Crackling noises normal?

[AmericanIdle]

I've noticed when switching from HD channels to regular channels or vice versa that frequently the screen will turn purple for a second as the resolution is changing and then there is a pretty loud crackle (sort of like loud static). Is this normal when switching between 480i and 1080i...or maybe it's something normal with a HDMI cable? I am using an Adelphia 8300HD with a Hitachi vf820 55" tv. My cable box is set right now to Auto HDMI .

[HDTV-NUT]

No its not really normal. Im not sure what it could be but you shouldnt be hearing a loud crackle.

[chad1279]

I used to hear a crackle sound in my speakers when I first got my TV. It was so annoying it was hard to even watch the TV. I couldn't ever find a pattern for what caused it...it just happened at random times. Did it pretty seldom for about 2 months and hasn't done it since.

If it sounds anything like mine did, it's a pretty loud and scary sound. Sounds like something's about to blow and then it just quits.

I remember one night it did it for so long I turned off the TV and went to bed. Next morning it was fine.

[AmericanIdle]

As a last resort last night, I switched from HDMI to component cables for my SA 8300 and Hitachi 55VF820. All my problems I have been posting about disappeared. The picture quality is just as good and now there is no more:

1. Crackling sounds when switching between HD channels to regular channels
2. Long pauses when switching between channels
3. Resets of the HD setup on the stb (Anytime my box was off for longer than a few minutes, I had to do the HD setup to make my HD channels display in HD again)

The # key on the stb remote even does what it is supposed to now and changes between 480i and 1080i (although it goes from 480i regular to 1080i zoom)..not sure why I don't get 1080i normal but it is documented that way in the stb manual.
I'm guessing HDMI is still a "buggy" option..maybe this was a handshake issue that was causing my issues.

[HDTV-NUT]

Well I wouldnt be so quick to say, "HDMI is the problem." From what I have learned from the board, it all has to do with calibration and if your ST box, TV, and other things are better set for Componet or HDMI.

For myself, I have HDMI connected from my DVD player to the tv, and Component running from the ST box to the TV. For me, Component looks better comming from the ST box.

[gparris]

I had resets of my 8300HD DVR according to SA due to the fact I still had the component cabling and the HDMI plugged into it and it got confused.
I kept both in to check for quality and the HDMI on my set made the HD programming look sharper and clearer than component-it depends on the display type of HDTV set.
The SA on-line manual states that ONE typeof connection should be used for output, so I think the problem is resolved.
As for the using the # key for changing formats, that need can still occur, but only when I shift inputs from the HDMI DVD changer back to TV and not even that occurs everytime.
As for your sound issues, none so far-could be a quirk in your box or setup.

[AmericanIdle]

I only had the HDMI cable from the start and ran into all my problems. I can only assume it was some sort of handshake problem. My 8300 never reset. It would just not display the HD channels in the right format after I turned off the box for any length of time. All my resolutions were still set in the HD setup menu. I just had to go through the process to test them all out again before it would switch to the right resolution on the HD channels. I also got the crackle noise frequently when switching from a HD channel to a SD channel. Since switching to components, all that went away. Changing channels is quicker and silent. The video quality looks exactly the same to me.

[gparris]

Just for my info, are you first leaving both cable box and HDTV set off and then only then turning the HDTV set on so the cable box turns its display on all by itself like mine does? Just thought I'd ask that question.
If not, you have a box problem with HDCP and just stick with the component cabling for now.

[AmericanIdle]

I ran into the problems when I had both off. I would then turn on the TV, wait a few and then turn on the stb. All my channels would then be 480i until I went through and tested the channels in the stb hd setup wizard. I even noticed my channels going all back to 480i when I had the stb on and turned the tv off for an hour and then went back,turned it on and changed to a hd channel.
Since the switch to component, everything works the way it should.