Sound quality difference between SD and HD....

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Hi all

I'm really enjoying the picture quality of Euro 2012 on my HD TV/signal. It blows SD out of the water. So much so that to keep myself smiling I occasionally flick between the two and marvel at the difference!

But this has led me to realise that the same is definitely not true of the audio. There is a volume difference between the two. But I think there is also a quality difference. On SD it sounds as I would expect. It sounds live. On HD, the audio is quieter and somehow more muffled. Almost like I've got a little cotton wool in my ears, or I'm hearing it from the next room. I doesn't sound live in the same way that the SD does.

Is this something that everyone experiences? is it to do with the broadcast or my TV and set up?

If anyone could help me out here I would really appreciate it. Let me know if you need details of my set up, or any other info.

Many thanks

Max
 
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That's strange. I use a Samsung FreeSat box for HD and find the opposite. HD audio is louder and very slightly clearer. A difference in the box perhaps, how are you receiving HD?
 
Difference in bitrates between Freeview and Freesat perhaps? Not that I've compared them but I would assume it could be higher with satellite, and that freeview probably compresses the audio more.
 
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Audio from the Freeview HD channels is noticeably quieter than their SD equivalents on both my Panasonic plasma and my Humax PVR. I think it's a widespread problem.

Once you turn it up though, it does sound clearer and better quality to my ears. I have both hooked up to a fairly powerful AV amp - flatscreen TV speakers are generally poor, so aren't the best to use to judge the difference properly.

Some films on the HD channels are broadcast with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack incidentally, so that's one benefit.

Contrary to what you might think, Freesat actually broadcasts some channels at a lower bitrate than Freeview !

More info here : http://crave.cnet.co.uk/televisions/opinion-why-freeview-is-better-than-freesat-49299359/
 

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