I have an LG 37" HDTV (37LG30.) When we watch DVD's on my PS3 with HDMI cable hook up the volume sounds perfect. When we watch TV through our TWC HD cable box the volume needs be turned to max in order to hear our programming. The cable box is also hooked up via an HDMI cable. Does this sound like a problem with the cable box or the TV?
I encountered the same thing using the HDMI interface on my new TWC cable box (Motorola DCX-3200). After a little bit of research, I finally fixed it by changing the digital audio mode in the cable box using this procedure:
1. Be sure the TV is on and connected to the cable box.
2. Using the cable box remote turn power OFF.
3. Immediately press the MENU key on the remote. The USER SETTINGS menu should appear on the TV screen.
4. Select the ADDITIONAL HDMI SETTINGS >>> menu item.
5. The ADDITIONAL HDMI SETTINGS menu will appear.
6. Scroll to the AUDIO OUTPUT item and select this.
7. Change the setting from AUTO to L-PCM.
8. Return to the main page
9. Using the remote, cycle power OFF.
10. When the cable box is turned on again, you should be good to go.
I realize these instructions are specific to the DCX-3200, but there may be a similar setup option available in your cable box as well.
The problem here is that the cable box is by default configured to use Dolby Digital audio, which requires an additional 10dB of headroom to deal with the boosted LFE channel. If the cable operator hasn't taken pains to set the system up correctly (and most haven't, apparently), the digital audio level sent on the HDMI interface will be approximately 11dB down from normal analog line levels on the HDTV channels. Changing to straight linear PCM sets the TV receiver audio level on the HDTV channels to match the levels on the non-HD channels.
The only problem with this fix is that if you intend to feed a Home Theater receiver that uses Dolby Digital processing with the cable box output you will lose the Dolby encoding feature and be forced into straight 2-channel stereo. For a simple installation like mine where I'm just feeding the TV, this fix works fine. If you have a more complex setup that takes advantage of Dolby Digital features (when it's available in program material), you may have to live with the problem.
For a technical reference on why this happens, see http://www.megahz.com/specimages/Dolby/LM100%20Cable%20App%20Note%2011-05.pdf
Hope this is useful.
Seems like the hdtv box has its own volume control..Try to adjust the volume with the Hdtvbox remote first
Jay
11,438 views
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Most interesting. We just installed a new TWC HD box (Motorola DCX-3200) to replace our old box whose DVI port went belly-up. I'm noticing the same lack of audio drive via the HDMI port. Adjusting the volume on the cable box has zero effect on the audio delivered to the TV; it would appear the cable box volume control only applies to the analog audio outputs.
Which cable box do you have, and does its volume adjustment have any effect on the digital HDMI audio level?
Randy
Arlington, TX
RF Guy...I went through your instructions line by line, and after about 30 seconds, the problem was fixed. You are awesome. Thank you so much for your help. I thought we may have had a problem with the TV but it just took a couple of setting adjustments and now I can watch TV at volume 10 instead of having to crank it up to 80 or 90. Thanks again!!!
went bed aftering watching tv in HD, and when i turned on my tv this morning i got the message, HDTV does not support HDCP. What does this mean?
I accidentally pressed reset on my sansui tv and now when I hook the hdmi cord to the cable box no picture or sound appears and I have it on the channel for hdmi1 and hooked into the hdmi one plug as well
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