Sound Problems with FW21L

[Steve160]

I recently brought a new VGN-FW21L with a Blu-ray drive and HDMI connection but when I connect to my Philips 32PFL776D HD Ready TV via the HDMI link I get a brillant picture but no sound, I've followed all the instructions in the user guide but still can't get any sound. I would be greatfull for any help on this subject. Many Thanks

[rastrus]

Another thread has appeared on this forum about sound problems with the FW21L series and connecting it to a Philips TV - the fourth reply has mentioned S/PDIF... have a look here to see if it helps http://club.vaio.sony.co.uk/clubvaio/gb/en/forum/viewthread?thread=60063

It must be very frustrating for you at the moment but at least you're not alone!

I will take my laptop to my parents this evening and connect it to their Toshiba HD-ready TV and see what happens when I play a Blu-Ray movie.

I can only assume it's something to do with either copyright control or outputting the sound in a format your TV can't understand, hence why you asked about S/PDIF.

Regards,

Tony.

[heraldicone]

Hello

Thanks for that link.

The change to S/PDIF does sound like what made the difference to that other poster, so I'd like to at least try it. However the option is greyed out and mine and nothing I can do seems to change that I've asked on the other thread how they managed to achieve it.

That's extremely generous of you offering to trial it on your parents' machine!! If you do get the same problem and do manage to resolve it I'm sure you'd make a few people happy

Cheers

[rastrus]

Hello again,

Well, I don't have any good news for you unfortunately. I was able to play my three Blu-Ray discs on my parents' HD ready TV without a hitch. Their TV is three years old and my Sony Bravia is four months old.

Just for the record, the discs were:

• Wanted
  
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
  
• Batman - The Dark Knight
  

The main film and all extras played with sound.

I was unable to change to the S/PDIF audio settings in WinDVD as it was still greyed out, as per my screenshots last night.

The HDMI leads are manufactured by Wharfedale and were purchased from Argos @ £15 each (534/5258).

I have come across another thread you started in which you asked about the latest update for WinDVD BD for VAIO. I am currently using Version 8.0 DXVA B09.617 which I downloaded on the 4th December 2008. This replaced the pre-installed version that was on my VAIO when I purchased it in November 2008. I have just checked VAIO-Link/Update and it has Version WinDVD BD 8.0 - 8.0.9.670_2 ready to be downloaded and installed. I think this is the same version you have installed on your VAIO?

Apart from contacting Sony, I'm not sure what else to suggest.

If I find anything else out, I'll be in touch.

[rastrus]

Just a thought - have you tried plugging headphones into the VAIO whilst the Blu-Ray movie is playing through the TV?

[heraldicone]

OK. Many, many, thanks for your efforts on my behalf. They are much appreciated.

I've just asked Sony about it, but the first response was less than inspiring: turn on the TV sound, change it to the right region and check your TV accepts HD type resolution. All of which were pretty basics suggestions that I had already well and truly covered 😞

I've batted it back to them and will let you know if, eventually, they come up with anything sensible.

Thanks once again.

[robbym1]

I had an identical problem to yours and have Fw21L laptop and Philips 32pf9731D. I posted a similar query around 2 weeks ago, but alas no-one at that time answered my post!

i experimented on two separate Bluray disks. on the first disk, the sound only worked on the blu ray introduction screen, when movie begun sound goes.

On the second disk, the movie sound only worked when i played around with the sound settings in windDv player, if you right click when movie is playing and then change to one of the other two options for sound, click either direct or wave (both worked for me), the film eventually came on screen but WITH the sound.

It all seems a bit random as far as I am concerned, i never did get my first blu ray disk to ever work even trying the fix I described. I will be emailing Sony support for help soon.

FYI, I had ( and still have) problems with my first BR disk "The day after tomorrow" but my little work around worked on a movie called Runaway Vacation, which is a dodgy Robin williams movie but it was all i could get my hands on the time to conduct the experiment. Cheers Robbym1

[heraldicone]

Hello

Well it seems as if Philips and Sony don't talk to one another! Though I have seen other brands that have this problem......

I was interested in your workaround but can't quite get how to recreate it on my machine. When I rightclick on my Intervideo WinDVD screen whilst the movie is playing the menu comes up but there seems to be no mention of options for sound. Even when going into the Audio Centre I can't find those options 😞

I'd be really grateful if you could give me a detailed run through of exactly how you get to it please(I am computer "thick" so please go easy )

Thanks.

[robbym1]

Hello again!

Right, to get to the menu I mentioned you need to get into the audio menu, if you have a look at sandgrounders earlier post in the this thread (think it was page 2 or 3), he did some screen shots that start with a right click on a little cog icon in windDVD settings, if you follow his screen shots and go into audio pull down you will see that there a 3 options to pick, "Auto", "direct sound" and "wave" I think

Just pick one of this when the movie is playing with no sound and it might, just re-start with sound. Perhaps I got lucky when i did it. It's probably not the way to fix it but a temporary solution perhaps....

Anyhow give it a try, I'll be interested to see if it works.

Sony will be receiving an email v.soon...

Good luck!

Rob

[heraldicone]

Thanks very much for that. Got the place you mean but, sadly, it doessn't seem to have made any difference.

Oh well, worth a try

If you do get a resolution from Sony please post it on here and I will do likewise.

Cheers

[Steve160]

Hi Everyone,

It seems we're all still having fun trying to get our FW21L laptops to work with Philips Digital TVs.

Over the weekend I tried mine on two TVs one was a LG and the other a Sony, both worked straight away without changing any of the setting, so at least I know the sound does work when I plug it into a HD Ready TV.

Tomorrow Sony are phoning me to discuss why it isn't working, I really hope they don't say that they don't talk to each other, cause otherwise mine maybe going back to the shop for a different laptop. 😞

I will report back when I've spoken to them.

Cheers

Steve.