Site Totals

61166 Questions Answered 264 Categories

FiOS TV One VMS4100 Audio Pass Through Only Passing 5.1 Channels

mtk12002

I have been a happy Fios subscriber for the better part of 10 years and recently upgraded to the new Fios TV One VMS4100. I also am a former home theater technician/programmer/installer. Previously when I accessed the BUI Main Menu and changed the Audio Output to Pass Through (green button for 5+ seconds>User Settings>Additional Settings>Audio Output) on not just my box but my customer's also, it would pass the proper audio through to the AVR (audio/video receiver). When the station was broadcasting 5.1 channels, 5.1 channels would be sent via HDMI to the AVR and it would be decoded properly for the system that I or the customer had set up. If it was a stereo broadcast, the same would happen and it would be decoded and play on all speakers. Since I got the new box this isn't the case. Whether I set Audio Output to Pass Through or Auto, all I'm getting is 5.1 channels. This is a problem because all programming isn't in 5.1 channel surround sound. For example, MTV is broadcast in stereo and it should be passed to my AVR as such, but it's not. It's being sent from MTV to Fios in stereo then to my AVR from the VMS4100 as 5.1 channels but the broadcast is in stereo so the only speakers that work are the left and right front speakers regardless of what decoder I select on my AVR. The other 3 channels are missing so the AVR, or any AVR for that matter, can't decode channels that aren't there. The only way to make the audio acceptable is to switch the Audio Output to L-PCM when watching a show or program I know is in stereo every time which is a hassle and is definitely not acceptable since this wasn't an issue I've ever had with any Fios box previously. How this was overlooked is beyond me. I've spoken to/chatted with Fios Support regarding this issue and they told me that the VMS4100 was being developed and tested for 3 years and nobody noticed this flaw? They also didn't really understand what I was saying nor were they aware of when a firmware update might be rolled out to fix it. What's up and is anybody else experiencing this?

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

clem21

Thought I replied, but didn't see it. I've been trying to get this, no 480 pass through, no native video option and compression or clipping noise on audio fixed for months now. There is supposedly a firmware update to v6.5 rolling out now, but nobody knows what it fixes. Should get it here on April 3, we'll see. Many issues with these boxes.

clem21

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r32314685-APR-6-5-Update-3-19-19

Been trying to get the issues you found and a bunch of others, hopefully this is the cure. Like you experienced, Verizon techs are totally uninformed about any technical aspects of the service. The answer I got after having EVERYTHING replaced because of audio noise was" our signal is compliant". Gives them a world of latitude.

mtk12002

I'll believe it when I see it that the update will fix any of the issues!

mtk12002

The techs are totally uninformed and not really "technical" in that they didn't really understand the issue I was having. They were most definitely reading from a script but none of the troubleshooting they provided was anything I hadn't tried already and much of the information they were giving me was irrelevant.

clem21

3 weeks later and still no resolution to ANY of these issues. Been on other Verizon forums, posted multiple times, no answers from Verizon. Found another issue with YouTube channel not showing HDR or Dolby Surround. Anybody out there have any answers?

@mtk12002 wrote:
I have been a happy Fios subscriber for the better part of 10 years and recently upgraded to the new Fios TV One VMS4100. I also am a former home theater technician/programmer/installer. Previously when I accessed the BUI Main Menu and changed the Audio Output to Pass Through (green button for 5+ seconds>User Settings>Additional Settings>Audio Output) on not just my box but my customer's also, it would pass the proper audio through to the AVR (audio/video receiver). When the station was broadcasting 5.1 channels, 5.1 channels would be sent via HDMI to the AVR and it would be decoded properly for the system that I or the customer had set up. If it was a stereo broadcast, the same would happen and it would be decoded and play on all speakers. Since I got the new box this isn't the case. Whether I set Audio Output to Pass Through or Auto, all I'm getting is 5.1 channels. This is a problem because all programming isn't in 5.1 channel surround sound. For example, MTV is broadcast in stereo and it should be passed to my AVR as such, but it's not. It's being sent from MTV to Fios in stereo then to my AVR from the VMS4100 as 5.1 channels but the broadcast is in stereo so the only speakers that work are the left and right front speakers regardless of what decoder I select on my AVR. The other 3 channels are missing so the AVR, or any AVR for that matter, can't decode channels that aren't there. The only way to make the audio acceptable is to switch the Audio Output to L-PCM when watching a show or program I know is in stereo every time which is a hassle and is definitely not acceptable since this wasn't an issue I've ever had with any Fios box previously. How this was overlooked is beyond me. I've spoken to/chatted with Fios Support regarding this issue and they told me that the VMS4100 was being developed and tested for 3 years and nobody noticed this flaw? They also didn't really understand what I was saying nor were they aware of when a firmware update might be rolled out to fix it. What's up and is anybody else experiencing this?

Nilsa_VZ

Hello All,

We apologize for this inconvenience. The team has been notified and I will provide an update as soon as I hear back from them. I have provided all the examples on this thread.

Thank you for your patience.

Nilsa

clem21

The new 6.5 firmware update does NOT address any of the above audio or video issues.

