Anyone having this problem?

[Roger 9]

Stations that have both regular and HD signals are at divverent volumes. I understand that. But is anyone being blown out of their seats when watching an HD show and a DirecTV commercial comes on twice as loud?

My main TV (Sony) levels volume but my LG doesn't and that is where I am having the problem.

Is this worth calling DTV about? Thanks.

[pilotbob]

Stations that have both regular and HD signals are at divverent volumes. I understand that. But is anyone being blown out of their seats when watching an HD show and a DirecTV commercial comes on twice as loud?

My main TV (Sony) levels volume but my LG doesn't and that is where I am having the problem.

Is this worth calling DTV about? Thanks.

It's not just Direct TV... its FiOS too. I think there are two reasons.

1. The commercials are always set to a higher volume level.

2. The show is in Dolby D which is 6.1 speakers being driven, but the commercials are just PL2 which is only stereo with 2 speakers so all the amp watts are directed from 7 speakers to two and the volume increases. I could be wrong but this seems the case.

BOb

[bdraw]

It is actually illegal to play commercials louder than the programming, but yeah. One of the main problems is that if an explosion is 100db during the movie and it breaks to a commercial, then the commercial is also 100db, instead of the 80db that the dialog is at.

You can report them to the FCC, it prob won't help, but it is easy to do on fcc.gov.

[pilotbob]

It is actually illegal to play commercials louder than the programming, but yeah. One of the main problems is that if an explosion is 100db during the movie and it breaks to a commercial, then the commercial is also 100db, instead of the 80db that the dialog is at.

I always thought it had more to do with the switch from Dolby D surround to Pro-Logic II stereo? No?

BOb

[bdraw]

You're right, that is also part of it.

[Roger 9]

Thanks for the help folks. I just wonder if this will get better next month when everything is digital?

[bdraw]

Not for any technical reason it won't, but maybe because there are more people watching it.

[Floyd]

The volume changes on my setup aren't bothersome to me. Probably because 90% of my viewing is done just using the composite audio connection to the TV and using the TV speakers. I only turn on the 7-speaker system for movies to get the surround effects. I guess I need a new center-channel speaker, since I can understand the dialog better using my TV speakers.

[Roger 9]

Actually, I am using HDMI from receiver to TV and using set speakers. My office is acoustically perfect but I still hate being blown out of my chair during commercials.

In fact, last night I was watching Nemisis on AMC the commercials were like I jumped the volume from 25 to 45. :mad: and even though I have the surround setting to "off" the movie itself was out of whack with the music louder than voice.

I used to have a surround "system" and it was like I was operating the center speaker 5 db lower than the other four. Maybe it is an AMC issue but it was terrible.

[SomeRandomIdiot]

Even Brighthouse (particularly Bay News 9) has horrible sound level issues.

[Roger 9]

Seems it is an issue with just about everyone.