Sound issues with TXP42G10 when watching DVD's

[tenohfive]

Following some advice on here I recently bought a Panny TXP42G10, which I'm very happy with. I then got it wall mounted, and connected it up using a few metres of gold plated scart (fairly standard stuff provided by the company that did the wall mount.) Its currently plugged into my Samsung DVD H1080 DVD player.

I had the DVD player before the TV and didn't notice any probs with it with my old TV. However with the Panny I've been getting occasional gaps of silence - the film plays, but for a second or two I get no sound. Occasionally the screen goes blank for a second or two as well. I have noticed its often changing aspect at the time, so I've tried setting it to permanent 16:9 (as opposed to auto) and its still doing it. I know its not the DVD's themselves, its done it with two new DVD's bought and watched for the first time. I can't work out whats causing this, and its really pissing me off - after 5 mins of Life of Brian last night I had to stop it because it was doing it so often.

Any ideas?

• edit:

Just remembered, connected using HDMI rather than scart. Just moved from HDMI 2 to 3, will update if it makes a difference.

Edited by tenohfive on Tuesday 7th July 19:15

[OldSkoolRS]

Sounds a lot like a dodgy scart lead gold plated or not (maybe just not fully 'clicked in'). The pins for AR control, plus sound and vision could be effecting your TV. Just try unpluging and reseating it, or try another lead. Hopefully it is that simple, then you can 'always look on the bright side of life'.

[tenohfive]

OldSkoolRS said:

Sounds a lot like a dodgy scart lead gold plated or not (maybe just not fully 'clicked in'). The pins for AR control, plus sound and vision could be effecting your TV. Just try unpluging and reseating it, or try another lead. Hopefully it is that simple, then you can 'always look on the bright side of life'.

Will give that a bash and let you know. I've got a spare lead (albeit one thats far too short) so can always use that to test if the scart leads the issue.

[tenohfive]

Its not a loose connection, checked the HDMI lead at both ends and its still playing up.

Can't be arsed with the rigmarole of getting the TV down from its mount to test it with a scart lead, will do that sometime tomorrow.

[OldSkoolRS]

You didn't say it was a HDMI lead above....I thought you were talking scart leads. I might be (another) HDMI handshake issue if that's what you are using. Does the HDMI go through a separate amp on route to the TV or just direct?

[Plotloss]

Its the hdmi cable almost certainly, probably the signal path that carries the hdcp content.

What happens is there is constant chatter between the source and screen if this is interrupted even briefly by a mechanical fault the player thinks the data stream is being hijacked and cuts the picture.

Its a 'feature' of the toss emperors new clothes that is hdmi I'm afraid.

[Plotloss]

Its the hdmi cable almost certainly, probably the signal path that carries the hdcp content.

What happens is there is constant chatter between the source and screen if this is interrupted even briefly by a mechanical fault the player thinks the data stream is being hijacked and cuts the picture.

Its a 'feature' of the toss emperors new clothes that is hdmi I'm afraid.

[tenohfive]

Cheers Plotless. Will test it on a scart tomorrow to check, and will replace if necessary.

And Sorry OldSkool, I thought it was connected with scart. Its only when I went downstairs to check it I remembered I was using this new fangled HDMI goodness.

If it is the HDMI lead, should I replace it with anything else or just something cheap and cheerful? I want a decent picture but don't want to spend silly money.

[OldSkoolRS]

No worries re the scart.....seems like Plotless gave you the right answer (in stereo too ). Depends on the length of the cable, but as an example I have a 10 metre HDMI cable from my amp to my projector, it cost about £50 and was spec'd for 1080p and I've tested it upto 1080/60p, so no need to spend £100s. They can get damaged just bending them to much especially near the connector BTW, so be careful installing the new one.

This is where I got mine from Lectropaks, I think this is the current equivalent, just use the pull down to select the required length:

http://www.lektropacks.com/view_product_standard.p...

Edited by OldSkoolRS on Tuesday 7th July 23:03

[tenohfive]

OH COCK.

Quick update: I bought a cheapo tesco lead (much shorter than I needed) to see if it was the lead causing the problems. Its not. I've tried different HDMI in ports on the TV, and its still doing it.

Any other ideas? I'll stick a video up showing what its doing if need be.

Help please. Not being able to watch DVD's is doing my nut in.

Edited by tenohfive on Sunday 19th July 14:01

[headcase]

It still sounds like a handshake issue, if it isnt the lead causing it then its either the DVD player or the TV causing the issue, you can try turning the output of the DVD player down to see if it makes a difference but your gunna need to try your DVD player on another screen or another HDMI source on this TV to se if you can narrow it down that way and of course it could just be a general incompatibility issue basically your DVD player just not likeing the screen or vice versa, you can check samsungs website to see if there is a firmware upgrade for the player also.

[tenohfive]

Cheers. I've tried the DVD player on an old TV (not using HDMI though - TV too old for that) and it works fine. As for another testing another HDMI source on the TV...I've got nothing I can do that with.

There is firmware update for the DVD player which I've downloaded, once I get my head round how to move it onto the DVD player I'll give that a bash.

Edit to add:

Got tired of looking for a way to install the firmware update, have emailed Samsung so they can tell me - unless anyone on here minds saving me some time?

Edited by tenohfive on Monday 20th July 11:30

[headcase]

you normally burn it to a blank dvd then put the disc into the dvd player.

[headcase]

also, try connecting using component, your not going to notice any difference with that equiptment and will proberbly solve your problem.

[tenohfive]

I'm going to sound really naive here...is component the yellow and white leads?

[headcase]

No, component are the Red Green and Blue coloured phono connectors together with a Red and White for audio too, i know the TV has them but im not too sure if the DVD has.

[tenohfive]

From looking at this list:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-DVD-H1080-DVD-Play...

it doesn't look like it. Though I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

[headcase]

no it dosent, forget that one then

[tenohfive]

I've just had half an hour to myself and went to have a look at the DVD player. Two things:

Firstly, it turns out it does have a component connection. I've not got the required lead, but it does have the option.

Secondly, after 20 mins fiddling with the menu settings on the DVD and TV, I've got it to stop doing it. In the HD section of the DVD menu I changed it from 1080p to 1080i and its stopped doing it. Which is great. So...whats the difference between 1080i and 1080p? And if its a difference in quality (couldn't see one as testing with Life of Brian) does what I've said give any clue as to the underlying issue?

[headcase]

no real difference on that DVD player as it is only an upscaler. 1080p takes twice the bandwidth of 1080i so an inferior cable would give you a problem like you described on 1080p. Als try turning it to 720p you may even notice a better picture on faster moving stuff.