Official Blu-Ray Player Audio Setup Thread - All Audio Questions Go Here - Page 45

I have a samsung bd p1580 blu-ray player that works perfectly well when plugged to the tv or my new optoma DW 318 projector, as soon as i plug it into the ONKYO TX-SR608 it all goes wrong ?? i can get it to about 3-5 seconds of the splash screen then it wont connect, just a blue screen, if it does connect when playing a disk it is again for about 3-5 seconds of static with the picture just visible behind it then loses connection. Is this a reciever problem or the player, if it can connect to the tv and projector and work fine why not when i run it thru' reciever ??? is this an audio problem ?? i have had some problems in the past on pc games not running or not displaying properly on the screen unless a certain bitrate was achieved.

Sky hd and pc are ok thru' reciever

the player is a samsung bd p1580 and i have tried different hdmi ports with same results

Hi All - What a GREAT site this is. I have been reading here for quite sometime and the info found is overwheling and very helpful except for my problem. Hope I'm in the right place and I'm sure the answer is here somewhere but HELP : )
Due to a very tight budget I have stuck with my Denon AVP-8000 pre/pro since new and have been using a Panasonic DVD player with no problems. I now wonder if I could hook up a Denon 3800BDCI to a AVP8000. I did just recently purchase a Sony EX700 with HDMI connections but the AVP8000 has none. Can it be hooked up by running the HDMI from the 3800 direct to the Sony for picture, and then use the optic for the audio from the 3800 to the AVP 8000? Am I beating a dead horse here. Any response and advice would be appreciated.

Yes, people do it all the time.

There is an audio setup thread at the top of the forum: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1040061 or you could try the Denon 3800 thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=879817

-Bill

The 3800BDCI has multichannel analog outputs which you could use instead of the optical connection. That would give you lossless dts-MA and TrueHD.

Thanks Guys!! I'm not to keen when it come to running cables and such but for now ....I'm off to do some reading

This will walk you through the cables/steps to set up multichannel analog:

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Ho..._And_Why.shtml

I currently use a Panasonic BD-35 which only has stereo output. This is mated with an older Technics receiver which doesn't have HDMI inputs.
If I choose to stick with the receiver, are there any current budget Blu-Ray players that have 5.1 analog outputs? Somebody noted a page in 2010 that had info on this, but it's gone. The 5.1 spec is not easy to find with a simple Google.
A new player would hopefully have some streaming capabilities as well.
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks.

The terms "budget" and "multichannel analog" don't really go together very well. Analog players are getting rarer and rarer and they cost more than other players. Take a look at the Analog column on the chart in the Blu-ray Player Audio Support Comparison thread. Then, go look up the other specs of the players that meet your price criteria.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1050507

Thank you. Great comparison chart!
I should mention that the Technics has a Dolby Pro-Logic decoder that I obviously use with some of my older DVDs with standard analog two-channel stereo input from the Panasonic. But I noticed that my newer Blu-Rays such as "Secretariat" produce no sound at all through the rear speakers with the receiver on Pro-Logic setting. Can you explain this please? And how does one know what Dolby process is used by examining the icons on the box?

Your Technics doesn't have digital inputs and DD 5.1 / DTS decoders? I'd suggest looking at a new AVR instead of a second BD player that has analog outputs.

No, I can't explain why you get no surround audio when using ProLogic. One thing you might check is the downmix setting on the BD35. It should be set to Surround so that the player uses Dolby Surround encoding when downmixing to 2 channels. But, you ought to get suround audio even when downmix is set to Stereo.

I'm not sure I understand your last question. The disc box tells you how the soundtrack was stored on the disc (dts-MA, TrueHD, or PCM with Blu-rays). Your player or receiver needs to use the matching decoder when processing the audio. But, that's pretty much automatic.

