DMP-BD55 – COAX digital out or 5.1 analog out?

[Herr Eickhorn]

Hello everyone. My Panasonic DMP-BD55 arrived yesterday from Amazon.com - $321.00 with free shipping, no tax and 4 free BD movies!

So I hooked it up to my Yamaha RX-V2095 5.1 DD/DTS receiver. This receiver has 5.1 analog inputs and COAX or optical digital inputs. It’s old but sweet and always gets the job done.

The Blu-ray player is totally awesome. This slim sleek little black box has so much function and capability it’s unbelievable! It’s almost like it was transported here from the future. When I first touched it, I felt like the monkey in 2001: A Space Odyssey!

I got the thing running without any problems using its 1080i component feed direct to my 50” Panasonic TH-50PX50U plasma TV. I used the COAX digital input to my receiver for sound.

My wife and I then popped in APOCALYPTO. What we then saw and heard was stunning. As my wife said, “I ain’t never seen anything like this before!” We were up until 3am and watched this movie twice!

The picture and sound was incredible. I have a very good system but dropping this blu-ray player into it was like swapping out the 6 cylinder engine in your car for a super charged V12! It’s that good!!!!!

So my question is: Do I have that much more to gain in sound quality if I go with the 5.1 analog out? Also, APOCALYPTO gave the option of 5.1 DD (which I selected) or 5.1 UNCOMPRESSED. What is that?

I’d like people’s opinions before I go out and buy 6 expensive interconnects for the 5.1 analog. Thanks!!!!!!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hello everyone. My Panasonic DMP-BD55 arrived yesterday from Amazon.com - $321.00 with free shipping, no tax and 4 free BD movies!

So I hooked it up to my Yamaha RX-V2095 5.1 DD/DTS receiver. This receiver has 5.1 analog inputs and COAX or optical digital inputs. It’s old but sweet and always gets the job done.

The Blu-ray player is totally awesome. This slim sleek little black box has so much function and capability it’s unbelievable! It’s almost like it was transported here from the future. When I first touched it, I felt like the monkey in 2001: A Space Odyssey!

I got the thing running without any problems using its 1080i component feed direct to my 50” Panasonic TH-50PX50U plasma TV. I used the COAX digital input to my receiver for sound.

My wife and I then popped in APOCALYPTO. What we then saw and heard was stunning. As my wife said, “I ain’t never seen anything like this before!” We were up until 3am and watched this movie twice!

The picture and sound was incredible. I have a very good system but dropping this blu-ray player into it was like swapping out the 6 cylinder engine in your car for a super charged V12! It’s that good!!!!!

So my question is: Do I have that much more to gain in sound quality if I go with the 5.1 analog out? Also, APOCALYPTO gave the option of 5.1 DD (which I selected) or 5.1 UNCOMPRESSED. What is that?

I’d like people’s opinions before I go out and buy 6 expensive interconnects for the 5.1 analog. Thanks!!!!!!

The standard Dolby Digital and standard DTS is a lossy audio format based in perceptual research where info that is most likely masked by other info is discarded as useless since you cannot hear it anyhow. They are pretty good codes but some may hear the CD quality, uncompressed audio, differences.
If you have that capability, then use the uncompressed feature.

 

[jostenmeat]

Hello everyone. My Panasonic DMP-BD55 arrived yesterday from Amazon.com - $321.00 with free shipping, no tax and 4 free BD movies!

Congrats on both the fine player and excellent combo deal.

When I first touched it, I felt like the monkey in 2001: A Space Odyssey!

I just watched that recently on BD, and I had the WEIRDEST dream that night...

I got the thing running without any problems using its 1080i component feed direct to my 50” Panasonic TH-50PX50U plasma TV. I used the COAX digital input to my receiver for sound

Its likely that the player might recognize the native display of the TV, but in case it doesn't, I'd select 720p output on the player as that would be closest.

