Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater EP500 and distortion on my TV screen

I got my EP500 late last week (upgraded from the EP175). This is an awsome piece of equipment!!!!!! I can really shake my neighbourhood.

Here is the problem, When I am using my Pioneer DVD player using the component (RGB) inputs to my Toshiba 55" TV (an older Cinima Series TV bought in fall of 98 4:3). When the 500 plays low freq., even at low volumes, I get distortion on the screen. When I turn up the volume it blacks out the TV altgether. If I run composite, no problems. I thought maybe it was my CD player, so I hooked up my LG DVD player and had the same effect. So then I tried watching Rome on Starchoice last night in 5.1 through composite and again no problems. Only seems to be a problem running RGB from DVD. I had an EP175 and a Mirage BPS100 before and never had a problem.

Anybody have any ideas???????? I can watch DVD's using composite, but rather take advantage of the progressive scan option on my DVD player(s).

What kind of distortion are you seeing ? Does it look like the picture is moving around a bit (ie ripply edges etc...) or just like something is messing with the brightness and colour (ie noise on the lines) ?

I am getting noise and horizontal lines, looks kinda blury. But only for a as long as the low freq. are being played. When the explosion is over, it goes back to normal.

It sounds like you may be having power supply problems. Try the sub on a different circuit...

I'm just guessing here, but it wouldn't hurt to make sure that the EP500 power cord and DVD component video cables are as far apart as possible, and crossing at right angles if they have to be close. I don't think this is the problem though...

How is the AC wiring handled ? Everything on the same circuit ? 3-prong outlets with good grounds ? Is the Starchoice receiver on the same outlet as DVD player ? If not try swapping the power plugs and see what happens.

At first glance this sounds like a power problem... EP500 sucking lots of AC and making the ground on your DVD player jump up and down.

I did that too. I don't understand why it only happens on the RGB and not the composite. If it was a power supply issue wouldn't it happen to both.

Yeah, it should be the same on both, but there are a bunch of reasons why it could be different -- one bad cable of three (missing ground or something) on component but you used a different cable for composite, maybe the composite has a floating input amp vs. ground referenced for component...

I'm just guessing here, of course, but I have seen odd little differences like this confuse people for weeks

Do you think it could be faulty interlink cable from the DVD to the TV? I will check them tomorrow.

Adding to that - Component Video passes a much higher bandwidth. The power supply problem may not be visible with composite. Try the different circuit.

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When the 500 plays low freq., even at low volumes, I get distortion on the screen. When I turn up the volume it blacks out the TV altgether.

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Maybe a bad circuit board on the TV? Faulty solder joint?

"When the 500 plays low freq........", "When I turn up the volume.......blacks out"

It's not that big of a stretch!

That's a good thought 80sMan, the vibration from the sub could be wiggling a bad solder joint in the TV's component in? That or the power circuit.

Let us know what you find, I'm very curious.

Ok, I ran extension cord from the 500 to the electrical panel in my garage. Didn't solve the problem. I swapped out the cables with different ones and that didn't fix the problem. I also tried my Xbox and am getting similar distortion (is is also running RGB). Two DVD players and an Xbox is telling the problem is not the source.

I am leaning toward a problem with the TV. If it is an internal problem with the TV. How does one fix this?

Thanks

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I am leaning toward a problem with the TV. If it is an internal problem with the TV. How does one fix this?

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Since it is a Toshiba from '98, it is probably out of warranty. It will depend on whether you can live with the issue or if it should be right. Then it comes down to cost comparing a new one to repairing the one you have.

If you want it repaired, ask friends who have had TV's repaired for suggestions as to where they had their repairs done and what kind of service they received, although I would definitely look for a manufacturer's authorized repair center...

The above is also relative to where you live...

Hope this helps,

WhatFurrer

You may want to check here to see if they are an authorized repair center in addition to being a parts center in Toronto for Toshiba...
If not, they should be able to tell you who is since there are no listings for authorized repair centers on the Toshiba Canada pages...

