I'm new at this...hopefully I'm in the right spot for help

I've got cable service from Time Warner. I have a Samsung 58" Plasma HDTV (PN58A550)

Very simple set up, TW coaxial signal to HD DVR then HDMI connection to HDTV.

I don't use a separate AV receiver, etc. I almost always use headphones. I run the headphones directly out of the HDTV. I use headphones because I like headphones and because regular speakers running through an AV receiver at any decent volume in my environment would cause problems with roommates etc.

Here's the problem: the right left sound channels are reversed. So when someone enters a room from stage right for example, and all the actors look that way, the sound of the door closing and the footsteps is from the other side of the screen.

Cars, trucks traveling across the screen go left to right, the sound goes right to left. Bombs explode on the right, sound comes from the left, etc etc

It seems obvious to me I'm getting the channels reversed from Time Warner's signal.

Now obviously, life is great if this is my big problem for the day, but it's annoying to be paying for hi def picture and sound and have something so backwards.

Also it's sad that a lot of people don't even notice and therefore don't complain.

I called TW cable and they quickly said "too bad, we can't / won't fix it"

There is no way to switch channels on the HDTV. There is no setting to change in Time Warners cable box set up.

Any suggestions??

Are these actual high def shows with this issue? The only time I've seen something like that is when there was a problem back at the source - ie. the originating network (and I've seen all sorts of things, like swapping rears with fronts, multiplexing dialogue onto *all* channels and so forth). Dolby Digital signals are usually quite hard to mess up after the fact.

Now if these were analog channels or SD shows, then I've seen that a lot. A number of years ago the local cable company "lost" right channel audio on one of the most-watched channels for about 8 months. I knew it wasn't a source problem, as antenna picked it up fine. They refused to awknowledge the issue, but it was eventually fixed.

These are definitely HD shows being viewed on full HD channels. For example, The Pacific on HBO. The stereo separation is good, just reversed.

That's exactly what it seems to me, a problem from the source. It's just amazing to me how something so basic could be backwards, and also, why it would be any problem at all to fix it. These directors spend thousands, millions getting period clothing and vehicles etc etc then put something out with basackwards sound...

Thanks for reply.

Honestly, a lot of people just don't notice or don't care. Let's not forget how many people still think television is only worthy of being watched with the television's crummy speakers, and those barely have any usable stereo separation in the first place. Way back at the network, if they even bother to check the finished *output* of their channel (and I can tell you that this doesn't happen much), it's probably on a mono speaker in the broadcast room.

I'll start with a simple question first, what type of headphones are you using i:e wired or wireless and how are they connected. I tried downloading the user manual from the Samsung site but it kept locking up so I don't know if the model you are using has a headphone socket or if you're using the line level out.

If there is a headphone socket, one solution would be to use an extension lead and (if it's within your capabilities, or get someone else to) cut the plug off, and rewire a new one which you should be able to buy from Radio Shack or somewhere similar.

Otherwise, if you're using the line level audio out (the red and white RCA sockets), it's a simple matter of swapping the plugs over.

Either way, this should fix your problem.

Assuming that the problem is happening on ALL channels, and now that I re-read it hasn't be stated that it isn't...

It was after I posted my reply (of course!) that I thought of the same thing, hopefully he will check back and let us know.

Don't take this personally, but are your headphones marked for L and R channel? Some are, some aren't and some that are, make it hard to see and it can wear off. Have the phone cups come off of the headpiece? Did your roommates swap them for you?

It's what roommates do.

I use the Bose headphones and not only are they clearly marked right and left, they cannot be worn backwards...I aready tried that. They are anatomically designed and if you turn them around it literally feels like you've got your head on backwards.....

I even took the headphones partially apart to see if there was an easy "plug and replug" for the leads but it didn't look particularly easy. Also, doing that only treats the "symptoms" and does not cure the underlying disease. Then any other audio source , like iPod etc, would be backwards in the headphones. Rewiring the headphone extension might a very good idea, since the backwards extension could be removed for other audio sources. I think I could easily do that myself.


To answer another question from above, there's a "headphone out" jack on the Samsung that can not be reversed. It's a typical jack, 3mm or 5mm, whatever. And since I'm using HDMI there are no right or left plugs like on the old RCA analog cables.


Also..I'm not sure if every single channel is backwards. Lots of channels just don't have source material originally recorded with all that much stereo separation. Since there is literally no other way to do the connections ( cable co-axial to cable box then HDMI connect to TV ) I'm certain it's the source. It might be the cable company, or all the way back to HBO, I'm wouldn't know.

Also, when I watch a BluRay disc, the right left direction is correct.

Thanks everyone for the input...

I assume the Blu-ray is also hooked up to the TV with HDMI?

Can you tell if the sound from cable is reversed on the TV speakers (when you unplug the headphones)?

I know that cable customer service often isn't, but any chance that they would allow you to swap your box for another? You might have to take it in to a customer service center yourself.

Something like this guy and this adapter combined together would give you a  quick way to reconfigure your headphone cable as needed.

Thank you PeterN

That's a better fix than what I was planning. I bought a 6 ft headphone extension and I was going to cut it down to a few inches and at the same time re-splice the wires backwards.

This short plug in, or your suggestion which is cleaner would correct those broadcasts that are backwards.

Thanks again

Also, PeterN

Yes, Blu-ray is hooked up with HDMI and the sound is reversed on the cable channels when I listen to the native TV speakers

Also, I thought about the box, but I've got 4 other boxes in the house. One is on another Hi Def TV and it is also reversed channels. I don't therefore think it's the box.

FWIW I often listen to "The Pacific" television show with my headphones. The audio is definitely not left-right reversed. I think the issue is with your cable company.

My experience with cable company customer service is that you have to keep trying until you happen upon someone who's intelligent enough to understand your problem AND sincere enough to want to correct it.

Try calling at different times. Try visiting their website and leaving them a text message. Try yelling and getting pissed off. Try being nice and gentile. Be persistent.

Or, see this as an opportunity to get creative. Use PeterN's adapters, or your idea of wiring up your own adapter. Include a DPDT switch so you can reverse the audio whenever you want with a flip of the switch.