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?
Senior moment alert, meant to say: multi channel stereo, in above post. Sorry about that.
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.
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.
@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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This issue is over a year old. WAKE UP VERIZON! How can this not be addressed yet!?
How can this still be an issue Verizon?! This has been going on for well over a year already. LETS GO ALREADY!
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
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.
I’m so sick of this!! This is making me want to leave Verizon. This is terrible. Fix it Verizon!!!!
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?
@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.
The mini box is what I'm trying this on (so the 4100?). I do not see an optical port for my toslink cable. Will I need some other cable or adapter?
@ari2419 wrote:The mini box is what I'm trying this on (so the 4100?). I do not see an optical port for my toslink cable. Will I need some other cable or adapter?
I'm assuming your Samsung is only 1080i capable right? If so you need one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Splitter-Optical-Converter-DotStone/dp/B01KYURMEW
Wire 1 HDMI cable from fios box to converter, then HDMI cable from converter to TV, then optical from converter to Logitech box.
Thanks, I went a cheaper route, but it looks to be the same thing: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XBSGFDG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hopefully this will give me Dolby Digital when watching TV over my Fios box... but how will it work if my son is playing some old Wii video games? That is connected to TV using component cables I believe. Will the audio from the Wii just play through the TV speakers?
Start a new topic or ask questions in the open forum.
