A TechLore "Ask the Experts" Question...

Question:

When you select TV on the TV/Video option, and the volume on my Toshiba 32" TV is up all the way, you can just hear it like it was about a one fourth of the way up; if you change it to Video 1 or Video 2 the volume works like it should, but as soon as you go back to TV the volume goes way down. IS there a fix, or would adding a surround system and using the external speaker option work. The TV works great otherwise, and even though its almost 10 years old hate to get rid of it.

-submitted by Ydilio

Answer:

Moving to an external audio system may solve your problem, but it seems odd that your volume problem is input specific. When there is a problem with the TVs sound system it usually affects all inputs, not just one. I have another suggestion as to what the problem is.

I imagine that you have a cable box, satellite receiver, or something similar hooked up to the RF input on the back of the TV (if you always leave the TV on channel 3, that's a good indicator).

Devices such as these often integrate their own volume control, which would cause the problem you're referring to (you'll know this because the on-screen display is different when you adjust the volume with the device remote from the TV remote). If this is the case, turn up the volume on the device to a higher setting. Some devices have the ability in the menu to fix the volume output of the device, but you'll need to crack open the manual to find out. (Above is an excerpt from the manual for a Motorola DCT-6200 series cable box.)

Once this is done, use only the TV remote to adjust the volume. This way, you won't have major inconsistencies in volume from device to device.