Given the most recent rumors and in the interest of not terribly messing up the general owners thread and FAQ I've started an audio only thread. Please feel free to post comments, concerns, rumors, etc.

Myself and other owners only have a few weeks to get a straight answer from preferably Samsung AND Broadcom about the current and future capabilities of this player.

Below User unbiased has composed a nice set of links regarding the audio issues...

Reference this CNET report:
http://reviews.cnet.com/video-player...-32553618.html

Mention of firmware update support for DTS-HD-MA:
http://www.news.com/8300-10784_3-7-0.html?keyword=combo

An update to support all HD bitstream audio:
http://hdguru.com/?p=184

Here is a review that mentions the fireware update due in Jan 2008 but only says to make it Profile 1.1 capable:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/10/24...-for-december/

link about the Broadcom specs... notice it does not say support for DTS-HD-MA neither
http://www.broadcom.com/press/release.php?id=1047516
I excerpt that part here for you:

"...The BCM7440 also supports a wide variety of mandatory audio and video compression standards required for Blu-ray and HD DVD optical disc formats, including H.264/AVC, VC-1, MPEG-2, Dolby® Digital Plus, Dolby Tru-HD and DTS-HD. The Blu-ray/HD DVD SoC also provides full backwards compatibility for current DVD video titles as well as DVD-R, DVD-VR and audio CDs."

I must say that I have been quite impressed with the sound quality from HDDVD/BR from the 5000 - as currently constituted. It is IMO quite a bit better than the audio quality available from DVD.

Unfortunately my Meridian 861 processor does not have HDMI input, so I am using analog out from the 5000 to analog in on my 861. Regardless of the extra A/D cycles - most impressed!

I must say that I have been quite impressed with the sound quality from HDDVD/BR from the 5000 - as currently constituted. It is IMO quite a bit better than the audio quality available from DVD.

Unfortunately my Meridian 861 processor does not have HDMI input, so I am using analog out from the 5000 to analog in on my 861. Regardless of the extra A/D cycles - most impressed!

I have an Arcam AVR300 (no HDMI input) and so was concerned that my new 5000 was really going to sound sub par.
After 3 days of ownership I can safely say that I can wait for a firmware update.
The PCM tracks on blu-ray disks sound great and even the DD+ on HD-DVDs sound better than anything from my old Oppo.
I have no PS3 or HD-DVD to compare it to but for those of you looking to buy your first HD player without concerns regarding the longevity of a particular format then my suggestion would be to pick up the 5000.
My $0.02!

as long as it can reencode everything to full range DTS (1.5mbps), that's ok with me (and it's the only way to get a DTHD track in 5.1 if I'm not mistaken, right ?) as i only have s/pdif capability on my AVR :D

I must say that I have been quite impressed with the sound quality from HDDVD/BR from the 5000 - as currently constituted. It is IMO quite a bit better than the audio quality available from DVD.

Unfortunately my Meridian 861 processor does not have HDMI input, so I am using analog out from the 5000 to analog in on my 861. Regardless of the extra A/D cycles - most impressed!
I don't think there are extra A/D cycles for analog outs. It's the same amount as HDMI, only the conversions are being done in the player instead of the receiver. At least, that's the way it works in my Marantz.

Great thread and great synopsis....heres hoping that Sammy releases a huge firmware this month that includes the advanced audio codec support, compatibility fixes and enables profile 1.1. We can dream!

Can someone who is home and runing HDMI test some disks with DD+. From the owners thread and my memory the player won't pass DD+.

DD+ shows up as regular Dolby Digital 5.1 on my Onkyo 805. Sounds good though.

DD+ shows up as regular Dolby Digital 5.1 on my Onkyo 805. Sounds good though.

Same here, I believe there are 3 of us who have tried this with the same result.

I don't think there are extra A/D cycles for analog outs. It's the same amount as HDMI, only the conversions are being done in the player instead of the receiver. At least, that's the way it works in my Marantz.

Sorry, should have been clearer.

My Meridian 861 digitizes all analog inputs, does its DSP thing and then converts back to analog. So, by feeding it the 5.1 analog from the 5000 I am actually running the audio through 3 conversion cycles. Once the 861 gets its HDMI upgrade there will only be 1 conversion cycle. What level of difference this will make remains to be seen - for now the audio is very good!

Simon

DD+ shows up as regular Dolby Digital 5.1 on my Onkyo 805. Sounds good though.

