AC-3 is exactly the same as Dolby Digital, Right?

[Buckle-meister]

If the player can't decode the signal, wouldn't it then be able to output the bitstream through the optical line but not be able to output an analog signal?

If the player couldn't decode the signal then it would have to send it out digitally, in which case either a digital coaxial or optical digital cable could be used to connect the player to something that could decode the signal.

 

[Adam]

If the player couldn't decode the signal then it would have to send it out digitally, in which case either a digital coaxial or optical digital cable could be used to connect the player to something that could decode the signal.

Thanks, Robbie. I was just trying to kindly steer John in the right direction.

 

[Buckle-meister]

I was just trying to kindly steer John in the right direction.

I understand completely; John's a lost soul in need of much steering.

 

[Johnd]

I understand completely; John's a lost soul in need of much steering.

That's it. Now I'm going to stick my head in the sand!

 

[Johnd]

Thanks, Robbie. I was just trying to kindly steer John in the right direction.

And gentle you were...always appreciated.

 

[Seth=L]

The DVP-S7000 does not decode 5.1 Dolby Digital internally, which I already knew when I bought it. The player has two sets of stereo outputs for analog, both tested working which means the Dolby Digital 2 channel downmix in the player is working. It also has an optical (Toslink) connection which only works for PCM I found out after some testing. Lastly it has a Coaxial Digital connection that works for PCM and Dolby Digital 5.1. So I did finally get it to work.

Now there is a new and much more fun problem. During playback of 5.1 material it sounds and works fine. If I stop playback nothing out of the ordinary happens, but as soon as I hit eject I get a hum quite similar to when you touch a RCA jack's positive head when it is connected to a running receiver, preamp, or amplifier, only at a higher level of output (potentially damaging if at reference levels). The sound continues after the player is powered down, but at a different tone. Once the Player is powered back on and a disc is loaded then the sound stops.

NOTE: The cable is an inexpensive video cable, but it was working fine when connected to another DVD player on the same input on the Onkyo TX-DS787. It seems unlikely that it is the error of the cable or receiver given the circumstances.

So, what do you guys think, should I just take it back and get something else (I am stuck with in store credit at a pawn broker, and it does so happen they have another item that interests me)?

Thanks again fellas, you have been a great help so far (not being sarcastic, signified by the lack of the rolleyes character)

 

[Adam]

I just seems so odd to me that the bitstream would work over the coax but not the optical, seeing as how the optical output is working for PCM (so it's not just completely broken).

Anyway, whether it should be working is irrelevant...it isn't. So, to keep it or not to keep it, you ask? I'd say try another cable first (you probably are doing that now) and see if that clears up the problem, or maybe check the coax connector on the inside of the unit - I've seen your pictures so I know that you've been in there - and see if anything looks loose. If you can't get it to work, and you won't use it for something else (like a CD player), then I'd say take it back if there's something at the shop that you'd like to trade it for. After all, the thing is one nice looking machine, but if you don't use it then it's kinda worthless.

Just my two cents.

 

[Seth=L]

Well, I think that the optical PCM only is just an early design parameter. Coaxial was around long before Toslink and I don't think that toslink's first implentation was designed to work with all SPDIF specs (it doesn't have the bandwidth capability of Coax, but is still more than enough form raw bitstream data for Dolby and DTS). To top it off, under the coax connection it says AC-3 Digital and then it has a slash and says PCM under the toslink connection (they are right next to each other horizontal). So I figured it was worth a shot to see if this player, which started production in 1997 I believe was as strange as the first high end DVD player should be.

The Coax connection is soldered to the board, there is no visible problem with the physical connection to my eye. Maybe it is a ground loop problem.

The thing is, it doesn't seem to have any performance advantage to the Toshiba and I think the Toshiba takes the win in most respects. It has DTS output, it has built in Dolby Digital decoding, it doesn't have problems and reads discs with minimal error (the Sony hasn't binded up yet, but I hear it has problems with some DVDs). The Toshiba has more and cooler features that are less frivilous than the drop down face plate on the Sony, which is cool, but completely unnecessary, IMO.

I will likely return it, I have never seen anything about the SD-9000 or it's successors breaking down, but I have heard that this Sony player has croaked on a few people and Sony had a reputation for faulty players during this time period (inadequate fuses and such that blow frequently, the hard to replace ones that are hardwired to the board)

Also, nearly forgot, I have no other way of testing the Digital output on this player right now as I don't have my JVC at my disposal at the moment or any Digital receiver.

I do hate to see it go after such a short time, I guess that will be on my to do list on Monday.

