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SPDIF on HUMAX Foxsat HDR |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 8
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SPDIF on HUMAX Foxsat HDR
I have a Cambridge Audio DACMAGIC D/A converter and have connected my HUMAX Foxsat HDR to it using the SPDIF. On BBC/ITV HD instead of digital audio there is just noise (sounds like a motor!). Non HD channs are fine. Humax advised no reported problems from other users with this config. Any clues?
Thanks. |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,296
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On HD channels apart from ITV1-HD Granada the output is not lcpm dsgital but dolby digital either stereo or 5.1. If your kit has no DD decoder you wont get anything from the DD soundtrack
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#3 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,598
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The one problem I have with the SPDIF output is that the Foxsat leaves it active when you put it into standby with an active recording still in progress. Which confuses the automatic digital/analogue logical input switching on my Denon AV amp.
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 8
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Quote:
On HD channels apart from ITV1-HD Granada the output is not lcpm dsgital but dolby digital either stereo or 5.1. If your kit has no DD decoder you wont get anything from the DD soundtrack
Graham, that's it I guess. The DAC is fairly old from the days when hi-fi was based on 'the more boxes the better sound' and DD was just noise reduction...... Thanks Tony. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,590
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Try setting 'Dolby Digitlal' to 'off' in the TV options menu.That ought to fix this issue. Won't fix Gomezz's problem of course, but then his is chiefly with the badge on the front of the box. Can you not switch that off/force it in the amp setup. Gomezz? I understand what you mean, but have not encountered the problem myself. If you've allocated a digital input to a video source, why is the amp looking elsewhere? I take it the amp tries to switch to TV sound when, say, watching a DVD?
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#6 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,296
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[quote=MAW;44061642]Try setting 'Dolby Digitlal' to 'off' in the TV options menu.That ought to fix this issue. /QUOTE]
Just pressing audio on the remote and choosing the alternate track has the same effect but there is a snag on BBC-HD the lpcm track is audio described. I don't have any problem with my Denon amp. There is possible workaround (which I use when using Radio Headphones on Zone 3 on my amp). I have a pair of rca phonos connected from the TV analogue audio output sockets to a different input on the amp. Selecting this gives an ordinary analogue stereo source which is output to zone 3 and therefore the headphones can then be used. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,598
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Quote:
Can you not switch that off/force it in the amp setup. Gomezz? I understand what you mean, but have not encountered the problem myself. If you've allocated a digital input to a video source, why is the amp looking elsewhere? I take it the amp tries to switch to TV sound when, say, watching a DVD?
Yes I could manually force the amp to use the analogue signal and in effect that is what I do (using a powered optical to co-ax converter and a remote-controlled power socket) but that is a workaround for a bug with the Foxsat. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,590
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Quote:
My amp allows you to connect both a digital and an analogue audio source to the same logical input. If there is a digital signal it uses that otherwise it use the analogue signal. I have it set so that the Foxsat is connected via digital and the TV itself connected via analogue which effectively means I use it it for all other sources apart from the Foxsat (and the Blueray player which has its own separate digital input).
Yes I could manually force the amp to use the analogue signal and in effect that is what I do (using a powered optical to co-ax converter and a remote-controlled power socket) but that is a workaround for a bug with the Foxsat. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,590
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[quote=grahamlthompson;44062555] Quote:
Try setting 'Dolby Digitlal' to 'off' in the TV options menu.That ought to fix this issue. /QUOTE]
Just pressing audio on the remote and choosing the alternate track has the same effect but there is a snag on BBC-HD the lpcm track is audio described. I don't have any problem with my Denon amp. There is possible workaround (which I use when using Radio Headphones on Zone 3 on my amp). I have a pair of rca phonos connected from the TV analogue audio output sockets to a different input on the amp. Selecting this gives an ordinary analogue stereo source which is output to zone 3 and therefore the headphones can then be used. |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,598
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Quote:
And the other 'workaround is to use 'TV' for TV, and 'cable/sat' for the foxsat. Not a big issue really then.
TV - Main audio stream; VCR - Secondary audio stream useful for listening to the Radio 5 live commentary while watching the F1 on the TV; DVD - Actually Blueray player now; Radio - The amp's internal radio It doesn't matter how you dress it up and I am happy with my workaround but it is still a bug with the Foxsat. Edit: Actually another workaround would be to move the analogue input from the TV to the DVD input source. And yet another one is to finally get to grips with my new Harmony universal remote and programme it to get fuller control of the amp - my older OFA remote's learning capability is fully loaded with my Topfield PVR's set up. |
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#11 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
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[quote=MAW;44063554] Quote:
If he doesn't have the ability at any point to decode the DD signal, he is better off using the PCM stereo option in th menu. Gets around that whole issue surely? The way round it is to use the analogue stereo RCA phono outputs rather than s/pdif |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,590
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Quote:
It is on my AV amp which only has the four logical inputs:-
TV - Main audio stream; VCR - Secondary audio stream useful for listening to the Radio 5 live commentary while watching the F1 on the TV; DVD - Actually Blueray player now; Radio - The amp's internal radio It doesn't matter how you dress it up and I am happy with my workaround but it is still a bug with the Foxsat. Edit: Actually another workaround would be to move the analogue input from the TV to the DVD input source. And yet another one is to finally get to grips with my new Harmony universal remote and programme it to get fuller control of the amp - my older OFA remote's learning capability is fully loaded with my Topfield PVR's set up. And BTW, all of my PVRs, sky HD, Foxsat, Topfield, all turn themselves on for recording, and output audio. If it's a bug, it's far from unique. It's a shame really that you have to leave it plugged in to record. Cutting the power would solve the whole problem, but unfortunately, there is a bug. It doesn't work without electricity. Bummer.
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,598
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Quote:
Another workaround is to buy an amp with enough inputs
Quote:
all of my PVRs, sky HD, Foxsat, Topfield, all turn themselves on for recording, and output audio. If it's a bug, it's far from unique.
Ah! But there is the rub. The Foxsat does not actually output audio, it just signals that is does leaving the amp mute in astonishment. So the intention was obviously there but the coding of the firmware done half-cock.
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,590
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Quote:
A new amp is on my upgrade roadpath but not until the current broadcast format debacle gets sorted out.
Ah! But there is the rub. The Foxsat does not actually output audio, it just signals that is does leaving the amp mute in astonishment. So the intention was obviously there but the coding of the firmware done half-cock. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The Sticks
Posts: 3,720
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I haven't noticed any problems with my HDR, and I use a few optical "Y" junctions to route a PS3 and Blu-ray player into the same input on the amp.
It would avoid the switching issue? |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Buckingham
Posts: 28,598
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I don't think you would with your set up.
Good to know Onkyo and Denon are getting to grips with the audio issue though I would prefer the source (PVR) and amp to be able to handle the broadcast format without any transcoding which has been suggested does not give best results. Anyway, I have until next year to make my mind up as we do not get Freeview HD here until then. |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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Quote:
I don't think you would with your set up.
Good to know Onkyo and Denon are getting to grips with the audio issue though I would prefer the source (PVR) and amp to be able to handle the broadcast format without any transcoding which has been suggested does not give best results. Anyway, I have until next year to make my mind up as we do not get Freeview HD here until then.
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And BTW, all of my PVRs, sky HD, Foxsat, Topfield, all turn themselves on for recording, and output audio. If it's a bug, it's far from unique. It's a shame really that you have to leave it plugged in to record. Cutting the power would solve the whole problem, but unfortunately, there is a bug. It doesn't work without electricity. Bummer.