playing a cd with the pioneer DVR-5100h

[kurios_oranj]

I am noticing a glitch when i try to play cds through the DVR. The beginning (circa. 0.5s) of each CD track is always cut off and i think this is a real shame because i am otherwise really happy with the machine.
Does anyone else have the same problem? Can anyone tell me what may be wrong, or help me solve it?

thanks a lot

kurios

[Frobozz]

They play fine on my Pioneer DVR-510H-S. So I can't advise what the trouble may be on yours. (I have my sound connected via the optical digital output so I don't know if it would be different from the analog audio output)

[kurios_oranj]

well, I have the sound connected by the optical output (although the analogue connectors also have to be connected at the same time, right? if i connected the optical without the analogue connectors i got no sound, and the sound is clearly better with the optical in.)

[samijubal]

Why would you want to use something that expensive to play CDs on? I don't even use my recorder to play DVDs, I use a player.

[Frobozz]

well, I have the sound connected by the optical output (although the analogue connectors also have to be connected at the same time, right? if i connected the optical without the analogue connectors i got no sound, and the sound is clearly better with the optical in.)

The optical and analog outputs are separate sources. Your stereo receiver (I presume that's what you're using) plays the signal from one or the other, but not both together. With an audio CD you shouldn't notice any difference in the sound either way.

The optical sound connection only works when your reciever is switched to Dolby Digital or DTS sound. You also have to set the Pioneer's audio output to activate the optical output (this is done in the onscreen set up menu. If you switch your receiver to a regular stereo source then you're getting your audio from the analog connection.

My receiver often doesn't play any sound via the optical connection unless I switch the receiver to a different mode and back again. This happens whenever I put in a new disc.

One thing you might do is make an mp3 CD on your PC from several of your audio CDs. The Pioneer does a nice job playing MP3 CDs.

[kurios_oranj]

@samijubal - I use the DVR for everything. CDs DVDs and DVD recording. Why shouldnt i? A separate cd player for cds doesnt make any sense to me at all.

@ Frobozz - Thanks for your advice. Currently i still havent solved the problem. The dvr is now exclusively connected via optical and the sound is transmitted, and is clean and clear as day, regardless whether it is dolby digital or dts. All sounds good. The delys at the beginning of each track are still there though. I can't work out why.

The other possibility of course is that it is the amplifier i am using ( a centrum titan 500, which has had good reviews.) Since the problem occurs only through the digital connection and not through an analog connection, it could be a candidate.

What make s me doubt this somewhat though, is that i have had the amplifier repaired once and even replaced, and the problem remains.

No, I am still not there. I am open to all help.

[hech54]

There are many people who have posted here questioning the effect on longevity of ripping DVD's with their DVD Burners.
There are many people who have posted here who will only rip with a seperate DVD-Rom drive simply because it is faster and does a better(?) job.....they swear by it.
There are many people who have posted here and elsewhere stating that they do not use their expensive DVD Recorders for DVD playing....or any other "playing of disc shaped objects" simply because a seperate DVD or CD Player simply does a better job at it....period.
Just because the box says it plays CD's and DVD's does not mean it plays them well.....or as well as a dedicated player designed and built to do just that.
The way I see it you have only two options....find a work-around for problem via a seperate/dedicated DVD/CD player OR be that guy that the service techs make fun of as you leave the building after you dropped of the unit for the umpteenth time.
Me?....I have an ancient Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder. An historically troublesome beast that has caused many a consumer to NEVER buy a Philips recorder again. However my old DVDR985 is still going strong.....it has played maybe 3 DVD's in it's long life....I don't even play the DVDRs that itself has recorded....I've always used a seperate DVD player for that job.
The choice is yours.

[kurios_oranj]

Well just in case anyone is still listening, i found out the problem. It was the amp. I read on the apple web site that some amps need a couple of secs to adjust their clocks to the signal or something and this is the reason for the pause. When i used an analogue socket to the amp from the dvr, the cds played perfectly. But that last comment is much more interesting that my whinging...

There are many people who have posted here questioning the effect on longevity of ripping DVD's with their DVD Burners.
There are many people who have posted here who will only rip with a seperate DVD-Rom drive simply because it is faster and does a better(?) job.....they swear by it.
There are many people who have posted here and elsewhere stating that they do not use their expensive DVD Recorders for DVD playing....or any other "playing of disc shaped objects" simply because a seperate DVD or CD Player simply does a better job at it....period.
Just because the box says it plays CD's and DVD's does not mean it plays them well.....or as well as a dedicated player designed and built to do just that.

I think it depends what your priorities are. If you absolutely have to have a separate unit for every application so be it. My place is not big enough to have stacks of electrojunk piling up all over the place when one item can do all of them. To some, hi-fi equipment may be beautiful to look at but i am just one who likes to keep it compact.

The machine can and does do it all, at least for my needs. I can't see where i can really criticise it. The machine is now something in the order of three years old and does everything as well as it ever did at the beginning. (Actually better now i can play cds flawlessly) I personally notice no difference in quality between a cd player and a cd played through that machine, and any minimal differences produced by different cd players (which i personally am not convinced are perceptible to 99% of all people anyway) will be DWARFED by any differences in analogue equipment ie speakers. And aside from clicks and buzzes due to incorrect reading of cds, arent differences perceived by a machine that basically reads a digital signal and transmits it rather subjective?

I cannot see why a dvr should be any worse at playing a dvd than a player of the same quality! the only room for serious differences can surely be in the conversion from digital to an analogue signal isnt it? Why should that be dependant on whether it is a DVR or a player?

And another thing: who seriously buys a DVR and then a DVD player to play the DVDs, and then yet another device to play cds? Is their perceived differences in quality reallyso dramatic that it justifies all that?
Surely those with both are simply the ones that had a dvd player before dvrs became available. I am one of those btw, i sold the player when i got the DVR. Never looked back.

Anyway since then i have everything playing through my mac wirelessly onto the amp via airtunes and i am blissfully happy, so i guess the cd argument has become a little obsolete...


hope the mail wasnt unnecessarily confrontational btw

[hech54]

hope the mail wasnt unnecessarily confrontational btw

Not at all.
My Philips DVDR985 is STILL going strong.
I still do not play ANYTHING in it.
My cheapo Thomson DVD player plays everything
AND converts NTSC<>PAL on the fly.