Thanks again.

 

[Adam]

Well, I think that the optical PCM only is just an early design parameter. Coaxial was around long before Toslink and I don't think that toslink's first implentation was designed to work with all SPDIF specs (it doesn't have the bandwidth capability of Coax, but is still more than enough form raw bitstream data for Dolby and DTS). To top it off, under the coax connection it says AC-3 Digital and then it has a slash and says PCM under the toslink connection (they are right next to each other horizontal).

Well, I took a look at your photos again. The coax and optical are both within the "DIGITAL OUT" box, and I'll bet that the"PCM/AC-3 DIGITAL" wording applies to both because I've never seen a unit labeled like that to signify that the two jacks are different (but one of us would probably have to either find another owner or an owner's manual to verify that). A good theory that the optical is just PCM because it's an early player, but I don't think it's correct. I have one of the first second-gen DVD players from Toshiba (also no DTS, with both coax and optical digital outputs), and I hooked it up using optical from day one for Dolby Digital 5.1. Ahh, the good old days. $600 for that Toshiba, no DTS, and it had problems reading the second layer of some discs.

Well, I hope that you enjoy whatever it is that you're getting next! New toys, new toys. Always a good thing.

 

[Seth=L]

It wouldn't make sense for the Optical to transmit one and not the other, unless there is a circuit error somewhere, but I still find it unlikely in any case that it was ever meant to be used for AC-3, the cirmumstances are to coincidental. So either the player is weird, like any first gen player, or it just has the most odd of problems that are so messed up you would think it wouldn't work at all. Either way there is a problem somewhere and you may be right, but to have two different problems seems unlikely.

 

[MDS]

Some early players and receivers used a priority scheme if both optical and coax were hooked up; ie coax is preferred over optical if both are connected or vice-versa.

Could something like that be the issue?

 

[Adam]

Well, I took a look at your photos again. The coax and optical are both within the "DIGITAL OUT" box, and I'll bet that the"PCM/AC-3 DIGITAL" wording applies to both because I've never seen a unit labeled like that to signify that the two jacks are different (but one of us would probably have to either find another owner or an owner's manual to verify that).

I was right in that both digital connections should output the bitstream. You can find the owner's manual here.

I didn't read through it all, but you might find something useful in there.

On a side note, I was utterly impressed by how many languages they offered for the menus!

 

[100r1]

My Satellite FTA box for BEV & DISH outputs Dolby AC-3 ( have to select it in the Audio drop down box on channels that are broadcast) to Toslink optical. My Yamaha RX-V659 Reconizes it as Dolby Digital (sampling rate 48Khz, Channel 3/2/0.1, bitrate 384 kbps). Using Optical in-put on the 659.

 

[mtrycrafts]

The DVP-S7000 does not decode 5.1 Dolby Digital internally, which I already knew when I bought it. The player has two sets of stereo outputs for analog, both tested working which means the Dolby Digital 2 channel downmix in the player is working. It also has an optical (Toslink) connection which only works for PCM I found out after some testing. Lastly it has a Coaxial Digital connection that works for PCM and Dolby Digital 5.1. So I did finally get it to work.

)

If I remember correctly, that optical may pass the DTS signals. Try it if you have a decoder in the receiver.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Now there is a new and much more fun problem. During playback of 5.1 material it sounds and works fine. If I stop playback nothing out of the ordinary happens, but as soon as I hit eject I get a hum quite similar to when you touch a RCA jack's positive head when it is connected to a running receiver, preamp, or amplifier, only at a higher level of output (potentially damaging if at reference levels). The sound continues after the player is powered down, but at a different tone. Once the Player is powered back on and a disc is loaded then the sound stops.

NOTE: The cable is an inexpensive video cable, but it was working fine when connected to another DVD player on the same input on the Onkyo TX-DS787. It seems unlikely that it is the error of the cable or receiver given the circumstances.

So, what do you guys think, should I just take it back and get something else (I am stuck with in store credit at a pawn broker, and it does so happen they have another item that interests me)?

Thanks again fellas, you have been a great help so far (not being sarcastic, signified by the lack of the rolleyes character)

Try another cable or two in the coax path, even if you only have an audio interconnect. It surely sounds like a lifted shield in your cheap cable.

Do you have cable TV connected somehow, any path, to your setup? If so, unplug the cable TV line at the wall and see if that hum is still there.; let us know the outcome.

 

[Seth=L]

Well, it is settled I will return the player it has too many problems. It will all work out for the best. I don't need two old school flagships, I am not making a fleet.