New Firmware 4.0 HD-XA2/HD-XF2/HD-A20 - Page 14

Originally Posted by emptychair

Are you sure you downloaded the A2 firmware? I ask only becuase this thread is for the higher models...

Originally Posted by emptychair

Not sure then. I haven't gone back to read your posts to see what you're doing so this is likely a repeat of what others have told you. Assuming you are burning and image disc and not just burning the file to disc, then try burning at the slowest possible speed (2x or 4x) and/or use better quality discs. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Trackman

He is not alone re the DD+ dropouts on Pio AVRs - I have it on my XA2 and VSX-01, and I have run into a few other members that do as well. It is only on DD+ and only with certain titles. Decoding and sending PCM is fine. The problem is the Tosh, or so I was told in the AVR forum. I can't verify this with my Denon 887, as it doesn't decode DD+. In any event, it isn't a big deal. Dolby True HD is not affected, nor is legacy DD or DTS.

Originally Posted by bonoman66

I've been using the XE1 (I think its the European equivalent of the XA2) for over a year with a Pioneer VXS-D2011. That receiver has no built in decoding ability for the HD Audio formats (I know the XE1 does) so I'd had my XE1 connected via single coax & listening to the core versions from my HD-DVDs. This week I upgraded to another Pioneer model receiver- the SC-LX81 (I think its SC07 equivalent). I now have the XE1 connected via HDMI to that new receiver & I'm experiencing audio drops outs every 93 seconds while listening to DD+ soundtracks on non Warner HD-DVDs. All the Universal / Paramount HD-DVDs I've tested give me drops outs on their DD+ soundtracks - every 93 seconds. I've approx 7 Warner HD-DVDs & all work perfectly with no dropouts on their DD+ soundtracks! Needless to say if I stream PCM or DTS or DolbyTHD from the affected HD-DVDs there's no dropouts. Its strange that its not happenning to me on every single HD-DVD. It leads me to learn towards the problem being with my XE1 (or some unique combination Tosh/Pio problem with signal handshaking), rather than my new LX81 (SC07). Apparently its not just Pioneer Receivers having the problem that's why I think it may be the XE1 ?

Thanks to all who contribute to these forums - its very helpful to validate its not just you when you come across a problem.

Originally Posted by snowghost

What firmware are you using?

Originally Posted by bonoman66

I'd upgraded from version 2.8 to version 4.0 & noticed the issue. I then decided to try rolling back to Ver 2.7, which I did & still no joy. I then decided to try installing the region free firmware & the issue still occurred. I went back to version 4.0 firmware today & the issue is still there.


I've had my Toshiba XE1 for over a year. Its been connected with coax into my older Pioneer Receiver (VSX-D2011) during that time. As that model of receiver does not have HDMI or inbuilt decoding for HD Audio Soundtracks, I would have been used to just hearing the core Dolby Digital bitstreamed over the coax into my receiver. It never gave any issues or drop outs.

I recently upgraded that receiver to the new Pioneer SC-LX81. I've now been able to connect the XE1 into the LX81 via HDMI & the LX81 also decodes all the HD Audio Soundtracks. Its only over the last week as I've a chance to listen to the HD Audio Soundtracks for the first time, that I discovered the audio drop outs with the DD+ soundtracks when bitstreamed over HDMI to the LX81. If I just connect back into the LX81 with coax in the same way as I used to have my old receiver setup, I get no dropouts (& no HD Audio - just the the core version) so its just a quick test that indicates to me that I may have a problem with the XE1 which I've had from the minute I bought it, but not been aware of it until now.

Its just ununusal that on any of the Warner HD-DVDs that I have, their DD+ soundtracks play fine when bitstreamed over HDMI into the LX81. I also ran a quick test today on HD-DVD Chronicles of Riddick. I chose the Spanish / French DD+ soundtracks & they played fine bitstreamed via HDMI into the LX81 but the English DD+ Soundtrack had the dropouts.

I've emailed both Pioneer & Toshiba Customer Support to notify them of the issue but due to HD-DVD not being a 'go forward' technology / format, I don't expect to get much back from either company & I do understand why they may not want to spend any time / effort as its seemingly a very specific problem (although I do see a few others have had similar issues with their XE1s & XA2s & not just with Pioneer receivers)

Cheers

Originally Posted by bonoman66

w.

Its just ununusal that on any of the Warner HD-DVDs that I have, their DD+ soundtracks play fine when bitstreamed over HDMI into the LX81. I also ran a quick test today on HD-DVD Chronicles of Riddick. I chose the Spanish / French DD+ soundtracks & they played fine bitstreamed via HDMI into the LX81 but the English DD+ Soundtrack had the dropouts.

Originally Posted by allargon

What's unusual about that? Most of the Warner DD+ tracks are 640Kbps (rebadged DD). Most of the Universal and Paramount English DD+ tracks are 1.5 Mbps.

