HD Advisor March 11, 2011

[Attebery]

The HD Advisor is back!

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...HOT_97_FM/6505

[BladeRunner2019]

Just to clarify:

Both the HDMI cables are about 6' long. And the Amazon Basics cable is new. The SONY cable is the one I have had for years. I assumed that the new cable might be the issue. But I didn't want to jump to conclusions as I don't have a lot of experience with HDMI cables.

Thanks in advance for any advice you all may give.

[gravis778]

My first instinct is to suggest either a bad HDMI cable or that you're possibly running an HDMI cable too long for your signal chain. (HDMI doesn't carry a signal well over about 15 feet. But that's assuming that you're running a cable longer than that, which you didn't say.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Just to clarify:

Both the HDMI cables are about 6' long. And the Amazon Basics cable is new. The SONY cable is the one I have had for years. I assumed that the new cable might be the issue. But I didn't want to jump to conclusions as I don't have a lot of experience with HDMI cables.

I got several HDMI cables in my chain, and MOST I bought from Amazon. Now the $2 cables I get from Amazon (non-branded), I have had zero issues with, but I have had an issue with ONE Amazon Basic cable (I was getting Black Flashes). Here is the ironic thing - I had the Amazon basics cable running from the reciever to the TV (just like you), and it was my newest cable, and when I plugged it in.... But it gets weirder than that - I was ONLY having the issue when I switched the reciever over to the HD DVD player - the PS3, the PC and the cable reciever were working fine. So I replaced the old Phillips 1.3 HDMI cable that was going from the HD DVD player with another Amazon Basics 1.4 cable, and the issue went away.

Not really sure what the issue was, I mean, the rest of the cables were HDMI 1.3, and I had no issues until I plugged that Amazon Basics cable in. Really weird. Yet replacing the name-brand overpriced Phillips cable with an Amazon Basics cable solved the issue.

I will point out, though, that the Phillips was a 3 foot cable, and it was ran REALLY tight. I thought I had just maybe knocked the connector loose with its stretching or something.

Here is a thought - you obviously unhooked the old Sony HDMI cable during your rehooking of the home entertainment system - IF (not saying you did) pulled on the cable rather than on the plug itself, you could have dislodged a connection in the cable. Likewise, if the cable was cheaply crimped (do they use that phrase in audio cables?), its possible even pulling on the plug would have dislodged something.

You could try plugging the PS3 directly into the tv and see if you have the issue, but if you are only seeing it once every 10 minutes, I doubt you will see this issue - as it is probably a handshaking issue between the PS3, Reciever, and TV.

I know this is all speculation, but I am going to say your best bet is just to get a new HDMI cable from Amazon to replace the old Sony. They are cheap. Shoot, find one of those places that sells them on Amazon for $2 each, and order 3-4 of the things. That way, you have backups, you have one to lend to a friend if they ever go HD (charge them $10 for the thing and make them think they are getting a bargin), and you have some laying around in case you add components. Shoot, after shipping, you can get like 4 cables for probably around $12.

EDIT Just to clarify, Amazon has tons of third party resalers that sell cables for about $2 a piece, that have no brand on them. The Amazon Basics cables are sold by Amazon for about $7 a piece. The only reason for going with the Basics, in my opinion, are if you are an Amazon Prime user and want to guarentee your cable arrives in 1-2 business days and you don't want to pay for shipping. If you don't mind waiting a few days, get the cheap cables - after shipping, they tend to come out cheaper than the Amazon Basics, and the build quality seems to be better, although I am no expert. The Amazon Basic cables feel light and look thin, the $2 no-name brand cables seem thicker.

[Akira]

I had random infrequent white flashes from my Ps3 too. I took out the hdmi cable to inspect it, the plug fell apart in my hands. New (cheap) cable and not a white flash ever since.

[trekkerj]

Just to clarify:

Both the HDMI cables are about 6' long. And the Amazon Basics cable is new. The SONY cable is the one I have had for years. I assumed that the new cable might be the issue. But I didn't want to jump to conclusions as I don't have a lot of experience with HDMI cables.

Thanks in advance for any advice you all may give.

Does your screen flash white completely or does it look like 'snow'? If it's flashes of white snow, I have had that problem and learned it was a flaw in the design of the Onkyo receiver handling 1080p24 from the PS3.

