*Official* Roku 2 Media Streamer Thread - Page 5

The last Shrek movie has a DD+ commentary track.

Try this,

First do hard-rest,
- Turn off, disconnect Power& unplug HDMI cables from all devices TV, AVR, STB, ...etc & wait few minutes before back on!

-On the Roku2 side,
Go to menu setting click on Audio Mode select 5.1 Surround instead of Stereo (default).

- On the AVR side,
- Set HDMI parameter (HDMI Audio) to AMP NOT THROUGH
THROUGH will output 2 channels PCM Only.
- Make sure to select AUTO SURROUND (auto playback of a source), by pressing S.DIRECT on the remote.

With no optical-out or transcoding not much room to maneuver!

Good luck

when I was playing with settings, it seems the Roku is outputting PCM, if that helps at all.

You maybe close & the AVR is decoding DD+!!!

When streaming 5.1 content from Netflix & Roku2 is set to [5.1 Surround],
Check if there is PCM-audio coming out of the TV& AVR simultaneously?

If yes, then AVR HDMI parameter >HDMI Audio is set to [THROUGH].
Change it to [AMP]; the Audio should come only out of the AVR.

Also, on the AVR remote-control keep pressing [S.DIRECT] button till [AUTO SURROUND] is selected.

list of TTD, hard-rest & HDMI cable swap!

Thanks for all of the help. I went through your list, and I have done all of that with the Roku setup. I did have the AVR set to "amp", and the "auto surround" is selected. I may have to try shutting everything down and unplug cables and reset.

As far as the PCM comment, I am not sure I said the right thing there. When I select a 5.1 title from Netflix, I am getting no sound at all through the amp. When I was toggling through some settings on the AVR, I thought I saw PCM come up on the front panel of the AVR, but there was certainly no sound. When I switch the Netflix title back to stereo, it plays fine.

Thanks...I will have to rent that tonight if I can find it. That would a least eliminate my receiver as the problem is it works.

Assuming Roku2 is set to [5.1 Surround] & AVR is set to [AMP] & [AUTO SURROUND]

You may also want to check the input signal,
On the AVR remote control, slowly press/toggle [SIGNAL SEL] button till [AUTO] is selected.

If you get the chance try Amazon 5.1DD and see what you get!

List of TTD, hard-rest & HDMI cable/input swap!

SPDIF don't support DD+, and once it is decoded it would be 5.1 PCM [unless trans coded into DD] which also not supported via SPDIF, which is why HDMI pass through is what you get. So unless you looking to get DD 5.1 via SPDIF, all other digital options would require HDMI.

Thank for the clarification. I don't know if the chips and/or software for transcoding DD+ to DD would be cost effective or even allowed according to Dolby's specs, but it certainly would be nice for people with good, legacy equipment. Which, I believe, is many.

Even so, optical out on the Roku2 would be nice for DD 5.1 on Amazon rentals.

Hi again everyone,
After checking the replies and coumbing the net, it looks like my 7100ES won't cut it.
I've been convering with Tom at Roku:

Hi Tom,

I can see that you are trying to help. I think this is just another case of “early adopter syndrome”…

The Sony 7100ES has multichannel inputs. Can you point me towards another streaming device which takes Netflix and decodes to 7 discreet channel output?

If not, then what about a device that “transcodes” the Roku 2 signal to a PCM signal that the 7100ES can handle (like DD master audio, DTS, etc.)?

Any help would be appreciated. Even a recommendation on a new AVR http://www.agoraquest.com/viewtopic....39193&forum=51

The 7100 ES cost about $2K a few years ago, I’m trying to avoid spending big $ and then get caught with a similar problem in a short time because of the changing technology.

Thanks,

E.

Can anyone recommend a good, cost effective solution for a new or used AVR that can repace the 7100ES?
Thanks,
E.

I'm looking at this as a Netflix box my gf's Mom. It took us a while to get her onboard with the whole Netflix thing, and part of it was the promise of being able to watch the movies on her TV. She has an old SD tv and no AVR. I'll more than likely be doing a wired connection. She lives over an hour a way, the fewer things I have to troubleshoot, the better. The XS looks like the best fit that I've found so far. 2 questions, how simple is it for someone with almost absolutely no technical skills? And anyone have any thoughts on battery life for the BT remote?

