volume differences [Archive] - iAudiophile.net Forums

shaggydaggy

09-27-2007, 04:36

Hi folks,

I have experienced something weird. I upgraded the firmware to v1.91 from v1.89. When wearing my headphones, my movies are really loud in v1.89 (ie vol. level 25 is enough) but after upgrading to v1.91, the volume is low, even when set to 40. Any ideas why?

Also, the new firmware doesn't allow me to FF my movies. It says the index is broken. It worked fine before.

One more thing, I am experiencing quite a lot of pixelation in movies with high speed scenes. the picture really breaks up a lot (not a firmware problem I don't think) e.g. in Finding Nemo. They have been ripped using Xvid Platinum and are in DivX mode, although it doesn't seem to make any difference what mode its in. Again, any ideas?

Thank you.http://iaudiophile.net/forums/images/smilies2/no.gif
[no]

pannaguma

09-29-2007, 02:42

AFAIK 'index broken' message is due to the video file not firmware.

MCSmarties

10-01-2007, 09:25

The volume output has been voluntarily limited in the new firmware to comply with European law. Nothing you can do about it since you can't downgrade to < 1.85 anymore...

The other problems you mention have nothing to do with the A2 but with the way the movies were encoded. Never heard of a "XViD platinum" software.
You sure you don't mean the release group XviD - PLATiNUM? That's just their scene name, doesn't tell you ANYTHING about *how* they made the movie...
I'd say rip your own DVD and transcode it yourself. Many videos you find through P2P / Bittorrent are made by people who don't have a clue!

stow

10-01-2007, 15:02

Delete the firmware and then when you put 1.91 on, specify that you live in the US to get round the European volume regulations.

baddog993

10-01-2007, 15:04

I will say this when it comes to the audio track, i ditch the ac3 track and replace it with mp3 track, sounds a lot louder and has more pop then ac3.If the program allows it I would rip the movies in mp3 instead of ac3.

stevevt

10-01-2007, 16:04

Delete the firmware and then when you put 1.91 on, specify that you live in the US to get round the European volume regulations.

Could somebody expand on this? I'm also interested in having more volume on my A2, but I need more details.

stow

10-01-2007, 19:00

Could somebody expand on this? I'm also interested in having more volume on my A2, but I need more details.

1. Delete your firmware. Easiest way is just to start with a blank drive.
2. Copy the new firmware over. I use 1.91.
3. After the firmware upgrades, it asks where you live. Say US.

Simple.

stevevt

10-01-2007, 19:09

1. Delete your firmware. Easiest way is just to start with a blank drive.
2. Copy the new firmware over. I use 1.91.
3. After the firmware upgrades, it asks where you live. Say US.

Simple.

Thanks for the followup.

When I got my player a couple weeks ago, it had firmware 1.89. When I first turned it on, it asked me where I live, and I said US. Since then, I have updated the firmware to 1.91. Do you still think re-copying 1.91 per your instructions will have any effect?

Also, are you suggesting that I format the hard drive, then copy the firmware files to the root of the drive, then reboot? Maybe I'm just dense, but "Delete your firmware" is kind of vague. Ever since I bricked a motherboard by installing the wrong BIOS, I'm cautious about firmware upgrades.

doniago

10-02-2007, 01:13

reverend

10-03-2007, 09:22

Hello all,

First post! Got my A2 in September, after a weeks or so of feverish research prior to a long haul flight.

The volume limitation is pesky. The Euro ipod had a similar limitation, but fortunately, along came a freeware app to remove the limitation (EUPod).

Using my A2, I find it difficult to hear a lot of my video's whilst using the subway, due to background noice, and would like to be rid of the Euro limitation.

I'm not clear on the suggestions above about deleting the firmware, as it seems that this is not actually possible. Could the way to, "start with a blank drive" be clarified? Or would a disk format do the trick?

Thanks for any help.

sknight

10-03-2007, 09:40

How much are they limiting volume or output wattage in the EU?

Taxi

10-03-2007, 15:13

>>Could the way to, "start with a blank drive" be clarified?<<

After upgrading the firmware (as described on a sticky on this website) , it did not give me the option to select a country when I turned the A2 on. So, I deleted the system folder's contents, then reinstalled firmware 1.91, and when I turned A2 on, it gave me the option to choose the country. I chose the USofA I think it's louder, I'll know when I listen on the tube tomorrow morning!

stow

10-03-2007, 15:44

reverend

10-04-2007, 02:54

Thanks Taxi, Stow

Taxi - Would be interested to hear if the player sounded louder on the tube today.

thanks

rev

Taxi

10-04-2007, 04:03

It did sound louder, normally I have it on max. (40) and even then I still can't hear some dialogue. Today, I had it on 30, and I heard everything.

(However, it could be that this video file was encoded with louder volume....)
I'll put something on that I know was quiet and will let you know tomorrow.

stow

10-04-2007, 04:57

AFAIK you can't just "delete" the firmware...I mean, there's always going to be _some_ firmware on the A2, or it wouldn't run at all... You could delete the system files, though. Maybe that's what stow meant...

I meant delete all the firmware on the hard drive. That's the only stuff you have access to delete anyway.

reverend

10-04-2007, 05:31

Thanks Taxi,

Look forward to hearing about the results of your test with a known quiet file

reverend

10-04-2007, 09:15

I just followed the same procedure that Taxi did with my A2 and tested it on a file I know was difficult to hear prevously. It is definitely louder, infact almost deafening with the volume turned up to 40.

I guess that's why the Euro-limit is in place!

stevevt

10-04-2007, 12:40

Thanks for all the info. I followed the same procedure and now have more volume as well.