Harman-Kardon AVR146 reciever questions....

[mikey_the_redneck]

Hey guys, try not to laugh at my lack of technical knowledge.

So I bought a HK AVR146 reciever and a Bell HD box(not PVR), and when I change the channels from "regular" to HD channels, I get this "snap" sound....every time and it is annoying. So I went into the sound settings in the Bell HD box and there are 3 options; dolby digital, PCM, and dolby digital/PCM...............This "pop" or "snap" sound happens when I am on the dolby/PCM setting.........
I guess my question is........what the hell is PCM? Wouldn't you want it set on DD for HD viewing?
Does anyone own one of these recievers? and if you do, what surround settings do you use for HD programming, DVD's, games etc.??
And where can I learn more about this stuff?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[flip]

I'm no expert but PCM is basically regular audio.

Most programs broadcast in either Dolby Surround or Dolby Digital (5.1).

You have the right setting I think, because if you put it to Dolby Digital you'll only be able to use the TV for audio on the few programs that are broadcast in PCM.

The sound is probably the receiver switching from PCM to DD or vice versa.

Hope that helps but don't take anything I said as 100%. I'm just going on my limited knowledge.

[PsYcNeT]

Unfortunately, this is unavoidable till all channels become HD.

Like Flip said, it's likely the PCM factor.

PCM is Pulse code modulation, which is fancy talk for analog signals (ie a voice) re-encoded digitally (quantized if you will). Most TV channels do not use PCM in its uncompressed form, for it's bandwidth usage is ridiculous.

A 'regular' channel runs on a standard compressed-PCM signal. They are of course digitized, but run a far lower bandwidth standard than HD (to be analogous, 480p video vs 1080p).

HD uses far less compressed PCM signals, or even uncompressed depending on the provider...(likely the former for Bell however). When you swap from a stereo SD station to a stereo (or even 5.1) HD station, the PCM has to change it's decoder. This in turn means that the signal is interrupted and the because it is a Solid state amplfier, the 'pop' is quite audible.

Getting a nice cheap $3000 tube-based reciever might soften it a bit, but then again, it may not.