DSTV soundtracks

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Bought a HD PVR decoder about six months ago. The movies on MNET's HD channels are always preceded by the Doldy Digital logo and my Marantz SR7005 automatically selects Dolby Digital soundtracks if they are available, but all too often I can only access Dolby ProLogic. The only conclusion that I can draw is that MNET broadcasts some HD movies with an older audio format despite claiming to offer Dolby Digital soundtracks. I would like to know if anyone else has experienced the same problem.

[Chris - CDI]

Hey Audio Bug,

its a constant problem - what DSTV say and what they actually do, many of us have come to know are two very very very different things. They promise 5.1, its 2 channel, they promise HD, its actually upconverted SD...

same old story over and over again.

There are countless threads over on the DSTV forum if you are interested. Most of the time they seem to get at least something right. But then there is always the annoying adverts louder than content stuff, or the wrong aspect ratios, or the loss of signal for no apparent reason etc. lol... the list is endless...

anyways, there is nothing you can do about it. your amp probably works absolutely fine. Try the language button sometimes - it helps switching from surround to stereo when the 5.1 soundtracks are particularly bad - eg lipsync, or distortion... or in some cases, the completely wrong audio.

When it is on 5.1 though you should see the DD logo light up, and play in full 5.1 (or sometimes 5.0.... argh, again!) and then when they broadcast in PL2 then your amp should still give you surround, but it will matrix it out from the pl2 signal from dstv's broadcast.

hope that sheds some light....
my 2c

cheers,

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Thanks Chris your comments are extremely useful. Good to know that other people are as frustrated about the service from DSTV as me. Thought I was going mad for a while.

[Raffs]

I'm having the same issues an it's dam frusting..............blah, blah, blah what I find is that especially after there's been a software update it throws the sound out, I usually have to redo some of the settings etc, and use the language option button or the option to manually/auto select surround sound in the submenu this somtimes helps , just wish these dudes sort their sh1t out soon 

[stereo247]

Yah, pulled more than a couple of grey hairs out trying to figure out why my AVR would use tv incorrect decoding- checked the DSTV forum and what do you know: everyone has the same problems.

Anyone figured out how to:
1. Stop the ads from being louder than the movie?
2. Get the HD content to actually increase it's volume (mine seem to top out when the wifey uses the tv's speakers)?

[Mervin]

Anyone figured out how to:
1. Stop the ads from being louder than the movie?

Yes sue them for damaging your ears.  I do not watch TV broadcasts specifically for that reason.

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Also cannot figure out why the ads are so loud and the HD content so soft. This becomes a real problem when watching TV late at night when the wife is asleep. (Perhaps DSTV should be cited as co-respondents in divorce proceedings?) A further problem I encountered is the censoring of soundtracks despite selecting 'original soundtrack' in the menu. The MultiChoice agent informed me that they simply broadcast films as they get them! Big Brother now decides what we can and cannot hear.

An unrelated question: if HDMI cables carry video and audio signals, why do I have to connect my decoder to my AV receiver with a coaxial cable as well to get sound?

[vee]

Hi guys

Just stumbled on this thread - I only found out about the Dolby Digital sound via the SPDIF connection last week - I dont have HD dstv - got the old DSD1110 decoder

My amp automatically sets to Dolby Digital with some movies only - with other movies its Pro Logic ii - the sound is noticeably different between the two. also only works on MM1 & MM2 channels - never had Dolby Digital on Mnet 101