Tadslippy

Just switched from xfinity and the audio can’t believe no one else is talking about this. Losing center channel playback on a ton of channels - even ones that should be carrying a full mix, but are appearently only stereo FiOS ondemand - is unacceptable. The box also seems to not remember the pcm setting.

clem21

I've been trying for months to get the audio pass through- pcm stereo issue fixed. Apparently it is not a priority for Verizon as other things are more visable, or more people are aware of them. Very few people focus on audio quality, hence it's a low priority. If you look in the diagnostic menu, you'll see some signals come in as stereo, some Dolby 5.1, some Dolby 5.1+. All get converted regardless of setting to Dolby 5.1 by the 4100 boxes. Dolby Audio compression is also applied across the board and is not optional. Not sure why you have dropouts on center channel, but I know it is not there on some broadcasts. I assume those are stereo being converted to 5.1 by the box, and the conversion is not creating a center channel. Are you seeing the issue on SD, HD or all channels? Going thru an AV Receiver? Try going to passthrough in service menu, not pcm stereo.

clem21

Just checked and found several former 5.1 channels are now only outputting 2ch stereo instead of 5.1 as they should. The signal in the diagnostic menu shows 5.1, my AVR shows 5.1 but the audio is only 2ch. Posted to Verizon direct on DSL forum for answer, I'll post any replies here.

mtk12002

Going to pass through in the service menu is the origin of the issue. On my previous 3 FiOS boxes there was never an issue with setting the audio to pass through there. If the show was in stereo it passed it through as stereo and 5.1 was passed through as 5.1. I'll check the diagnostic menu although I'm sure the results found by clem53 will be the same for me.

Tadslippy

Yep. Using HDMI from a just installed fios one box to a Denon AVR set to dolby surround. The passthrough and auto setting appears to passthrough a 5.1 signal - and if the source content is stero - it's passing a 5.1 mix with only audio on the left and right channel. This leaves me no easy option to have the reciever remix the audio - thus no center. I'm suprised at the amount of content this seems to be happening on (current HBO series on demand - big little lies).

Switching to PCM on the fios box passes a usable signal - but every night the box seems to have reverted to 'auto'. I can't have the family mess with a diagnostic menu on a daily basis to be able to hear.

Edit: just saw another post that just switched to using optical (through an hdmi audio inserter no less). I'll give optical out to the AVR a try as a workaround.

Jifi1

Same problem with last week installation. Had to reject VMS-4100 unit and install older VMS-1100 unit instead. Very disappointed. This is out of control -- I cannot believe that Verizon's latest flagship DVR cannot support surround sound -- actually breaks it, instead. They have to get this fixed!

I wonder if the IPC-4100 minis can do any better with supporting DD 5.1 surround sound properly. I didn't get to try that.

clem21

The mini is exactly the same. There is no working option to get unprocessed audio from either of the 4100 series boxes at this time. I have another complaint in with Verizon techs, but please go to dslreports.com, the Verizon TV forum and post the issue to Verizon Direct. The more voices the better.

https://www.dslreports.com/forum/vzdirect

mtk12002

Please everybody read the original issue at hand! The VMS4100 doesn't do pass through audio! Regardless of what you set the Denon (or any other AVR) for, the problem still remains! Every FIOS box before the VMS4100 would pass whatever audio (5.1 or stereo) the provider of the channel (MTV, ESPN etc.) was sending out as, long as you had the box set for pass through (I gave instructions in my 1st post on how to do this) as the provider intended it do be sent out and allow your receiver/sound bar/ tv to handle the processing. Currently, regardless of what signal the provider is sending out (whether stereo or 5.1 surround) the VMS4100 sends it as 5.1 surround when audio is set to Pass Through in the BUI Main Menu! I received a message twice from Fios saying that they were working on a fix........about 3 months ago!

mtk12002

Ok, turns out this problem has been going on for almost 6 months! **bleep**?!

clem21

@mtk12002 wrote:
Ok, turns out this problem has been going on for almost 6 months! **bleep**?!

The problem originated with the 4100 series. We were using the receiver to verify the audio output of the boxes, which is always Dolby 5.1 regardless of original source. Look back at some of my posts and you'll see documented proof of the original signal, and the processing being applied by the 4100. Not only is the box converting everything to 5.1, but Dolby Audio compression is being applied regardless of your settings in the menu. The compression settings only apply to the analog audio outside, not the optical or HDMI outs. Like I said, please contact Verizon support directly.

mtk12002

I was told that a team is working on giving users the flexibility to keep their audio pass through settings as is or opt to up-convert as desired on the 4100 series of devices. The team that is working on this issue says that their is no temporary workaround that can be shared. They say up-convert, but it's really not up-converting as much as it's re-encoding audio. Anyway, I'm going to see about downgrading back to the 1100.

mtk12002

Got my VMS-1100 on Tuesday and hooked it up. Good to go! Audio pass through is working as it should! Dolby stereo programming is passed through in Dolby stereo and Dolby 5.1 is passed through as Dolby 5.1!

