Re: I have a Genie HR44-200, I lose sound when viewing recorded programs after fast forwarding through commercials, sometimes I get very loud pop/cracking. It is happening more frequently.

What happens if you disconnect the optical cable to your Pioneer?  Does the problem still happen via the TV's speakers?

What happens if you disconnect the HDMI cable to your HDTV?  Does the problem still happen with the Pioneer's speakers?

This troubleshooting will help you determine what's causing the audio problem.