My wife and I then popped in APOCALYPTO. What we then saw and heard was stunning. As my wife said, “I ain’t never seen anything like this before!” We were up until 3am and watched this movie twice!

Wow, that's a pretty gruesome movie to watch back-to-back.

I’d like people’s opinions before I go out and buy 6 expensive interconnects for the 5.1 analog. Thanks!!!!!!

They shouldn't be expensive at all. Check out Monoprice for best price. Or, feel free to buy Blue Jeans to stick it to the Monster-Man.

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

Its likely that the player might recognize the native display of the TV, but in case it doesn't, I'd select 720p output on the player as that would be closest.

My plasma TV does 1080i and thats the output I selected on the player. I use a direct component video feed from the player to the TV which works great.

 

[jostenmeat]

My plasma TV does 1080i and thats the output I selected on the player. I use a direct component video feed from the player to the TV which works great.

I believe your television supports 1080i, but anything that it supports will always come out as 720p (768p). IOW, the TV has to now deinterlace, besides scale the signal if there isn't something I am missing here.

The only plasmas made with native rez of 1080i are from Hitachi, AFAIK.

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

I believe your television supports 1080i, but anything that it supports will always come out as 720p (768p). IOW, the TV has to now deinterlace, besides scale the signal if there isn't something I am missing here.

The only plasmas made with native rez of 1080i are from Hitachi, AFAIK.

It was one of the first plasma's to do both 720P & 1080i. For instance, when watching OTA HDTV it automatically senses the signal. It has a chip that tells you if it displaying 720P or 1080i. Both PBS and CSB broadcast awesome OTA 1080i dolby digital 5.1 signals. Have yet to see a DTS OTA broadcast but I guess its possible.

Now, why did APOCALYPTO call it 5.1 UNCOMPRESSED instead of DD true HD or something like that? Thats where I am confused.

 

[jostenmeat]

Now, why did APOCALYPTO call it 5.1 UNCOMPRESSED instead of DD true HD or something like that? Thats where I am confused.

DTS-MA and TrueHD are compressed. If they weren't, we would have no use for them. For they supply "lossless" audio, but needing less space to do so.

Uncompressed PCM tracks are exactly just that. They do take up a lot more space, but no fees are paid to either DTS or Dolby.

With what appears to be the slow but continual increase of the larger 50GB discs, proportionately speaking, I believe that our need for the compressed codecs might be reduced.

OTOH, some might still prefer that codecs be used if only for further decompression of video.

Just enjoy.

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

Uncompressed PCM tracks are exactly just that. They do take up a lot more space, but no fees are paid to either DTS or Dolby.

So if I hook up the 5.1 analog output and run 5.1 UNCOMPRESSED on Apocalypto it should sound a lot better than 5.1 DD via the COAX output?

So perhaps Mel Gibson was just trying to get around the licensing fees associated with DD True HD.

 

[Biggiesized]

So if I hook up the 5.1 analog output and run 5.1 UNCOMPRESSED on Apocalypto it should sound a lot better than 5.1 DD via the COAX output?

So perhaps Mel Gibson was just trying to get around the licensing fees associated with DD True HD.

It'll likely sound better.

No, Mel Gibson wasn't skirting around licensing fees. He doesn't author the Blu-ray disc.

A lot of early Blu-ray movies came with LPCM audio in addition to the mandatory Dolby Digital 5.1 track because most of the Blu-ray players at that very same time couldn't decode high resolution audio (i.e. Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD High Resolution or DTS-HD Master Audio).

 

[EddieG]

I believe your television supports 1080i, but anything that it supports will always come out as 720p (768p). IOW, the TV has to now deinterlace, besides scale the signal if there isn't something I am missing here.

The only plasmas made with native rez of 1080i are from Hitachi, AFAIK.

