Sky HD Box channel output volume much lower than other HD inputs

westbridgfordguy

So I got myself a new TV before Xmas which I had already hooked up to my surround sound system. When I watch Netflix or YouTube through the TV or Now TV through a HDMI input or even when on my PS4 and then swap inputs to the Sky HDMI input the volume is markedly lower.

There is a slight bit of variance on Sky from channel to channel but a huge amount when I toggle between the Sky HDMI input and the other inputs so much so that as I have to compensate for the Sky HDMI channel being quieter than the other inputs when I swap from Sky I nearly blow my surround speakers as the variance is so large and have to have my finger ready on the volume adjust button when toggling. I would say the Sky HDMI input is about 40% quieter.

I have checked the Sky box sound settings and one can only toggle between stereo or mono or Digital sound and normal none of which have any effect. I have also checked the sound settings on my Hisense TV and there is no way in my eyes of adjusting the sound gradient on a particular HDMI input and switching on the stabilise sound from channel to channel function has no effect either.

Any suggestions how to equalise the sound output from the Sky HD box please?

[Deleted User]

westbridgfordguy wrote: »

So I got myself a new TV before Xmas which I had already hooked up to my surround sound system. When I watch Netflix or YouTube through the TV or Now TV through a HDMI input or even when on my PS4 and then swap inputs to the Sky HDMI input the volume is markedly lower.

There is a slight bit of variance on Sky from channel to channel but a huge amount when I toggle between the Sky HDMI input and the other inputs so much so that as I have to compensate for the Sky HDMI channel being quieter than the other inputs when I swap from Sky I nearly blow my surround speakers as the variance is so large and have to have my finger ready on the volume adjust button when toggling. I would say the Sky HDMI input is about 40% quieter.

I have checked the Sky box sound settings and one can only toggle between stereo or mono or Digital sound and normal none of which have any effect. I have also checked the sound settings on my Hisense TV and there is no way in my eyes of adjusting the sound gradient on a particular HDMI input and switching on the stabilise sound from channel to channel function has no effect either.

Any suggestions how to equalise the sound output from the Sky HD box please?

It's not a problem with the Sky box (presuming it's working as intended) as we've had Sky for years with various TV's with no issues.

What is the surround system and how exactly is everything connected?

westbridgfordguy

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

It's not a problem with the Sky box (presuming it's working as intended) as we've had Sky for years with various TV's with no issues.

What is the surround system and how exactly is everything connected?

It's a Panasonic surround system effectively a DVD player which is connected to a sub woofer which powers the surround speakers when turned on. There is an optical cable connected from the back of the DVD player connected to the TV and the HDMI inputs from the Sky box, Now TV, PS4 all connect into the rear of the TV into the HDMI sockets.

So basically the optical cable goes direct from rear of DVD player into TV likewise the HDMI connection from Sky box goes straight into socket in TV. I've tried putting optical cable from DVD into rear of Sky box but this has no effect on sounds output.

[Deleted User]

westbridgfordguy wrote: »

It's a Panasonic surround system effectively a DVD player which is connected to a sub woofer which powers the surround speakers when turned on. There is an optical cable connected from the back of the DVD player connected to the TV and the HDMI inputs from the Sky box, Now TV, PS4 all connect into the rear of the TV into the HDMI sockets.

So basically the optical cable goes direct from rear of DVD player into TV likewise the HDMI connection from Sky box goes straight into socket in TV. I've tried putting optical cable from DVD into rear of Sky box but this has no effect on sounds output.

Have you tried switching the HDMI inputs around on the TV? Also try switching the cables.

Does the Panasonic system have any sort of normalisation setting if none of the above help?

almillar

I have a similar problem to this over various sources - it's often a difference between stereo and 5.1 sound. Current annoyance is 4OD on the smart TV, which is louder than other apps on the very same TV!
Along the lines that Colin is thinking, maybe the DVD player has volume settings for individual inputs?
You have everything into the TV via HDMI, then from TV to DVD via optical? What other inputs does the DVD have? If it has another optical in, you could connect the Sky to that, and see if you can adjust individual levels.
Are you sure you get 5.1 sound through the TV into the DVD?

westbridgfordguy

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Have you tried switching the HDMI inputs around on the TV? Also try switching the cables.

