Action scenes too loud, dialogue too low.

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X82

X82

X82

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I've been using a Western Digital Live Hub for a while now. I've had no problems with it. But I have noticed when I play MKV's on my Toshiba 32" TV through the built in speakers, the action scenes are so loud I have to turn the volume down and then back up for talking scenes. It's so frustrating.

What causes this? And can I fix it?
 
Go into the menu on your Tosh in the sound area > advanced sound options > voice enhancement. Turn it on if it isn't already. Otherwise, this is a pretty standard affair when watching modern day films on standard flatscreen speakers (assuming you have a flatscreen LCD of sort). Possible fixes are in order of expense:


a) As above and muck about with sound settings on the TV
b) Buy a soundbar or external cheap 2.1 speaker system to plug in
c) Buy a proper surround system with a Receiver/Amp
 
Had a look in the menu, nothing there except Stable Sound, which was off. See how that goes with it now on.
It's not the most expensive Toshiba in the world by far, it's menu is pretty lacklustre. Would you recommend me a cheap soundbar to ponder over? I don't need anything fancy, just the sound to be stable.
 
I'm sure TVs have an option to iron out the extremes of loud or quiet. It really annoys me when you watch something on tv at a volume you're happy with, it cuts to the commercial and volume goes up about 5 notches is it something like dynamic equaliser or have i just made that up?
 
Try and change the Sound output on the WD Live Hub to Stereo (or vice-versa). Your MKV probably has 5.1 Audio which is being decoded by the Live Hub and sent over to the TV with 5 channels instead of 2 - the TV may only be picking up the 2 if that makes sense.

If not, check your TV for similar settings.
 
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This problem is down to how the soundtracks are mixed.
Sound engineers mix film soundtracks at very high volume levels,specifically for movie theatres,which is known as reference level (0db).
When we listen at home it's usually at far lower volume levels(my amplifier is usually around 40db below reference level) and this has the effect of pulling the dialogue back into the mix,making it harder to hear in relation to the louder effects.
Chicken#16 has hit upon the solution some manufacturers are incorporating into their equipment to compensate for this.My Marantz AV receiver has Audyssey Dynamic Volume,which projects the dialogue further forward at lower listening levels,and works very well(although some of the impact of the effects is slightly lost).
 
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Thanks for information.
Looking at the WD box, it had 3 options for audio
Stereo
Digital Pass-Through Via Optical Only
Digital Pass-Through Via HDMI Only (which it was originally set to).

There is also an option for Dolby Dynamic Range Control, which was off. Options for that are Off, Enabled, Max.
 
X82 said:
Thanks for information.
Looking at the WD box, it had 3 options for audio
Stereo
Digital Pass-Through Via Optical Only
Digital Pass-Through Via HDMI Only (which it was originally set to).

There is also an option for Dolby Dynamic Range Control, which was off. Options for that are Off, Enabled, Max.
Click to expand...

Just set to Stereo as your TV only has 2 speakers (therefore matching the source audio to the available output).

If this is not satisfactory, experiment with the Dynamic Range Control. Let us know how it goes :)
 
Agreed.The dynamic range control should tame the louder stuff and give the quieter passages a boost (especially when set to max),which is handy when listening late at night!!
 
Chicken #16 said:
I'm sure TVs have an option to iron out the extremes of loud or quiet. It really annoys me when you watch something on tv at a volume you're happy with, it cuts to the commercial and volume goes up about 5 notches is it something like dynamic equaliser or have i just made that up?
Click to expand...

Sky HD by anychance :p
 
This happens to me on many DD tracks. Cinema-style dynamic ranges don't necessarily suit the living room quite so much. On my Onkyo 605 the dynamic range reducer is called the 'Late Night Function'.
 
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