The Technics is a "6 discrete channel" receiver. There are separate RCA jacks for l/r front speakers, l/r surround speakers, a center channel speaker and a subwoofer. I assume this is the same as 5.1 capable.
There is a Toshiba player that sells for around $110 that is 7.1 capable. That makes it sort of unique in its price range. Most of the professional reviews have been excellent though user reviews are mixed due to a freeze problem. Best Buy has them on sale and I may try one.
Assuming the Toshiba and the Technics are a decent pairing, a couple of key questions:
(1) I assume I would simply leave unconnected the two back surround jacks on the Toshiba. Any issues in doing so? (except of course that I would be missing the two rear channels)
(2) Also, assuming I could get the Dolby Pro-Logic working, am I really going to see a big improvement with 5.1?
Thanks again.

Configure the player for 5.1 and it will downmix any 7.1 sources to 5.1 so that you don't miss anything.

Definitely. Discrete 5.1 gives you the soundtrack the audio mixer created, rather than a 2 channel downmix that gets matrix processed back into a lesser kind of surround.

Thank you again for answering these naive questions. You have helped me very much. I think I have a very nice projection system (Panasonic AX-100U) but for some reason never paid a lot of attention to having the best surround sound.
I have a small stereo amp and plan to used that in conjunction with my Technics for the two rear surround channels to get full 7.1
One final question: With Dolby Pro-logic, how is the surround information extracted from a simple stereo output, which is obviously not encoded? (Or is it?) Can you describe in simple terms what "logic" is applied?
Thanks again!

Anyone know when I go into the Menu on the BD-80 what are the exact changes I have to make for all my sound to go through the Vizio VHT510 SoundBar? Which PCM mode for audio? Detailed instructions as to how to get into the menu will be greatly appreciated.

I haven't set anything up, I just want to have all the info ready when everything arrives.

This is my set up, Tv is a Panny 54G20 Plasma

1.Comcast DVR -> TV - HDMI-1 on TV - Video & Audio via HDMI
2.Panasonic BD-80 Blu-Ray ->
Video -> HDMI-2 on TV
Audio -> Optical to Vizio 510 - need to go into the Panasonic BD-80 menu and turn off audio via HDMI and also select one of the PCM modes for audio
3.TV - audio via analog (RCA R/L) to Vizio 510

The Blu-Ray will be 5.1, the sound from the TV and Comcast DVR will be stereo 2-ch.

The manual doesn't say much of anything about what the soundbar does when the source for the optical input is encoded DD 5.1 or DTS. The chart on p16 says the colors on the input LEDs change color when a DD or DTS source is detected. But, there's nothing in the manual to suggest that it actually decodes either of those types.

If it does decode them, then use the wiring setup you described and set the Panny output to bitstream for both Dolby and DTS.

If it doesn't, then you'll be limited to stereo from any source. In that case, the simplest wiring would be HDMI to the TV as you described and then a single optical output from the TV to the soundbar. The HDMI handshake with the TV will make sure your DVR and BD player both output stereo PCM. So, you don't need to worry about the settings on the DVR or the BD player. It will also simplify switching. Whatever source you select on the TV will be sent to the soundbar.

If you decide to stay with the optical connection from the player to the Vizio, even if the soundbar only accepts PCM, then set the digital output to PCM and the downmix setting to stereo.

Could someone with a 7.1 setup please test this out and let me know what they find? Or what is causing it?

Blu-Ray Movie: Toy Story 3
English
Setup Audio: 7.1 DTS MA
Select "Maximize Your Home Theater"
Go to Sound test, select 7.1
When testing back left, getting some sound also from front left.
When testing back right, getting some sound also from front right.

[Of course I did a test tone test from my receiver, and the problem is not there].

I am thinking that there might be a problem with this part of Toy Story 3.

PS3
Sony STR-DG720

Wiki has a pretty straightforward description: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_Pro_Logic

And this is an interview with Jim Fosgate, who developed PLII for Dolby: http://www.stereophile.com/interview...ate/index.html

I have the Soundbar now, Used Optical cable from the soundbar to the Tv and just a HDMI from the Bluray player to the TV as you suggested.

Both Tv and Bluray's sound comes through on the soundbar now.

Guess I don't need another optical cable or optical switch or splitter to make them both work, or would optical from the Bluray to the Bar give me better sound for Blu-Ray's? or would an analog hook up from soundbar to blu-ray player be better since right now those connectors on the soundbar are empty?

