"Robot Audio" Anyone having this problem? - Page 3

just got one a couple days ago. I actually unplugged and plugged it back in by accident a few times and I haven't heard any robot audio. So far so good...

I'm going to give this method a try. I too am having the robo sound on the PN50A450 in which comcast cable is wired directly to the t.V. What a waste.

me too...32A450 bedroom set...was fine, unplugged to mount on wall...there on HD channels with tuner...only SD cable box on it from Comcast...getting HD box soon as I call them...once that comes, I'll only have the HD box set to it, but it is a shame about the QAM tuner...
i did the factory reset and haven't watched it enough to say it's gone yet

well...watched about 30 minutes of HD through QAM, seemed okay...had a couple transmission hits, but everything else seemed fine...

the audio on the whole is pretty poor though, have to go and adjust the EQ to pump the low end, and kill the high end...seems okay after that...looks like i'll be getting a soundbar for the bedroom...didn't want to, but looks like i'll have to to get good audio in there...

I was considering returning my Sharp aquos getting a Samsung instead, but now I'm thinking twice about it. I've read through this thread (mostly anyway) and have a couple points/questions.

First the points:

Robot voice seems to occur from both ATSC and QAM tuner usage - most people report it using the QAM, but most people probably also are not using OTA signals.

Resetting to factory values eliminates the problem until the power is reset for some reason (e.g. unplugged, blackout, etc)

Updating the firmware seems to help, but eventually problem returns (probably works due to resetting afterwards.).

Replacing the mainboard seems to eliminate the problem, one user reports 2 months no problem after replacement.

Question:

If you use an external receiver or speaker system, does the problem still persist? (I imagine yes)

Has anyone who has purchased the TV recently (since december) had this problem? Curious if they've addressed this on newer models

Robot voice seems to occur from both ATSC and QAM tuner usage - most people report it using the QAM, but most people probably also are not using OTA signals.
Yes, but it seems like it mostly happens on QAM. I haven't used the ATSC tuner, so I can't be 100% sure if the problem occurs there too.

Resetting to factory values eliminates the problem until the power is reset for some reason (e.g. unplugged, blackout, etc)
Correct.

Updating the firmware seems to help, but eventually problem returns (probably works due to resetting afterwards.).
The firmware does NOT solve the problem. When you update the firmware, the TV resets and that's what eliminates the problem. Unplug the TV and the problem resumes.

Replacing the mainboard seems to eliminate the problem, one user reports 2 months no problem after replacement.
Again, replacing the mainboard will also reset the TV. The reset is what eliminates the problem. Unplug the TV and the problem resumes.

If you use an external receiver or speaker system, does the problem still persist? (I imagine yes)
Yes. I have a 5.1 system which is hookup up via the optical cable. The problem happens with both the TV speakers and the speaker system.

Has anyone who has purchased the TV recently (since december) had this problem? Curious if they've addressed this on newer models
I bought it last November, the day before Thanksgiving. I have the robot audio problem.

If you plan on getting HD service, then you're fine. This robot audio only occurs when you're using the QAM tuner.

Right now I use the ATSC tuner to get OTA digital, and don't plan to subscribe to cable at this time. So I may consider this yet. It sounds pretty frustrating to many people though, I hope Samsung steps up and does something about it, but I doubt it.

I want to add another data point here. Just took delivery yesterday of a LN52A550 from Amazon.

My signal is a Dish Network PVR501 which is NOT SD. I have no HD source at this point. The feed is through RG6 coax as the satellite unit is in the basement (remote is RF). On some channels I heard audio drop outs / pixelation and on some I don't. For example, on Fox, commercials by Fox advertising their own future programming drops like crazy whereas paid commericals do not! Travel Channel drops when scenes are switched quickly. Discovery and local channels have none.

I'm going to try the 10 sec. reset and see and report back. This may be a deal breaker.

Well, did a 10 sec. reset and still have the problem. I even tried to play back a recording from the Travel Channel before I bought the unit and the audio were dropping out during the commercials but also a few timed ruring the show.

Just another thought/question. Does this effect happen on every channel? I just discovered another channel with NO issue, Nickelodean from Dish. I'm starting to think maybe it's the content.

IT might be how the tuner decodes the content - some content streams are fine, others may be more problematic.

bought one beginning of January...same issue, resetting it did the trick. Showed up after I unplugged it to install it on wall. has not come back since resetting it. it is a minor issue, just make sure you keep all your settings ina safe place so you don't have to recalibrate it...but you will have to re-apply them to all your inputs.

I'd say that's more than a minor issue. IIRC, It takes about 30 min to scan the channels again. Then you have to re-apply all your settings. The reason I have my TV is because lightning blew out the previous one. I tend to unplug my major electronics when a strong thunderstorm is moving through. That means a LOT of resetting for me. Huge issue. And yes, I have it on a surge protector but they aren't perfect.

i said minor issue because I don't watch via QAM anymore, HD digital cable box, so for me it was simply resetting video settings, no big deal...but if you have to reset all your cable channels, then yes, will take more that 30 minutes to reset channels.

