The Netflix 1080P Litmus Test

I need the answer to this as well. Just bought a new Samsung player that can do 5.1 DD Plus, and want to know if it can also stream 1080P from Netflix.
Edited by John Stockton - 7/1/12 at 3:58am

I think if it does 5.1DD, then it probably does 1080p. Do the players have any ability to show some form of information while playing? Some will sort-of display resolution as High/SD, High/HD, X-High/HD, etc.. X-High/HD is typically 1080p.

I don't know if it's been fixed, but if you want to prove 5.1 is working, try the Robin Williams movie "Toys". FF a bit to regular dialog, and you will hear it coming out of the left-surround. It's like the sound field is rotated to the left.

That's what I am thinking as well, but I just want to make absolutely sure.

When I press the info button during disc playback it gives me various info regarding the disc, but unfortunately for streaming, nothing shows up.

I'm not sure why you are saying that 2011 Panasonic Blu-ray players can't do 1080p on Netflix. I own the Panasonic DMP-BDT210 (with latest firmware) and it does 1080p. I'm watching Season of the Witch on Netflix right now in 1080p and DD 5.1+.

The 210 only does 720p, the 220 can do 1080p.

Interesting. I recently purchased this player and wasn't aware that the 210 upscaled 720p to 1080p. So from this discussion I come away with the consensus that the 210 takes the 720p content on Netflix, Amazon and HuluPlus and upconverts them to 1080p. The fact that the bitstream also carries Dolby Digital Plus (5.1+) means nothing as far as max resolution. Am I to assume this is not true of VUDU HDX and that it is a pure 1080p/5.1+ stream on this player?

Vudu on every player in HDX AFAIK is native 1080p output.

Just to confuse the issue I wrote to Panasonic support, here the two responses I got.

From: prodvideo@callcenter.us.panasonic.com
Subject: RE: And need help with connecting or troubleshooting
Date: July 4, 2012 7:43:49 AM CDT
To: Mr.G

Thank you for contacting Panasonic.

Please note, the resolution for Netflix is 1080p. Please connect the unit directly to 1080p compatible HDTV (High Definition Television). If this unit is connected to an HDTV through other equipment, it must also be 1080p compatible.

On July 4, 2012 at 12:16 AM, "Mr.G" wrote:

I'm sorry the question pertained to Netflix.

What is the highest resolution available from Netflix with the DMP-BDT210
player? I have been told it is only 720p. Is this correct?

Thank you.

---

Original Message

---

Thank you for your inquiry, the DMP-BDT210 carries a 1080p,1080i resolution.
We hope this information is helpful. Thank you for contacting Panasonic..

On July 3, 2012 at 8:29 AM, Mr. G wrote:

My question concerns Netflix and the 210 model. What is the max resolution
the 210 will do - 720p or 1080p. Thanks.

Also this.

http://support.netflix.com/en/node/518

Well, I own the LG670 and it is definitely doing DD5.1 and I believe it is doing 1080p. It did not at first but there was a firmware update. Info shows as Video: X-High / HD Audio: English / "5.1" (Primary). I suppose it is possible that is is 720 but it looks really good to me, I think it is 1080p. If you all come up with a test I am happy to give it a try on this unit.

EDIT: Netflix also says it is 1080p http://support.netflix.com/en/node/520
Edited by dstew100 - 7/5/12 at 6:11pm

My player is not the D series, its the Costco model BD-EM57C.

There were a couple reasons I bought this player. One of them was the fact that a 3rd party site documented the fact that they were working on the DD5.1 and HD upgrade; when I contacted LG they verified the software team was implementing the feature. As far as the info display, push the info button. You could also refer to the LG670 thread which documents it, it also documents the firmware update for netflix DD5.1 and HD.


Pretend you work for netflix and you are documenting and publishing the features implemented by every netflix capable device. As an engineer I would say, I need one of every device and a x man hours to do so accurately. As the boss I would say no. Where do you think they get their initial information from? The fact that they made the effort to correct information which was not their fault for being wrong should make you trust the DB more, even more so for devices that are not brand new.

As I said, I'm happy to run a test if you all figure one out. I could probably do a bandwith test with etherreal/packet capture tool.

You have been informed by users of the pannys and the LG. I can speak for the LG that the update is documented by many users in the thread here at AVS. The information is there for you, the fact that you still do not know it I can not help you with any more than I have already.

Finally, notice how when I am 95% certain of a feature I use words like "I believe", "I suppose", "I think"? Your incorrect statements are made in such a way as if they are fact; this is not good. With a tiny amount of research you could have gotten it correct.

Bump in the hopes someone finds another foolproof test.

I see the problem with the "Let the Right One In" subs is actually fixed at this point, as opposed to their previous solution of removing the 1080p encode. I tried searching around for another movie with a similar issue, but it seems most of Netflix's HD foreign movies carry the subtitles inside the active picture.

The only other idea I have is the same one that was shot down before, namely loading up one of the "Example" test patterns and taking a close look at the pixel definition in comparison to my "High" and "X-High" screenshots. Looks like my links for those are screwed up now anyway.

Doesn't your Onkyo also tell you the incoming (and outgoing) resolution of the video signal? Mine does.

I see.

I wonder if you can shut that off. My blu-ray player can upscale 480i DVDs (there are no 480p DVDs, nitpick), but I can output a pure 480i stream if I want (obviously blu-rays are always output at 1080p regardless of the output of other media.)