[BladeRunner2019]

Does your screen flash white completely or does it look like 'snow'? If it's flashes of white snow, I have had that problem and learned it was a flaw in the design of the Onkyo receiver handling 1080p24 from the PS3.

It is a complete flash of the screen. It does not look like snow, or lines or any other type of interference.

I appreciate everybody's input. I'll be testing a different cable tonight in place of both the Sony cable and the Amazon cable...hopefully I can snoop out the culprit.

[Spader]

With regards to the PCM stereo, what I do with stereo sources is set the amp to 5 channel stereo - this means it fills the room with a strong stereo signal, and doesn't lead to the amp degrading the stereo mix by trying any faux-surround nonsense when the source isn't meant to be surround.

I often find a strong stereo put to all speakers sounds better than a weak surround mix.

I think the only PCM stereo DVD release I have is an Australian release of Werner Herzog's Gesauldo, which is an hour long documentary about a composer v- so a lot of classical music. I'm surprised more DVDs of short features don't have PCM stereo tracks, but then again I'm stunned any BD in 2011 don't have uncompressed sound and a lot do.

[gravis778]

With regards to the PCM stereo, what I do with stereo sources is set the amp to 5 channel stereo - this means it fills the room with a strong stereo signal, and doesn't lead to the amp degrading the stereo mix by trying any faux-surround nonsense when the source isn't meant to be surround.

I often find a strong stereo put to all speakers sounds better than a weak surround mix.

This is a good point. I have an HD radio I plug into my HT, and my PC is hooked up to it as well, and I play MP3s from time to time. 5 Channel Stereo, 9 times out of 10, sounds better than DTS Neo or ProLogic. If its a matrixed (is that the right term) Dolby Surround mix, like from a Laserdisc, then I will kick in the ProLogic.

[Josh Z]

With regards to the PCM stereo, what I do with stereo sources is set the amp to 5 channel stereo - this means it fills the room with a strong stereo signal, and doesn't lead to the amp degrading the stereo mix by trying any faux-surround nonsense when the source isn't meant to be surround.

On most receivers, the "5 Channel Stereo" mode sends an identical mono signal to all five speakers simultaneously. If you're watching a movie with a 2.0 soundtrack, you'll get dialogue behind your head, and music and surround effects in the dialogue channel.

[gravis778]

On most receivers, the "5 Channel Stereo" mode sends an identical mono signal to all five speakers simultaneously. If you're watching a movie with a 2.0 soundtrack, you'll get dialogue behind your head, and music and surround effects in the dialogue channel.

3-Channel Stereo then.

[Josh Z]

3-Channel Stereo then.

Same thing, basically. You still lose true stereo separation (despite the name). Dolby ProLogic II is always preferred for movie soundtracks.

[Jables]

On most receivers, the "5 Channel Stereo" mode sends an identical mono signal to all five speakers simultaneously. If you're watching a movie with a 2.0 soundtrack, you'll get dialogue behind your head, and music and surround effects in the dialogue channel.

I haven't played with mine in some time, but I think Denon's implementation does something more like: take the two channels, duplicate L into LS and R into RS, and then average to make the center channel (or otherwise combine the two into one). In a 2.0 source, since the exact same dialogue is placed in both channels, you get it in the rears.

When I did use it, I definitely noticed a sense of balance to it all, even if dialogue was coming at me from all over the room.

[scorsese59]

97 X...BAM, the future of rock 'n roll!

Love that line!

Oh well as Kevin Kline said in one of my favorite films:

"Hindsight, it's like foresight but without a future"

Nice column as per the usual!

[Drazden]

Just to clarify:

Both the HDMI cables are about 6' long. And the Amazon Basics cable is new. The SONY cable is the one I have had for years. I assumed that the new cable might be the issue. But I didn't want to jump to conclusions as I don't have a lot of experience with HDMI cables.

Thanks in advance for any advice you all may give.

One of the posteers pointed out a flaw in the Onkyo's design and I will agree with him/her. Similar issuse, just with the "handshake" between the Onkyo and the source material and found it to be on HD signals especially. Also happens on standard but on an infrequent basis.
If the older cable is doing in on the system as well, we can negate the cable being at fault. If thats the case then you are looking at the Onkyo as the issue. Unfortunately its happening for you while you are watching a program / movie etc.