help with BD80 is much appreciated.

[aqudsi2375]

Hi every body,

I have just received my first BD player (BD80). The player was hacked to play multi regions since I have a mix of disks. The picture quality is amazing on my pioneer Kuro LX508 -connected through HDMI- my preferred audio output was the analogue option since my Denon AVR-3805 is out dated but still convinced with its performance so I don't see a point of replacing it.
The excitement soon faded away to find out that I’m not able to watch films with 5.1 channels! Although the test signals from the player confirmed the quality of connectivity -the program always skips the subwoofer for unknown reason to me-, yet I’m unable to hear any surround effects during play back of any of my BDs. twister, batman begins, dark knight, matrix, all appear to be played on front & center channels only! Throwing in some DVDs came back with the same results. Gladiator sounded so flat & U-571 sounded terrible for the first time! I know that nothing is wrong with my Mirage Nanosat speakers or AVR since I have run a series of test signals through the AVR channel level adjustment function. Subwoofer gain for ext-in signal is +15 db. But when I tried the DVE HD basics disk & the THX calibration option from star wars The Phantom Menace, the rear speakers & sub woofers generated no signals!
Is it possible that I have a faulty player? Or is it something in the setup that I’m missing? I have gone through the setup menus many times and every thing seems to be in order, I guess.
I would appreciate the help from your experience with the BD 80.
Many Thanks.

[jnabq]

I guess those test programs skip the sub, if one is assigned, to keep from breaking it. Mine does this as well. Did you try turning off the secondary audio? With this set to "on", the player will not output the sound in "lossless" through the analog outputs from what I understand.

Also check this thread for a possible issue, depending if you have set up for 7.1 or 2ch/5.1
http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/fo...-player-5.html

[MrBoylan]

Hi every body,

I have just received my first BD player (BD80). The player was hacked to play multi regions since I have a mix of disks. The picture quality is amazing on my pioneer Kuro LX508 -connected through HDMI- my preferred audio output was the analogue option since my Denon AVR-3805 is out dated but still convinced with its performance so I don't see a point of replacing it.
The excitement soon faded away to find out that I’m not able to watch films with 5.1 channels! Although the test signals from the player confirmed the quality of connectivity -the program always skips the subwoofer for unknown reason to me-, yet I’m unable to hear any surround effects during play back of any of my BDs. twister, batman begins, dark knight, matrix, all appear to be played on front & center channels only!

First off, the test tones do skip the subwoofer. That's by design, though I can't say I'm 100% sure why.

As for only getting stereo, I assume you are using multi-channel anlog for the audio but you are using HDMI for the video directly to your TV? If you are connecting via 5.1 or 7.1 channel ANALOG output, and you only hear front left/right, then you probably have to turn HDMI Audio Output to OFF on the player (the default is ON). This isn't required with all TVs, but it is required for some. Basically the TV does the HDMI handshake with the TV and gets incorrect information about the multi-channel capabilities, so it sets the analog output to stereo when it shouldn't. I believe the manual recommends that you ALWAYS turn HDMI AUDIO to OFF if you are using the multi-channel analog outputs. And I know I've seen this cause a problem so try that out and report back.

But you are saying you get some audio out of the center channel which is strange. Are you sure you are using the 5.1-channel outputs with a 5.1 channel system or a 7.1-channel output with a 7.1 channel system? If you use the 7.1-channel output with a system configured for 5.1, then I would think you would normally get nothing out of the rear. If your receiver is only configured for 5.1 channels then make sure you use the 5.1-channel outputs on the player and you either turn off the rear channel speakers (if the player is set to 7.1) or set the player to 2-ch+5.1-ch mode.

Also, turn QUICK START OFF as this can cause the rear channels to duplicate the front ones (known bug, hopefully to be fixed by a future firmware upgrade).

-CB

[aqudsi2375]

First off, the test tones do skip the subwoofer. That's by design, though I can't say I'm 100% sure why.

As for only getting stereo, I assume you are using multi-channel anlog for the audio but you are using HDMI for the video directly to your TV? If you are connecting via 5.1 or 7.1 channel ANALOG output, and you only hear front left/right, then you probably have to turn HDMI Audio Output to OFF on the player (the default is ON). This isn't required with all TVs, but it is required for some. Basically the TV does the HDMI handshake with the TV and gets incorrect information about the multi-channel capabilities, so it sets the analog output to stereo when it shouldn't. I believe the manual recommends that you ALWAYS turn HDMI AUDIO to OFF if you are using the multi-channel analog outputs. And I know I've seen this cause a problem so try that out and report back.

