Panasonic DMP-BD80 Blu-ray Disc Player

[MrBoylan]

I am having audio problems with my BD-60 and need some help. I have it hooked up through HDMI directly to my new Mitsubishi LCD w/ integrated sound. Blu-ray discs play fine - great video and audio performance. When I go to network and try and play Youtube videos, I get no audio, only video. With music CD's, the BD-60 sees the disc (menu of songs appears) and appears to be playing, but again, no sound. Any ideas would be helpful. Panasonic suggested unplugging the HDMI from both TV and player, cycling the player on and off and hooking things up. I tried this and nothing changed - still no audio.

Thanks - Dave

If you haven't tried this already, set "digital audio output" to "PCM" for both DTS and Dolby in the BD60 player menu. If these are already set to PCM then try "bitstream" and see if the results are any different. YouTube and CDs should be sending 2-channel PCM to the TV over HDMI already but I'd be curious as to whether the audio output settings on the BD60 have any effect here. With each setting, try a Blu-ray Disc, a CD and a YouTube video and note the results.

If setting the player to PCM output causes you to lose sound even on Blu-ray Discs and DVDs, then it seems like the TV is having trouble accepting a PCM input over HDMI. To verify this, you'd need to test it using another DVD or Blu-ray player that has an HDMI output and see if the TV can play the sound from CDs using the same HDMI cable and the different player.

One other setting you can try on the BD60 is "PCM Down Conversion" - try setting this to ON. If the player is upsampling the CD and YouTube audio to 88.1Khz (which it would do if you have the "Re-Master" function engaged), then it's possible the TV can't handle those high frequency PCM signals. If this is the case then setting PCM Down Conversion to ON will step the output down to 44.1KHz or 48KHz depending on the content. But this is kind of unlikely.

Worst case, you can use a set of component video and analog audio left/right cables plugged from the BD60 into an unused input on the TV and switch over to that when you want to watch YouTube or listen to CDs through the TV, but honestly it should not be necessary and it makes things unnecessarily complicated.

-CB

[bound4er]

Thanks for the thorough response. I will let you know how things work out after fiddling around.

Dave

[kef3005]

Hello,
I've sent several mails to Panasonic Belgium about my experience with the freezing issue, i've received a reply to my question if they are aware about this issue...This is the mail i received:

PANASONIC thanksyou for your interst in our products.
This is a general problem, the best you can do is checking regularly for new firmwares.
Sincerely,
PANASONIC HELPDESK

I've just read on a other forum that there might be a solution through firmware, i really hope so because other then the freezing issue, I am very happy with my BD80, especially after the 1001 problems I've had with my Pioneer BDP-LX71!

[bound4er]

If you haven't tried this already, set "digital audio output" to "PCM" for both DTS and Dolby in the BD60 player menu. If these are already set to PCM then try "bitstream" and see if the results are any different. YouTube and CDs should be sending 2-channel PCM to the TV over HDMI already but I'd be curious as to whether the audio output settings on the BD60 have any effect here. With each setting, try a Blu-ray Disc, a CD and a YouTube video and note the results.

If setting the player to PCM output causes you to lose sound even on Blu-ray Discs and DVDs, then it seems like the TV is having trouble accepting a PCM input over HDMI. To verify this, you'd need to test it using another DVD or Blu-ray player that has an HDMI output and see if the TV can play the sound from CDs using the same HDMI cable and the different player.

One other setting you can try on the BD60 is "PCM Down Conversion" - try setting this to ON. If the player is upsampling the CD and YouTube audio to 88.1Khz (which it would do if you have the "Re-Master" function engaged), then it's possible the TV can't handle those high frequency PCM signals. If this is the case then setting PCM Down Conversion to ON will step the output down to 44.1KHz or 48KHz depending on the content. But this is kind of unlikely.

Worst case, you can use a set of component video and analog audio left/right cables plugged from the BD60 into an unused input on the TV and switch over to that when you want to watch YouTube or listen to CDs through the TV, but honestly it should not be necessary and it makes things unnecessarily complicated.

-CB

I goofed around with both Bitstream and PCM settings - again, no loss of sound on Blu-ray discs but no sound for CD and YouTube. The weird thing is that I put the setting back to PCM and a CD worked. Then I went to the menu an clicked on Network to see if YouTube would work - no audio, only the video. So I went back to the CD and hit play - guess what, no audio again (the player sees the disc and lists track numbers). This seems like it may be a firmware issue (I have updated to 1.7).

As an aside, when for the very first time I put a CD into the player it worked (I believe it was on default PCM). When I went to the menu and back again to the CD is when the audio went south.

Regards - Dave

[MrBoylan]

I goofed around with both Bitstream and PCM settings - again, no loss of sound on Blu-ray discs but no sound for CD and YouTube. The weird thing is that I put the setting back to PCM and a CD worked. Then I went to the menu an clicked on Network to see if YouTube would work - no audio, only the video. So I went back to the CD and hit play - guess what, no audio again (the player sees the disc and lists track numbers). This seems like it may be a firmware issue (I have updated to 1.7).

As an aside, when for the very first time I put a CD into the player it worked (I believe it was on default PCM). When I went to the menu and back again to the CD is when the audio went south.

Regards - Dave

Did you try using the component video output and stereo analog output to a different input on the TV? Again, this shouldn't be necessary but you should be able to use it as a workaround while you determine what the problem is. If you can't get sound even via the analog left/right outputs, then you definitely have a defective player.

At this point, I'd guess that either your TV or player is defective.

Which model TV are you using? It might be a good idea to post this over on the avsforum in the specific owner's thread for your TV to see if any other owners have had this problem.