Videophase
569 King Street East
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 1M5
tel: (416) 498-1348
fax: (416) 498-1355

Good Luck,

WhatFurrer

If it were a weak solder joint or something inside the tv that is loose then why would it depend on what type of cable is being used ? This is a strange one.

The cables connect to different jacks. It's likely a weak solder joint on one of the three comonent inputs.

Not sure if this is it, but how close to your TV is the Sub? The reason I ask is when reading the product information on the subs, I don't see where they are Magnetically (Video) Shielded like the other Axiom speakers? Have you tried moving the sub farther away from the TV.

Just and idea, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, the other Axiomites will let me know

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The cables connect to different jacks. It's likely a weak solder joint on one of the three comonent inputs.

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If this is the case couldn't he just take the cables in hand and shake them to replicate what is happening with the sub ?

Good point wid. Possibley, worth a try to gently wiggle and see if it could be confirmed to be the problem. If not, the issue still could be some component inside that the sub is vibrating but is not in direct contact with the YPbPr cable.

I had a cheap pair of speakers a long time ago (still have them actually that I use for Halloween). One of them quit working. Upon inspection it was a loose connection in the crossover circuit. One of the two metal leads of a capacitor broke. Not at the solder joint, but as the lead entered the base of the capacitor.

Try both the gentle wiggle test of the component cable, and also try moving the sub further from the TV, possibly to the back of the room. Of course if moving the sub helps, it could be the reduced vibrations from being further from the TV or the magnetic shielding issue.

Sorry for the trouble you are having, frustrating problem.

Yes, I have moved it all over the room. The distortion is not the type that you get with non shielded speakers. It seems to be more of a computer generated type of distortion.

I have a JVC 27" inch in my living room that will accept component. I think I am going to get it down stairs and hook it up, if I get the same problem on it, then I know its not the TV. IF not, then I will have isolated the problem to the TV. I will let you know what happens. Could take a few days as my wife is 8 months pregnent and I will have to get a friend over to help.

BTW anybody know what a used (but in very good shape) Toshiba Cinima Series 55" 4:3 HD tv sells for these days????

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Good point wid. Possibley, worth a try to gently wiggle and see if it could be confirmed to be the problem. If not, the issue still could be some component inside that the sub is vibrating but is not in direct contact with the YPbPr cable.

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The problem may not lie in the connection but rather in a component within that particular circuit on the board. For example, if it were a poor solder joint on a wire-wound resistor in the power supply for that particular circuit, then that would cause the problem for that input alone.

If there is some RFI from the sub's anti-distortion circuit (if applicable) then proximity of the sub to the TV could be the problem.

I found an interesting post from Dennis (Tharkun) who is running two EP600s :

"The Halo C2 has BNC connections, and currently the BNC to RCA adapters are not working, becasue of the amount of base, they vibrate just enough to break up the video. So replacing them with RCA to BNC component cables. "

http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=HT&Number=90033&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1

I had also forgotten how well set up those 600s are. The first post in the thread is a frequency response curve with the BFD switched in... +/- 3dB down to 19 hz INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF THE LISTENING ROOM...

I'm still trying to get within +/- 15dB ;(

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http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=HT&Number=90033&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1

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I had not noticed that thread but quite an impressive setup. I would almost think it more practical to use something like the Clarke Tactile Sound Transducers to get the low frequncy rumble than to rely on the conventional subwoofer.

In order to achieve the internal organ-relocating low frequncies you require a substantial sub (EP-600 qualifies, not to mention a pair of them).

One extreme would be a folded horn as seen here:

http://www.decware.com/newsite/images/impsub.jpg

One of the Clarke TSTs is specified to reproduce frequencies as low as 5 Hz. Obviously these would be used for supplementing the lowest frequncies and not replace a good subwoofer.

I guess if you could filter the lowest non-audible frequencies from the sub and utilize the TST (installed on the listener's chair, sofa or platform), that would reduce the vibrations transmitted through the air vibrating the TV. It may then require vibration isolation to be installed between the furniture with the TST and the floor.