topic HT-RT5 low volume problems in Home Cinema, Projectors & Players

HT-RT5 low volume problems

Wizzie — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 11:19:40 GMT

Recently purchased, when connected via either optical or hdmi arc, the volume is just too low even when at max. Latest firmware applied. Volume via Bluetooth is fine and when at max is significantly higher than output via HDMI or optical. Any tips on how to resolve? I see a couple of other threads reporting the same problem, typically in the US. This unit was a UK one.

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Captainoats81 — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 22:14:40 GMT

Sounds like you are having the same problem as me although only the Sky HD box has low volume. Everything else is nice and loud. It's definitely my sound bar as through a home cinema amp setup it is nice and loud. I'm waiting for Sony to get back in touch with me but been 2 days so far with no feedback yet!

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Wizzie — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 22:53:12 GMT

My problem exists on both SKY+HD and LG bluray player. Would be great if you could share the response from Sony when you eventually get one. Strange it is fine on Bluetooth but lacks any grunt with the other inputs. Surely a firmware update required?

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Captainoats81 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 12:52:58 GMT

Sony support asked me to perform a reset & other checks but still not very loud through sky. Even connecting to the tv and then playing through the sound bar it isn't loud when turning to max. Real shame! They have scalar ex to their senior support guys.

if I was you I would phone them and log a call as well as from their impression they hadn't heard of this issue before!

they said that blu Ray sound would be better, which is obvious, but that doesn't explain why sky HD is louder rough the TV speakers than the soundbar so shot that logic down. I know when the soundbar is on max for a blu Ray it's stupidly loud but turning the sky volume up is loud but not loud enough you can't talk to someone

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Rannochuk — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 09:46:09 GMT

Same problem here. I asked Sony on Twitter but they keep pointing me to customer support. When will this issue be resolved? Surely a firmware update can sort this. I'll give a two weeks then return the unit to Amazon.

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Captainoats81 — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 21:44:33 GMT

What problems are you having? Low volume on Sky+ only? Have you tried E4 or Film4HD?

Mine is fine now that I understand why it happens.

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Rannochuk — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 22:12:17 GMT

It's from my laptop, card is a GTX 980m HDMI into the HT5 then through to my projector. If I use the laptop spdif to optical, the sound is twice as loud. Through the HDMI connection it's not that loud. There's a thread on the USA forum about HDMI low volume.

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Wizzie — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 08:50:27 GMT

Can you wxplain more, what do you mean by 'now I understand why it happens' I still have no idea how to fix this problem . Still waiting for Sony to respond to me.

my low volume is for any source via HDMI or optical

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Rannochuk — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 10:03:34 GMT

There is no fix, maybe a firmware update will help in the future but who knows. The reviews on Amazon are starting to appear with other people with this same problem. After reading the recent review on What-Hifi I contacted Amazon for a return.

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 10:17:28 GMT

Hi all

Can you please ensure 'Night' mode is switched OFF?

Cheers

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Rannochuk — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 10:26:29 GMT

I tried everything. When I had a device though HDMI the sound was low, even at max it was not loud, the same device through optical was much louder with the same settings.

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Rannochuk — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 11:39:48 GMT

I am returning it to Amazon. On the USA thread the same problems was highlighted in October and there is still no fix, so I don't see one coming anytime soon.

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 19:01:51 GMT

Hi all

I have flagged this issue to Sony Support for them to investigate. Any info recieved will be posted back in this thread.

Cheers

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Captainoats81 — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 13:58:45 GMT

Great. Let us see what Sony say.

What I do know, so far, is it depends on the source and the audio codec as only Sky HD box is quieter on most channels apart from some which are just as loud as the blu ray input. I believe this is down to the codec audio quality being sent to the soundbar depending on the broadcasted channel.

Funny you should say that in the USA it is something which is known as Sony got in contact with me and said the soundbar is functioning as designed. Well if there is a flaw then it is functioning as per the design flaw. I will contact them again with the link to this page and amazon.

Thanks

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 14:12:11 GMT

Hello all

Ive had some feedback from Sony today. It has been suggested that you increase the volume on the individual device itself and then control the volume via the HT-RT5.

If the volume is set to low volume on the SKY HD box, it will also output low volume from HDMI and Optical outputs….hence it gives the effect that sound bar volume output is low, even when set to maximum.

So, on a Sky remote control, there is a volume button. Can you try increasing this to maximum and see if this has any effect on the overall sound volume on the HT-RT5. Same applies for other devices such as a DVD player - increase the volume on the player itself firstly.

Please let me know how you get on

Cheers

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Captainoats81 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:04:49 GMT

Thanks for the update.

I can confirm this was checked initially but made no difference.

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:30:16 GMT

Thank you. Will feed this back. Would be great if some others could confirm too.

Cheers

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Wizzie — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 07:50:21 GMT

Makes no difference for me either.

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:30:58 GMT

Hi guys

Im hoping if one or more can test the following:-

Sony would like you to play the same music file using a couple of different devices, such as playing the file on a bluray player and a smart phone via bluetooth.

If possible, can you 'burn' a music file (i.e. MP3) to a DVD and playback on a DVD Player or similar
Playback the same file from a smartphone via bluetooth
Compare the results - do you achieve the same loudness or similar.

Cheers

Re: HT-RT5 low volume problems

Captainoats81 — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:33:54 GMT

If possible, can you 'burn' a music file (i.e. MP3) to a DVD and playback on a DVD Player or similar
Done. Copied the Tron soundtrack to a DVD via my Apple iMac. Played back through a 4K upscaler Blu Ray player and sounded nice and loud.
Playback the same file from a smartphone via bluetooth
Did this through an iPhone 6s and played fine nice and loud.
Compare the results - do you achieve the same loudness or similar.
Yes, both very clear and loud.

I'm not sure about other people but this isn't really an issue for me as I am only getting lower volumes on some Sky channels. Main channels I watch, Fox HD, Sky1 HD, BBC1 HD and Sky Atlantic HD are loud and clear for me. So I'm happy with the current setup. Would be good to see what others get from their results though.