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Design flaw? Audio skip problem on Samsung VR325???

2962 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by pghflyer, Mar 12, 2007

ltagg

Discussion Starter · Dec 29, 2005

Has anyone figured out how to fix this problem? (other than taking the thing back to Circuit City to exchange or replace it)? ....Is Samsung tech support any help? Tonite I hooked up the VR325 to my new Yammie RXV2600 via HDMI and watched a DVD---the audio skips every minute or so---VERY annoying...(Also, picture "skips" on scene changes but that's another issue) The Circuit City customer review board and this board mention this same audio skip problem over and over. No one seems to have found "the fix"...I hate to have to take this thing back since it fits all my needs(mini-DV input, plays tapes and records them to DVD, plays DVDs, HDMI output, upconversion) but this audio skipping thing is intolerable....

Anyone that owns (or owned) one of these care to comment? Has Samsung acknowledged that they have a problem with the design of this unit? Thanks.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

Poorman65

· #2 · Jan 13, 2006

I am having this same problem. Has anyone had luck by exchanging the player, or is it all of them that have the problem?

I don't mind taking it back and swapping it, but will that solve the problem?

Maynardw

· #3 · Jan 13, 2006

I see that Ebay has a few 325 units that have been refurbished and are selling for quite a bit less than the retail price.

jimbir

· #4 · Jan 18, 2006

I too had the problem on two and returned them both for a refund.

Impreza22b

· #5 · Jan 18, 2006

which movies have that problems? and what's the setting for audio?

stereo

· #6 · Jan 20, 2006

I updated my software on my VR325 yesterday. It did not solve the problem. I contacted Samsung yesterday and they gave me repair address and number to send it to for repair. My VR325 I bought refurbished off Ebay. It came with a 90 day warranty from Samsung. I am using the HDMI out to my Pioneer 5060 plasma and the audio skips too. It is odd that the RCA audio outs don't have this problem. All info on the DVD's are digital and converted to analog.

stereo

· #7 · Feb 13, 2006

Problem is fixed. Sent it to Samsung and they repaired a PLL.

j_nolesfan

· #8 · May 5, 2006

Is it safe to assume that the models in stores now (higher volume dealers like BB) are fixed?

Thanks,

Jeff

pghflyer

· #9 · May 17, 2006

I just ordered a refurbished model from tigerdirect for $149 plus shipping. It came sealed with all the accessories from the factory.

Now just waiting on my HDMI -> DVI cable, but I will let you know if mine works. I plan to output my audio through optical connection directly to my receiver.

I don't suppose anyone knows of a way to see if the "update" has been applied to this player (software date or something?)

Anyhow, more soon.............

mcamden

· #10 · May 18, 2006

I've been on the fence for a couple of days about ordering this model. I'm curious to see how it works for you. I picked up a Samsung DVD-R135 last weekend and am very disappointed with the upconverted picture over HDMI, so I'm looking again.

pghflyer

· #11 · May 20, 2006

Well, I finally got my cable and hooked it up tonight. First thought was "good god, it sounds like a vacuum cleaner!!" because the fan is much louder than the regular DVD player I have. This is probably necessary for when you are burning DVDs, but it runs all the time and will take some getting used to (or I will have to actually close my cabinet now).

As far as picture goes, this is my second attempt with one of these "upconverting" players, and neither my wife nor I can tell any substantial difference. Only noticeable difference is that the picture is much brighter (whites much whiter) on this machine than my older Sony.

.......and unfortunately, YES, I have the darned audio skip every 90 or so seconds. I was hoping that since this was a refurb unit, it would have the fix applied, but I guess not. (Manufacture date on the back says Jan 2005, but I don't know if they would change that for a fix and have no way of knowing how to find my software date on the player). So, now I will try and figure out how to get the update.............................................

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pghflyer

· #12 · May 22, 2006

I downloaded the firmware "upgrade" from here:

http://www.samsung.com/support/produ...e=FM&language=

The first CD I burned I just did a "drag and drop" and it didn't work on the DVD player. Then, I did it again following the explicity instructions, and the firmware did update.

However, it had NO effect on the audio problem. So, I called Samsung:

Call #1: CSR recommended that I just use the composite (red and white) inputs since this was the same as coaxial and optical. He said coaxial is the worst audio connection and it is a misperception that you can't get digital sound through the composite. I quickly hung up on this idiot and called again....

Call #2: Got an equally clueless CSR, but she was smart enough to recognize she was out of her league and connected me to "Level 2".....

Call#2 (escalated): He read me back my problem description, put me on hold for 5 minutes, and then came back to say that it needed to be serviced. Supposedly they are sending me a pre-paid UPS mailing label. Hopefully I will have good luck like Stereo....................

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j_nolesfan

· #13 · May 25, 2006

Please keep us posted. I'm in the market and looking for a good DVD recorder that also does a good job of upconverting.

Thanks,

Jeff

pghflyer

· #14 · Jun 23, 2006

Well, I got it back, and as far as I can tell, all the warranty service did was go into the Audit Set-Up and change the output from Bitstream (DTS/DD5.1) to PCM (Analog). Of course, that doesn't solve the problem and I immediately had the same skipping issue when I set it back to Bitrate.

I am now sending it back AGAIN....................

pghflyer

· #15 · Jul 17, 2006

Well, just got it back and the same problem exists. Since I have already sent it in for repairs Twice, they are going to ship me a brand new model (or an upgraded model if this is out of stock). This model isn't worth the hassle. However, I must say I have nothing but good feedback and positive feeling about Samsung Customer Service.

pghflyer

· #16 · Sep 23, 2006

Well, they upgraded me to VR335 and it has the same audio problem using bitstream, but now it only happens every 7/8 minutes compared to the 2/3 minutes with the VR325.

misterjensen

· #17 · Mar 11, 2007

I didn't have the audio skip problem until I hooked my VR325 up to my new Denon AVR-987. I didn't have issues with it when I had it direct connected via HDMI to my HDTV. I know it's not the receiver causing the problems because I've run other HDMI devices through it with no audio skipping issues. It's something about the HDMI connection between the DVD/VCR and the Denon receiver. The only way I've been able to get everything to play nicely together is to run the video via HDMI directly from the VR325 to my HDTV, and run the audio via coax or optical from the VR325 to my receiver. I get a few error messages when I fire everything up, but once the messages go away (after a few seconds), I have my upscaled 1080i DVD's and my 5.1 Dolby Digital. It sucks that this has to be such a hack job, but it sounds like Samsung is not recognizing this issue and is therefore unable to fix it.

pghflyer

· #18 · Mar 12, 2007

Glad you got yours too work. I have my HDMI going straight to my TV (Samsung HLM507W) and the audio going via digital coaxial to my receiver (Sony STR-DE985), and I still get the skipping. Unfortunately, it got to be too irritating, so I am back to watching DVDs with non-skipping sound on my old Sony DVD player, but I do miss the upconverted picture...........

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