Originally Posted by snowghost

That's a bummer. To date I've had no problems with DD+ using the XA2 and Yamaha RX-V3800.

As a workaround what about letting the XA2 do the decoding and send PCM through the HDMI. I'm not familiar with that Pioneer model but it should be able to accommodate that.

Originally Posted by bonoman66

Cheers snowghost - yes at this stage, that what I have to do, at least for the DD+ soundtracks.

Appreciate you trying to help etc..

Originally Posted by hansangb

Have you tried a different cable? Maybe it's just *SLIGHTLY* marginally bad enough that you're dropping audio. That and the way it's encoded on the disc could be causing you some issues. It's only $5 for a good HDMI cable so you should at least give it a shot.

Originally Posted by bonoman66

Thanks hansangb.

I've tried with several different HDMI cables from one same source/brand & I tried with another HDMI cable from a totally different source/ brand. Unfortunately no luck - problem still exists. I'm just doing what I can to try narrow down whether its the HD-DVD Player (I honestly don't think it could be all my Paramount/Universal HD-DVDs as I'd built the collection up over time from multiple sources / regions around the world etc..) or the new Pioneer Receiver. I've no BluRay DVDs that have a Dolby Digital Plus soundtrack so I can't test with my Bluray players sending a DD+ soundtrack to the Receiver.

Its not the end of the world but I'd like to know & get it addressed by the manufacturer if possible. In the meantime I'll just send PCM to the Receiver for the DD+ soundtracks. I just prefer the Receiver decoding the DD+ soundtrack as it sounds better in my setup etc..

Cheers

Originally Posted by FuneralDancer

4.0 SCREWED UP MY XA2! (for a few hours) it had been workin fine then like an hour or two later my XA2 shuts down, I got no picture/sound at all from the HDMI! fortunately it started working hours later

Originally Posted by Scubawoman

If you set the frame rate to auto and resolution up to 1080p/24, I found with 4.0 it will switch the frame rate for SD but then won't switch it back for HD. So I just go into settings and change it when I have to.

Originally Posted by shmup-o

Is this a problem with all of the models for this thread or just one particular model? I'd like to use the A20 as my primary SD-DVD player, but if I have to go into settings each time to switch between the two maybe I won't be...

Originally Posted by snowghost

I don't know if I'd call it a "problem" as apparently the format wasn't out long enough to take advantage of software being able to flag the HD Player to change frame rates back and forth.

My XA2 is so good at upscaling SD DVDs that I'll put up with manually switching, or of late I programmed a Macro into my AV Receiver's remote to do the same thing.

Originally Posted by crspyjohn

If I want to watch SD-DVD correctly I would have to change from 1080/24P to 1080i? (since 1080p doesn't work correctly?) Or will it play fine ?

Originally Posted by snowghost

1080P will work fine for SD. As an aside, 24FPS might be moot anyway depending upon your TV. My Sony XBR4 supposedly will do the correct refresh rate for 24 frames, but my Samsung converts the signal back to 60hz--or so that's what most believe on the forums.

So in the end you could just leave it on 1080P all the time and you probably wouldn't notice the difference. Check out the below link, it's an interesting read.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/judder_24p.htm

Originally Posted by crspyjohn

The problem is I have a HD-A20 which does 1080p wrong . Wish I would researched it more and bought a XA2 instead. I don't get home for another week or so, so I can't adjust my player or anything yet.

So if I set it to 1080/24P and watch a SD DVD will the film issues? I would expect 1080/24P to look better than 1080i even on SD?

I have a samsung 71f.

Originally Posted by snowghost

1080P/24hz will look "jerky" with an SD DVD (every one I've seen is 60hz). There's supposed to be a new OPPO BD player that upconverts as well as the XA2 but is also capable of playing SD in 24hz--an interesting concept for sure.

The price point is suppose to be reasonable as well.

Originally Posted by jdryyz

Since upgrading to a 24fps capable panel, I'm noticing something similar to what's being discussed here. Basically, the Frame Setting for Auto doesn't seem to work...whether or not an SD-DVD was previously viewed. If I want to play 24fps HD-DVDs, I must manually enable the setting. This is inconvenient if I then want to playback 30fps material.

Toshiba surprised us with the v4.0 update. I wonder if we'll see another to correct this.

Originally Posted by snowghost

I don't think they can as the flag would have to be on the software, and there are no new issues of HD AFAIK.

Originally Posted by snowghost

1080P/24hz will look "jerky" with an SD DVD (every one I've seen is 60hz). There's supposed to be a new OPPO BD player that upconverts as good as the XA2 but is also capable of playing SD in 24hz--an interesting concept for sure.

The price point is suppose to be reasonable as well.

Originally Posted by shmup-o

Is this a problem on all of the 1080P HD players (A20, XA2, A30, A35, Onkyo)?