PS3 Slim sound dropout issues.

[ZenErik]

I just picked up a used 160GB PS3 Slim today, and a few times in the span of an hour the sound dropped out while on the menu screens. Just changing settings and downloading updates. I have yet to see if the issue is present in games or movies. I did a search on Google and did see that others have sound issues with certain setups.

My connection is HDMI to TV (Sony Bravia KDL-32EX500) and then optical out to my receiver (old Kenwood, not sure on model).

The place I got it from only has a 2 day exchange policy so I need to diagnose this quickly. They cover it for a year, but after those 2 days I have to wait for them to try to repair it, which will take up to 4 weeks. I have never had an issue with them before as they seem to test everything out pretty well before reselling.

[mjmjr25]

I have a similar problem - except, I get NO sound with HDMI. I wrote it off to tv compatibility issues. So I just use component and I don't think i'm losing much.

If you are getting some sound, there is hope I guess...

[ZenErik]

Now that I have had the console for a few weeks I can say that the issue is still present but seems to only happen on the PS3 menu screens (XMB). During games or movies the sound is perfectly fine. Never drops out.

[Hobie-wan]

If I'm not mistaken there's an option to turn off menu clicks? I don't know if that would affect the startup sound though.

[isiolia]

You don't have some sort of auto-on for your amp do you?

I've had video dropout issues with two different PS3s running through my receiver via HDMI, but sound isn't an issue. The one I have hooked up to a basic amp is using auto-switching to select that input, which has a bit of lag to it. So on the XMB, sound effects aren't enough to swap it over, so there's no sound. If I go to a game demo or something that has more sound to it, it'll swap over and as long as I keep it making noise it stays.

You can hook up other audio and set the system to use that instead of HDMI audio too, if you think it's an HDMI issue.

[kiteJargon]

I have the exact same setup as you, though different make/model TV and receiver. I can confirm that it is a receiver issue, at least for me. When using digital audio, either optical or coax there is a slight delay as it auto-detects what type of audio data it is receiving (either PCM or DD/DTS). This is only noticeable when your system goes from silent to outputting a sound. Every game I've played seems to get around this somehow as I'm sure developers are aware of the issue. The menu clicks on the XMB were driving me nuts cutting out like that so I just turned them off. If you want to test this theory: scroll through the XMB by holding up or down, does the sound ever cut out? (it shouldn't) Now wait a second and then press up or down. (this is when the sound cuts out)

Hope this helps.

[mjmjr25]

Hobie's comment made me think of this - I had a psp 1000 a bit ago, and it had sound drop outs on the menu screen - and it would even lag on the menu screen, but in game was always fine. I had to sell it on the cheap cuz of that problem and who knew what it could mean longterm. The guy I sold it too said it was from the custom firmware installed on it - he removed the firmware and that removed the problem.

Since your PS3 is used, its possible it has some bad firmware or something?

[ZenErik]

Kitejargon's issue is probably the same as mine. I will try out his advice late tonight when I get home.

I have no idea if custom firmware was ever installed on this PS3, but it is currently running the latest stock firmware.