sky audio and suround sound

Lawnmower man · 25-08-2004, 22:23

I recently bought the Acoustic Solutions DS 633 surround system from Argos. Great sound from my dvd player through the coaxial connections.
But when I connect up my Pace Sky box to the surround system via phonos(these are the only audio out connections the sk ybox has), there is a terrible hiss coming mainly from the front and centre speakers.

When I connected the dvd via phono leads the audio system made the same hiss, but the coxial was ok.

Changed phono leads etc. but to no avail

Is there an adapter to convert my 2 phonos from sky box to coaxial for the audio unit?

any ideas

jcx · 26-08-2004, 01:30

To get true surround sound you need Sky Plus with an optical connection. You could try one of these to convert to optical, or you could try splitting a scart with an Xbox type converter thing to give you a different output.

I connect my Pace Sky box to my Sony AV system and it sounds fine.

srobbo999 · 30-08-2004, 01:08

If the surround system hisses when you connect either the sky box or the dvd player via phonos, then it is the surround system that is at fault.

I have my sky box hooked up to a Sony surround system via phono and I have no problems. You don't get 5.1 surround but you do get Dolby Pro Logic II which sounds a hundred times better than nicam stereo through the TV.

My advice would be to return the system to Argos as it sounds as if it is faulty.

Lawnmower man · 30-08-2004, 11:40

I rang Acoustic Solutions, the manufacturer, and they said he system was faulty, so I took it back to Argos for a replacement.

The new system is the same, a hiss when switched to aux to use the phono inputs from the sky box.

Jcx recommended an analogue to digital converter, so I can use a different input, so I bought the one from Maplin. Haven't tried it yet, so will let you know how it goes.

Jarrak · 30-08-2004, 16:59

If you are getting a hiss from both the AUX and CD phono inputs when using more than one source the DS633 is obviously faulty and when a replacement does the same thing then you have to suspect a dud batch.

Seriously, spending money on fixing the problem at your end is foolish, the DS 633 is damaged and may even have further issues during it's warranty period. Would have made more sense to buy another system or a more versatile AV amp and speakers.

technoflare · 31-08-2004, 07:28

Take it back, and do it soon....if the problem continues get a refund and get it elsewhere to get away from that batch...or get it replaced by the maker...

The unit you have has had good reviews and if you are on a budget then not too bad...but nothing can beat a full system, around £300+...I had a cheap system but had to get the full monty for arounf £500.

Lawnmower man · 10-09-2004, 01:18

The analogue to digtal converter did the trick inputting via the optical inpu tof the sub, but in the back of my mind I thought there was wrong.

Rang Acoustic Solutions again and they said they had a bad batch and to buy a different brand. (great sales technique).

Argos were selling an LG model FA P3000 with £50 off. So I bought that. Great sound, no hissing and it does prologic 2, aswell as dts and dolby. Far better than the AS one.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

The iNSOMNIAc · 06-10-2004, 14:29

i had the ds 633 for about a month untill it went tits up. all sound was like they were underwater and a strong smell of smoke/burning was comming out of the unit.

it went back to argos and i exchanged + cash for the LG. What a difference. sound is Crisp and clear through all 5 sats. Bass is MEGA. well worth the extra cash.

connections are.
Sky + is through optical.
Dvd is through Coaxial
plasma tv tuner through Composite Audio.

i was stunned by the difference in sound quality between two lower spec/priced surround systems.

Lawnmower man · 07-10-2004, 17:05

The Lg is an excellent system, great decoder and sound too!!

Stevejd · 08-10-2004, 08:56

What you have to remember is that with a standard SKY box with analogue audio connectors (L/R), all you can ever get is pro-logic, iof the broadcast data contains the pro-logic info. This is encoded in the L/R channels, but is program and channel dependent.

In order to get true 5.1 you need a digital feed from the sky box along with the appropriate audio processing. Currently only the Sky+ box outputs the 5.1 sound on the digital channel, and that is only for selected films.

The iNSOMNIAc · 08-10-2004, 09:48

Thats true Stevejd.
another plus point the lg has over the AS 633.
The lg can change from prologic to 5.1 in about 1 - 2 seconds and is quiet about it. where as the AS junk sometines took up to 20 seconds when $ky changed audio on one of the movie channels and what a clicking thumping noise it made during the change over.

