DVDO audio static

[Discordance]

I’m looking for a solution to what I’m hoping is a simple problem. I’ve searched the web, but can’t seem to find anyone that has the same issue, so I’m hoping that I am just very foolish and the answer is not worth listing online.

Generally speaking, my DVDO Edge seems to generate quite a bit of (LOUD) audio static on certain occasions. These occasions typically involve the start-up of a device that run through the DVDO (including the DVDO itself), or blank/dark screens. When audio kicks in, the static normally all SEEMS to go away.

My signal chain is “Video/audio source” connected via composit/component/HDMI --> DVDO (via HDMI) --> Toshiba 42”. Audio comes through my TV's speakers.

The sound only occurs when a device passes through the DVDO. I have moved cables around and never found a fix. PS2 and PS3 startup screens are always accompanied by a great deal of static along with the graphics, but the static subsides fairly quickly. This static also can be especially overwhelming when games load up. Scene changes in movies (laserdisc, DVD, Blu-Ray) can also cause the static sound to appear. If my TV is turned on, but nothing else is, turning on the DVDO will cause a sudden large burst of static and then persistent white noise.

I haven’t fooled around much with audio settings such as surround sound and such, but I don’t recall being able to fix this issue through adjusting those numbers. The PS3, for example, could be set to 5.1 and cause static through the DVDO, but not if connected directly to my TV.

My cables are not of any outstanding quality. I was taught to think that cables matter a lot less than BestBuy employees teach us. That said, I am open to the idea that I need better cables if you all think that is definitely a likely source of the problem. If so, I’d like a suggestion for a cable brand. If the fix I need is just one HQ cable to go from the DVDO Edge to the TV with, that would surely be reassuring.


Lastly, I haven't tried a DVDO Edge software update either. I just have assume this was unrelated, and have been otherwise pleased with the video processing of my DVDO Edge.

I have also never tried to replicate this on another TV, which would tell me something for sure, but I do not have access to one.

I appreciate any assistance you all could provide me with.

Cheers,

[BuckoA51]

You're not stacking any consoles on top of the unit are you?

[Fudoh]

I think to remember audio problems with earlier Edge FWs many years ago, so you should definitely make sure that you're running the latest FW, especially if there have months or even years between your FW and the most current one.

As long as you get those audio problems with digital sources (HDMI) as well, the cables are hardly to blame.

Two easy tests you can do: exchange the HDMI cable running from the Edge to the TV. And try to output audio from the SPDIF or coax connector instead, either to your AVR or to your TV. This way you can easily narrow it down and see if it's a cable/connection problem or a problem with the Edge itself.

[kel]

Common problem. I also have it on my DVDO Edge. The only way that I know to get rid of it is to turn the audio delay to full negative. I could be wrong and something else could be the cause for you but I would definitely recommend trying the audio delay first.

[Fudoh]

wasn't this caused by a defective buffer memory for the audio signal ? By setting the delay to it's minimum you probably disable this audio buffer.

[Discordance]

You're not stacking any consoles on top of the unit are you?

Absolutely not! Good question though.

I think to remember audio problems with earlier Edge FWs many years ago, so you should definitely make sure that you're running the latest FW, especially if there have months or even years between your FW and the most current one.

As long as you get those audio problems with digital sources (HDMI) as well, the cables are hardly to blame.

Two easy tests you can do: exchange the HDMI cable running from the Edge to the TV. And try to output audio from the SPDIF or coax connector instead, either to your AVR or to your TV. This way you can easily narrow it down and see if it's a cable/connection problem or a problem with the Edge itself.

Regarding the audio testing, I wanted to do just that, but I don't think my TV has a coax cable hook-up. It may have an SPDIF though... never looked. It does, however, have a standard audio cable plug (for computer audio). It is strange because it says "computer/HDMI" on it and I was wondering if I could go from my DVDO's HDMI Audio Only output to that input, but frankly haven't looked much into that.

And with firmware, I just haven't read anywhere about Edge firmware effecting audio, but I HAVE read about firmware screwing with video, so I've been frightened to make any updates. Still, I will try this eventually I think.

Common problem. I also have it on my DVDO Edge. The only way that I know to get rid of it is to turn the audio delay to full negative. I could be wrong and something else could be the cause for you but I would definitely recommend trying the audio delay first.

