[ZJP]

For the past two years I've had a Samsung PN63C550 HDTV and a Sasmsung 5.1 home theater system hooked up in my basement working flawlessly.

About a month ago I started having problems with the external speakers. All of a sudden the speakers will only work when watching a blu-ray/dvd movie but for normal cable only the built in tv speakers will work. I've already tried replacing the HDMI cable, nothing. Unplugged everything and reboot, nothing. Checked for loose connections, nothing. Replaced cable box with new one, nothing.

I checked the settings menu to make sure its set to external speakers and even with that setting enabled I still can't hear anything. I also did a sound check calibration and all of the speakers work fine... just not with cable. I'm just about to give up at this point as I don't know where else to troubleshoot. If anyone can come up with an explanation as to what is going on I'd love to hear it and I would certainly appreciate the help.

[ttribe]

Do you have the cable box and the blu-ray/dvd player hooked up separately going into the receiver?

ETA: It might help if you could post a picture of the back of your receiver to see how you have things hooked up.

[ZJP]

Originally Posted by ttribe

Do you have the cable box and the blu-ray/dvd player hooked up separately going into the receiver?

ETA: It might help if you could post a picture of the back of your receiver to see how you have things hooked up.

I should have mentioned before, the receiver has the blu-ray driver built in. It's one of those "home theater in a box" setups.

I'll snap a picture tomorrow for you.

[TeRRoRiFiC35]

I'm shocked that it lasted that long. I had two different Samsung one's in college and neither lasted more than 2 years. If I may suggest, you might want to looking into building your own setup, most people get more enjoyment out of that.

[justinnum1]

Yea, those HTIB things are made pretty cheap.

You can get a decent reciever for 3-400 and a blu ray for 100.

[ZJP]

Originally Posted by TeRRoRiFiC35

I'm shocked that it lasted that long. I had two different Samsung one's in college and neither lasted more than 2 years. If I may suggest, you might want to looking into building your own setup, most people get more enjoyment out of that.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Yea, those HTIB things are made pretty cheap.

You can get a decent reciever for 3-400 and a blu ray for 100.

I didn't realize they had such a short lifespan. So more than likely the receiver just went bad is what you're saying?

Also, what are your opinions on this Denon receiver? Pretty good price since I'm not looking to spend a crazy amount.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251095307063...84.m1423.l2648

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by ZJP

I didn't realize they had such a short lifespan. So more than likely the receiver just went bad is what you're saying?

Also, what are your opinions on this Denon receiver? Pretty good price since I'm not looking to spend a crazy amount.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251095307063...84.m1423.l2648

I'd probably pass on that one. I think you should be spending at least 200 on a receiver

[TeRRoRiFiC35]

Check out avsforum.com for info on home theaters

[Litos]

i bought all my home theater stuff brand new about 4 years ago.

everything still works flawlessly.

52" Samsung 650 120hz
Yamaha RX-V463 Reciever
Polk Audio 5:1
Klipsch 12" Sub
HDMI's
PS3

not a bad system a long time ago, but in a perfect world, i'd go with the Panny 80", a full Klipsch 5:1 to replace the Polk Audio and either a Sony H830 reciever or the Denon AVR-1613.

since my home theater system RARELY gets used like it's supposed to, i'd rather just get the 80" Panny and call it a day.

[PINeely]

As others have said you will be better suited to building your own system. A good receiver can be had for 2-400 bucks. I recommend the Pioneer VSX821-K or VSX1021-K to start with; at least 5.1 channels on each and plenty of wattage. Denon also makes quality receivers in their middle-range models but their top-end receivers don't deliver for the price IMO.

[TeRRoRiFiC35]

My home theater consists of the following:

Pioneer VSX-1120-K
Paradigm Studio CC-590
(2) Paradigm Studio 60
(2) Paradigm Studio 20
Emotiva Sub10
PS3
XBox360
Samsung Blu-Ray Player (forgetting which model off the top of my head)
Alienware Desktop Computer

On my other desktop computer which is located in the same room, that is pretty much dedicate to gaming and music. For that I am using Wilson Benesch Arc's for computer speakers.

In my bedroom I have my cheap setup which I am upgrading and that has B&W 685's (used them with my computer before the Wilson Benesch's). I either want to upgrade them to the B&W 805D's or Paradigm Signature S2's. I also have laying around some Axiom speakers.

[justinnum1]

check out audiogon.com

[MadDog]

Originally Posted by ZJP

For the past two years I've had a Samsung PN63C550 HDTV and a Sasmsung 5.1 home theater system hooked up in my basement working flawlessly.

About a month ago I started having problems with the external speakers. All of a sudden the speakers will only work when watching a blu-ray/dvd movie but for normal cable only the built in tv speakers will work. I've already tried replacing the HDMI cable, nothing. Unplugged everything and reboot, nothing. Checked for loose connections, nothing. Replaced cable box with new one, nothing.

I checked the settings menu to make sure its set to external speakers and even with that setting enabled I still can't hear anything. I also did a sound check calibration and all of the speakers work fine... just not with cable. I'm just about to give up at this point as I don't know where else to troubleshoot. If anyone can come up with an explanation as to what is going on I'd love to hear it and I would certainly appreciate the help.

I have a fiber optic cable that goes from the TV to the audio receiver. Without it, I couldn't hear the cable sound, since cable doesn't go through my receiver . Does your system have/need this cable?

[fitchesbass]

Your description is confusing. Is the issue with the DVD/BluRay audio or with the cable box?

If it's the cable box attempt to eliminate items in the normal problem solving way.

E.g. if you haven't already... plug your cable box HDMI into straight into your TV. Do you have audio? If yes.. the it's not the cable and not the cable box and something with your receiver.

My money is something being messed up with the receiver input or receiver settings. I doubt it's a cable.

Edit:

Saw now that you said the normal TV speakers do work. It's something with your receiver. Try different HDMI inputs and keep playing around with the settings.

[daixloxbmw]

Originally Posted by fitchesbass

Your description is confusing. Is the issue with the DVD/BluRay audio or with the cable box?

If it's the cable box attempt to eliminate items in the normal problem solving way.

E.g. if you haven't already... plug your cable box HDMI into straight into your TV. Do you have audio? If yes.. the it's not the cable and not the cable box and something with your receiver.

My money is something being messed up with the receiver input or receiver settings. I doubt it's a cable.

Edit:

Saw now that you said the normal TV speakers do work. It's something with your receiver. Try different HDMI inputs and keep playing around with the settings.

+1

My guess is that the HDMI port on your HTIB receiver is bad. I had HDMI ports fail on me with two different receivers.

BTW, how did this thread turn from OP asking for troubleshooting help to listing what components you got?

[Neurorad]

I'd ask the same question in one of the AVS subforums.

It's probably not a hardware failure, but an HDMI handshake issue.

How is the cable box connected to the HT AVR/BDP? HDMI or coax? Is there a digital audio input connection available on the HT AVR/BDP, to run audio from the cable STB to the AVR?

With HDMI issues slowly being resolved since the introduction a few years ago, I wouldn't buy a used AVR. I would buy a new, cheap Denon, Onkyo, or Yamaha AVR, one that is networked (connected to your LAN, provides Pandora and access to your digital music files on your computers).

[jumpthewire]

Might be a dumb question, but Did you always get 5.1 with cable?

You said your blueray was ok which leads me to think it the format, not your setup?

[udm328i]

which output format do I choose?
I have ps going to a sony home theater system, just a sub woofer and sound bar, using a optical digital cable

[TeRRoRiFiC35]

DTS gives more low end bass