25-08-2004, 22:23	#1
Lawnmower man Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 15	sky audio and suround sound I recently bought the Acoustic Solutions DS 633 surround system from Argos. Great sound from my dvd player through the coaxial connections. But when I connect up my Pace Sky box to the surround system via phonos(these are the only audio out connections the sk ybox has), there is a terrible hiss coming mainly from the front and centre speakers. When I connected the dvd via phono leads the audio system made the same hiss, but the coxial was ok. Changed phono leads etc. but to no avail Is there an adapter to convert my 2 phonos from sky box to coaxial for the audio unit? any ideas

26-08-2004, 01:30	#2
jcx Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: UK Posts: 321	To get true surround sound you need Sky Plus with an optical connection. You could try one of these to convert to optical, or you could try splitting a scart with an Xbox type converter thing to give you a different output. I connect my Pace Sky box to my Sony AV system and it sounds fine.

30-08-2004, 01:08	#3
srobbo999 Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 84	If the surround system hisses when you connect either the sky box or the dvd player via phonos, then it is the surround system that is at fault. I have my sky box hooked up to a Sony surround system via phono and I have no problems. You don't get 5.1 surround but you do get Dolby Pro Logic II which sounds a hundred times better than nicam stereo through the TV. My advice would be to return the system to Argos as it sounds as if it is faulty.

30-08-2004, 11:40	#4
Lawnmower man Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 15	I rang Acoustic Solutions, the manufacturer, and they said he system was faulty, so I took it back to Argos for a replacement. The new system is the same, a hiss when switched to aux to use the phono inputs from the sky box. Jcx recommended an analogue to digital converter, so I can use a different input, so I bought the one from Maplin. Haven't tried it yet, so will let you know how it goes.

30-08-2004, 16:59	#5
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	If you are getting a hiss from both the AUX and CD phono inputs when using more than one source the DS633 is obviously faulty and when a replacement does the same thing then you have to suspect a dud batch. Seriously, spending money on fixing the problem at your end is foolish, the DS 633 is damaged and may even have further issues during it's warranty period. Would have made more sense to buy another system or a more versatile AV amp and speakers.

31-08-2004, 07:28	#6
technoflare Forum Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Warrington Posts: 2,458	Take it back, and do it soon....if the problem continues get a refund and get it elsewhere to get away from that batch...or get it replaced by the maker... The unit you have has had good reviews and if you are on a budget then not too bad...but nothing can beat a full system, around £300+...I had a cheap system but had to get the full monty for arounf £500.

10-09-2004, 01:18	#7
Lawnmower man Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 15	The analogue to digtal converter did the trick inputting via the optical inpu tof the sub, but in the back of my mind I thought there was wrong. Rang Acoustic Solutions again and they said they had a bad batch and to buy a different brand. (great sales technique). Argos were selling an LG model FA P3000 with £50 off. So I bought that. Great sound, no hissing and it does prologic 2, aswell as dts and dolby. Far better than the AS one. Thanks everyone for the replies.

06-10-2004, 14:29	#8
The iNSOMNIAc Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5	i had the ds 633 for about a month untill it went tits up. all sound was like they were underwater and a strong smell of smoke/burning was comming out of the unit. it went back to argos and i exchanged + cash for the LG. What a difference. sound is Crisp and clear through all 5 sats. Bass is MEGA. well worth the extra cash. connections are. Sky + is through optical. Dvd is through Coaxial plasma tv tuner through Composite Audio. i was stunned by the difference in sound quality between two lower spec/priced surround systems.

07-10-2004, 17:05	#9
Lawnmower man Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 15	The Lg is an excellent system, great decoder and sound too!!

08-10-2004, 08:56	#10
Stevejd Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Chippenham Posts: 132	What you have to remember is that with a standard SKY box with analogue audio connectors (L/R), all you can ever get is pro-logic, iof the broadcast data contains the pro-logic info. This is encoded in the L/R channels, but is program and channel dependent. In order to get true 5.1 you need a digital feed from the sky box along with the appropriate audio processing. Currently only the Sky+ box outputs the 5.1 sound on the digital channel, and that is only for selected films.

08-10-2004, 09:48	#11
The iNSOMNIAc Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5	Thats true Stevejd. another plus point the lg has over the AS 633. The lg can change from prologic to 5.1 in about 1 - 2 seconds and is quiet about it. where as the AS junk sometines took up to 20 seconds when $ky changed audio on one of the movie channels and what a clicking thumping noise it made during the change over.

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sky audio and suround sound