Good to hear something from another Edge owner. I'll give your suggestion a shot. I may have read somewhere about some audio delay issues and not understood the terminology. I'll play around with it later today.

[kel]

wasn't this caused by a defective buffer memory for the audio signal ? By setting the delay to it's minimum you probably disable this audio buffer.

I'm not sure, I'm not very clued up on how these things work to be honest but it sounds very likely to me. I mean the fault has to be somewhere on the audio buffer circuit, surely?

I gave up on it in the end. It seemed to much hassle and/or expense to get it sorted for the sake of 56-75ms max audio delay which isn't very noticeable when it's primary use for me is gaming. Maybe if I used it for movies then I would be more interested in getting it fixed.

[Discordance]

I'll try to give you some feedback tonight or tomorrow.

[Discordance]

This does seem to work quite well, but I'm not sure how this will effect my overall user experience.

I threw a DVD into my PS2, turned off the audio delay, and couldn't really notice anything. It could be a different story with laserdiscs though. For games I foresee little issue. I play almost exclusively RPGs and the delay is only -6 more than game mode (I think).

I may just start plugging my PS3 directly into my TV.

By the way, my PS3 is from Japan, so it doesn't play American DVDs. That's the main reason why I'm watching DVDs on my PS2 and running them through the DVDO. Would an average widescreen DVD playing on a PS3 look much better than one being played on a PS3 and running though the DVDO Edge?

[Fudoh]

I play almost exclusively RPGs and the delay is only -6 more than game mode (I think).

but for RPGs you should definitely disable the game mode, the deinterlacing is much better then. Gives you a delay of about 3 frames though.

By the way, my PS3 is from Japan, so it doesn't play American DVDs. That's the main reason why I'm watching DVDs on my PS2 and running them through the DVDO. Would an average widescreen DVD playing on a PS3 look much better than one being played on a PS3 and running though the DVDO Edge?

The PS2 is a shitty DVD player. Why not spend $50 on a HDMI DVD player and have the Edge do the rest ?

[ryu]

The PS2 is a shitty DVD player. Why not spend $50 on a HDMI DVD player and have the Edge do the rest ?

what makes a good dvd player anyways? it's not just progressive output, is it?

[Fudoh]

For movie playback 480/576p is fine, since the Edge can do PREP (=re-interlacing).

Otherwise native HDMI output in 480i or 576i is recommended. If you go high-end you can just as well use the component outputs.

[Discordance]

I play almost exclusively RPGs and the delay is only -6 more than game mode (I think).

but for RPGs you should definitely disable the game mode, the deinterlacing is much better then. Gives you a delay of about 3 frames though.

By the way, my PS3 is from Japan, so it doesn't play American DVDs. That's the main reason why I'm watching DVDs on my PS2 and running them through the DVDO. Would an average widescreen DVD playing on a PS3 look much better than one being played on a PS3 and running though the DVDO Edge?

The PS2 is a shitty DVD player. Why not spend $50 on a HDMI DVD player and have the Edge do the rest ?

I should, but just haven't. What a I really need is A DVD player with a nice comb filter to pass my LaserDisc signal through. Used to have a RCA DRC8335, but it died about a year ago. Then I was playing DVDs on a 360 that my friend lent me, but he finally sold it. lol

[ryu]

For movie playback 480/576p is fine, since the Edge can do PREP (=re-interlacing).

Otherwise native HDMI output in 480i or 576i is recommended. If you go high-end you can just as well use the component outputs.

what makes the ps2 a bad dvd-player then?

and why would we want a processor to interlace something? shouldn't the signal be deinterlaced for use with a flatscreen monitor?

[Fudoh]

what makes the ps2 a bad dvd-player then?

overall bad component quality for DVD movies. Mediocre MPEG2 decoder with visible block and macro noise.

and why would we want a processor to interlace something? shouldn't the signal be deinterlaced for use with a flatscreen monitor?

because cheap DVD players do a bad job in deinterlacing, so if you take a cheap DVD player with HDMI 480p out and route it into an Edge, you activate PREP, the Edge reinterlaces to 480i, throws out all the additional data the DVD player created, reinstates the original interlaced fields and passes those on to it's own deinterlacer.

