D* finally turns the volume down during its commercials! Thank you D*!

[dubber deux]

I've been monitoring their tv ad spots recently and have definitely noticed that they have stopped the extreme sound level compression on them. They now sound quite nice and in line with the other programming, at least on the channels I have been viewing.

I want to sincerely thank D* for this technical change. My ears appreciate it!
It will be remembered when looking to purchase any future programming.


Now if D* would address their incorrect video levels as I have mentioned before in other threads. No action has been taken therefore the problems remain. I am giving them some more time to respond but if they don't rectify the problem or contact me with a reasonable explanation as to why they can't I will be writing the CEO of D*.

[longrider]

I noticed that myself this morning. The audio was similar to the programming which was a big improvement.

[Ken S]

Nothing like the fear of government regulation to get someone to do something about an issue.

[David MacLeod]

the Wimbledon ad is still as loud as ever here on 249.

[dubber deux]

the Wimbledon ad is still as loud as ever here on 249.

I'm at work but when I get home I'll check out ch 249 and see for my self.


Most likely they have a few errant settings remaining somehow.....kinda like how most channels have correct video levels, yet a number of them certainly have low luminance and/or low black levels maybe a few other issues as well....:nono::(

[Shades228]

Commercials?

[Araxen]

Nothing like the fear of government regulation to get someone to do something about an issue.

+1

It's take government threats to get them to pipe down. Pretty sad that they didn't do this for the customers.

[hobie346]

I think D* turned the volume on their own ads this AM by about 10dB. Had to jump and grab the remote in order crank down the volume level before it wokeup the neighbors.

[996911]

Have you ever watched Speed (607)??? Dear Lord above it is absolutely the worst.

[bidger]

Commercials?

I hear ya. $6/mo. for a DVR, problem solved.

[CTJon]

hasn't gone down for me - their ads are just as loud as ever.

[Tom Servo]

Most likely they have a few errant settings remaining somehow.....kinda like how most channels have correct video levels, yet a number of them certainly have low luminance and/or low black levels maybe a few other issues as well....:nono::(

Dubber, which channels do you think are the worst offenders?

I am beginning to think they tweak the video settings on purpose to get more compression on the SD channels, if such a thing is technically possible.

[liverpool]

So thats why Billy mays topped himself

[Inches]

I don't know, between D* and Vonage ads -- I still have to mute. :mad:

[GregLee]

I've been monitoring their tv ad spots recently and have definitely noticed that they have stopped the extreme sound level compression on them.
I haven't done this systematic monitoring, but I do have the impression that the SHOUTING at me is rarer. With you, I thank DirecTV for improving this.

[FaderMD]

Now if D* would address their incorrect video levels as I have mentioned before in other threads. No action has been taken therefore the problems remain. I am giving them some more time to respond but if they don't rectify the problem or contact me with a reasonable explanation as to why they can't I will be writing the CEO of D*.

No offense, but this made me laugh. It just seems unrealistic to expect some kind of response from a corporation stemming from a forum post on a website that merely discusses the service between consumers.

I'm sure if you write the CEO, you will either get "i'm not sure what you're refering to" or "we're working on it" in a lot more words.

I never really have experienced the commercial volume issue, of course i fast forward through most of them with my DVR. :)

[GRich]

They turned down my volume but it cost me an extra $2.95 per month. :lol:

[FaderMD]

They turned down my volume but it cost me an extra $2.95 per month.

Haha, how'd that happen?

[weaver6]

USA, last commercial break, commercial for the 101. Loud as ever.

[dubber deux]

I wondering if they blast their ad spots only on certain channels leaving others at a normal volume. Calculated? Maybe.

I have to say that over the past couple of weeks I have not noticed blaring D* spots like I did before on any channels that I normally watch.

[rkr0923]

guess you haven't seen the 101 commercial on TNT............ good GAWD!
just blew my tv speakers..........thanks D*

[dubber deux]

guess you haven't seen the 101 commercial on TNT............ good GAWD!
just blew my tv speakers..........thanks D*


Sorry to hear about that. I don't think I have ever watched TNT.:nono:

Well if nothing else when the FCC creates new regs the problem will be history nomatter what.

[ThomasM]

I like to watch SUPER PASSWORD on GSN (ch 309). I had to be very careful to detect when a commercial was coming to avoid blowing out the speaker in my TV set. But this past week the audio of the show itself came up to (almost) the level of the commercials. The CSR's must have been getting a lot of calls about this "blow out your speaker during commercials" effect. ;)

[mx6bfast]

Still loud commercials during TNT tonight. Saw it on another channel tonight but I don't remember which one.

