Why is there a time difference from my surround sound system to my T.V?

Question

Hi

I have a Panasonic surround sound system which cost me about £400 4 years ago an is still a quality sound system. However when I moved a few months back I decided to update the rest of my entertainment systems. I Got rid of my old 32" TV and bought a 42" Hitachi Plasma, and upgraded my old sky digital box to sky +. The problem is when I attached my surround sound system to my sky + box the sound is fractionally out from what is displayed on my new TV. Its like watching a old dubbed kung foo movie!!! Why is this? It worked fine with my last TV and Sky box. Is it the new sky box or TV to Blame?

Answer 1

EXCELLENT QUESTION.

The delay is due to a lot more digital information being processed with the new equipment configuration than ever before.

That is why some AV (surround sound) receiver manufacturers, such as Harman/Kadon for example, and others, now offer a setting that delays either sound or picture in increments in order to "match" the lip-sych back up.

Its a nasty problem that arises due to all that processing going on.  

Short of having to purchace a new A-V receiver, a little experimentation with the different audio outputs from the skybox may yield better results.  For example, try using the analog audio outputs instead of the digital ones.  You are likely to find a set up with your current equipment that works.

Good luck and let me know how it goes!

Answer 2

I had the same issue. You have to use HDMI cables from you're box to you're tv THEN run a fiber from you're tv's optical out to you're surround system.  If you dont than you will have a  delay in the tv sound & the sound going to you're reciever.  I bought a hd-dvd player & hdmi cable and eliminated the sound delay.

Answer 3

It's tough to answer these sort of questions without a bit more info, but I will give it a shot.

It seems obvious that the new sky box and/or TV is to blame, the question is why.  Being from the U.S., systems may be different so please bear with me.

Although the old sky box was called "digital" it may not have been.  It may have been bringing a digital TV signal into your home but still handling the audio analog.

If possible separate the signals and handle the audio on it's own.  Always use the highest quality input possible for each.  Several are available on most systems i.e. s-video, hdmi, rca, optical digital, etc...

The problem may lay in the Panasonic system not being able to handle true digital.

Answer 4

Im getting that you are saying that the sound doesn't match the lips?  Like a delay.  If that is the case hopefully there is a setting on your theater reciever for a delay. This a common issue for alot of tv's.  My reciever calls it sound delay. It lets you adjust to match the lips of those talking because the sound gets through before the tv is done proccesing and displaying video.  I hope your receiver has the setting.  Good luck

Answer 5

Guessing your receiver is obviously, not easy to change settings with TV ??

Maybe look on Forums and search info on Panasonic, Sky+ Digital for more practical and easy to follow info, ok

http://mydigitalnetwork.com