More LiteOn LVW-5001 questions - mono audio?!?!

[cruffino69]

Ok, I've seen on the LiteOn forum a posting that spoke about the mono audio not being a shortcoming of the tuner they put in the box but rather an issue with the encoder chip.

* Can anyone lend any credence to this fact?
* Does anyone know of a fix, hardware or software?
* Does anyone know what the guts of thing are?

I've only had mine for about a week now and haven't had time to crack open the lid. This mono audio issue just rubs me the wrong way. I'd like to think that there's a somewhat simple way to solve the problem, and hopefully that solution isn't to buy a different unit.

Another confusing thing I read was that the 5005 has the same problem. Is this also true?

[Synergy]

Yes, both the LVW-5001 and 5005 have the same issue, i.e. mono audio encoded from TV tuner, a direct quote from the 5001 review:

One thing that I should point out is that the audio recorded through the TV tuner is mono only. While the tuner is receiving a stereo signal, the onboard chip is encoding it in mono mode. According to Lite-On, this solution provided the best stability and compatibility at the time of the LVW-5001's release. If you need stereo sound, you can get around this limitation by using an external tuner like a cable box or satellite receiver and connecting it to the inputs on the back of the unit.

LVW-5001 Review

http://www.cdrlabs.com/articles/index.php?articleid=28&page=1

LVW-5005 Review

http://www.cdrlabs.com/articles/index.php?articleid=29&page=1

[cruffino69]

Thanks for the input. I actually had noticed the CDRLabs review before I purchased the 5001, though I didn't read it close enough to catch the whole encoder/stability thing.

So, it seems bleak that there's a workaround. Any thoughts anyone?

[PhilipL]

Withdrawn

[cruffino69]

I would return it, but I like it too much already :P

I didn't think a firmware fix would solve it, though it may not be out of the question. I want to crack the lid and identify the parts, do some digging on the web and find out what the real deal is.

If the encoder is the problem, why is it that the other inputs aren't afflicted with the same sickness? Just trying to dig for a better understanding.

[lordsmurf]

It's probably just the tuner.

Use the composite connections. Most people don't seem to use coax anymore, having VHS source (transfers) or satellite/cable (from a box).