SP2 makes popping noise when changing channels on cable receiver

mlawson66 · « **on:** 7 Jul 2006, 11:59 pm »

Hi,

I am the proud new owner of an SP2. It sounds great in my system but has a bad habit of blowing fuses in my amps. So, the problem occurs when I am watching cable TV, and I change channels. Even at very low volumes, a loud pop can be heard when you change channels, especially when you are changing between a Dolby 5.1 channel, and a *regular* binaural channel. I've listened to hours of music using other sources; the DVD loves the SP2. It is only when I change channels on the cable box that I get the fuse changing blues. I've tried using the optical connection and the coax connection. That isn't it. What seems to happen is simply, the digital signal drops out when the channel is changed, when the signal is reacquired, a loud pop is heard, and I have to change fuses in my Ampzilla Monoblocks again.

The SP2 is connected via RCA connections to 7.1 speakers. All the surround amps, and the center channel are NuForce Reference 9s. The subs are SVS PB12+. The main speakers are VMPS RM30s, powered by Ampzilla 2000s, and connected via Krell KAV 280p. In the Home Theater mode, the KAV is set up for unity gain. It has worked flawlessly for a couple years now, using a Sherwood P-965 as a source.

Also, it seems like the pop is independant of the volume setting. Mute does prevent the noise.

mlawson66 · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 03:47 am »

Additional info:

Verified that all speakers are set to small, and xbass is off, for all modes. The popping sound seems not to be as loud now. I'm out of AGC-6 fuses, so I will have to wait until I can find more fuses before trying this again.

Has anyone out there had similar issues with their SP?

sikoniko · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 01:23 pm »

Mine pops all of the time. I don't blow fuses though. It got better as the pre broke in, but it hasn't gone away. I am using ref9's for my front 3 speakers.

James Tanner · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 01:29 pm »

Quote from: mlawson66 on 7 Jul 2006, 11:59 pm

Hi,

I am the proud new owner of an SP2. It sounds great in my system but has a bad habit of blowing fuses in my amps. So, the problem occurs when I am watching cable TV, and I change channels. Even at very low volumes, a loud pop can be heard when you change channels, especially when you are changing between a Dolby 5.1 channel, and a *regular* binaural channel. I've listened to hours of music using other sources; the DVD loves the SP2. It is only when I change channels on the cable box that I get the fuse changing blues. I've tried using the optical connection and the coax connection. That isn't it. What seems to happen is simply, the digital signal drops out when the channel is changed, when the signal is reacquired, a loud pop is heard, and I have to change fuses in my Ampzilla Monoblocks again.

The SP2 is connected via RCA connections to 7.1 speakers. All the surround amps, and the center channel are NuForce Reference 9s. The subs are SVS PB12+. The main speakers are VMPS RM30s, powered by Ampzilla 2000s, and connected via Krell KAV 280p. In the Home Theater mode, the KAV is set up for unity gain. It has worked flawlessly for a couple years now, using a Sherwood P-965 as a source.

Also, it seems like the pop is independant of the volume setting. Mute does prevent the noise.

Hi - What cable system and boxes are you using?

james

James Tanner · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 02:02 pm »

Try using DIGITAL FORCE on the Sat/TV input.
Hit the CODE button on the SP2 remote (red led at top of remote will light) - hit 0-6-1 on remote.
You will see 'DIGITAL FORCE ON' on the LCD display on the SP2 - hit SAVE on the remote.

OK - what this does is prevent the SP2 from 'looking' for analog - it continues to stay locked on the digital signal. Maybe the click you are hearing is a function of the SP2 looking for the analog signal then switching back to digital.

On my Rogers cable (Scientific Atlanta HD cable box) at home I do not get any pops on either of the 2 systems I have.

james

mlawson66 · « **Reply #5 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 03:46 pm »

Quote from: sikoniko on 8 Jul 2006, 01:23 pm

Mine pops all of the time. I don't blow fuses though. It got better as the pre broke in, but it hasn't gone away. I am using ref9's for my front 3 speakers.

Hi sikoniko. That is a good idea. If I can't find any more fuses, I'll switch back to a 5.1 configuration and use the use Reference 9s from the rear speakers for the mains. They don't complain about the popping.

mlawson66 · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 03:49 pm »

Quote from: James Tanner on 8 Jul 2006, 01:29 pm

Hi - What cable system and boxes are you using?

james

We are using the Motorola DCT-3412, from comcast. If there is a better box out there, I wouldn't mind buying one if Comcast will let me use my own box.

mlawson66 · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 04:01 pm »

Quote from: James Tanner on 8 Jul 2006, 02:02 pm

Try using DIGITAL FORCE on the Sat/TV input.
Hit the CODE button on the SP2 remote (red led at top of remote will light) - hit 0-6-1 on remote.
You will see 'DIGITAL FORCE ON' on the LCD display on the SP2 - hit SAVE on the remote.

OK - what this does is prevent the SP2 from 'looking' for analog - it continues to stay locked on the digital signal. Maybe the click you are hearing is a function of the SP2 looking for the analog signal then switching back to digital.

On my Rogers cable (Scientific Atlanta HD cable box) at home I do not get any pops on either of the 2 systems I have.

james

James, that sounds like a great idea. In fact, I went so far as to hit the code button on the remote, and found that the remote has no numbers!

