Audio dropouts with Acoustic Solutions DVD551/Technics SADX1050

[Wurzel]

I'm using an Acoustic Solutions DVD551 player with a Technics SADX1050 amp driving 5 speakers from the Bush Pro300 system (sub/amp removed).

I'm experiencing audio droputs (at least that's what I think they are) - maybe 1/10 sec every couple of minutes - during DVD playback.

I've tried both coax and optical interconnects and the problem persists.

With limited testing, the problem seems most severe on a DD/DTS dual encoded disc. Less severe on a DD5.1-only disc, and possibly non-existant on a 2.0 disc. The DVD551 plays audio CDs fine, but mp3's on CDRs sound awful.

It doesn't occur when the DVD player is feeding 6-channel audio to the amp.

Have I got a player that can't output a steady digital signal, or an amp that can't decode? Any ideas folks?

Oh, if you haven't already guessed, I'm not particularly clued-up on this technology, so it wouldn't the first time that I've done something daft like not plugging it in.

Thread title edited 6.3.02

[brock_landers]

Make sure all leads are FIRMLY plugged in.

Next check to see what info is displayed on the amp, dd dolby pro logic, if it switches whilst you are experiencing dropouts then either the player and/or the lead are at fault.

Read the manual for the dvd player and see if it mentions anything like the dropouts.........

cheers, Brock.

[Wurzel]

Thanks for the reply Brock - very much appreciated.

Leads check out fine, and the amp is receiving the correct signal without switching during playback.

I watched several hours of flawless DVD playback from a DD2.0 disc this evening, so I think the problem is software-specific.

The DVD551 manual doesn't mention dropouts, although it does imply that only 96 kHz sampling can be outputted from the digital audio output connector.

It's not clear whether this restriction applies to DD bit-streams as well as Linear PCM [the player is currently outputting the raw data stream]. And either way, I've don't know what sampling rates are from DVD anyway, have no idea what problems this could cause anyway.

I'll try the amp with a different DVD player and see if the dropouts stop. I could do with a player that's compatable with the Technics universal remote anyway..... :)

[Wurzel]

Well, the Technics amp is innocent. How foolish of me to suspect the Technics gear rather than my dodgy Acoustic Solutions.

Problems disappeared as soon as I plugged in a friend's Tokai DVD player. It seems that my player cannot output a steady digital signal using coax or optical. Strange that the 6-channel analogue output should be okay.

So I guess the AS DVD551 is heading back to Richer Sounds. Hopefully this is an unnoticed design fault (I imagine most people paying an extra £20 to get the 6-channel output option won't be using digital output) - and they won't mind me spending the extra dosh on a Tosh.

DVD player is 6 months old - anyone hazard a guess what Richer's stance would be??

[john316]

Did you pick up one of their £10 warranties?

If not then they will try and fix it but you will not get a backup machine whilst they take it away

[Wurzel]

er no...and feeling a little foolish now.

Looks like I may be DVD-less if Richer decide try a repair. Thanks for the reply John.

[brock_landers]

Good luck mate, let us know how you get on.

cheers, Brock.

[Wurzel]

Well, Richer part-exchanged the Acoustic Solutions DVD551 for a Toshiba SD210e. I'm £70 poorer but a whole lot happier.

Technics amp is singing like a bird. No audio drop-outs on any discs thus far, and mp3 sounds like music once more.

So Richer's CS gets a thumbs up from me.

I should also give credit to Currys. When I first discovered the drop-outs (using coax), they were happy to loan me an optical cable to help diagnose the problem. No big deal, but I appreciated it.