But you are saying you get some audio out of the center channel which is strange. Are you sure you are using the 5.1-channel outputs with a 5.1 channel system or a 7.1-channel output with a 7.1 channel system? If you use the 7.1-channel output with a system configured for 5.1, then I would think you would normally get nothing out of the rear. If your receiver is only configured for 5.1 channels then make sure you use the 5.1-channel outputs on the player and you either turn off the rear channel speakers (if the player is set to 7.1) or set the player to 2-ch+5.1-ch mode.

Also, turn QUICK START OFF as this can cause the rear channels to duplicate the front ones (known bug, hopefully to be fixed by a future firmware upgrade).

-CB

Dear Chris,

Thanks for the information.
-Any ideas they would skip testing the SW?
-Well, yes, my pioneer is connected separately away from the AVR. Although I’m almost sure that I had the HDMI audio turned OFF, I will check it & will let you know.
-As for the connection that I’m using, I have 5.1 & not 7.1 on my 7.1 receiver, yet the receiver is configured for 5.1, rear speakers were canceled long time back. from the player's side, I tried the 2-ch+5.1-ch mode & 7.1 with canceling the back 2 speakers but no difference; I still would get a 2 ch stereo. I will also let you know on the center speaker.
-I had the quick start disabled yesterday after I have seen your post about it & nothing changed. any way I kept it off since I didn't feel much difference.

[aqudsi2375]

I guess those test programs skip the sub, if one is assigned, to keep from breaking it. Mine does this as well. Did you try turning off the secondary audio? With this set to "on", the player will not output the sound in "lossless" through the analog outputs from what I understand.

Also check this thread for a possible issue, depending if you have set up for 7.1 or 2ch/5.1
http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/fo...-player-5.html

hi. thanks for sharing. i'm sure that i have the secondary audio set to "off" i will double check & let you know. the quick start has been set to off yesteday when i came cross the same thread, but thanks for sharing any way.

[aqudsi2375]

Dear Chris,

Thanks for the information.
-Any ideas they would skip testing the SW?
-Well, yes, my pioneer is connected separately away from the AVR. Although I’m almost sure that I had the HDMI audio turned OFF, I will check it & will let you know.
-As for the connection that I’m using, I have 5.1 & not 7.1 on my 7.1 receiver, yet the receiver is configured for 5.1, rear speakers were canceled long time back. from the player's side, I tried the 2-ch+5.1-ch mode & 7.1 with canceling the back 2 speakers but no difference; I still would get a 2 ch stereo. I will also let you know on the center speaker.
-I had the quick start disabled yesterday after I have seen your post about it & nothing changed. any way I kept it off since I didn't feel much difference.

Update.

-i can confirm that no signal is output from center speaker.
-HDMI audio is switched off as i said earlier.
quick start is off.
-i have tried the test signal from DVE HD BASICS through digital coax cable & still have no signals through to speakers yet the player its self is generating the test signal to the rear & center through digital coax cable.
-i even tried to set speakers size to larg & got nothing!
-i'm even more confused as i can not see any possible or logical reason why should i have these problems?
- I KNOW ITS A LONG SHOT BUT JUST CAME CROSS MY MIND THAT I HAVE MY PLAYER CONNECTED TO POWER SUPPLY THROUGH A STEP DOWN TRANSFORMER. WHERE I LIVE, WE HAVE 240 V POWER SUPPLY WHILE THE PLAYER REQUIRES ONLY 120 V SINCE I'VE BOUGHT IT FROM ebay! DOES IT MAKE ANY SCENSE TO ANY ONE?

S.O.S
HELP

[MrBoylan]

Update.

-i can confirm that no signal is output from center speaker.
-HDMI audio is switched off as i said earlier.
quick start is off.
-i have tried the test signal from DVE HD BASICS through digital coax cable & still have no signals through to speakers yet the player its self is generating the test signal to the rear & center through digital coax cable.
-i even tried to set speakers size to larg & got nothing!
-i'm even more confused as i can not see any possible or logical reason why should i have these problems?
- I KNOW ITS A LONG SHOT BUT JUST CAME CROSS MY MIND THAT I HAVE MY PLAYER CONNECTED TO POWER SUPPLY THROUGH A STEP DOWN TRANSFORMER. WHERE I LIVE, WE HAVE 240 V POWER SUPPLY WHILE THE PLAYER REQUIRES ONLY 120 V SINCE I'VE BOUGHT IT FROM ebay! DOES IT MAKE ANY SCENSE TO ANY ONE?

S.O.S
HELP

If the DVE HD 5.1-channel dolby digital test signal is generating 2 channel output over coax digital, then it sounds like you have your digital audio outputs set to PCM in the player's menu. It should be set to BITSTREAM for both DTS and Dolby Digital if you are using the coax output. This is in the BD80's digital audio output settings menu.

Try that and at least confirm that you can get 5.1-channel output over coax.

