Volume Output Sky+HD

[Stevey7]

Recently my Sky SD got broken, which I am so attached and familiar for using years,
so I replaced to Sky+HD connect to Sony recorder RDR-HX1010 (only SD, no HD) with scart,
which gives very low sound I have to put volume up to 60+ range,
Are there ways to improve volumes to be normal level (around 25 range)?
Maybe using AV output components instead of scart cable? is that improve the volumes?
I have no tech knowledges in these cable alignments and bit chaos my whole system.
(PS, I connect Sky+HD to TV with HDMI, but I love recording to my RDR-HX1010 for many reasons)

 

[ozumo]

The red/white/yellow AV out will leave you with inferior composite video rather than RGB. You could make a custom SCART cable with audio breakouts/inputs to connect the red/white audio connectors from the Sky+ HD box but I don't know if the audio level will be any higher.

The Sony recorder may have audio level offset controls for each input but I checked my own Sony DVD recorder and didn't find any. Similarly your TV might have these audio level controls but would be no good for earlier recordings from the SD box.

 

[jeallen01]

If one looks at the SCART pin-connections on Wikipedia it will be seen that a pair of them carries the composite video signal and another pair carries the left/mono signal - so I'm guessing that's from where the audio and composite video signals are tapped off to the relevant phono sockets on the back of the SKY+ HD box, and presumably at/near the same levels as the same signals fed out through the SCART socket itself.

Therefore the only way to get higher level audio signals to the recorder would seem to be to add a small signal-level audio amplifier between the SKY box audio phono o/p and the recorder!

PS: doesn't it seem an awful lo......ng time since most of us had to struggle with those thick SCART cables and plugs, and either use the wrong version , or they didn't work even when we used the right one, and/or then they randomly fell out of the equipment sockets nevertheless!

 

[Stevey7]

If one looks at the SCART pin-connections on Wikipedia it will be seen that a pair of them carries the composite video signal and another pair carries the left/mono signal - so I'm guessing that's from where the audio and composite video signals are tapped off to the relevant phono sockets on the back of the SKY+ HD box, and presumably at/near the same levels as the same signals fed out through the SCART socket itself.

Therefore the only way to get higher level audio signals to the recorder would seem to be to add a small signal-level audio amplifier between the SKY box audio phono o/p and the recorder!

PS: doesn't it seem an awful lo......ng time since most of us had to struggle with those thick SCART cables and plugs, and either use the wrong version , or they didn't work even when we used the right one, and/or then they randomly fell out of the equipment sockets nevertheless!

I thank for jeallen01 and each posters´ advises of this and the other threads.
truth is that, each advises received, I have little tech knowledge to apply them myself, so I needed to ask around friends,
this was the reason slowing down my reaction to keep posting to the other thread.

In the meantime the initial thread No Power Anymore with my Pace Sky Digibox 2600. is closed,
I couldn´t much participated, updating my situation, and reacting to their kind advises received. (as jeallen01 highlighted asking me, please forgive me)

Is there possibility, re-open the thread?

 

[jeallen01]

@Stevey7

Why would you want to re-open the other thread because there's seems little, if anything, more that forum members could add to what we have already told you on the subject of the Pace 2600 issues - unless, of course, you wanted to ask if anyone else could repair it (to which I think any answers would be along the lines of "Why bother/waste the time trying to?")?

AFAIK there's no forum "rule" on closing threads but, in general, they are closed when the subject in question has reached an obvious deadend &/or is simply going around in pointless circles and is wasting everyone's time - and especially when the solutions have been positively identified in other threads, and there are a lot more interesting subjects to discuss!

PS: this is the last time I'll comment on anything to do with that closed thread!

PPS: Please understand that is an amateur forum and we do try to help forum/satellite newbies. HOWEVER, there are sometimes limits to the extent we can help and to the extent we will be prepared to try to help.

We get many sensible and straightforward questions, some fairly difficult ones, and, unfortunately, a few where the person asking has either not properly read &/or understood an existing or new thread, and so asks for something that we can't provide - and then keeps asking the same "irritating" (I'll not say "stupid" for fear of that word being misinterpreted!) question even after being told/given what we know/can help with!

We are generally quite patient people, but questions in that last category will tend to get final short and "quite pointed" responses (OR no response at all)!

 

[PaulR]

jeallen01 is correct that the other thread was closed as it appeared that you now have a different (and slightly more modern) set top box which works, albeit with an annoying audio problem.

Do you intend to persevere with the new HD box?

 

[ozumo]

FWIW my Sky HD DRX595 also has a lower than expected audio level on all 2ch PCM audio outputs including HDMI so it may be a characteristic rather than a fault. My TV however has what it calls Auto Gain Control to equalise the volume across all inputs so it was never an issue.

 

[Satspot]

Reminds me of the parrot sketch from Monty Python. Substitute Pace for parrot.

 

[jeallen01]

Reminds me of the parrot sketch from Monty Python. Substitute Pace for parrot.

One very dead Pace/Parrot - bet the air was Blue when it died!

 

[jeallen01]

Returning to the original issue (at last!):

I had a look on eBay UK for low level audio signal amplifiers, and it seems to me that something like this little amplifier might provide a solution, although it'll also need a DC power supply (8V-20V, so might work off a 9V battery?) and probably a couple of phono-3.5mm jackplug adapters and maybe a couple of short phono-phono leads (if @Stevey7 doesn't already have them) at a total cost of around 10-15 Euros or so.

