Topic: TV picture and sound sync

[Clive]

I notice whilst watching some channels on my new TV that sometimes the picture and sound are slightly out of sync.  Watching the same programme on another TV it is perfectly OK.  Why should this be?

[Simon]

Satellite delay?  

No, seriously, I have no idea, but there is a setting on my amp to increase or reduce delay, by so many milliseconds, which is supposed to optimise the sound to the size of the room, somehow.  I have all mine set on 0.  Is there such a setting on your Set Top Box, Clive?

[Sandra]

Its Japanese Clive they often get them out of sync dont you remember the Bruce Lee films  

Is it through your digital box Clive? It often happens on mine for some reason I think its possibly weather related as some days are beter than others  

[Clive]

Damn, that means I'll have to read the instruction book!    I noticed that Scrumpy Jack was online and hoped he might have seen my post.

[Clive]

Yes it is through my digital box but so are all the other TV sets in the house.  I haven't noticed it before on any other set, just this new one.  The problem is that the new set is just a monitor and all the other equipment (satellite, VCR and DVD) goes through a "media station" before it gets to the screen.  Without the media station it would have no sound at all.

[Sandra]

He wont be much help in this digital age Clive  
Now if you are having problems with an old Baird original TV he'll sort you out no problem  

[Sandra]

It looks like a setting in the TV sound menu Clive I should think.
As Simon said there are often adjustments for the delay to various speakers.
I can alter the delay to my surround ones depending on the size of the room  

[Clive]

OK, I'll have to call up the menu screen and have a play around.  At least you have pointed me in the right direction.

[Simon]

Yes, it definitely sounds like the Media Station may have delay options Clive.  Set them all to the minimum, and that should solve your problem.

[Clive]

I checked the menu and there was a 20ms delay so I've set it to zero as you suggested.  So far so good!  

[Simon]

Hope it works Clive!

Apart from the sound issue, how are you finding the new TV?  Is it all you expected?

[Clive]

I'm very pleased with it Simon.  You have to have a good signal for plasma sets and it's best to pick it up via the sky box rather than the aerial.  I have also been pleasantly surprised that people don't look squashed in the way that they do on some other wide screen sets I've viewed.  Mrs Clive is absolutely delighted with it and the next step is to get a speaker system.  We are going to the cinema tonight to see Chicago so I'm sure that will give me the impetus to get something sorted out.

Edit:  change of plan, cinema tomorrow instead.

[Simon]

Ah, now, the reason people don't look squashed is that Digital broadcasts are true Widescreen (16:9), whereas terrestrial broadcasts are usually a hybrid widescreen (14:9), in order that people with 'square' TVs don't get large black borders.

[Clive]

In that case, viewing through the digibox is mandatory -  something I wasn't aware of.  This is quite a steep learning curve.

[Simon]

It's also worth making the effort of ensuring the digibox is plumbed through your VCR, Clive, so that recordings are also made in true widescreen.  Any VCR worth it's salt will automatically detect 16:9 record / playback.