[dwrats_56]

The volume is not what it should be if the ad is for the 101.

They are WAY TOO LOUD!!!!!

[Laker44]

I wish the MLB network would've the same volume on the shows as they do the commercials.When watching a show on it,i have to turn the volume up almost twice as much to hear it.Then get blasted out with the commercials.

I normally have the volume set about 24 or 25,when watching this channel i have to turn it up somewhere between 35-40.

[mdwood]

I hear ya. $6/mo. for a DVR, problem solved.

I DVR on three machines with the best of them, am completely networked with TVersity. etc., and still there are many times we are viewing live.

The Directv commercials during the NASCAR race today were loud enough to make you want to cancel the service. The PPV fighting commercials to be specific were REALLY loud. They are why I'm even here looking for stuff.

Contrasted with the horrible race coverage on TNT simply makes for bad TV.

[Chuck W]

If they have turned down the volume, I'm not seeing/hearing it, they are still as loud as ever.

[Getteau]

Not for me either. I'm watching FBN and I thought the UFC commercial and the DTV website commercials were loud. However, an ION commercial followed them and it must have been 2x as loud as the UFC and DTV commercials.

[ajc68]

I'm still hearing plenty of D* adds that blow the roof off the place...

[Msguy]

Same goes for me here. I am watching The Cubs and Braves game on ESPN tonight. I just saw a UFC commercial and it was much louder than the normal ESPN Commercials. They got better for a few days, but they are back loud. I wish The FCC would Force DirecTv to run the channels commercials instead of inserting their own DirecTv commercials in. I noticed that it's only DirecTv Advertisements and UFC Commercials that have remained REAL Loud!! TURN THEM DOWN DIRECTV! :mad:

[drded]

Two things would be nice. One, DirecTV would buy some of the many compressor/limiters available that would solve the volume problem.

Two, one of our moderators would pass along a name of someone at DirecTV we could address out complaints to. Someone who actually would listen and get the problem resolved. Whoever is getting the letters and reading the complaints now certainly is not acting on them.

Dave

[Tom Servo]

Same goes for me here. I am watching The Cubs and Braves game on ESPN tonight. I just saw a UFC commercial and it was much louder than the normal ESPN Commercials. They got better for a few days, but they are back loud. I wish The FCC would Force DirecTv to run the channels commercials instead of inserting their own DirecTv commercials in. I noticed that it's only DirecTv Advertisements and UFC Commercials that have remained REAL Loud!! TURN THEM DOWN DIRECTV! :mad:
If they stopped "local insertion" then they'd make up the revenue difference in our bills. No thanks, I'll just use the fast-forward and/or mute buttons.

[newsposter]

now that this problem is taken care of, how about the volume difference between SD and HD? I cant see the 119 so get the '1 hour' message and turn to a local SD on the 101 and holy cow almost blow myself back thru my wall it's so loud! A volume of 30 on the HD channel is about the same as a 10-14 on the SD channel.

[mx6bfast]

now that this problem is taken care of, how about the volume difference between SD and HD? I cant see the 119 so get the '1 hour' message and turn to a local SD on the 101 and holy cow almost blow myself back thru my wall it's so loud! A volume of 30 on the HD channel is about the same as a 10-14 on the SD channel.
Problem is not taken care of.

[slls]

I use the mute button, they can turn the commercials up to any volume they want.:lol:

[Movieman]

Has anyone seen this take affect. I have to still lower the volume if I am watching live tv. Just curious if anyone has seen this take affect on any channels.

[David MacLeod]

no change here, syfy sometimes seems to show the program a lot lower and commercials at normal level creating the loud commercial effect.
no real change here.

[anitag0122]

I am pretty new to DirecTV. There are some things I like and some things I absolutely hate--one of which is the audio. I am constantly "fiddling" with the volume. The commercials are ear splitting loud on all the channels I watch and the regular programming on many of the channels is so low I have the volume turned up almost to the limit. Before you assume it might be my hearing, with very few exceptions on a few channels, I didn't have the problem with cable. If DirecTV has addressed the loud commercials problem, I haven't seen it.

[hiker]

I had same problem with the audio level and gave up on digital audio and went with analog audio for normal TV watching and got the Terk VR-1 volume regulator (now branded Audiovox). This is an amazing little device that I have been very happy with. You can get on eBay or online stores like Crutchfield.