HTS 8562/12 software upgrade V1.27 MCU 5.05

[bluevoice]

I noticed on 22 March a new software 1.27 MCU 5.05 was posted for the HTS 8562/12. The new software claims to resolve abnormal cracking sounds. I did not have any problems with cracking sounds with this HTS but installed the update anyway.

I use the HTS together with the wireless module RWSS5510/00 for the rear speakers and I noticed that you can hardly hear the rear speakers after the update. The volume of those back speakers have been toned down it seems and is hardly noticeable. I also tried a calibration with the new software loaded and the difference in volume during the calibration between the front and the rear speakers is huge. Seems that all the front speakers have the same output volume (i.e. +6db) while the back speakers have only half of the volume during calibration (i.e. +3db). The results of the calibration are also not correct. The distance after calibration is also way off chart.

So I loaded the old firmware and did a new calibration and all speakers have the same output volume during calibration and the speaker distance is as it should be.

I don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that I use the wireless module, but I think something is wrong as you can never properly calibrate the set with the new firmware and your set turns to a 3.1 HTS instead of a 5.1 set.

I wonder if someone from Philips could comment on this, and I also wonder if other users also noticed a change in volume of the rear speakers with this new firmware.

[bluevoice]

Hi,

I did some more tests and this is what I found. After updating to the new firmware (MCU 5.05) the volume of the back speakers is set to a constant value and cannot be changed. This seems to only occur when you use this HTS with the the wireless module RWSS5510/00.

I can change the volume of the speakers from the speaker settings menu but all db values have the same output volume. In other words there's no difference in volume if you set the back speakers to +1 db or +6 db, the volume stays the same.

For the front speakers this works fine, you can hear the volume increasing when you change the volume from +1 db to +6 db.

As a result, calibrating the set is impossible when the rear speakers are attached to the wireless module.

If I downgrade to the old firmware (MCU 04.16) I can change the volume of the back speakers again and calibration works again. Philips, could you please test this on your systems?

[Philips - QK]

Dear Bluevoice,

Checking with the team - they can reproduce the issue. Please bear with us some time for finding the rootcauses. Thanks for your understanding in advance.

Kind regards,
Philips Moderation Team

[bluevoice]

Hi Philips QK,

Thanks for your reply. It's good to know that the development team can reproduce the problem and is looking for a fix. I'll wait for an update from you on this issue, meanwhile I'll downgrade to the older firmware.

[Philips - QK]

Dear Bluevoice,

We'd like to get more information from you. When you test this, are all speakers connected or you only connect an individual speaker/just the back rears?

Kind regards,
Philips Moderation Team

[bluevoice]

Hi Philips - QK,

I didn't change my speakers layout, so the answer to your question is:

Yes - all speakers are connected:
- Left Front, Right Front, Center and Subwoofer directly to the HTS main unit and
- Left Back and Right Back speakers are connected to the wireless module RWSS5510/00.

With old firmware the volume of the back speakers can be changed from the HTS sound settings menu, also calibration is possible.
With new firmware (MCU 5.05) the back speakers produce a low constant volume that can't be changed from the HTS sound settings menu, also calibration is not possible because the back speaker volume is too low for the microphone to 'hear' it.

I thought the team was able to reproduce this issue, you said:

Checking with the team - they can reproduce the issue.

Did I misunderstood?

[Philips - QK]

Hi Bluevoice,

The team is still investigating this. According to their preliminary test report, if only one speaker or the back speakers are connected, the calibration is not possible and volume cannot be changed. But if all speakers are connected, there should be no issue and the volume adjusting is OK. I have passed your feedback to the team for further investigation.

Thanks in advance for your patience whilst we are looking into your issue.

Kind regards,
Philips Moderation Team

[bluevoice]

Hi Bluevoice,

The team is still investigating this. According to their preliminary test report, if only one speaker or the back speakers are connected, the calibration is not possible and volume cannot be changed. But if all speakers are connected, there should be no issue and the volume adjusting is OK. I have passed your feedback to the team for further investigation.

Thanks in advance for your patience whilst we are looking into your issue.

Kind regards,
Philips Moderation Team

I hope they understood this right, In my case the back (rear) 2 speakers are not connected directly to the main unit. Instead they are connected to the wireless module RWSS5510/00. This module communicates wirelessly with the main unit.

So given the fact that other users of this HTS that don't use a wireless module don't report this problem I would say the assumption of the development team is correct. The issue could be caused by the fact that not all speakers are connected to the main unit. With previous firmware this was not a problem. I think they should look at the things they changed with the new firmware and why this functionality is broken now.

Also to make it more clear, with this speaker layout, the volume can be changed from the settings to another value but the sound output of the back (rear) 2 speakers never changes no matter to what value it is set. So 1 dB gives the same volume output for the back speakers as 6 dB.

[Philips - QK]

Dear Bluevoice,

Thanks for your further explanation. I will pass this piece of information to the team as well.

Kind regards,
Philips Moderation Team

[keiooz]

Hi Philips QK,

Thanks for your reply. It's good to know that the development team can reproduce the problem and is looking for a fix. I'll wait for an update from you on this issue, meanwhile I'll downgrade to the older firmware.

I agree. This is one of the things I love with Philips as they don't stop looking for an answer to the problem.

[Christophe]

In France I have the same problem and I use the wireless module.

Since I recently upgraded the HTS 85612 with the last firmware, I have no more sound at all from the rear speakers whatever the chosen surround mode (surround plus, multi-channel, stereo or auto)!

[Christophe]

In France I have the same problem and I use the wireless module.

Since I recently upgraded the HTS 85612 with the last firmware, I have no more sound at all from the rear speakers whatever the chosen surround mode (surround plus, multi-channel, stereo or auto)!

According to me there is another problem with that new firmware: the HTS doesn't keep my sound level. I set the sound level on 40 but each time I switch it on the level is set on 30 !

[Christophe]

Does anybody knows if it's possible to come back to the prévious firmware an how to do so ?

[bluevoice]

Hi Christophe,

I believe Philips is now working on a fix.

Philips does not provide downloads for previous versions. If you still have the old software file you can copy it to a USB stick and update from the settings menu as you did with the new version.

[Philips - QK]

Yes, we are now working on a firmware fix.
Please bear with us some time for this.