Amazon Streaming and Netflix

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rburgess714
rburgess714 Posts: 616
in Electronics
I have been streaming the Harry Potter series from Amazon through the smart hub on my Samsung tv. My tv is connected to my avr with an hdmi cable. I have an amp driving my left and right speakers and the avr is only driving the center, no surrounds or sub. For tv and dvds the sound is good. With Amazon and Netflix I struggle to hear the dialogue especially if the characters are whispering. Of course I can turn it up but have others experienced this? I have the left and right set at 0.0dB and the center at +2.0dB crossed over at 80 Hz. Any suggestions or reccommendations?

Thanks,
RB
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,450
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    Hey Ray, curious that this is only Amazon/Netflix.

    Did you run the AVR calibration utility, or all manual?

    Could just be a levels mismatch since you're running the mains with an amp and the center on the AVR, but that regular TV and DVD sounds fine to you confuses it a bit.

    At what volume level are you listening for movies? If not too high, with those big mains and the slim Signature center, it wouldn't seem unusual to me for you to go at least +3 on the center over the mains without pushing it too far and losing overhead. I do wonder how it performs in comparison to the S30, but if everything else sounds okay, it's probably a non-issue.

    Are you listening in the same mode on your AVR between TV/DVD and your streaming apps?

    TV firmware and apps up to date?

    Do you have an optical cable you can try, by chance, just to see if it makes any difference?

    Maybe related to the apps or a TV audio setting when using those apps?

    Do you have access to a Roku player, Apple TV or FireStick to test, just to rule out something with the built in apps?

    Just a few things to consider.
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  • dannylightning
    dannylightning Posts: 233
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    i notice when watching netflix some shows are much louder than others, some shows or movies i have to turn the volume up a bit more than others...
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
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    Same here. Amazon dialogue sounds very compressed. I watched 007 specter and the dialogue sounded very muffled and quiet. Netflix is hit or miss. Futurama is very loud while other shows are quiet. I think audio quality takes a back seat to video quality when it comes to streaming services.
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,450
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    Man, I don't notice any significant different at all, oddly.

    My setup is a little different though. I'm using my TV as the HDMI hub for Cable and Roku, with optical out, as my processor doesn't support HDMI.
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  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
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    I stream through my Panasonic BD player. Netflix has been good, Amazon when we tried it did not have the quality sound that we got from Netflix.
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
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  • rburgess714
    rburgess714 Posts: 616
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    msg wrote: »
    Hey Ray, curious that this is only Amazon/Netflix.

    Did you run the AVR calibration utility, or all manual?

    Could just be a levels mismatch since you're running the mains with an amp and the center on the AVR, but that regular TV and DVD sounds fine to you confuses it a bit.

    At what volume level are you listening for movies? If not too high, with those big mains and the slim Signature center, it wouldn't seem unusual to me for you to go at least +3 on the center over the mains without pushing it too far and losing overhead. I do wonder how it performs in comparison to the S30, but if everything else sounds okay, it's probably a non-issue.

    Are you listening in the same mode on your AVR between TV/DVD and your streaming apps?

    TV firmware and apps up to date?

    Do you have an optical cable you can try, by chance, just to see if it makes any difference?

    Maybe related to the apps or a TV audio setting when using those apps?

    Do you have access to a Roku player, Apple TV or FireStick to test, just to rule out something with the built in apps?

    Just a few things to consider.

    Hey Scott,

    I did run yapo to calibrate and that set the center to +2, I can bump it up. Regarding the volume, it's at -15 or so while streaming which is not loud, however music at that volume is?

    Firmware updates are current on all equipment. I don't have a roku or firestick to test. TV is mounted on the wall with cables running through the wall so it's a task to run an optical to troubleshoot.

    Going to screw around with the settings some more and see what happens. Maybe up the center more.
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  • slk55amg
    slk55amg Posts: 305
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    I am 70 years old, my hearing is not what it was20-40- years ago. I run my center channel at + 5db. Try running your center a little higher db level.
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,450
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    I have a couple of different sources at different output levels, so I bump the gain on them to match each other. Wonder if the TV output is just lower than the other sources? Do you have separate HDMI cables from a cable box and DVD player going into the AVR, or are they all into the TV then out through one HDMI to the AVR? Are all cables the same brand/model?

    You're playing music how? Through the AVR apps, or from TV apps?

    As a quick test, while streaming something, switch from 3.0 to stereo, and see if the volume jumps to a more acceptable level.

    Have you tried with the EQ off, setting up the speakers manually with estimated distances, and +3 on the center?

    What's the max level range on the speaker levels adjustment anyway? +/-12? Trying to get a sense for remaining overhead if you bump levels.

