, who are aware of the problem and the fix on the way.

Sony says it will confirm to us when the new firmware is available, and will give us a version number at that time.

 

[Anonymous]

to mrtuft

I have exactly the same setup and the same problem occurs. My optical cable runs from my home entertainment centre (hereafter HEC,) to the tv so I'm unable to link it up to the blu ray player as the current method is the only way of getting sound through to the HEC from the satellite box. I don't fancy swapping the cable around every time I want to watch it as I'm sure that would eventually damage the little door that covers the laser. I bought it on a sony trade in offer with £30 off and they said to me that if I wanted to replace it, I'd need to swap another item or pay the additional 30 pounds! I guess there are a few other methods I could try but I'm hoping a patch will be the answer or I'll have to accept the loss of the trade in item and claim my money back from the retailer. Does anyone know if I can use audio leads to carry the sound from blu ray to HEC via the TV?