My Freesat-HDR has recently developed a very strange problem regarding volume control via the Humax remote control. It works fine on SD channels/recordings, but when viewing HD channels/recordings the Humax RC has no effect on the volume! This fault coincided with my purchase of a Sony KDL-40Z5500, but never happened with my old Sony KDL-40W4500.

Are you using the optical out? If so its not a problem, the DD sound is like that, you have to use your amp to control the volume.

It may even happen with the TV volume as well but I use an amp instead.

No, just HDMI.

This is normal for the Foxsat. Don`t understand your reply above. HDMI is video only?? The audio is on a separate line.

No, HDMI is video & audio. Are you thinking of DVI, which is video only?

Rgds.

Les.

DD from HD sources is fixed volume (hdmi and spdif) and SD mpeg1 layer 2 is volume controlled. Set your amp (TV) volume using a HD DD source and then set the foxsat SD output to roughly the same level using the hdr remote volume control

This is news to me.

I've never noticed it so I've just put my recording of True Lies from ITV HD on.

The Humax volume control works as normal for me on playback with HD and DD. Tested using a single HDMI to tv (Pioneer Kuro).

May be the hdmi DD is volume controlled the spdif definetely is not.

You mean optical Graham.

Just tried it, it doesn't work properly yes. I say properly because it would be incorrect to say it doesn't work at all - when it reaches the bottom end of the scale the Humax mutes. Whats lacking is the progression, its either on or off as the moment you come off the bottom of the scale you have full volume even thought the Humax bar is still climbing and the volume remains the same all the way along from 1 st active bar on the volume scale to "full volume" bar.

Yes, Bob has commented previously on here that because of adherence to the Specs, the Humax has to merely pass through the signal with no modification, including volume.

Rgds.


Les.

It isn't possible for the STB to change the volume of surround sound sources because it would have to decode and re-encode them with the associated reduction. This doesn't affect PCM audio on most channels but on channels with 5.1 and when connected to an output that 'accepts' multichannel sound it will present uninterrupted Dolby (aiding best quality).

I can't confirm it now, because I am at home, but I think in the menu you can select PCM instead of pass-through, but if you have a system capable of processing the surround sound then you will be missing out.

Bob

Thanks for the clarification Bob.

Really doesn't affect me as personally I always have the Humax at 100% and adjust on the amp.

As stated in my first post Bob_Cat, I never had this problem on my old set up, had full control over the volume with the Humax RC whatever I was watching.

bampsam,

I should have clarified in context: this is possibly because your new TV is asking for the original surround sound where as the old one refused it and only accepted PCM.

Bob

IIRC, when the sound goes through the HDMI, you will have control, when it goes through the optical, you wont.

Perhaps that was the difference in the setups.

As Bob says, thats how it should work for maximum quality

Thanks for the fast answer Bob_Cat. If anyone knows how I can resolve this problem please post.

Even where the sound goes over HDMI, if the sink device accepts Dolby the receiver can't/won't interfere with that process.

Only used HDMI lead on both setups. No optical.

Try you old TV again and see if there was any setting you or someone else changed.

Changing the TV shouldnt have any effect. Anyway, youd be better off using the optical for better sound quality.

Also, I hate the fact the Humax has a volume control, thats what the TV volume or the surround volume is for.

That then creates problems as HDMI is picture and sound.

If you use purely HDMI you have a choice thread it through the amp to the tv or thread it direct to the tv.

If you thread it through the amp, you can only ever watch tv with the amp on as most amps don't pass through. This means cinema sound permanently on whether you want it or not and huge electricity bills from paying to have a high wattage amplifier permanently in use.

If you go direct to the tv, you can't get cinema sound out back to the amp on most tv's as most tv's switch off audio out when HDMI in is active. Probably something to do with copy protection.

That's why since I discovered it was possible to use both simultaneously (shortly after the Humax was released (it doesn't tell you its possible in the manual)), and posted it on the forums, many people use HDMI + Optical.

HDMI to the tv, optical to the amp. With this set up HDMI carrries sound and picture to the tv so you can watch the tv with the cinema amp turned off. Optical takes sound to the cinema amp at the same time as the HDMI is active in the tv, so if you want cinema sound, you simply turn the amp on and mute the tv. It gives you the best of both worlds.

I agree with Flyer a volume control isn't necessary on the Humax remote. Personally, I'd have much preferred the volume rocker to have been a forward / back button so you could instantly flick between your current and previous channel. That would have given you channel plus and minus (P+ P-), on one side of the remote and an identical rocker with forward and back on the other.

Thats exactly how my equipment is setup. The TV sound for stereo programs and the optical for 5.1 surround so you only use the amp when needed.