The benchmark is quite easy: good DVD player, nicely mastered DVD and good processor equals 720p HDTV quality.

[ryu]

so i'd need a player with good mpeg2 decoding.

are there any players like that that are "region free"? maybe some that can be modded to play any region dvds?

been wondering that forever, but i rarely watch dvds anyways so its never been a priority to me

[Fudoh]

so i'd need a player with good mpeg2 decoding.

you got a VP30, so no PREP, so you require a good 480i output through component or HDMI.

are there any players like that that are "region free"? maybe some that can be modded to play any region dvds?

almost all DVD players can be switched to region-free playback using remote codes.

[ryu]

you got a VP30, so no PREP, so you require a good 480i output through component or HDMI.

yes, that's what i was going for anyways

thanks for the input. i'm relieved to hear about the trick to getting things region free. i thought i'd be much harder to achieve than that...

[Discordance]

I thought I'd add that I updated all my firmware and it did nothing to the static. Reset everything back to max negative audio and it kills the static. An annoying fix, but so far it doesn't seem to mess with much.

you got a VP30, so no PREP, so you require a good 480i output through component or HDMI.

yes, that's what i was going for anyways

thanks for the input. i'm relieved to hear about the trick to getting things region free. i thought i'd be much harder to achieve than that...

I watch animation and anime DVDs almost exclusively and I have such a hard time telling where the quality issues are: Source material DVD encoding, DVD player, interlacing...

Fudoh, you mentioned buying a $50 DVD player with HDMI out. I've also seen dvd players that offer "AMAZING 1080p UP-CONVERSION!"

Should I avoid feeding an up-converting DVD player and look for the less expensive variety, or will my EDGE figure it out regardless and give me a good picture?

[Fudoh]

No, you NEED to feed the source resolution. 480i vs. 480p doesn't matter if you use the PREP function, but upscaling beforehand kills it all. But you can certainly disable upscaling on all DVD players. Every HDMI player will output 480p and a few even 480i.

You can also go for a BD player instead. There are no good DVD players in production anymore.

[Discordance]

No, you NEED to feed the source resolution. 480i vs. 480p doesn't matter if you use the PREP function, but upscaling beforehand kills it all. But you can certainly disable upscaling on all DVD players. Every HDMI player will output 480p and a few even 480i.

You can also go for a BD player instead. There are no good DVD players in production anymore.

Thanks for the clarification.

Perhaps I can ask you another question while we are on the subject though. I've seen you add your opinion to some discussions of comb filters on the AVS forums, so maybe you can help me kill 2 birds with one stone. Is there an option for a DVD player (obviously a combo VCR I assume) that I could composite in from my laserdisc player that would offer a good comb filter and a nice output into my edge for DVD playback?

I obtained a MASSIVE LD collection from a guy that was basically giving them away (over 500 + a Pioneer DVL-919 for 100 bucks). The LD player is great, but, of course, lacks a good comb filter. So does the edge... so does my TV...

Perhaps there isn't one, although I did recently read about a combo BD/VHS recently on the AVS forums. If only a BD/VCR!

[Fudoh]

There are a bunch of players/recorders by Pioneer which can act as great DVD players and have a great comb filter. UNFORTUNATELY those seem to be extremely expensive in the USA. I just checked eBay.com for completed auctions and saw a Pioneer DVR-560H sell for $999. Seems ridiculous to me, since the 550H and the LX60/61 are about 80-120 EUR over here.

I have a LX70D and use it as a comb filter between my HLD-X9 and an Algolith Mosquito noise processor.

[Discordance]

A DVR eh? I'll keep my eyes open for an American equivalent, but it seems impossible to know if the unit actually has a good 3d comb filter.

Is it just a given that good brands like pioneer have good comb filters?

[Fudoh]

Pioneer 550H, LX60, LX61 and LX70 are confirmed to have great comb filters, so I would assume that the US machines released around the same time frame have the same comb filter installed. No idea about other manufacturers.

[Discordance]

Pioneer 550H, LX60, LX61 and LX70 are confirmed to have great comb filters, so I would assume that the US machines released around the same time frame have the same comb filter installed. No idea about other manufacturers.

You seem like a pretty bright guy Fudoh, but assuming things about products made for the American market is foolish!