Does the Panasonic system have any sort of normalisation setting if none of the above help?

Have tried swapping HDMI leads around ports and also leads themselves which hasn't had any discernable impact. I've also have a look through the DVD system settings and can't see any function which would alter the sound output only when playing a DVD.

The difference in sound levels is more prevalent when watching or listening to music channels it seems on Sky, the output on YouTube for example is far louder and crisper than the outputs on the Sky music channels.

westbridgfordguy

almillar wrote: »

I have a similar problem to this over various sources - it's often a difference between stereo and 5.1 sound. Current annoyance is 4OD on the smart TV, which is louder than other apps on the very same TV!
Along the lines that Colin is thinking, maybe the DVD player has volume settings for individual inputs?
You have everything into the TV via HDMI, then from TV to DVD via optical? What other inputs does the DVD have? If it has another optical in, you could connect the Sky to that, and see if you can adjust individual levels.
Are you sure you get 5.1 sound through the TV into the DVD?

Yes all inputs are via HDMI leads into the TV and there is an optical connection from the DVD into the TV directly. The DVD only has one optical connection, but also has a terminal in red marked coaxial which is the same shape as a Component socket.

Good question regards the 5.1 sound it is Dolby surround when playing a DVD but when using the optical cable the DVD only shows that the left and right speakers are being used not all 5 even though I can push the sound output through all 5 speakers which would suggest the output is in stereo even though on Sky box it is selected as Dolby D rather than Normal on the Digital Audio Output optical setting - there is no difference between the two settings when toggling.

The volume difference is far more prevalent when watching music channels on Sky then swapping over to a music app like YouTube am not sure if this is a local issue with the music channels on Sky but am definitely not imagining it.

almillar

Sky music channels.

I don't have the music pack, but the ones I do have are awful quality. If you're talking about radio on the Sky box, it's usually significantly louder than the TV channels.

Good question regards the 5.1 sound

I'll solve one problem that might help solve the problem you actually asked about. A lot of TVs 'downmix' sound before outputting them. So your TV gets 5.1 sound from any of your devices, and mangles it down to 2.0 (stereo) or 2.1 maybe, before outputting over optical. Very annoying!
Usually you should be inputting everything into your AV amp, or soundbar, then passing on to TV. You've got that the wrong way around, and it doesn't sound like the DVD box you have will have the inputs to cope with doing it 'right'.
Ideally you would have the sound from each device connected directly to the DVD. I don't think you've got the connections for that. If you want to keep it, then maybe this would help:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/eSynic-Toslink-Switcher-Digital-Dolby-AC3-3ports/dp/B07B8NMPBN/ref=pd_sbs_23_t_1/257-5881191-1773030?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07B8NMPBN&pd_rd_r=2ebf3d94-39bb-4f09-9841-54c27078df6c&pd_rd_w=xjJzv&pd_rd_wg=oyvO1&pf_rd_p=e44592b5-e56d-44c2-a4f9-dbdc09b29395&pf_rd_r=SFY6YN25N40W9C26HVZR&psc=1&refRID=SFY6YN25N40W9C26HVZR


You would connect Sky, PS4, TV into it, output to the DVD optical In. This would maintain the 5.1 sound from the Sky and PS4, and hopefully, everything will be better level wise. Did I miss a device out?


Not a personal recommendation, there are different devices like this, but make sure you buy a switch, not a splitter.

Rodders53

The better TVs have a 'per input' setting for matching the sound level presented (much the same as proper surround sound AVRs do).

They can also allow the picture settings to be adjusted per input.

Read the manuals if all else fails :rotfl: !

As I read this thread, the surround system doesn't use Audio Return Channel (ARC) over hdmi but relies on the TV optical out and the optical audio in on the DVD player system for the TV-connected kit
sound?

NB Only the HD TV channels on $ky can carry 5.1 sound. On BBC
HD channels many films, some sport and some dramas are in 5.1 (A Christmas Carol was 5.1). NO ITV HD stuff is ever 5.1. ALL C5 HD are flagged as 5.1 but not all programmes are. Channel 4 HD may have some 5.1 content.
$ky HD channels will have a fair bit in 5.1 of course.
NO standard definition channels can carry 5.1 sound.