Hatrack River Forum: Droned out Dialog. (Mayfly)

This is topic Droned out Dialog. (Mayfly) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :

After being failed by both Microsoft and gateway customer service, and my google-fu I am coming here.

I have an HD monitor what has an X-box 360 plugged into it via a HD cable. What I have been doing is plugging in headphones or speakers to the HD audio on the monitor for sound. My problem being that no matter how many options I fiddle with or things I Google, the dialog of every movie or video game is drowned out by every other noise. It sometimes seems like certain noises only come through based on the direction I am facing in game.

I am hoping that the solution is not to have to buy a large or expensive stereo. But I will listen to any suggestion, although the cheaper ones first. [Wink]

Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :

Can you set your audio on the 360 to "Stereo" or "Analog" rather than "Digital" "Surround" "5.1" or whatever other fanciness it's currently set to? My guess is that dialog audio is being sent to a center channel that it not being mixed well by your monitor.

EDIT: It's possible that with the HDMI connection you can't really downgrade the audio and you will need a good stereo system to fix the problem (assuming the problem is bad mixing in the monitor).

Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :

The only options are:
Digital Stereo
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital with WMA Pro

Looking at a few things online though show that here are Analog setting, but I'm not sure if I can get to them while I have hd plugged in.

Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :

Digital Stereo should make the Xbox mix the center channel to left/right rather than have your monitor do it. Have you tried that setting?

Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :

I have but it still sounds droned out.

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

There are headphones that simulate 5.1 as well, which might be (slightly) cheaper than 5.1 speakers.

Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :

I changed some settings so that background music is nearly silent, while dialog is blasting, mixed with speaker on max to headphones, and Digital Stereo I am able to adequately hear everything. As long as I remember to turn down this when I am done, it works as a temporary solution.

Edit: added.
I will look into some 5.1 Headphones. I might be able to hold off with my current setting until my birthday and get a nice pair. Or shoot for speakers. The ones I bought in 2003 are just to old now [Cry]

Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :

After looking into it a little I am now looking for recommendations about which companies to buy from as far as speakers go.
Or if you have recently bought or know a lot about speakers some suggestions. My only two requirements are that it supports 5.1, and that they can connect to both my monitor(X-box) and computer.

For now though I am wading through Newegg.

Posted by Pegasus (Member # 10464) on :

I get the same issues with a bad connection in my headphone extension wire. It definitely sounds like some sort of channel problem, or try different headphones just to make sure the ones you have are ok.

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

BTW, I thought this thread was going to be about Ben Stein.

Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :

If the monitor is the problem then better speakers/headphones may not solve the problem. You might need a standalone audio amp. Maybe pick up the speakers from somewhere with a good return policy.