Edit: Also would entertain suggestions for other streamers. Again, this will be used on an SD TV (so composite video is a must) with a wired ethernet connection. Not worried about HD Netflix streams or surround sound. Must also be easy to use.

If you are going wired from the router and using the included A/V composite cable, it couldn't be easier. Just be sure to supply an Ethernet cable, one is not in the box.

You might want to visit Roku's website beforehand to set up a Roku account, and it will ask for credit card or PayPal account. This is only if there's purchases like games or premium channels.

Installation is a mater of putting the batteries in the remote, plugging in the Ethernet cable to the router and Roku, plugging in the A/V jack and the yellow/red/white wires to the AUX input on the TV, changing the TV to that input, and plugging in the Roku's power supply.

Then follow the on-screen prompts. It will take a few minutes to update to the latest software. Then it will ask to link to your Roku account via code displayed on-screen via a computer. Once the Roku is up and running, you'll need to enter the Netflix channel and put the account name and password in.

As for the battery life of the remote, these have only been out for a month so it's too early to tell.

Thanks for the input. I think that solidifies my decision. The only concern I have is with the Roku account. Do they require you to input some method of payment or can that step be skipped? She's not going to want to make any purchases and it will likely never be used for anything other than Netflix streaming.

I didn't figure anyone would really know about battery life yet, was just curious. I'd hate for it to eat batteries like a Harmony remote (well, at least the way the 880 goes through that thankfully rechargable battery).

I think right now she has a cable modem with an ethernet cable going directly to the pc. I'm going to take a router, a spool of cable and all my cabling tools with me. She'll be getting Netflix on the TV and the gf will be getting wireless so she can work off her laptop from there. I'll be doing the initial set up, so that I'm not so worried about, its the day to day use that concerns me.

Can't be skipped - Roku requires a credit card or Paypal account in order to set up an account.


I think the remote sleeps when it's not being moved (it has internal gyroscopes). I notice when I pick it up after not being used for a while, one of the green lights flash. This should help with battery life.


Once the unit is set up, it's very simple up, down, left, and right directional arrows on the remote to navigate the menus, and an OK button for selecting. Then the rewind, fast forward and pause buttons during playback. Very minimal, and the menus are very clear. Netflix channel looks a lot like the Netflix website, scrolling left and right to select items in the personal Queue, or up and down to change categories.

Also, the Roku stays where you left it, so if she's only using Netflix, that's probably all she will be dealing with.

Heads up: one thing that isn't clear is the UP arrow often takes you back to the previous menu. Something to keep in mind.

Good luck!

Thanks again for the quick reply! That's perfect. I'm sold on it. I'll run it by the gf and make sure she agrees. I'm sure the whole cc/paypal thing will be a non issue, but you never know. I have to make sure she's going to keep the streaming with Netflix changing their pricing structure. I'd hate to get the box and have her decide to go DVD only a month later. The more I read about this box, the more I'm sure its the perfect solution. If I didn't already have a PS3, Wii, and Revue I'd get one for myself

When Roku first started requiring credit card info for Roku accounts, I know they allowed people to bypass that step by contacting customer support and having them create the account for you. I'm not sure if they will still do that, as it may have just been a temporary way to pacify people and deflect all the flack they were getting when they first started requiring it. I suppose it could be worth a shot to contact CS and see if they'll do it for you, if it's that big of a deal.

Ran my XS2 on a SD Sony TV for a week or so via composite and it looked great especially older TV programs (better than my LCD). Hook up is fall off a log easy, initial set up takes some time and a computer so you may want to help but should only be a one time thing. Batt. life is about two to three weeks it seems but I play a lot of Angry Birds so some rechargeable batts might not be a bad idea.

I highly recommend the Roku especially if she has a slower DSL like I do I tried the Sony Network player and it just kept buffering. The PQ with the Roku is fuzzy when beginning a program but clears up fast. I think she'll love it.

I just replaced my XDS with an XD2 and can't get 5.1 from Netflix. The XD2 is connected via HDMI to an Onkyo HT-R380 AVR which I believe can decode Dolby Digital Plus. Audio on the Roku is set to 5.1. The AVR display shows PCM.