Does it show up as DD 320 Kbps or DD 640 Kbps? If it is DD 300 Kbps then it is actually closer to a “Good MP3”. If it is DD 640 Kbps then it is much closer to 1.5 Mbps DTS which I think sounds pretty good.

I think there might be hope for the audio fixes. As I have just found out looking at the DTS website after another poster in the owners thread (LaLittle) said that the term "DTS HD" is used as the general category which encompasses (includes) all the DTS formats (regular old DTS, DTS HD and DTS HD MA) then there is a good chance that the Broadcom data sheet which only says it supports DTS HD may actually mean it can support all of these DTS formats. With that enlightenment (assuming it is correct) then Samsung may be able to pull the rabbit out of the hat afterall and implement full DTS HD MA audio bitstreaming and decoding for the BD-UP5000. I am hoping this is true. Hope y'all understood what I just babbled.:-)

Wouldn't it be great if there was FW upgrade next Friday, once my Yamaha 3800 shows up? Well, it would be great for me..


Since i have an SACD player (5 disc changer), I need this unit to bitstream the audio out. If the FW only decodes the formats, they Samsung better fix the speaker setup (distances) and the unfix the 100 hz crossover. Then, I may have to find an SACD player (carousel) that outputs over HDMI (another upgrade, oh heavens me!!! :p)

>>Here is a review that mentions the fireware update due in Jan 2008 but only says to >>make it Profile 1.1 capable:
>>http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/10/24...-for-december/

FWIW, I think everyone couldn't care less about Profile 1.1. Samsung, forget about that and give us full TrueHD (no 2 channel BS) and full DTS-MA, PLEASEeeee

>>Here is a review that mentions the fireware update due in Jan 2008 but only says to >>make it Profile 1.1 capable:
>>http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/10/24...-for-december/

FWIW, I think everyone couldn't care less about Profile 1.1. Samsung, forget about that and give us full TrueHD (no 2 channel BS) and full DTS-MA, PLEASEeeee

You did mean to say "I think everyone could care less about Profile 1.1" :)
I agree with that. I for one don't care about the internet supporting content features being loaded up on these new formats. I hardly ever look at the special features menu stuff anyway. I am interested in watching the movie with the best PQ and AQ experience possible. So priority should be to get the High Def audio deficiencies fixed as well as the video bugs fixed. Profile 1.1 not so important to the enjoyment and experience of watching the actual movie. If I wanted to get more facts and tidbits on any movie or cast of characters etc., I can go look that up online with my good old computer(s).:D
Don't need no stinkin excess clutter on my HD DVD players. It's just a gimmick IMHO. The priority is high quality video and audio. The frivilous menu featurettes come last if not at all in my priorities list.

You did mean to say "I think everyone could care less about Profile 1.1" :)
I agree with that. I for one don't care about the internet supporting content features being loaded up on these new formats. I hardly ever look at the special features menu stuff anyway. I am interested in watching the movie with the best PQ and AQ experience possible. So priority should be to get the High Def audio deficiencies fixed as well as the video bugs fixed. Profile 1.1 not so important to the enjoyment and experience of watching the actual movie. If I wanted to get more facts and tidbits on any movie or cast of characters etc., I can go look that up online with my good old computer(s).:D
Don't need no stinkin excess clutter on my HD DVD players. It's just a gimmick IMHO. The priority is high quality video and audio. The frivilous menu featurettes come last if not at all in my priorities list.
Nope, I mean I couldn't care less about Profile 1.1 and it sounds like you think the same thing:
"When one usually states "I could care less", they usually mean "I could not care less". [e.g. "I could care less about linguistics."]

In order for one to "care less" about a subject, they must first care about it somewhat. Saying "I could care less about ... " does indeed imply, nay dictate, that there is some degree of care."

Nope, I mean I couldn't care less about Profile 1.1 and it sounds like you think the same thing:
"When one usually states "I could care less", they usually mean "I could not care less". [e.g. "I could care less about linguistics."]

In order for one to "care less" about a subject, they must first care about it somewhat. Saying "I could care less about ... " does indeed imply, nay dictate, that there is some degree of care."

Okay semantics. Well even if one cared zero about something, if they cared less it would make it even less than zero.:)
No matter we get the main point!:D

Okay semantics. Well even if one cared zero about something, if they cared less it would make it even less than zero.:)
No matter we get the main point!:D
Whoops! "Day after Tomorrow" BD apparently will not play - it shows a message that says the player needs new firmware. Why do I think this has something to do with Profile 1.1??

