Weird dvd sound problem

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blue-eye-boy

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This weekend I rented 2 dvd's. It played fine, but the vocal sound is gone, or very very very soft. But all the other sounds are fine, like backround sounds, music, everything. I took the dvds back, and it played just fine on the shop dvd player. then I took it back, same story.

Then I switched on the tv's sound as well, so the sound player through the sound system speakers, and also the tv screen speakers. Then all was fine, I could hear the vocal and everything.

And this was not the first time I encountered this, I just thought it was the dvd's always.
 
its a stereo vs 5.1 surround issue


what sound system have you got setup at home?
 
Your DVD player, does it connect via coax (digital). Or is it one of those with a cable for each channel (the decoding is done in the DVD player).
 
Yes it is a 5.1 setup. The tv and dvd player is connected with a optical sound cable, and hdmi cable. Then the speakers is connected the normal way, wires running in to the player's connectors. I will check tonight, but why does it work with certain dvd's then, and also avi files through the usb stick?
 
Is there a choice of sound options on the rental dvd menu? Select one of the other options... e.g. non-DTS.

Secondly, what is the region code of dvds? Some rental shops are peddling Region 1 dvds, which do not play properly in the standard dvd players.
 
I didn't check the region of the dvd's, but both didn't have other sound options.
 
Agree on settings.

When you say it plays 'normally' with other DVDs, what actually happens?
Do you get vocals centre and the rest of the sounds through the other 4 speakers?
Or does it use two speakers - or does everything play at the same level out the 5?

AVIs are generally stereo - which is why it could be normal? I have no idea about the other DVDs - unless they were (for some reason) stereo too?

EDIT : Region DVDs will either work - or not. There's no inbetween
 
Dolby said:
Agree on settings.

When you say it plays 'normally' with other DVDs, what actually happens?
Do you get vocals centre and the rest of the sounds through the other 4 speakers?
Or does it use two speakers - or does everything play at the same level out the 5?

AVIs are generally stereo - which is why it could be normal? I have no idea about the other DVDs - unless they were (for some reason) stereo too?

EDIT : Region DVDs will either work - or not. There's no inbetween
Click to expand...
I never listened what comes through on what speaker, but will do when I rent a dvd again.
 
Tremayn said:
Try and increase the center speakers volume
Click to expand...

That is it 100%.

9 times out of 10, these "all in one" 5.1 surround combo packages have quite large and powerful front speakers and a dinky center.

fiddle with the center and rear volume levels to equal values in the listening position.
An easy and quite precise way is to use your smartphone to assist you. I know the apple iStore has many free SPL meters and other dB measuring tools... I'm sure android and BB have their versions as well.

get into the "Level calibration" menu of your systems settings and get a base line reading with your front left speaker on the SPL meter (Sound Pressure Level). be sure to put it in "Absolute" measuring mode because relative mode won't help too much.

Then calibrate each channel's levels to match the dB level of the front left speaker while sitting in the spot where you usually watch movies from.

This is a good way to get 95% of the way there... you can always fiddle with your levels to suit your ear and system setup. For example, if your surround speakers are small compared to your fronts, you might want them 1 or 2 dBs higher to accentuate the surround effects. If dialogue is still not as loud as the rest of the movie, then turn your center up a notch or two as well.
Be sure to adjust your sub to your listening preference as well.

one other thing that might help...

If your levels are more or less correct... but you still find that you have to have the volume at such a high level to hear the dialogue... but the action scenes are louder than JuJu at a karaoke bar with free single malt... go into your DVD players settings and find something called "Dynamic Range" and turn that setting ON.

This is a variable program that actively normalizes the volume to a relatively constant level. So it won't lift the roof off the lounge when that helicopter flies over in the movie, or cars start blowing up.


let us know how it all works out... more than willing to help further
 
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