Jifi1

The following thread mentions some picture quality issues with the older VMS-1100, which my testing has confirmed. It seems one currently has to pick between surround sound and best picture quality.

https://forums.verizon.com/t5/Fios-TV-Technical-Assistance/Poor-Picture-Quality-on-Quantum-TV/m-p/852596

If picture quality is more important to you than having surround sound, then think twice before downgrading to the VMS-1100 from the VMS-4100.

Verizon, can you PLEASE, PLEASE fix the surround sound issue with the VMS-4100 soon? (so it doesn't drop the center channel, and maybe more troubles) Many of us want to hear *and* see our FiOS TV content in the high quality that we expected.

[Deleted User]

As this conversation pertains to audio issues with Fios TV One, please stay on topic. Other issues with Fios TV One are discussed elsewhere. Thank you.

dannyk100

This issue is over a year old. WAKE UP VERIZON! How can this not be addressed yet!?

dannyk100

How can this still be an issue Verizon?! This has been going on for well over a year already. LETS GO ALREADY!

dannyk100

Hmmm. I am not experiencing that even after getting in to the white screen user settings and changing to "pass through". Did you do anything else? What setting are you using in the regular black menu settings for audio out (Stereo or Surround)?

EDIT: Just re-read that you went back to 1100. Disregard. Thanks.

Ruinfaust

I know this is an old thread but had the same issue and there is a hidden menu to set the box to L-PCM or passthrough that tech support walked me through. It fixed the issue for me and now 5.1 and 7.1 work. And the issue of stereo on main channels is gone.

"with the STB on hit power-ok-ok-then left arrow at this screen--- this will open a diagnostics menu you can back out of one level and then youwill see user settings-press ok and will find lpcm under addl hdmi audio output

mtk12002

That doesn't solve the problem with the audio, as now you receive L-PCM on every channel, not 5.1 Dolby or even 7.1 as you claim. I talked about doing this in the 1st post when I created the thread which btw, you can get to the same menu quicker by just holding down the green button on your remote for 5 seconds, so Fios support is really on the ball! I received a message from Fios saying that they are working on correcting the issue and are going to have audio passthrough available in the future, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

GW19

I’m so sick of this!! This is making me want to leave Verizon. This is terrible. Fix it Verizon!!!!

Bwangster12

I have a Logitech Z-5450 connected to my older Samsung TV using an optical toslink and the TV connected to my Fios One mini using HDMI. I get Dolby Pro Logic II Music and Movie, but for the life of me can't get Dolby Digital. Logitech seems to think its because my TV doesn't have an HDMI Arc. Is my issue what everyone is discussing here about the Fios box not passing through the Dolby Digital signal... or is it the HDMI Arc thing?

clem21

@ari2419 wrote:
I have a Logitech Z-5450 connected to my older Samsung TV using an optical toslink and the TV connected to my Fios One mini using HDMI. I get Dolby Pro Logic II Music and Movie, but for the life of me can't get Dolby Digital. Logitech seems to think its because my TV doesn't have an HDMI Arc. Is my issue what everyone is discussing here about the Fios box not passing through the Dolby Digital signal... or is it the HDMI Arc thing?

The problem with the Fios boxes was that they converted EVERYTHING to DD5.1, regardless of source. So if you had a stereo source, it was converted to DD5.1 whether you wanted it to or not. The latest firmware update added back a pass-through option, so its taken care of. You might want to try plugging that optical cable into the Fios box instead, as the older Samsung probably won't pass DD5.1 out its optical connector and the Fios box will. HDMI ARC is only going to work for you if you have an ARC capable device in the system to receive audio from the TV via HDMI. Older TVs didn't have this feature.

MusicLover1013

Has this issue been resolved? Verizon keeps trying to entice me with the new equipment, but if this audio issue still happens it would be a deal-breaker.

mtk12002

To the best of my knowledge and clem53, and from the most recent communications from Verizon Technical Support, the issue has not been fixed yet and they are working on it. I had the new VMS4100 when I started this thread on March 24, 2019 and after 6 months I downgraded back to the VMS1100 that I had previously and it has worked flawlessly ever since. I hope this answers your question MusicLover1013.

Ttimeib

So okay I also am having the 5.1 HTS PROBLEMS with no help, yeah bought the optical cord ETC, MORE MONEY TO FIOS AND STILL NO HELP,,, YES I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ANOTHER SOUND BAR AS I DID FOR MY OTHER TV AND ALSO I AM A VERY SATTISFIED CUSTOMER WITH VERIZON,,, SO FIOS,, PLEASE HELP ME AS WELL AS ALL OTHERS,,, THANKS...

clem21

@Ttimeib wrote:
So okay I also am having the 5.1 HTS PROBLEMS with no help, yeah bought the optical cord ETC, MORE MONEY TO FIOS AND STILL NO HELP,,, YES I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ANOTHER SOUND BAR AS I DID FOR MY OTHER TV AND ALSO I AM A VERY SATTISFIED CUSTOMER WITH VERIZON,,, SO FIOS,, PLEASE HELP ME AS WELL AS ALL OTHERS,,, THANKS...

So what exactly is your problem? What equipment do you have? What are you trying to do? What have you tried?

[Deleted User]

As this thread is now over two years old, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.

Child Item