HDTV buyers beware!

[mr_zen256]

Hey guys. This is just a warning for unsuspecting individuals so they dont get stung like I did when buying a new HDTV.

The issue at hand is one that I had never heard about or even considered until it reared its ugly head when I purchased my lovely Samsung Series 6. This is out of sync audio.

Apparently, all these fantastic new high tech TVs require so much video processing that the image is delayed, sometimes to a significant degree, before it is displayed on the screen.

Now, this issue is NOT an issue when listening to audio through your TVs speakers as they are designed to compensate for this video lag. The problem is when you connect an external audio system (in my case an 18 month old Sony home theater system connected to the RCA audio OUT on the TV).

I am aware this issue is not a problem for all televisions and home theater systems as many have been designed to overcome these problems. In this case, the Samsung Series 6 TVs' RCA audio out connectors have not been adjusted to compensate for video lag. So, unless your receiver has an audio delay feature, you are sh!t out of luck.

To solve this issue I had several options: Buy a ridiculously expensive standalone audio delay unit, buy a new sound system which is designed to deal with modern TVs and their video delay, listen to sound through the poxy TV speakers (yeah right) or return the TV.

I opted to buy the new sound system as the price difference between the audio delay unit and a full home theater system was only $100 or so. It's a cost I had not anticipated but I will be better off in the long run. It is a significant step up from my old system as I now have true 5.1 surround sound courtesy of the HDMI connector (opposed to 2 channel stereo through RCA output).

I guess I cant complain too much as I now have a nice home theater setup, but I would have preferred not to be "forced" into making the purchase because of an unforeseen scenario like this.

Just a heads up for people looking at buying a nice new HDTV. Good luck!

 

[Vengance_01]

very interesting. I have had no issues with my 27" 720p HDTV and an old Yamaha Surround system connected via a toslink.

 

[Zepher]

Don't have any audio issues like that with any of our HDTV sets,
47" Westy, 30" Sanyo, 32 Viewsonic, a couple of 26" Westys.
We're using analog audio with Sony and Pioneer Receivers.

 

[Ihaveworms]

Did you consider running the audio to your computer then having software delay it and output it back?

 

[ZeroH]

no issues with my 47" vizio using an older Sony receiver for audio.

I'm curious. Why do you have audio going out from your Sony to the TV? Why not just use your HT speakers?

 

[mr_zen256]

Did you consider running the audio to your computer then having software delay it and output it back?

Nope, cant say I did. That's a good idea though. What software would you recommend for doing this?

So, to achieve this, I would need to run an RCA to 3.5mm stereo cable from the TV to the "line in" port on the computer, filter the audio through a program that has an audio delay feature, then output the audio from the PC to the stereo system with another 3.5mm stereo to RCA cable.

I think I will stick with the new home theater, but this would be a great work-around otherwise.

Don't have any audio issues like that with any of our HDTV sets, 47" Westy, 30" Sanyo, 32 Viewsonic, a couple of 26" Westys. We're using analog audio with Sony and Pioneer Receivers.

Yeah, I don't know how many TVs this issue affects. This issue didn't affect the 32" LCD the Samsung replaced.

I'm curious. Why do you have audio going out from your Sony to the TV? Why not just use your HT speakers?

The TV's audio out was going to the sony receiver and only has stereo input. The speakers are hardwired to the stereo system.

 

[Thejavaman1]

Those delay units are really expensive for just delay. You can pick up a Behringer DSP that'll do delay, graphic EQ, parametric EQ, and RTA (so you can pink the room for a flat response) for about the same price. Hell, I'm using an old one that does all that, and you could probably pick one up on ebay for under $100.

 

[mr_zen256]

Those delay units are really expensive for just delay. You can pick up a Behringer DSP that'll do delay, graphic EQ, parametric EQ, and RTA (so you can pink the room for a flat response) for about the same price. Hell, I'm using an old one that does all that, and you could probably pick one up on ebay for under $100.

QFT

I dont know how they can justify charging people that amount of cash for an electronic device with such a simple function. Profiteering off people who dont know any better makes me ill.