It depends on whether the soundbar decodes DD 5.1 and DTS. As the manual is unclear on the subject, you will have to test that yourself. Run an optical output from the player to the soundbar, set the player output to bitstream, and see what happens.


Nope.

Don't think I really know how to change the player settings, I did notice though when I hook up the Optical to it.

As you will see on Page 16 all 3 postions turn the color blue on the LED meaning I can get Dolby Digital signal detected , SRS Tru Surround HD enabled and SRS Tru Volume, can't get the Dolby Digital Signal blue lightm on the LED on The Bar when hooking it up just through the HDMI?

So do you really think the Optical cable gives me better sound?

Would it be even better if I could somehow understand how to change the settings on the Blu-ray player?

Now the actual movie started and Postion 1 is just orange DTS signal detected, during the previews though the first postion light was blue, weird huh ?

I figured it out how to get into the Setup, they were both on Bitstream already.

I think you are good to go at this point.

So should I or not get a Optical switch and the extra Optical cable then other wise I don't get the Dolby Digital on the blu-ray player, because for the Tv to have sound through the soundbar I need that optical cable on the Tv to the Soundbar.

Or just stick with the HDMI hookup for the Blu-ray?

When connected to a TV using HDMI, the HDMI handshake will override the player output setting. Even though it's set to bitstream, the handshake tells the player to decode the track and downmix to stereo.


I really don't know how to answer. It depends on whether or not you get better sound by feeding DD 5.1 and DTS to the soundbar. Since the manual doesn't address the question, you would have to test it by attaching an optical cable from the player to the soundbar.

In the end, I suspect your current set-up is the best you are going to get.

Thanks for your help. It's still tons better then the Tv's speakers

I'm thinking about upgrading my DVD player and surround processor and finally step into the Blue Ray world for better sound. My current DVD player (Pioneer DV-45A) plays DVD-Audio and SACD's as well and I've built up a small collection of music in these formats.

I understand there are BD Players that can also handle DVD-A and SACD as well as the new True HD and DTS MA. My question is on how these hook-up to the latest processors/receivers.

Currently, my DVD player is hooked up to my processor with both 5.1 analog RCA cables and a digital (optical) cable (I like the D/A converter in my processor better than my DVD player for Dolby Digital and DTS). How is the sound transferred on the new BD units? Still using 5.1 (or 7.1) analog cables? Basically is the processing still done in the DVD player and passed on in an analog format to the processor? Or is it possible to hook it up via HDMI? And if HDMI, are both picture and sound going through the same cable? And if yes, will this also pass the SACD and DVD-A signal as well or will I still need the analog hook-up too?

Any help is appreciated. My current DVD player has lasted me about 10 years and I've been out of the loop.

Look at the Oppo ones. They have both analog and HDMI. If you use HDMI, you need a receiver that can handle it to (multi channel PCM and DSD).

It's all HDMI for audio and video, certainly if you're getting new stuff.

HDMI 1.3 transmits:
LPCM, new lossless and lossy codecs, old lossy codecs, DSD
but not DVD-A (player decodes to LPCM).

All processing should preferably be done in pro/AVR. You don't have to have an AVR that takes DSD, LCPM will do for SACD transmission.

Now just about everyone in AVS receiver forum can't do without room correction, more channels, more listening modes, new flavours of Dolby and dts, so be prepared for all these too.

But some are hanging onto their analogue stuff...

So basically I still can't get rid of my 5.1 analog cables if I play SACD and DVD-A. Bummer. I was hoping I could just use one HDMI cable for everything.

Bommai, I want to get the Oppo BDP93. I know it has both analog and HDMI outputs. Since I can't get rid of my 5.1 analog cables for SACD/DVD-A, then mights as well allow the Oppo to also convert the Dolby True-HD and DTS-MA and send it over the same analog cables (ok, 7.1 analog cables - I'll just add a pair of RCA cables to my 5.1). I'll just take the Oppo's HDMI output and connect it to my TV just for video. No reason to run HDMI from the Oppo to the processor.

What's wrong with lossless LPCM from the player for DVD-A? It would still use the processor's DACs, bass management, etc.

Absolutely nothing. Presuming I can still play multi-channel regions of the DVD-A rather than just two channel high resolution.