Originally Posted by
Bamirault 
Long-time reader, first post. I am posting the same item to the forums for the DMP-BDT500 and RX-V671 in hopes that the solutions needed will generate somewhere.
I have recently done a home theater upgrade. Adding a Panasonic 65VT30 Plasma TV, Panasonic DMP-BDT500 BD player, and a Yamaha RX-V671 receiver. Up to now I have been unable to get ARC to work in a repeatable manner after system shut-down, and regardless of the manner of input, the receiver will only display that it is processing a PCM signal – hence I have never seen the receiver display window emit a DTS-DH or TRUE-HD readout, only PCM. I’m nearing 60 years of age, but this should not be rocket science. I have the manuals for the TV and player, and the receiver CD is now loaded to my tablet so I have it to refer to. I am at a loss. I have attempted to review the hundreds of pages of comment on the AVS VT30, BDT500 and RX-V671 forums and even attempted some of the recommended solutions. It may also be that in skimming all of this material I have inadvertently missed my solution hiding in the text. The hardware setup follows with I hope sufficient detail.
VT30:
HDMI1(ARC) connected to V671 HDMI ARC
HDMI3 connected to BDT500 HDMI main
All HDMI audio settings set to DIGITAL
BDT500:
Main HDMI connected to VT30 HDMI3
Sub HDMI connected to V671 HDMI1 (most recent but not original configuration)
Audio settings True-HD (Bitstream), DTS-HD (Bitstream), Secondary audio OFF, HDMI audio output ON, TV speakers ON
V671
HDMI ARC connected to VT30 HDMI1(ARC)
HDMI1 connected to BDT500 HDMI sub (most recent but not original configuration)
HDMI Control ON, ARC Control ON
With the TV on and set to HDMI1 and the V671 on and set to TV, I can view the V671 wallpaper and access the receiver’s on screen menus. When I set the V671’s HDMI and ARC both to ON I get an audio signal to the receiver from the TV whether the TV is processing a cable box of BD input. Two problems. Firstly, the receiver appears to be only receiving a PCM signal regardless of input being processed by the TV. Secondly, once powering down the system, on subsequent power up there is no audio signal getting to the V671. In the receiver’s setup menu the HDMI and ARC options still show set to ON. If I toggle these off and then reset them to on, the audio connection is again made to the TV.
In my original configuration all HDMIs went to the TV and the TV used ARC to send digital audio to the receiver. Thinking that the BD audio PCM problem is that perhaps the TV HDMI1 ARC output can only pass a PCM audio signal, today (June 12, 2012) I purchased additional HDMI cable to directly connect the BD player HDMI sub output to the V671 HDMI1 input. On using the BD player with V671 set to HDMI1 and the HDMI cable between the TV and the V671 (the ARC connection) disconnected as it now not necessary with a direct cable between the V671 and the BDT500, the V671 display window still insisted it is receiving a PCM signal.
As far as ARC is concerned, the connection can be made, but it cannot be maintained after power off. The settings are retained, but It appears that the electronic audio connection is lost, and not reestablished at power up. I have no idea what the PCM only issues is. I have swapped and purchased new HDMI cables. Last week when I installed the BDT500 it immediately went online for a firmware update. Last night I did a firmware update for the VT30. This morning I did a firmware update for the V671 (1.18).
I am eager to entertain solution proposals. I suppose it is possible that one or more of the units was delivered not fully operational, but goodness knows how to identify which unit is the problem and then convince the vendor of same.
Regards;
Brian Amirault