Blu-ray player - sound inconsistencies - help please

bl0at3r

bl0at3r

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I have recently bought a PS3 as a Blu-ray player and this is connected to a Samsung 40" LCD (approx 2 years old) via HDMI.

I have started my collection with the Bourne Trilogy and a number of other titles inc Gran Torino.

My issue is the sound - the voices seem very quiet and the sound effects/music is a lot louder.

I am using the standard built in speakers from the tv - these are perfectly loud enough (am semi-detached and consider my neighbours) so don't want or feel the need for full on cinema sound system.

But the voices do seem to be distinctly quieter - to the point that I have to keep turning up the volume to hear the dialogue, which then makes the rest of the sound too loud.

Is this something to do with Dolby 5.1 and the way the sound is recorded - I assume the voices usually come out of the centre channel - which clearly through a nicam stereo tv I do not have a centre channel.

How would I adjust this or improve the sound?

Would a discrete sound bar under the tv address this issue?
 
pretty sure your ps3 thinks it's connected to a surround system so it's trying to output to more channels than actually exist. Hence the quiet voices.

Go into the audio settings on your ps3 and try the auto setup. If that doesn't work you might need to do it manually and deselect everything other than 2ch outputs.

and yes, a soundbar would improve matters
 
antihero said:
pretty sure your ps3 thinks it's connected to a surround system so it's trying to output to more channels than actually exist. Hence the quiet voices.

Go into the audio settings on your ps3 and try the auto setup. If that doesn't work you might need to do it manually and deselect everything other than 2ch outputs.

and yes, a soundbar would improve matters
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thanks for the reply - when the wife gets off the tv (some saturday evening carp on sky+ :cuckoo:) I will check this out. :thumbs:
 
Some tvs also have an automatic compression thing for loudening quiet bits without letting loud bits get too loud. If that is offered experiment with that too. It squashes the dynamic range a bit which some producers seem to use to extremes so cast members mumble quietly one minute then someone blows up a speed boat immediately after and your ears get assaulted.

Modern lcd tvs aren't wonderful for sound as they're so thin. Unfortunately samsung are about the worst. I'd definitely consider a soundbar.

Otherwise make sure the ps3 is outputting normal stereo.
 
PS3 was set to PCM stereo only - none of the other fancy options were enable
Tv had some presets - vocal being about the best but at the expense of making everything tinny and only improved the vocal dialogue a little.

Seems from a bit of googling that the quiet vocals is a common complaint across all kinds of tv/Bluray combos and even on some home cinema.

General consensus is to increase centre channel sound level :thinking:

Some sound bars have centre speaker some don't - the Yamaha s401 seems to get some good write ups for example and has 'clear voice' feature.

Off for some more research :thumbs:
 
neil_g said:
the tv doesnt have any kind of faux surround setting does it?
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No - not that I can see

There is an auto volume adjust thing - when set to on it just clips the sound as soon as anything loud comes on - sounds awful and does nothing for the voice/dialogue issue
 
good enough reason to treat yourself to some surround sound goodiness :)

Only problem is, decent soundbars are not cheap. You may have reasons for wanting a soundbar, but a decent 5.1 setup (receiver and speakers) would no doubt work out a lot less expensive than a decent soundbar.
 
antihero said:
good enough reason to treat yourself to some surround sound goodiness :)

Only problem is, decent soundbars are not cheap. You may have reasons for wanting a soundbar, but a decent 5.1 setup (receiver and speakers) would no doubt work out a lot less expensive than a decent soundbar.
Click to expand...

Honestly - I don't want any kind of surround sound system - am quite happy with tv speakers except for the voice dialogue on blu-rays.

Am thinking sound bar would be easiest and least hassle whilst attempting to address the issue :shrug:
 
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