-CB

[jnabq]

Mr Boylan, first off thanks for all the info/input you've provided on the audio hookups. I've read hours upon hours about LFE, BM, in regard to my setup. My BD80 is nearing arrival and wanted to get a jump start on the hookups to my Onkyo 701.

Thought it would be pretty straight forward, 6 rca outs to 6 rca in's... little did I know.
The Onkyo manual seems to state sub volume can be controlled from, (some weird symbol) __o to 0 to -12db but I've noticed you've stated most Onkyo's account for the LFE so it looks like I'll be looking for about +5 db somewhere. I do have surrounds and center speakers that fall into the small catagory, along with a sub and tower speakers in the front.

The Onkyo 701 manual says that I can adjust the output but goes on to say for the analogue the "audio select" must be used along with the DVD input. Then in another section the manual says that the "audio select" changes are only temp and will be lost if the unit is put into standby mode. Can you shed some light on this weird symbol and suggest a proper course to adjust my BD80 with this particuliar Onkyo?

BTW, found this great thread over on AVS on the subject if anyone wants a good read. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=748147

It seems to me the outputs on the player may need to be adjusted down, maybe 3 db to get me within 2 db of my target? Thanks again for all the time you've taken to help us all out.

[MrBoylan]

Mr Boylan, first off thanks for all the info/input you've provided on the audio hookups. I've read hours upon hours about LFE, BM, in regard to my setup. My BD80 is nearing arrival and wanted to get a jump start on the hookups to my Onkyo 701.

Thought it would be pretty straight forward, 6 rca outs to 6 rca in's... little did I know.
The Onkyo manual seems to state sub volume can be controlled from, (some weird symbol) __o to 0 to -12db but I've noticed you've stated most Onkyo's account for the LFE so it looks like I'll be looking for about +5 db somewhere. I do have surrounds and center speakers that fall into the small catagory, along with a sub and tower speakers in the front.

The Onkyo 701 manual says that I can adjust the output but goes on to say for the analogue the "audio select" must be used along with the DVD input. Then in another section the manual says that the "audio select" changes are only temp and will be lost if the unit is put into standby mode. Can you shed some light on this weird symbol and suggest a proper course to adjust my BD80 with this particuliar Onkyo?

BTW, found this great thread over on AVS on the subject if anyone wants a good read. LFE, subwoofers and interconnects explained - AVS Forum

It seems to me the outputs on the player may need to be adjusted down, maybe 3 db to get me within 2 db of my target? Thanks again for all the time you've taken to help us all out.

Well I actually used to own a TX-SR701 but unfortunately I dropped it and seemed to have fried the amp so I left it by the curb for either a happy hobbyist or the crunch of NYC sanitation trucks.

From perusing the manual, it does look like you can adjust the levels of all of the analog inputs when in multichannel input mode (page 44), but yes, these changes might be temporary (page 43). If you'd rather leave these set to their defaults, then you should be able to lower all of your other channels by 5 dB in the player in order to accomodate the additional drop in subwoofer level that you get by selecting "small" for your speakers. Dropping all the levels by 5 dB is effectively the same as raising the sub by 5 dB.

From page 44, it seems like the range of subwoofer adjustment is -30 dB to +12 dB so if you make the adjustments in the receiver, then you should be able to get a good balance of sound, particularly if this Onkyo receiver is like other Onkyo receivers where "0 dB" on the subwoofer level of the multi-channel input is actually the equivalent of "+10 dB" on some other receivers.

As to what the funny symbol is, if you're talking about the sideways 8, that's the symbol for Infinity. so a "minus infinity" setting for the LFE channel means that the LFE channel is actually completely off. But I think this only applies to the LFE setting for digital inputs (not analog) as it's in a different section of the manual.

Anyway, worst case it seems like you can boost the subwoofer as noted on page 43 when selecting the multichannel analog inputs until you get a level that sounds good to you, then write down this setting and reset it once at the beginning of each listening session. Not ideal, but manageable. Might be something you can program into a universal remote like a Harmony if you own one of those.

Good luck!

-Chris

[bound4er]

Did you try using the component video output and stereo analog output to a different input on the TV? Again, this shouldn't be necessary but you should be able to use it as a workaround while you determine what the problem is. If you can't get sound even via the analog left/right outputs, then you definitely have a defective player.

At this point, I'd guess that either your TV or player is defective.

Which model TV are you using? It might be a good idea to post this over on the avsforum in the specific owner's thread for your TV to see if any other owners have had this problem.

-CB

Chris,
Panasonic sent me an e-mail after I explained my problem to them in more detail and told me to send the player to their service center in Elgin, IL. I really don't feel like sending it to them for service since I have a nice stack of BD movies from Netflix to watch - do you think Amazon would take it back and send me a new player?

Also, my TV is a Mitsubishi LT-52149.

Thanks for the help.

Dave

[jnabq]

Thanks again Mr Boylan for the help. Got things set up and working pretty well on that Onkyo 701, (sorry to hear about yours). I've found the 701 will save the analog bass settings, so that worked out. Planning on buyin a sound meter and properly adjust my speakers. Appreciate the help!

BTW, have you found any of the video settings, available on the BD80, increased overall picture quaility in a techinal sense, or are they mainly for "taste".

[jaguar00]

Hello,

My configuration:
blue-ray Panasonic DMP-BD60EG-K
tv TH-42X10
AVR Onkyo 606
new Profigold 1.3 cables

BD to Onkyo, Onkyo to tv, Onkyo HDMI setting: Through

and I have a problem. Sometimes when I start blu-ray I see only this screen.
Screen is blinking and seeking signal.


I can not save persistent any from that HDMI connection setting on BD60(eg 720p):



Is it common? I have to switch to component output, set 720p and back to HDMI output. It works.
It is strange because tv accept 1080p...

Radek