Volume difference issues between sources

[sgbroimp]

I run Windows Media Center as a source on Win7 HomePro 64. Output via HDMI to my MX 151 Prepro. The PrePro sends signal to the TV via HDMI. The sound output from the TV is via Toslink (optical) as no ARC feature on the MX 151. I run two zones on the 151 Zone A is for the output to the power amps and on to the speakers. Zone B is for late night listening via headphones, wife in bed, etc. Zone B, analog only, gets signal from the TV via the analog headphone output to PrePro Zone B in then out to a headphone amplifier.

Using my Sony 49XBR850 TV, all worked perfectly. The source volume level between watching something WMC and switching over to watching a TV app brought no sound level difference at all on either Zone A or Zone B. Then I replaced the TV, moving to a Sony XBRA9G set this past weekend. Again, zone A is fine, good match on the output balance for Zone A, but for Zone B, there is a good 50% volume difference in favor of the TV-APPS/Live TV over the WMC. Yes, I have places I can adjust for that; Volume level on the headset, volume level on Zone B of the 151 and the TV volume level, but adjust I must and it can be almost ear shattering if I switch over and forget to do so. And none of these level controls can compensate for the fact that the WMC needs to output more as the TV’s headphone output handles both its native signals and those it gets from the Pre-Pro via the HDMI.

I have been an audiophile for about 60 years now and this one has me stumped. May not be fixable of course.

[cleeds]

You can reduce your line levels with an attentuator like this.

[sgbroimp]

Thank you! Normally a decent idea, but here this will knock down the level out of the headphone output out of the TV which is transmitting audio from both of the out of balance sources. It is the original source within the TV that has to be knocked down or the original source in the PC (WMC) that must be bumped. Tricky issue!

[cleeds]

Originally Posted by sgbroimp

Thank you! Normally a decent idea, but here this will knock down the level out of the headphone output out of the TV which is transmitting audio from both of the out of balance sources. It is the original source within the TV that has to be knocked down or the original source in the PC (WMC) that must be bumped. Tricky issue!

Ahhh, I understand it better now.
Yup, that is a tricky issue!
I guess your only hope is to somehow increase the output level coming from WMC, but I'm guessing you've already tried that, yes?

[Antonmb]

You’ve probably explored already, but there is a myriad of audio settings on the new Sony TVs, perhaps there’s something there that can adjust volume for the specific output.

[sgbroimp]

Thanks to you both. Yes, have tried to boost the WMC but looks to be at max. The Sony Headphone out does respond to the set's volume control but to give you an idea of how extreme this is I have a blaring level at about 15% volume. It's like they forgot to attenuate the analog output itself from the tuner/apps path to the analog (headphone out). I will contact Sony, though as maybe they can have a look and issue a software fix when they realize it is 2-4 times the gain of the previous XBR generation.

[sgbroimp]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

You’ve probably explored already, but there is a myriad of audio settings on the new Sony TVs, perhaps there’s something there that can adjust volume for the specific output.

You hit the nail on the head apparently. The master menu volume settings do not have this, you have to be in one of the sources or the native app input for example. Then when you open the sound menu you see something call input volume offset, center zero, right plus, left minus. This is apparently to fix the exact issue I am having, which turns out not to be between the TV and the external (HDMI1 - WMC) but between the TV apps (too loud) and the TV tuner (live signal) which is about like the WMC signal +/- a little. Why they have the apps so damn loud is a question by itself, but apparently there is a fix and tonight I will jump into the "project" to see if this fixes, both for digital and analog out signals which both need the fix.

By the way, when your next TV need comes up, think OLED if you don't have. It will bowl you over. I know this when I see the wife's jaw drop....

Will report final findings, but thanks to you all for your input.

[Antonmb]

Glad to hear you may be on to the fix. I have a 2-year-old Sony 65" LED, which I like, but I guess OLED should be my next move.

[sgbroimp]

That worked! Pinned the + on TV tuner and full minus on the apps, but they are now pretty much equal output. Had to bump up the HDMI1 (WMC via HTPC) to a +3 (+5 is max), but now all pretty much aligned, subject to a bit of fine tuning, maybe. No more ringing ears from my headphone! Hard to dump a two year old set of course. We gave away the 12 year old 40XBR6 in the loft to an employee, moved the 49XBR850B (6 y.o.) to the loft and moved the OLED into the LR, so that worked pretty well. The employee gave the previous XBR I gave him (32" XBR1) to a poor old lady who had no TV, so everyone came out a winner here and zero stuff to the landfill. Again, thanks for your input!!!