I can't figure out what setting may be wrong. The only reason I bought the Roku 2 was to get 5.1 from Netflix and hope I didn't just waste my money. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

For every Netflix title you need to select the 5.1 audio track. Every title defaults to the 2.0 pcm track so you have to manually change it each time before you start viewing a title.

it's not defaulting to stereo for me. I changed titles and checked the audio setting for each. It remains set to 5.1.

On the specs page for the Onkyo HT-R380 AVR under HDMI/Audio Format it lists Dolby TrueHD, DTS Master Audio, DVD-Audio and DSD but not Dolby D+.

In another section titled Listening Modes it lists Dolby D+, Dolby True HD, DTS, DTS-HD High Res Audio and DTS-HD MSTR.

So the AVR seems to support Dolby Digital+. Right?

Maybe they just changed something. As of yesterday i still had to select the 5.1 audio track in the audio and subtitle menu for each Netflix streaming title.

This may interest you,

Revue,  Daisy chain Roku2>Revue>AVR>TV.
 

Edited by avf5 - 11/2/12 at 10:45pm

aaronwt - your reply put me on the right track. What a dope I am! I was looking at Audio in "Settings" not even realizing there are options on each title page. I'm all set now, happy and thankful for your help.

Keep in mind,
Roku2 [5.1 Audio /Stereo] option in menu setting is for Amazon 5.1DD and other channels.

Oh, I see. So that menu setting actually has no bearing on Netflix/Roku2. Correct?

It seems that way, may not be Roku2 choice, Netflix-App on Revue also has Audio/subtitle option within content titles+ Audio option in setting!

I'm interested in a Roku 2 XS, but I'm waiting until the promised firmware update comes to fix the too-dark picture issue. Is the wait over??

Not yet, however I cranked the TV's brightness all the way up on the Roku's input to compensate, and it looks good.

I'm not saying I don't want proper levels, but I'm surprised it doesn't distract me. If one day it looks too bright, I'll know the update has been applied and reset the brightness to default.

I use my Tivo series 3 for Netflix, but it has a couple issues, and I'd like to know if the Roku would be a worthy replacement before buying one and setting up an account.

For multi-episode shows:

1. If you stop in mid-series, and come back later, does Roku make it clear what episode is the next unwatched one? If so, does it automatically jump to that one, or do you have to page through them all to find it?
(On Tivo, you have to remember the episode number/name, or write it down)

2. When done playing an episode, how many keystrokes does it take to play the next one (Two on the Tivo)

3. In lists of instant viewing shows does it show a graph indicating the amount viewed already? (Tivo: you need to check the details on each one to see what's been partially viewed)

4. Can you find and queue up new shows via the Roku interface, or do you have to go to the web, and log into Netflix to find new shows (Tivo)

I have a TiVo Premiere and was in the same boat. The TiVo's Netflix interface is adequate, but I was having re-buffering problems with HD material like recent Torchwood and Doctor Who episodes. And with the later, I was forgetting which of the multiple seasons' of episodes I had watched.

The Roku's Netflix interface is much better than TiVo's. The adaptive streaming of the Roku solves the re-buffering issues and looks better than TiVo, as long as you don't mind the first 10 seconds or so being low-rez. And the Roku's Netflix interface is very similar to Netflix.com's Watch Instantly webpage setup.

#1: I enter Doctor Who and the first option is "Play Episode #64" (episode 10 of season 5), which is the one following the last one I watched. If I scroll down and choose "pick another episode" instead, it goes deeper and shows the series' episodes and how much of each episode has been played.

#2: Not sure, but I think as soon as one episode plays, the next one is at the series' screen. IIRC, after I watch episode 64, I will be at a screen that says "Play Episode #65" and I just have to click the OK button.

#3: See answer #1.

#4: The Roku's Netflix interface has the option to search for movies/shows, and I believe while searching it has an "add to Instant Queue" option. I'll have to check tonight to confirm this if someone else hasn't confirmed or corrected. EDIT: Confirmed. It also includes "Recommended for dwarner" based on your viewing habits.

I'm fairly new to Roku, so I may have a few of the details above wrong, but that's the best I can remember. As you can tell, I'm very pleased with going from TiVo to Roku for my Netflix viewing.