XL201 Windows 7 audio shuts down my TV

[ITTroll]

This is a really weird one! Since upgrading to Windows 7 (32-bit Enterprise RTM) I am finding that my TV (Panasonic plasma) very occasionally and randomly shuts down during video playback. When the TV shuts down the standby light flashes 12 times which I believe indicates a problem with the sound circuit.

Typically this has only happens whilst watching DVDs or MPEG-4 AVIs, never with Recorded TV or during any other Media Center or desktop activity. The DVDs and MPEG-4 AVIs have different encoding and/or additional audio channels compared to Recorded TV. In order to restore the picture I have to completely switch off the TV and then switch it back on. Once the TV has been "reset" there are no sign of any errors in either Media Center or with any device drivers in Windows 7.

I have actually managed to reproduce the problem outside of Media Center by switching between the test sounds on the Supported Formats tab of the audio properties. So it is not a Media Center problem, rather a Windows 7 problem.

I did not have the problem under Vista with the same driver so Windows 7 must be doing something different with the audio being sent to the device. I think it is outputing audio in a format which does not meet the expected standard.

The trouble with the on-board Sigmatel sound chip is I am stuck with the Sony OEM drivers which haven't really been updated since 2007.

[GavMack]

On first setup with my XL 301 on 7 Ultimate RTM I got sound issues with the old Vista SP1 driver from Sony along with some others. I reinstalled 7 and pretty much followed the guide on the monster XL3 thread on avforums and this time used the standard Sigmatel driver supplied with Windows instead. You can get the generic Sigmatel driver from the Windows Update Catalog if you can't roll it back.

The only issue I have had is the HDMI switch occasionally misbehaves by switching to the XL3 while my missus is watching her soaps on an evening with the V+ box on HDMI. I don't think it's a bad thing personally :smileygrin:


Aside from that - Windows 7 and Media Center has finally finished off my XL301 project - 1 min 20 second boot-times instead of 4 and once Media Control/FFDshow is setup right playing 1080p MKV with ease. Along with throwing out the 7600 for a Leadtek 8500GT modding the old GTL heatpipe (your idea?), 4Gb Ram, 6700 CPU it's now an absolutely brilliant HTPC. I wouldn't sell it for anything else!

[ITTroll]

Thanks for that idea, I'll give it a go. I did an in place upgrade and so never gave the built-in driver a chance to install.

[ITTroll]

Well I think that has sorted it. I simply uninstalled the Sony/Sigmatel driver through Control Panel > Programs and then told Device Manager to scan for new hardware. It automatically detected the device and installed Microsoft's built-in HD Audio driver.

Since then I haven't experienced a TV shut down. I have also noticed that I no longer get any popping noises when when switching between audio formats. With the Sony driver (even in Vista) I would get the odd pop when switching between stereo / DD5.1 / DTS etc.

Many thanks Gav and I'm glad you found my GFX card mod useful.