Any workarounds for audio problems on Pioneer receivers?

[dcscot]

I know that this issue is known and has been talked about in the past. The issue is when you switch from SD channel to an HD channel with a Pioneer Elite receiver connected for audio via optical connection. The result is a very loud annoying / scary sound coming out of the speakers and all audio channels are now dead on the receiver. Power the receiver down, power it back up and we are back in business.

I had hoped that this problem would be resolved at some point, but it has been so long that I am starting to lose faith that it will be resolved.

I really do not want to disable 5.1 sound, just because the HR20 sends some type of bad 5.1 signal to the receiver.

My work around so far is to switch the receiver so that audio is coming from something other than the HR20, change the channel to the HD station and then manually switch the receiver back to the HR20. Has anybody found a way around this or automated the switch process. I have a , but I was wondering if anybody has been able to use macros on a remote to accomplish this?

[Michael D'Angelo]

I have a Pioneer Elite receiver and I have never heard that problem at all. I just tried to get it to do it a couple of times and nothing. Everything is fine here.

[dcscot]

I have a Pioneer Elite receiver and I have never heard that problem at all. I just tried to get it to do it a couple of times and nothing. Everything is fine here.

The issue is with a Pioneer VSX-49txi and when I switch from a SD channel to a HD channel, I lose all audio through the receiver after a loud cracking sound coming from the speakers. This may only be through an optical audio connection, there are a number of posts in the past with other members having this same problem.

I am glad it works for you, scares the crap out of my wife every time it happens.

[Michael D'Angelo]

I am connected with a optical cable. I have a older receiver the VSX36TX. But I have never heard that before.

[Michael D'Angelo]

I did a search and found the thread you are talking about and it seems to be your model and the 47 that are having the problem. I am wondering if it is a problem with the receiver and not the HR20. Maybe you receiver has a problem changing audio formats.

[bonscott87]

If I remember correctly on a previous post on this, that model receiver has problems with other devices too (like DVD players), not just the HR20. Personally I'd get Pioneer to replace it if it's still in warranty.

[dcscot]

If I remember correctly on a previous post on this, that model receiver has problems with other devices too (like DVD players), not just the HR20. Personally I'd get Pioneer to replace it if it's still in warranty.

The receiver is a couple of years old (former top of the line) and is not under warranty. The aggravating part is that this setup worked perfectly with my previous DirecTv HD receiver that was in place for a couple of years before I upgraded to the HR20.

[bobnielsen]

If it's only a few models, it sounds like a Pioneer problem. My VSX-D711 (several years old) works fine with the optical connection. I thought I had a problem with the coaxial digital input, but that turned out to be a bad DVD player.

[CCarncross]

It is a known problem with the Pioneer, its not really an HR20 problem. Talk to Pioneer and see what they say.

[JamesTPDI]

Well it is and isn't a Pioneer problem. My JVC would give a LOUD screachy blast when switching into DD5.1 on the HR20 but was fine with normal DVD switching. Both through optical links. When a DVD lost the audio due to a defect I got the same blast. I think that this could be fixed in the HR20 with a software mute but I gave up yesterday and got a new reciever. In part due to the DVD issue (rental DVD's). No problem with audio at all now.

[Hutchinshouse]

I know that this issue is known and has been talked about in the past. The issue is when you switch from SD channel to an HD channel with a Pioneer Elite receiver connected for audio via optical connection. The result is a very loud annoying / scary sound coming out of the speakers and all audio channels are now dead on the receiver. Power the receiver down, power it back up and we are back in business.

I had hoped that this problem would be resolved at some point, but it has been so long that I am starting to lose faith that it will be resolved.

I really do not want to disable 5.1 sound, just because the HR20 sends some type of bad 5.1 signal to the receiver.

My work around so far is to switch the receiver so that audio is coming from something other than the HR20, change the channel to the HD station and then manually switch the receiver back to the HR20. Has anybody found a way around this or automated the switch process. I have a , but I was wondering if anybody has been able to use macros on a remote to accomplish this?

Do you have your Pioneer's Sat audio input set to "Auto" or "Digital"?

My Pioneer VSX84TXSI it is set to "Digital". When set to "Auto", it will automatically check all audio inputs. When set to "digital" it will only check digital inputs.

Just a thought. Not sure if it will make a difference..?

[dcscot]

Do you have your Pioneer's Sat audio input set to "Auto" or "Digital"?

My Pioneer VSX84TXSI it is set to "Digital". When set to "Auto", it will automatically check all audio inputs. When set to "digital" it will only check digital inputs.

Just a thought. Not sure if it will make a difference..?

I have tried both "Digital" and "Auto" with no change in what happens. I did find out that once the channels are blown out by switching to an HD channel, I can press the "Signal Select" button which will bring the audio back on the receiver. I still get the loud pops when the HR20 blows out the audio channel on the receiver, but I least I do not have to power the receiver down and back up everytime I encounter a HD channel. I guess this is progress.

[texasbrit]

I have tried both "Digital" and "Auto" with no change in what happens. I did find out that once the channels are blown out by switching to an HD channel, I can press the "Signal Select" button which will bring the audio back on the receiver. I still get the loud pops when the HR20 blows out the audio channel on the receiver, but I least I do not have to power the receiver down and back up everytime I encounter a HD channel. I guess this is progress.

I saw a technical explanation for this posted somewhere. When the HR20 goes from DD 5.1 to stereo for commercials etc, the DD 5.1 frame can be interrupted in the middle (the transmitting station such as your local network affiliate just switches, when it's time to insert the commercials or newsbreak). Most receivers don't have any problem with this, they mute the sound very briefly during the transition. Some Pioneer receivers have the problem described by the OP. It only happens with MPEG-4 locals because those are the only ones with this "forced" interruption of the DD 5.1, initiated by the local station. Some local stations apparently have equipment that does not suffer from this problem.

When you have a damaged DVD, you can get the same effect.

Some non-Pioneer receivers have problems handing this transition also but on many of them the problem can be solved by changing the setting of the receiver input as has already been posted.

[machavez00]

sounds like I'm lucky to have my plain Jane Pioneer