Need help checking my system config

[sbmongoos]

I don't know why you would disconnect your CC, but If I were you I would run HDMI directly to Plasma from your BD player and coax or optical to your receiver from BD player and set your player to bitstream output. Your receiver should display Dolby Digital 5.1 and all your speakers should be out putting sound . Even if you use your BD player to play a standard DVD your player should be able to upconvert that to 1080i or p depending what you have it set to upconvert and you should enjoy 5.1 surround sound. Regardless if your using DVD or BD you should have very good sound and video with that setup. Running HDMI directly from player to plasma display will result in excellent video, you just need to work on your player's audio output, so the extra money for the 80 player may not be so warranted, more outlay of cash for the 80 and another $100 for multi-channel 5.1 analog cables to connect to your receiver. Just my thoughts my friend.
Most sincerely, Jeff

I just added another optical yesterday (arrived in mail). So it is HDMI from blu-ray to TV and then optical from blu-ray to amp. The only reason my CC is not connected as it won't set on my stand right now with my setup. My brother has built something for me to raise the TV up so I can set the CC on the top shelf and slide it in under the TV a bit.

Just don't get why I'm not getting surround from the blu-ray or DVD now. The back speakers are still connected.

 

[ahblaza]

You may have to go into your receiver's menu and assign that opt/coax , input to the input it is connected to for the receiver to recognize that input, ie DVD and then go into bd player menu and select video output to HDMI 16:9, 1080p or i and then select audio on BD player, select downmixed output from HDMI and bitstream from coax or optical and you should have your 5.1 sound. I think your BD player is sending mixed signals to both Plasma and receiver, if you try what I said you should not have any problems. You only need one HDMI cable to TV and one digital cable to receiver. Hope this helps. It seems to me that you are sending both video and 5.1 audio to TV, that's why your receiver's not recognizing it.
Adam I hope you could chime in here.
Jeffrey

 

[AVRat]

ahblaza, you're doing fine.

Check that your connections are tight. Make sure the surround mode is set to AUTO. Run test tones for the surrounds. Which input device are you using for the BD?

 

[ahblaza]

Thanks AVRat, I was starting to get nervous, I feel better now. I think one should read the manuals that come with their products, I know they can be intimidating at times but they contain a lot of useful info. I agree with you that OP should set surround modes to auto, this makes everything so much easier for my receiver to recognize a flagged signal and respond to that input. But I do feel for the OP, this can be confusing and frustrating. I also agree he should run test tones to even know if all speakers are connected, that would help substantially. I will stay tuned tonight to offer any help I can, and thanks for the kind words.
Best regards.....

 

[sbmongoos]

Check that your connections are tight. Make sure the surround mode is set to AUTO. Run test tones for the surrounds. Which input device are you using for the BD?

My fix was pretty simple. I needed to use the main Marantz remote and apparently hit one of the buttons that has to do with surround sound and that's what screwed things up for me. I thought setting the Surround to auto would do the trick but not so. There are several choices for surround and about 3 of them are not surround mode.

 

[AVRat]

Good to hear you're up & running now. Wrong button pushes get a lot of people.