Whoops! "Day after Tomorrow" BD apparently will not play - it shows a message that says the player needs new firmware. Why do I think this has something to do with Profile 1.1??

That's odd, I just saw someone else's post in the other thread on
Discs that have Problems, and he lists this BD movie having played it. I take it you have the latest build and firmware version of the player or do you have one of the earliest ones? First time I heard of someone mentioning that error message popping up. Odd.

Whoops! "Day after Tomorrow" BD apparently will not play - it shows a message that says the player needs new firmware. Why do I think this has something to do with Profile 1.1??

My Day After Tomorrow BD is in my player, playing the movie just fine as I type this. No issues at all with it. (but im on component)

That's odd, I just saw someone else's post in the other thread on
Discs that have Problems, and he lists this BD movie having played it. I take it you have the latest build and firmware version of the player or do you have one of the earliest ones? First time I heard of someone mentioning that error message popping up. Odd.
It says:
WARNING: This player is not equipped with the latest firmware and is unable to play this disc. Please visit your manufacturer's website and follow their instructions on how to install the firmware on your player.
For more information on Blu-ray and firmware updates please visit www.foxbd.com/cs

My player info:
S/W:071108.02_1114_0924.11_XAA
Region: A/1 (BD/DVD)
Output to DVI

It says:
WARNING: This player is not equipped with the latest firmware and is unable to play this disc. Please visit your manufacturer's website and follow their instructions on how to install the firmware on your player.
For more information on Blu-ray and firmware updates please visit www.foxbd.com/cs

My player info:
S/W:071108.02_1114_0924.11_XAA
Region: A/1 (BD/DVD)
Output to DVI

Well it seems you have the latest firmware.
Have you tried powering off the player and power on and play it again to see if it would play? I did see similar error messages when I first got my unit and tried to switch audio formats to True HD Multi Channel or something and it popped up that firmware does not support it error message.
I wonder if you might be set on that audio selection and it won't play. See if you can select a lower audio format like DD 5.1 or 2ch stereo or whatever it has. It might play then.

Does it show up as DD 320 Kbps or DD 640 Kbps? If it is DD 300 Kbps then it is actually closer to a “Good MP3”. If it is DD 640 Kbps then it is much closer to 1.5 Mbps DTS which I think sounds pretty good.

Every time I checked, (I use audiophile setting) I have gotten DD 640Kbps or DTS 1.5Mbps depending on the source.

Well it seems you have the latest firmware.
Have you tried powering off the player and power on and play it again to see if it would play? I did see similar error messages when I first got my unit and tried to switch audio formats to True HD Multi Channel or something and it popped up that firmware does not support it error message.
I wonder if you might be set on that audio selection and it won't play. See if you can select a lower audio format like DD 5.1 or 2ch stereo or whatever it has. It might play then.
Tried all that but no dice. This is the first disc I've had a problem with.

Well it seems you have the latest firmware.
Have you tried powering off the player and power on and play it again to see if it would play? I did see similar error messages when I first got my unit and tried to switch audio formats to True HD Multi Channel or something and it popped up that firmware does not support it error message.
I wonder if you might be set on that audio selection and it won't play. See if you can select a lower audio format like DD 5.1 or 2ch stereo or whatever it has. It might play then.

Your info says output to DVI...this might be the issue...it's my understanding that the output must be to either HDMI or Components to get HD on the HDTV, otherwise the TV and player will not do the "HD" handshake...:D

Your info says output to DVI...this might be the issue...it's my understanding that the output must be to either HDMI or Components to get HD on the HDTV, otherwise the TV and player will not do the "HD" handshake...:D

HDCP works with DVI too.

HDCP works with DVI too.

Yep. For all intents and purposes, DVI is HDMI minus the audio. You can even get cables/adapters which terminate one end as DVI and the other as HDMI.

Yep. For all intents and purposes, DVI is HDMI minus the audio. You can even get cables/adapters which terminate one end as DVI and the other as HDMI.

Actually, DVI can send audio too. I tried stripping the audio out of my HDMI signal by running a couple of HDMI->DVI and DVI->HDMI converters together, but the audio still survived all the way to the TV.

Just and FYI but most of your links aren't working :(