    Sounds like a lower output level from the TV to me, if you're running separate cables from the other video sources and they sound fine to you.
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  • dannylightning
    dannylightning Posts: 233
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    i watched quite a few shows on netflix over the last couple days. great sound quality especially that river dale show.. i do fine i need to turn up the volume for some shows and turn it down of others but i cant say any sounded muffled but everything i watched sounds fine..



    i have a HDMI going to my TV from my streaming box and a interconnect going from my TV to my stereo

    is it possible you have a bad cable carrying the audio to your stereo ?
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Answers

  • rburgess714
    rburgess714 Posts: 616
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    Seems that many experience volume fluctuations while streaming. Will turn up the center and see how it goes.
    Living Room
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  • rburgess714
    rburgess714 Posts: 616
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    msg wrote: »
    I have a couple of different sources at different output levels, so I bump the gain on them to match each other. Wonder if the TV output is just lower than the other sources? Do you have separate HDMI cables from a cable box and DVD player going into the AVR, or are they all into the TV then out through one HDMI to the AVR? Are all cables the same brand/model?

    You're playing music how? Through the AVR apps, or from TV apps?

    As a quick test, while streaming something, switch from 3.0 to stereo, and see if the volume jumps to a more acceptable level.

    Have you tried with the EQ off, setting up the speakers manually with estimated distances, and +3 on the center?

    What's the max level range on the speaker levels adjustment anyway? +/-12? Trying to get a sense for remaining overhead if you bump levels.

    Sounds like a lower output level from the TV to me, if you're running separate cables from the other video sources and they sound fine to you.

    I have an HDMI ARC from TV to the AVR and HDMI cables from cable box and BD player to AVR. Cables are not the same brand. The speaker level adjustment is +/-10.

    Music sources CDs, Tidal through Chromecast, Sirrius and Pandora streamed through AVR.

    Watched another Amazon movie today with the center set at 5, was definitely an improvement but still room for improvement.

    Did test switching 3.0 to stereo and no change in volume. I think ot just the nature of the app?

    All good suggestions and things to try.

    Thanks,
    RB
    Living Room
    Parasound HINT 6, Yamaha Aventage RX-A 1060, Oppo 103D, Cambridge Audio Azur 851N, KLH Model 5s, Polk CSi A6, Samsung 65" LED

    Office
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,450
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    Good work, Ray. So to rule out running the services from the TV apps, do you have any streaming players in the house you can hook up to test for comparison? Or as suggested, maybe a quick cable swap?

    Not sure how it would compare, whether even a definitive test, but maybe even a notebook with an HDMI output to stream Amazon through the browser?

    If you post up the model of your AVR, I'll have a flip through the manual with you to see if there's anything in there that you can adjust to bump the gain on the TV input to get you a closer match with the other sources. TV too, if you like. Could be a setting, who knows.

    Curious, does your AVR save the different settings between each source? Ex., when you set your center +5 for TV, do the other source modes have their own respective settings that take effect when you switch to them, or does a +5 center apply to everything running in surround?
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
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    Netflix seems to have the best sound quality, show dependent. Then HBO Go, then Amazon. Turning up my preamp close to max led to distortion so instead I bumped all the speakers +6db. This meant instead of -15 I was at -25 for most shows. Bobs burgers on the Fox now Network required -40. That's around where I would listen to music as well.
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  • rburgess714
    rburgess714 Posts: 616
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    msg wrote: »
    Good work, Ray. So to rule out running the services from the TV apps, do you have any streaming players in the house you can hook up to test for comparison? Or as suggested, maybe a quick cable swap?

    Not sure how it would compare, whether even a definitive test, but maybe even a notebook with an HDMI output to stream Amazon through the browser?

    If you post up the model of your AVR, I'll have a flip through the manual with you to see if there's anything in there that you can adjust to bump the gain on the TV input to get you a closer match with the other sources. TV too, if you like. Could be a setting, who knows.

    Curious, does your AVR save the different settings between each source? Ex., when you set your center +5 for TV, do the other source modes have their own respective settings that take effect when you switch to them, or does a +5 center apply to everything running in surround?

    I haven't spent much time on this the last couple of days but will tinker around with it some Monday night. Went through the samsung settings and there isn't a way to increase the output. I think my AVR will let me assign settings to sources but even it does the signal is still coming through the TVs smart hub app so while it may correct Amazon content it would assign the same settings to all other TV content. It could be my ears require a bigger center? I will let you know how it goes.
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  • rburgess714
    rburgess714 Posts: 616
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    Airplay355 wrote: »
    Netflix seems to have the best sound quality, show dependent. Then HBO Go, then Amazon. Turning up my preamp close to max led to distortion so instead I bumped all the speakers +6db. This meant instead of -15 I was at -25 for most shows. Bobs burgers on the Fox now Network required -40. That's around where I would listen to music as well.

    I have noticed Netflix being better.
    Living Room
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    Office
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  • rburgess714
    rburgess714 Posts: 616
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    Just an update, I think I may have fixed the issue ? The setting on the tv audio was set on pcm. I set to bit rate and it seems better? Does that make sense?
    Living Room
    Parasound HINT 6, Yamaha Aventage RX-A 1060, Oppo 103D, Cambridge Audio Azur 851N, KLH Model 5s, Polk CSi A6, Samsung 65" LED

    Office
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  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
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    rburgess714 wrote: »
    Just an update, I think I may have fixed the issue ? The setting on the tv audio was set on pcm. I set to bit rate and it seems better? Does that make sense?

    yes
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music
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