There's going to be scaling no matter what you see.
The box outputs the 1080i as 1080i and your tv scales it to it's
resolution - whether that's 1024x720, 1366x768.

alternative

the box scales the 1080i to 1280x720 and your tv then scales that to
1024x720 or 1366x768

there's a good chance you wont notice the difference anyway.... but i always
tell my tuner box to output whatever it's receiving and leave the scaling to
the tv.

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

Ok everyone - I got my 5.1 analog outs hooked up with some real nice Nordost blue heaven cables.

I did sound tests with Apacalypto in 5.1 PCM uncompressed (48/24) analog out vs coax digital out. I also did the same with Full Metal Jacket which is 48/16 in PCM.

I WON'T BE GOING BACK TO COAX DIGITAL OUT! The sound from the analog outs is fantastic, and I can tell a huge difference! All audio is crisper, clearer and more precise. Dialog is easier to understand and the movie is a much more enjoyable experience.

I really doubted that it would be a big difference, but it is. I encourage everyone to get those analog outs hooked up and hear the improvement for yourself.

 

[MinusTheBear]

Ok everyone - I got my 5.1 analog outs hooked up with some real nice Nordost blue heaven cables.

I did sound tests with Apacalypto in 5.1 PCM uncompressed (48/24) analog out vs coax digital out. I also did the same with Full Metal Jacket which is 48/16 in PCM.

I WON'T BE GOING BACK TO COAX DIGITAL OUT! The sound from the analog outs is fantastic, and I can tell a huge difference! All audio is crisper, clearer and more precise. Dialog is easier to understand and the movie is a much more enjoyable experience.

I really doubted that it would be a big difference, but it is. I encourage everyone to get those analog outs hooked up and hear the improvement for yourself.

The sound quality through the BD55 analog outs is amazing! Being new to this whole blu-ray thing, the increased quality of sound has impressed me the most. I do not feel I am missing anything with running analog cables instead of a HDMI cable for sound.

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

The sound quality through the BD55 analog outs is amazing! Being new to this whole blu-ray thing, the increased quality of sound has impressed me the most. I do not feel I am missing anything with running analog cables instead of a HDMI cable for sound.

What do you think of 5.1 uncompressed 48/24 PCM as compared to Dolby Digital HD or DTS Master audio? Exactly what is the difference between the two once they are sent through the analog outs? Can you tell a sound quality difference? Is one better than the other?

So if 5.1 48/24 uncompressed PCM sounds so good I can't wait to hear 96/24. Do you know of any BD that run at this freq?

 

[mtrycrafts]

So if 5.1 48/24 uncompressed PCM sounds so good I can't wait to hear 96/24. Do you know of any BD that run at this freq?

There should not be an audible difference between 48k vs 96k sampling. Just audio folklore

By the way, the DD True HD and DTS Master Audio is as good as the uncompressed as it has the same lossless coding but may be packed differently.

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

By the way, the DD True HD and DTS Master Audio is as good as the uncompressed as it has the same lossless coding but may be packed differently.

Logic tells me that the player decodes the DD True HD and DTS Master Audio and sends it through the analog outs as PCM. Uncompressed PCM requires no decoding from the player - the player just sends it on its way through the analog outs.

So, is it safe to assume there is no difference?

Why do you feel there is no difference between 96 Khz sampling and 48Khz? Logic tells me if I pick apples twice as fast as the other worker my boss will be much happier with my basket.

 

[allargon]

What do you think of 5.1 uncompressed 48/24 PCM as compared to Dolby Digital HD or DTS Master audio? Exactly what is the difference between the two once they are sent through the analog outs? Can you tell a sound quality difference? Is one better than the other?

So if 5.1 48/24 uncompressed PCM sounds so good I can't wait to hear 96/24. Do you know of any BD that run at this freq?

Screw that. You want 192/24. Get the Divertimenti Blu-Ray. It also includes a hybrid SACD, so you can compare 192/24 PCM, DTS-HD MA, Dolby TrueHD, SACD DSD! and 44.1/16 CD. They even put in a 640Kbps Dolby Digital track for you to really shake your head!

