Is there a way to make the sound from Cable not suck?

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
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now that i have better stuff its really starting to annoy me how crappy the sound is on most Cable channels.

I have TWC

seems everything distorts and crackles even at moderate volumes on channels like HBO and such. its not the speakers or anything else. BluRays can be played at deafening levels perfectly fine with no issues

besides changeing to another provider (Satellite) can anything be done?
 

Scotteq

Diamond Member
Apr 10, 2008
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now that i have better stuff its really starting to annoy me how crappy the sound is on most Cable channels.

I have TWC

seems everything distorts and crackles even at moderate volumes on channels like HBO and such. its not the speakers or anything else. BluRays can be played at deafening levels perfectly fine with no issues

besides changeing to another provider (Satellite) can anything be done?


How are you getting the sound from your cable box to your stereo? That's where I would start investigating: Bad connector on the cable box or bad interconnect would be my first guesses. Swap out wires/types and see if the problem moves or goes away.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
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who is your provider? i've had no issues with fios using just an hdmi cable to my avr.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
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who is your provider? i've had no issues with fios using just an hdmi cable to my avr.

im on TWC - Time warner

coax into cable box, HDMI to receiver -> HDMI to TV

never had any video issues just audio

i have some newer cables coming from monoprice as the one i have is prob anchient- standard COAX cable
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
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oh duh you did say TWC in the op my bad.

wonder if the cables you have in wall are just old or something maybe? unless twc's quality is just kinda whack?
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
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well pulling from a different outlet seems to have helped some, rest of it is prob the feed. the cable comes into the basement and this is all the way on the 3rd floor. not sure how many times its split below.

time to drill some more holes in the wall
 

Scotteq

Diamond Member
Apr 10, 2008
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Lots of splits in the house??? Then have you considered using a drop amp? Your data modem probably won't like it, but mine made a nice difference for everything else. I run one splitter for the modem, then to the amp:

aryvuze9.jpg
 
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mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
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Digital or analogue cable? I'm assuming the latter. If that's the case wiring should affect it. With digital you either get a signal or you don't.
 

bigboxes

Lifer
Apr 6, 2002
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I'd have TWC come out and adjust the line levels first and then ad the inline amp if necessary.
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
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isnt it all dig now?

For the most part. However, some people still have legacy analogue cable. I did miss the OP mention having a cable box so this means he does have digital.

I suppose it could be the cable. You can get digital noise. It certainly wouldn't hurt to check but I'm not sure this is the problem. I'm more inclined to say it's a problem with the box itself, or a headend issue. How many cable boxes do you have? If you've got more than one, do they all do this?
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
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TBH im not sure it happens on the other Cblbox/TV, its only hooked up to a soundbar but i can prob check. IIRC i have noticed it on certian movies on HBO or whatever. Cbl box is a newer Samsung one upstairs. the other one is an older SA one


i noticed it again last night when watching Game of Thrones. its almost always the highend that breaks up and pops. getting kinda annoying
 
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vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
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have you disabled all the audio compression settings etc. in your cable box?
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
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there re no audio compression settings in my cable box.
seems to be channel dependent

cinimax is horrid
HBO less bad

you can see it in the PQ difference as well. one def pixelates more vs the other at times.

guess ill give a call into TW see if that can do anything
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
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One trick a friend did is order 3D content (I think ESPN 3d) for a month. They had to upgrade his box to one that sucks way less for the 3D, but then didn't downgrade the box when the month was up.

He certainly thought it was worth the 12 bucks or whatever.