This setting should have no impact on the multi-channel analog audio outputs, but if you're planning to use the coax outputs at all, then you definitely need to set DTS and Dolby Digital tp bistream, otherwise all you will get from the player is 2-channel PCM output.

I don't think the 240V transformer has any impact on this problem.

-CB

[aqudsi2375]

If the DVE HD 5.1-channel dolby digital test signal is generating 2 channel output over coax digital, then it sounds like you have your digital audio outputs set to PCM in the player's menu. It should be set to BITSTREAM for both DTS and Dolby Digital if you are using the coax output. This is in the BD80's digital audio output settings menu.

Try that and at least confirm that you can get 5.1-channel output over coax.

This setting should have no impact on the multi-channel analog audio outputs, but if you're planning to use the coax outputs at all, then you definitely need to set DTS and Dolby Digital tp bistream, otherwise all you will get from the player is 2-channel PCM output.

I don't think the 240V transformer has any impact on this problem.

-CB

digital audio out has already been set to bitstream at the time of testing for both formats & still i wouldn't get even close to 5.1
i know that it shouldn't have any effect on analog out since it goes through a different processor -i guess-, so, it is strange that i have both types of signals not generating the desired signals.
is there any thing else i might be missing in the setup of AVR or player?
i will post all setup conditions later today.
appreciate your help.

[aqudsi2375]

First off, the test tones do skip the subwoofer. That's by design, though I can't say I'm 100% sure why.

As for only getting stereo, I assume you are using multi-channel anlog for the audio but you are using HDMI for the video directly to your TV? If you are connecting via 5.1 or 7.1 channel ANALOG output, and you only hear front left/right, then you probably have to turn HDMI Audio Output to OFF on the player (the default is ON). This isn't required with all TVs, but it is required for some. Basically the TV does the HDMI handshake with the TV and gets incorrect information about the multi-channel capabilities, so it sets the analog output to stereo when it shouldn't. I believe the manual recommends that you ALWAYS turn HDMI AUDIO to OFF if you are using the multi-channel analog outputs. And I know I've seen this cause a problem so try that out and report back.

But you are saying you get some audio out of the center channel which is strange. Are you sure you are using the 5.1-channel outputs with a 5.1 channel system or a 7.1-channel output with a 7.1 channel system? If you use the 7.1-channel output with a system configured for 5.1, then I would think you would normally get nothing out of the rear. If your receiver is only configured for 5.1 channels then make sure you use the 5.1-channel outputs on the player and you either turn off the rear channel speakers (if the player is set to 7.1) or set the player to 2-ch+5.1-ch mode.

Also, turn QUICK START OFF as this can cause the rear channels to duplicate the front ones (known bug, hopefully to be fixed by a future firmware upgrade).

-CB

does the region hacking has any impact?

[MrBoylan]

digital audio out has already been set to bitstream at the time of testing for both formats & still i wouldn't get even close to 5.1
i know that it shouldn't have any effect on analog out since it goes through a different processor -i guess-, so, it is strange that i have both types of signals not generating the desired signals.
is there any thing else i might be missing in the setup of AVR or player?
i will post all setup conditions later today.
appreciate your help.

Nope. Not missing anything that I can think of. The *ONLY* single player setting on the player that I can think of that could potentially cause you to always get 2-channel output on both the coax digital output and the multi-channel analog output is if you had HDMI AUDIO=ON and you were connecting the HDMI jack directly to a TV, but trying to use the S/PDIF and/or multi-channel analog outputs to a receiver (which is what you're trying to do). But you already double-checked that HDMI AUDIO is set to OFF on the player, so at this point, the only possibility that I can think of is one that you probably don't want to hear - your player is broken. The fact that you have DTS and Dolby set to BITSTREAM and you can't get a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 track from regular old DVDs is also evidence that the player is not functioning correctly.

Also, the very strange thing is that you say that the player itself *can* output 5.1 over analog when you use the internal pink noise test generator from the analog output speaker set-up panel. Any time I've seen this problem occur, the test pattern *ALSO* fails to generate any test tones on speakers other than the front left and right (but again, this goes back to HDMI AUDIO=ON which does not apply here).

And as for your other question, yes it certainly is possible that the region hack is what caused this problem, but it's also possible that you bought a defective player, which was then hacked for multi-region. If you don't want to (or can't) exchange the player for a new one, then your best bet at this point is to buy a new receiver which does have full HDMI Audio support. I suspect that multi-channel audio will actually work properly over HDMI. But just to be safe, make sure you buy the receiver from a store where you can return it if it does NOT solve your problem.

Here in the US, you can get several receivers in the $300 to $550 price range from Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, and Pioneer which support on-board decoding of Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD and multi-channel PCM over HDMI.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

-CB