HD channels have lower volume than same SD ch.

[Jerryinvirginia]

I'm positive that there has been discussion concerning this topic, but failed to find it by search. Several of my E* friends, as well as myself, find that when selecting a HD channel and setting volume to a normal level, that when a SD channel is chosen, the volume level is higher. If the tv is used for the audio source and offers a limiter circuit, the problem is less noticeable. Trying to feed the audio thru an amplifier makes this a greater problem. It seems like all of the VIP models have this level difference whether DD or composite output is fed to the amp. Has there been a suggestion, previously posted, that answers this situation?

 

[Jolard]

I am not sure, but it could just be because the HD channels are Dolby Digital, wheras the SD channels are just stereo. I know that the DD can often have a lower volume.

As for solution, I don't know.

 

[Jerryinvirginia]

I am not sure, but it could just be because the HD channels are Dolby Digital, wheras the SD channels are just stereo. I know that the DD can often have a lower volume.

As for solution, I don't know.

Are you hearing this level change?

 

[VinceT3]

It's 5.1 that does that.. FCC was looking into mandating that broadcasters fix commercials that aren't 5.1 so that vol of the tv doesn't irritate people..

 

[Spaz]

Same thing happens on the OTA channels when you flip from analog to digital. Just the difference between DD and stereo.

 

[Ronald_Jeremy]

It's 5.1 that does that.. FCC was looking into mandating that broadcasters fix commercials that aren't 5.1 so that vol of the tv doesn't irritate people..

Yep. My locals are like this. Not with the commercials, but when they switch modes to SD and the receiver kicks out of 5.1 mode. Like when they have to insert the crawls for weather alerts. I have to turn the volume down. Then when they kick back into HD and the audio goes back to DD5.1 I have to turn the volume back up.

 

[Jerryinvirginia]

Selected USA network,HD vs USA SD, fed to Sony flatscreen using component video/ composite L/R audio, hear a higher level on SD. Same thing on CNN and Travel Ch.?????

 

[wonko]

This is a built-in aspect of the Dolby specification. The "lower" volume is used to enable more overall dynamic range. You can set your receiver to "night" mode which compresses the dynamic range, and will probably make the difference less noticeable.

 

[Jerryinvirginia]

This is a built-in aspect of the Dolby specification. The "lower" volume is used to enable more overall dynamic range. You can set your receiver to "night" mode which compresses the dynamic range, and will probably make the difference less noticeable.

Appreciate the suggestion, but for this recent test the audio is directly to component input to tv, not thru an amp??????

 

[Jerryinvirginia]

Are ALL HD channels considered to be DD? I noticed that tuner #2 feeding a modulated signal connected to tv ch 60, doesn't seem to have this volume difference. Tuner #2 connected to component shows the same as #1?????

 

[wonko]

Are ALL HD channels considered to be DD? I noticed that tuner #2 feeding a modulated signal connected to tv ch 60, doesn't seem to have this volume difference. Tuner #2 connected to component shows the same as #1?????

In your case, with the audio connections using the line-level RCA connectors, the Dish receiver is just downconverting the 5.1 back to a stereo signal. I don't imagine it will do any level/range conversion as part of that. I would think TV 1 and 2 would work the same.

For the modulated TV 2 output, there may be some level conversion going on during the conversion to an MTS stereo signal.

FYI, for terminology clarification, component refers to video signals only, audio is either line-level RCA or optical out of the Dish box. Also, TV 2 video output is composite, not component.

 

[dennispap]

Yep. My locals are like this. Not with the commercials, but when they switch modes to SD and the receiver kicks out of 5.1 mode. Like when they have to insert the crawls for weather alerts. I have to turn the volume down. Then when they kick back into HD and the audio goes back to DD5.1 I have to turn the volume back up.

Same here, when the commercials come on i hit the mute button on my receiver, when it goes back to 5.1, my receiver clicks and i unmute it.

 

[Jerryinvirginia]

In your case, with the audio connections using the line-level RCA connectors, the Dish receiver is just downconverting the 5.1 back to a stereo signal. I don't imagine it will do any level/range conversion as part of that. I would think TV 1 and 2 would work the same.

For the modulated TV 2 output, there may be some level conversion going on during the conversion to an MTS stereo signal.

FYI, for terminology clarification, component refers to video signals only, audio is either line-level RCA or optical out of the Dish box. Also, TV 2 video output is composite, not component.

To clarify: E*, has SD chs that are also HD. The volume on ANY of the SD chs vs their HD twin, is higher..... eg: 722.. #1 tuner component/RCA out to SONY tv, #1 component in, the SD ch is louder than the HD twin. HDMI out of 722 to HDMI #1 in, on Sony, SD is louder. This holds true if optical DD out of 722 is exchanged for RCA out. Tuner #2 on 722 passing composite/RCA to video 1 on Sony has the same vol level change. Modulated ch 60 from Tuner 2 to TV input on Sony, no volume difference. As posted above, this is a universal occurance and the solution is avoid surfing HD>SD>HD>SD.. surf HD then adjust vol level and surf SD?

 

[wonko]

To clarify: E*, has SD chs that are also HD. The volume on ANY of the SD chs vs their HD twin, is higher..... eg: 722.. #1 tuner component/RCA out to SONY tv, #1 component in, the SD ch is louder than the HD twin. HDMI out of 722 to HDMI #1 in, on Sony, SD is louder. This holds true if optical DD out of 722 is exchanged for RCA out. Tuner #2 on 722 passing composite/RCA to video 1 on Sony has the same vol level change. Modulated ch 60 from Tuner 2 to TV input on Sony, no volume difference. As posted above, this is a universal occurance and the solution is avoid surfing HD>SD>HD>SD.. surf HD then adjust vol level and surf SD?

That's just the way it is. Any channel in DD will be quieter than the non-DD ones because of the expanded dynamic range. I discovered this almost 10 years ago using the external DD converter module with my model 5000.

 

[MNHTUG]

Volume levels between HD channels versus HD channels has been a problem for us as long as I can remember. Any time we go to change a channel or end a DVR event we automatically turn down volume in preperation for screaming load level if the stationcoming on happens to be SD. Why is it so difficult for Dish Network to address this problem?

 

[M Sparks]

It's not Dish Network's problem to solve. It has nothing to do with them. It's simply an issue of compression.

 

[steve4810]

Dolby Volume: Solving the Problem of Annoyingly Loud TV Content

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Yep, Dish is not going to do anything about it because this is a FEATURE and not a PROBLEM!

It has been true for all E* (and D*) DD channels ever since they first offered them several years ago. E* and D* are doing what we want them to do, and that is to pass along the original, unaltered audio tracks.

You can minimize the sound level differences if you go into your System Setup and change your Dolby Digital setting from LINE mode to RF mode. This will compress the dynamic range, at a loss in fidelity.

 

[kovach]

See my comments here for an explanation and how to change it if desired:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-hd-discussions/106232-sd-channels-much-louder-than-hd.html

 

[gadgtfreek]

Same thing happens on the OTA channels when you flip from analog to digital. Just the difference between DD and stereo.

Yepp, Dish HD locals and OTA HD locals are MUCH quieter than SD. Always been like that.