There should not be an audible difference between 48k vs 96k sampling. Just audio folklore

You sure about that? Many of the so-called professionals say there's little difference between 192 and 96 but quite a difference between 96 and 48.

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

I checked out that Divertimenti BD on Amazon.com. Some commenter there says its the first music BD to run at 192khz. I'm going to order it. I got to hear what 5.1 uncompressed PCM sounds like running at 192/24!

So do all BD movies run at 48? None at 96 or 192?

 

[billy p]

Ok everyone - I got my 5.1 analog outs hooked up with some real nice Nordost blue heaven cables.

I did sound tests with Apacalypto in 5.1 PCM uncompressed (48/24) analog out vs coax digital out. I also did the same with Full Metal Jacket which is 48/16 in PCM.

I WON'T BE GOING BACK TO COAX DIGITAL OUT! The sound from the analog outs is fantastic, and I can tell a huge difference! All audio is crisper, clearer and more precise. Dialog is easier to understand and the movie is a much more enjoyable experience.

I really doubted that it would be a big difference, but it is. I encourage everyone to get those analog outs hooked up and hear the improvement for yourself.

How did you find the LFE using analog? Having experimented with both the sony s550 and panny bd55, I had reached similar observations. However I'll disagree with you on analog being the clear winner. AAMOF in my experiment between the two, the digital held a clear advantage with LFE and the analog did likewise in SQ. This to me was a trade off and in the end I opted to go with an HDMI receiver. Heh... maybe if I used those cables it would of improved the bass & SQ via analog but now I'll never know.

Regards, Bill

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

Hi Bill,

I have my front sub in an unconventional set up but it seems to work quite well. Eldon at Mapleshade audio helped me with this. He’s pretty knowledgeable at meshing old and new equipment together. Check out his web site: http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/index.php

I have older subs that do not have true LFE inputs. So I use the speaker level inputs on the subs. My front speakers are large. My receiver has a main speaker A/B switch. So I run speaker cables to my front main speakers off the A terminals. Then I run a speaker cable off the B terminals to my front sub. I set the sub cut off to pick up where the main speakers give out on LFE. That way all the low freq. are covered. I set the BD player to no sub and large front main speakers. I do the same in the receiver. So now the front main speakers get the full signal and the sub gets the full signal. So I adjust the sub to pick up the low frequencies that the front mains can’t do. So I don’t even use the LFE analog out on the BD player. It is mixed in and the sub then pulls it out.

Now, admittedly, this is kind of a retarded set up but it seems to work well and I get plenty of LFE. I did it this way so my sub was active when I listen to 2 channel music. Otherwise it’s only active in 5.1. Also, I can set the sub crossover and volume anywhere I want - the control is better in the sub than my old receiver.

I have an identical sub on my rear surround speakers. So I run a speaker cable to the rear sub then speaker cable out of the sub to the little satellite rear speakers. That works well too.

All my LFE are seamless and transition great from front to back. I can set the subs to rock the house or provide subtle complementary LFE.

My equipment spans 3 decades – from my front main speakers being made in the 1970’s to my new DMP-BD55. I have tried to mesh it all together the best I can. I’m really not into throwing away perfectly good high end equipment if I can figure out a way to make it work.

Does this make any sense?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Logic tells me that the player decodes the DD True HD and DTS Master Audio and sends it through the analog outs as PCM. Uncompressed PCM requires no decoding from the player - the player just sends it on its way through the analog outs.

So, is it safe to assume there is no difference?

Why do you feel there is no difference between 96 Khz sampling and 48Khz? Logic tells me if I pick apples twice as fast as the other worker my boss will be much happier with my basket.

Well, apple picking logic and audible differences between those two codec sampling rates are apples and oranges comparison.

Besides, it has been tested under bias controlled conditions for audible differences and no one could differentiate them. But, if it makes you happier, so be it