Then, the signal level amplification (reputedly up to 10x and controlled by the ON/Off & Volume Control) should be more than enough to compensate for the low level o/p from the SKY+ box phono o/p sockets.

Important NB: I am NOT suggesting that this is the "best" solution for decent quality audio, but simply that I don't think that anything else would be much/any cheaper in order to get an amplified audio signal level to the recorder.

 

[Satspot]

One very dead Pace/Parrot - bet the air was Blue when it died!

This Pace is no longer. It has gone to meet its maker or would do if it’s maker was still around.

I have noticed in the past that some people form an attachment/bond with their appliances and are reluctant to part with them. Comfort blankets possibly.

The insanity here is asking the same question over and over and hoping for a different answer. It’s amazing how many people just cannot accept the death of an appliance.

 

[jeallen01]

This Pace is no longer. It has gone to meet its maker or would do if it’s maker was still around.

I have noticed in the past that some people form an attachment/bond with their appliances and are reluctant to part with them. Comfort blankets possibly.

The insanity here is asking the same question over and over and hoping for a different answer. It’s amazing how many people just cannot accept the death of an appliance.

Agreed, and as I said in post #5 w.r.t. your 3rd para!

 

[a33]

I have noticed in the past that some people form an attachment/bond with their appliances and are reluctant to part with them.

Where a "professional" would probably say: "it isn't worth it", a "hobbyist" might say: "I still want to try".

In fact, @Stevey7 asked in his opening post: "Is there any way to fix this ?"
I think this is a perfectly legitimate question, which I would encourage.

Buying a new one is always the "easy" solution, though in fact sometimes I don't really see it as a "solution", but more as avoiding to (time-consumingly) investigate and counteract the real cause of the problem. And 'repairing' is good, from an environmental point of view, too!

So this is an appeal to patience with, and support for, those who want to keep repairing their stuff, and keep to be in the investigative mood (instead of immediate "solving/buying" action). That is what makes the hobby, I think!

It might well be that the best solution for Stevey7 was to buy a new receiver. But I support his way to investigate possibilities!

Greetz,
A33

 

[Stevey7]

FWIW my Sky HD DRX595 also has a lower than expected audio level on all 2ch PCM audio outputs including HDMI so it may be a characteristic rather than a fault. My TV however has what it calls Auto Gain Control to equalise the volume across all inputs so it was never an issue.

I look at my TV settings what are selected (32LG2000)
-Auto volume -- off
-Digital Audio Out --Dolby Digital selected (PCM is another choice)

I don´t know if my settings are fine? or anything else from my LGTV setting audio to improve?

 

[ozumo]

Have a look in the manual for the TV and see how it describes the Auto Volume function, although you could always try setting it to ON and see what effect it has.

Digital Audio Out is for connecting to a home cinema amplifier or sound bar so is not relevant to this issue.

 

[jeallen01]

I look at my TV settings what are selected (32LG2000)
-Auto volume -- off
-Digital Audio Out --Dolby Digital selected (PCM is another choice)

I don´t know if my settings are fine? or anything else from my LGTV setting audio to improve?

I would probably try changing Auto volume to ON to begin with!

 

[jeallen01]

Have a look in the manual for the TV and see how it describes the Auto Volume function, although you could always try setting it to ON and see what effect it has.

Digital Audio Out is for connecting to a home cinema amplifier or sound bar so is not relevant to this issue.

I wonder if there even is an actual manual as my 4 yr old LG TV seems to drag me into the (horrible!) menus all the time - but nevertheless as I said above!

 

[Stevey7]

jeallen01 is correct that the other thread was closed as it appeared that you now have a different (and slightly more modern) set top box which works, albeit with an annoying audio problem.

Do you intend to persevere with the new HD box?

I know I am the slow poster, reading the posts and understanding each difficult tech terms take me even slower.
The closed thread, I had chance to answered only once, before closing, I didn´t anticipate so fast moving.

I would like(d) to post on subject "No Power Anymore with my Pace Sky Digibox 2600"
to explore the possibilities of this SD box.

This my message I could not post
"It is not that I bought Sky+HD recently, I owned longtime both machines, and because of audio issue with HD box, kept me using SD´s, out of power forced me to use this HD´s for now...
For me option is either
1) repair my SD,
2) improve audio issue with this HD box,
3) buying 2nd hand SD is not option for me.
I contacted and answered by local repair man, and I would like to post his mail answer to the thread, to hear your opinions,
I thought better to post 2 different subjects in each appropriate thread."

Hope I answered to your and @jeallen01 question properly.
And thank you for each posters´ advices

 

[Stevey7]

I would probably try changing Auto volume to ON to begin with!

I am trying but seems no difference ON and OFF?
-Sound Mode --was chosen Sport, is better choose Clear Voice?

or anything else from LGTV settings and cable output, for audio to improve?

I will take photo images of my cables alignment tomorrow to post here.

 

[PaulR]

I would like(d) to post on subject "No Power Anymore with my Pace Sky Digibox 2600"
to explore the possibilities of this SD box.

Now unlocked. Please post in that thread as wished.