Man, I better drink some coffee before I try to program my SP2. So, I assume that some of these 28 buttons on the remote correspond to numbers?

By the way, the SP2 sounds absolutely awesome! If we can get it to stop making my amps eat fuses, I'll be such a happy customer.

James Tanner · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 04:08 pm »

Hi,

Yes in the manual it shows what keys are which numbers - 061 is Mute-Stereo-THX.

james

sikoniko · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 04:44 pm »

This is the same box I have. Im hoping this fixes the issue. Ill try it when I get home. at the inlaws right now.

Quote from: mlawson66 on 8 Jul 2006, 03:49 pm

Quote from: James Tanner on 8 Jul 2006, 01:29 pm

Hi - What cable system and boxes are you using?

james

We are using the Motorola DCT-3412, from comcast. If there is a better box out there, I wouldn't mind buying one if Comcast will let me use my own box.

mlawson66 · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 05:16 pm »

Quote from: James Tanner on 8 Jul 2006, 04:08 pm

Hi,

Yes in the manual it shows what keys are which numbers - 061 is Mute-Stereo-THX.

james

Well I'll be, there it is on page 8. Sure didn't see that before. OK, armed with code and coffee, we're going in.

Hey, that did help. The immediate pop when changing channels is gone. Now, there is a pop when it is "Detecting Surround Mode". The pop is loud enough that I don't want to risk any more fuses. I'll head on in to work and get a Windows lap top. None of our laptops here have RS-232 ports.

sikoniko · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Jul 2006, 07:41 pm »

it reduced mine, but didnt take it away.

James Tanner · « **Reply #12 on:** 10 Jul 2006, 02:57 pm »

Hi,

We believe it is a specific Motorola cable box and we are getting a hold of one to try some tests.

james

lbouchard · « **Reply #13 on:** 10 Jul 2006, 03:30 pm »

For your information, I am also *sometimes* getting this popping noise when changing channels on My DirecTV Tivo HR10-250 HDTV receiver and my Bell ExpressVu 9200. Sometimes the poping heppen when switching from one device to another.

Jason Nugent · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Jul 2006, 06:01 pm »

Slightly different, but I get occasional popping from my SP2 when watching movies. I've tried to pinpoint when it happens, but it rarely happens more than once or twice a week, with a variety of content. I'll be sitting there, and all of a sudden I'll get this loud "pop" from all channels. It happened last night when watching a Sopranos episode. forcing the DVD input to Digital doesn't help. It has never happened in one of the bypass modes.

As an aside, I don't suppose there is a list some place of all of the possible control codes that one can send the SP2? I'm aware of the force digital one, and the one that turns on the tilt backlight mechanism for the remote, but that's it.

brucek · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Jul 2006, 06:35 pm »

Download the manual here and it's on page 17.........

Jason Nugent · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Jul 2006, 06:39 pm »

Quote from: brucek on 11 Jul 2006, 06:35 pm

Download the manual here and it's on page 17.........

man, I poured through that manual, too.

James Tanner · « **Reply #17 on:** 13 Jul 2006, 10:16 pm »

Quote from: Jason Nugent on 11 Jul 2006, 06:01 pm

Slightly different, but I get occasional popping from my SP2 when watching movies. I've tried to pinpoint when it happens, but it rarely happens more than once or twice a week, with a variety of content. I'll be sitting there, and all of a sudden I'll get this loud "pop" from all channels. It happened last night when watching a Sopranos episode. forcing the DVD input to Digital doesn't help. It has never happened in one of the bypass modes.

As an aside, I don't suppose there is a list some place of all of the possible control codes that one can send the SP2? I'm aware of the force digital one, and the one that turns on the tilt backlight mechanism for the remote, but that's it.

Hi Jason,

It sounds like a static discharge.

james

mlawson66 · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 Jul 2006, 06:04 am »

Quote from: lbouchard on 10 Jul 2006, 03:30 pm

For your information, I am also *sometimes* getting this popping noise when changing channels on My DirecTV Tivo HR10-250 HDTV receiver and my Bell ExpressVu 9200. Sometimes the poping heppen when switching from one device to another.

Yeah, it is the same for mine. So, neither of those devices are Motorola cable boxes? I get the loud popping on DVD, or on Cable Box, or any digital source, when the signal format changes. If it changes from a Dolby 5.1 to a DTS or PCM, it makes the popping noise. Also, when changing inputs, it will sometimes pop. Even if the it isn't changing to or from the input that the Motorola cable box is connected to.

mlawson66 · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 Jul 2006, 06:09 am »

Quote from: Jason Nugent on 11 Jul 2006, 06:01 pm

Slightly different, but I get occasional popping from my SP2 when watching movies. I've tried to pinpoint when it happens, but it rarely happens more than once or twice a week, with a variety of content. I'll be sitting there, and all of a sudden I'll get this loud "pop" from all channels. It happened last night when watching a Sopranos episode. forcing the DVD input to Digital doesn't help. It has never happened in one of the bypass modes.

Did you notice if there was an interruption in your digital signal, or if the signal changed format? Mine is usually rock solid. It popped the other day watching a movie on DVD. Actually, it happened on one of the extra features. The signal format changed, so the display flickered "Detecting Surround", and the loud pop happened, before the "auto mute" feature kicked in. It has also happened when changing inputs between CD and DVD.

I don't think the problem is specific to Motorola cable boxes.