Question:
I've managed to use a phono lead to connect my set-top NTL cable box to the decoder of my SS kit. Sound comes through the speaker but is accompanied with a loud buzzing!. What am I doing wrong and should I actually be doing this?
Also I assume most TV programmes are stereo sound? and at the very best 2.0 DD? Is this correct?
You help is very much appreciated!
Thanks:)
I'm assuming it's digital cable. If analogue then this is all nonsence.
You should be fine to connect your ntl cable box to your home cinema amplifier. I'm not sure why you're getting a buzzing sound with out more information. You should be using two phono leads. Exactly how it's done It depends on what generation of box you have and whether it has seperate audio outs. Let us know whether it doe and one of us wiill explain exactly how to connect it.
Are the leads definately alright, try swapping them. Maybe theirs a fault with the cable box?
I don't know about most programmes but most modern recordings are recorded in dolby stereo, otherwise known as pro-logic. This is an analogue surround format which uses some clever matrixing to hide a front centre and a rear mono channel (Your amp will send the same signal to both rear speakers) into a normal stereo signal. The clever bit is done when the sound track is mastered and has nothing to do with wether you are using cable, satelite or digital terrestrial.
DD2.0 is Dolby Digital 2.0. This is when the sound information is encoded onto two channels using the dolby digital format. Sometimes, the DD2.0 recording has dolby surround matrixed in, sometimes not, again since the format supports stereo, it can support pro-logic. At present cable doesn't use dolby digital broadcasting and won't for a long time.
If your NTL box is analogue, put your arial lead into your VCR, which, assuming it can do NICAM, will then send a stereo signal (carrying Dolby Surround) into your amp, if you take the audio out L-R pair from your VCR into your L-R input on your AMP.
ok, firstly thanks for your advice.
It IS a standard cable box (not digital). It has one phono output from the cable box, which I am then connecting to the decoder via two phono outputs (so there is basically one free hanging from the cable box). As I say, there is sound by accompanied with a buzzing. This is more than likely because there is only one output on the cable box. However, I have this kind of set-up through my TV and stereo unit in my bedroom. Two phono outputs are connecting to only one phono output and it works fine.
I do not have a VCR (what is this VCR you speak of?:p) . My tv is connected via scart to the DVD player and the cable box is connected to the TV through the ariel socket.
Does any of this help any more?
Thanks.
If your NTL box only has one phono audio output it means that the box is only sending out a mono signal, so you will not be able to get stereo sound by connecting to the stereo inputs on the decoder. The signal will only be sent through either the left or right lead, depending on which is connected to the output, not both.
At best you could get the mono feed to be output to both decoder inputs by using a Y-connector to split the mono signal to the left and right audio inputs. I used to do this back in the early 90's when I only had a mono video...
OK it's not stereo, but it beats the sound only coming out of one speaker, and may get rid of the buzzing sound...
I'll try that! Thanks Tim your help is very much appreciated.
Cheers
The best thing to do is what andy says. I used to have an analogue NTL box and some of the channels are broadcast in NICAM stereo. As always, if it's stereo then it's pro-logic if the show was recorded as such.
Connect up with RF and use the NICAM decoder in the VCR or TV to decode the stereo and the AMP to make it pro-logic.
Better still, go digital, ya ludite ;)
Also I assume most TV programmes are stereo sound? and at the very best 2.0 DD? Is this correct?
You help is very much appreciated!
Thanks:)
Answers:
I'm assuming it's digital cable. If analogue then this is all nonsence.
You should be fine to connect your ntl cable box to your home cinema amplifier. I'm not sure why you're getting a buzzing sound with out more information. You should be using two phono leads. Exactly how it's done It depends on what generation of box you have and whether it has seperate audio outs. Let us know whether it doe and one of us wiill explain exactly how to connect it.
Are the leads definately alright, try swapping them. Maybe theirs a fault with the cable box?
I don't know about most programmes but most modern recordings are recorded in dolby stereo, otherwise known as pro-logic. This is an analogue surround format which uses some clever matrixing to hide a front centre and a rear mono channel (Your amp will send the same signal to both rear speakers) into a normal stereo signal. The clever bit is done when the sound track is mastered and has nothing to do with wether you are using cable, satelite or digital terrestrial.
DD2.0 is Dolby Digital 2.0. This is when the sound information is encoded onto two channels using the dolby digital format. Sometimes, the DD2.0 recording has dolby surround matrixed in, sometimes not, again since the format supports stereo, it can support pro-logic. At present cable doesn't use dolby digital broadcasting and won't for a long time.
Answers:
If your NTL box is analogue, put your arial lead into your VCR, which, assuming it can do NICAM, will then send a stereo signal (carrying Dolby Surround) into your amp, if you take the audio out L-R pair from your VCR into your L-R input on your AMP.
Answers:
ok, firstly thanks for your advice.
It IS a standard cable box (not digital). It has one phono output from the cable box, which I am then connecting to the decoder via two phono outputs (so there is basically one free hanging from the cable box). As I say, there is sound by accompanied with a buzzing. This is more than likely because there is only one output on the cable box. However, I have this kind of set-up through my TV and stereo unit in my bedroom. Two phono outputs are connecting to only one phono output and it works fine.
I do not have a VCR (what is this VCR you speak of?:p) . My tv is connected via scart to the DVD player and the cable box is connected to the TV through the ariel socket.
Does any of this help any more?
Thanks.
Answers:
If your NTL box only has one phono audio output it means that the box is only sending out a mono signal, so you will not be able to get stereo sound by connecting to the stereo inputs on the decoder. The signal will only be sent through either the left or right lead, depending on which is connected to the output, not both.
At best you could get the mono feed to be output to both decoder inputs by using a Y-connector to split the mono signal to the left and right audio inputs. I used to do this back in the early 90's when I only had a mono video...
OK it's not stereo, but it beats the sound only coming out of one speaker, and may get rid of the buzzing sound...
Answers:
I'll try that! Thanks Tim your help is very much appreciated.
Cheers
Answers:
The best thing to do is what andy says. I used to have an analogue NTL box and some of the channels are broadcast in NICAM stereo. As always, if it's stereo then it's pro-logic if the show was recorded as such.
Connect up with RF and use the NICAM decoder in the VCR or TV to decode the stereo and the AMP to make it pro-logic.
Better still, go digital, ya ludite ;)
1 2