Here is an interesting comment from the CNET forums r.e. sounds distortion:

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-13973_10...rum-w;forums06

post 102 of 172

My opinion on where the audio problem lies
by SLR42 - 29/11/08 12:19 In reply to: Read and Noted! by Samsung_HD_Tech Samsung staff

Previously I wrote that the audio problem just suddenly appeared on my LN32A450 and that having the board changed fixed the problem. I continued to follow this forum and after people started saying that their sets malfunctioned after they unplugged them, I suddenly remembered that my problem started after I had unplugged my set in order to mount it on the wall. So, as an Electrical Engineer with 40 years of experience in circuit design, I can say with some confidence that the problem lies in the power up reset circuit. All microprocessors have a minimum operating voltage below which they lose control and do random things. One of the random things is to wiggle the write control lines to the non-volatile memory, which can corrupt said memory. A properly designed reset circuit will protect all of the peripheral circuits, and especially the memory, from harm by forcing them into a known safe state before the microprocessor goes wild. So, buried somewhere in the Samsung circuit board is a memory chip that is programmed at the factory to properly decode and process the audio portion of the incoming signal. This memory probably holds some fine tuning information, so the audio is not completely lost, but just becomes marginally stable. Somehow, the factory reset process puts the circuit back into the proper state, but the problem then reappears the next time power is disconnected.

Either the reset circuit was not designed properly or the microprocessor has changed and loses control at a higher voltage than the reset circuit was designed for. On a traditional circuit board the fix would be simple, but on today's highly integrated boards it may not be so cheap to do. Either way, Samsung better get a grip on this before they lose their hard won reputation for quality products.

Hmm I have a new LN19A450 and have not noticed any issues...

running comcast standard cable on one input and Dish HD over HDMI....

I just bought a LN32A450 and hooked it up directly to cable with comcast. I am using the QAM tuner and have picked up all the local HD and analog stations that I expected. Beautiful picture and dissapointed with the "Robot Audio" as stated previously.
I Checked the firmware and I have T-CRLAUSC-1018.0 release Oct. 27, 2008.

Samsung's website is only offering 1013.3 firmware from July 23, 2008. I thought that I might have been having the problem because I set the sound to SRS and so I went back to stereo. No luck then after finding these posts I did the reset today. watched a little while without problem and since this is a bedroom set I will watch longer tonight. I am concerned that this may not a firmware resolvable problem as mine is dated October and this problem seems to be well documented. I am going to try and stop by a Samsung service center and pick someone's brain as they are the ones closest to the product and should have either a fix or a workaround. Calling telephone support I find starts with a runaround many times but I will also do that. I want to keep this set but since it is brand new I am not going to live with having to reset any time I may lose power. Hopefully enough problems are escalated and they resolve this set.

Man, wish I had found this thread before purchasing both a LN32A450 and a PN50A450. Both of which (of course) have the audio distortion problem since both are hooked up directly to the coax for Clear QAM.

And recommendations?? I can't believe this hasn't been at least acknowledged by Samsung, much less fixed. ?!?!

Both of my TVs are about 40 days old and purchased from Amazon. I live in Dallas, TX and get regular heavy t-storms in the spring/summer months, so not-unplugging the expensive electronic devices is not an option.

Just found this forum. I have the T220HD model and have the robot audio issue. Only happens on HD QAM channels. The workaround that I found is just to rescan the channels which seems to stop the issue for a while. I did not know that after a power outage the robot audio re-occurs but will take notice when the next power outage occurs.

Looks like my robot audio is starting to come back. I had the board replaced back in October and it was working great for a while. I think I accidentally unplugged the TV a few weeks back. I will try the reset thing to see if that will fix it.

I'll add my experience to this thread. Got the 32" 330 model about a month ago. The "robot" sound distortion started just a week ago on the HD QAM channels. Changing channels or commercial breaks would stop the distortion, but only temporarily. My neighborhood had a brief power outage just prior to me noticing the problem, which seems to fit the experiences previously noted. I did a reset this morning, so we'll see if that fixed it.

From what I've heard, some of the "B" ('09) models also have this same problem.
You would figure they'd go to a different design on the newer ones.

Lost power last week, problem came right back. was fine from Feb until then. Reset again, ok now. Man I wish there was a fix for this from Samsung because I really like the set.

Wow, the way people talk about power loss here, you'd think it happens frequently. I lived in the same area for over 20 years and have only lost power a total of 2 times. Power loss should be VERY rare. If it's an occasional thing, my advice is to move because that's just absurd.

Wow, the way you question other's experiences, you'd think you live in a rural/suburban area.

IIRC... you live in NYC! Of course you don't have frequent power outages.

You should move and have "above ground" telephone poles/power lines that get hit by cars, step down transformers that fry squirrels and blow out, tree branches, severe weather, etc...

Wake up.

lol, well that sucks if you leave your computer on all the time. I remember when I had my first severe blackout in my area, a couple of my neighbors couldn't get their computers to turn on after the blackout was over. The computer was toast.

Power outages are a MAJOR inconvenience for people. I don't know why they treat it like a joke in some areas.

Just wondering, have any of you having this issue considered getting a small UPS to just plug the TV into? One that could easily handle a 32" set should be able to be had for ~50 bucks or so. Something you might want to look into, as it would take care of any power loss issues.

That might work. Maybe Samsung should start including one with their TV's... I dunno, with that whole bait and switch on the panel type thing and now this audio issue, I may have to consider moving to a different brand on my next TV venture.

I originally found this Samsung audio problem on the CNET Samsung forum, but wanted to add my info to this forum also.

4 mth old LN37A450 w/robot audio problem.
No Comcast box (hooked directly to wall).
Samsung Tech came out and replaced speakers and system board.
Tech never heard of the robot audio problem and thinks it maybe a Comcast HD signal issue since I do not subscribe to HD service with them.
Since the TV is wall mounted, I had to uplug/replug the TV back in to remount it, hence, it was reset again.

I still have the problem.

Firmware: 1018.0 (10/27/2008)

Very disappointed with my Samung. Thinking of selling it and getting a Sony!

Just picked up a new LN40B550 last week and it has this robot audio problem on the HD QAM channels as well (I have comcast cable). So even the newer models are having the same problem, think I'm going to look into another manufacturer...