Panasonic BD55 Owners Thread

[billy p]

Eddie,
I had the same problem with the Sub. I returned my player but then found out that if you use the sound effects, the player will cut the sub. Because I think the sound effects will change the lossless/digital format and make it sound like stereo without sub. Make sure you are not using the sound effects. It is also written very briefly in tha manual but you have to read every little writing on the manual to undestand the full function. As far as the level of your sub you can lower the level of 5 channels in order to increase the sub level but that will create floor noise. If you connect the sub out from the player directly to the sub then you cannot increase the level of the sub before it gets to the sub. So it is better to connect the sub out from the player to the receiver then from receiver to the sub. This way you can increase the level of your sub in the receiver and also in the sub. Your receiver should have a level for analog input or something seperate for DD and DTS in addition to the main sub level. That way you can adjust the sub level on you receiver to a higher level and lower your sub level on the receiver for the DD and DTS. In this format you don't have to keep adjusting the sub between analog and digital. The analog is by default 15db lowere than the other channels if your speakers are all set to small and 10db lower if your speakers are all set to big. Therefore, you have to inclrease the sub level10 or 15 db by the receiver and sub to compensate for the lower level that comes from the player. The digital sound has a lot of base but not as clear as the lossless. The sound stage of the lossless is also much better than the digital. It took me a while to adjust the sub for the analog. Once I confirmed the level of sub between the didgital and analog to be the same and man you get the best of the both world. I hope this could help.

So you're basically saying by increasing the gain on your sub for analog this will fill the void caused by the lack of bass in the player, and by decreasing the sub level within the receiver this will to compensate for the added gain you've applied to the sub and won't cause it to bottom out when you switch over to digital surround mode.

Otherwise please correct me, if I'm out to lunch.

 

[usxplongback]

So you're basically saying by increasing the gain on your sub for analog this will fill the void caused by the lack of bass in the player, and by decreasing the sub level within the receiver it will to compensate for the added gain you've applied to the sub and won't cause it to bottom out when you switch over to digital surround mode.

Otherwise please correct me, if I'm out to lunch.

yes, if you increase the sub level either on the SW or in the receiver for analog input and then decrease the sub level in the receiver for the digital input, you will basically callibrate your system for both analog and digital and you don't have to play with the level of sub by switching between analog and digital. But make sure your receiver has a level for sub to be adjusted seperately between digital and analog. Some receivers have a gain for sub if used for analog and some have sub level that can be adjusted globally (digital & analog) then it also has a sub level for digital only. That way you can have the SW adjusted seperate between digital & analog.

 

[EddieG]

Eddie,
I had the same problem with the Sub. I returned my player but then found out that if you use the sound effects, the player will cut the sub. Because I think the sound effects will change the lossless/digital format and make it sound like stereo without sub. Make sure you are not using the sound effects. It is also written very briefly in tha manual but you have to read every little writing on the manual to undestand the full function. As far as the level of your sub you can lower the level of 5 channels in order to increase the sub level but that will create floor noise. If you connect the sub out from the player directly to the sub then you cannot increase the level of the sub before it gets to the sub. So it is better to connect the sub out from the player to the receiver then from receiver to the sub. This way you can increase the level of your sub in the receiver and also in the sub. Your receiver should have a level for analog input or something seperate for DD and DTS in addition to the main sub level. That way you can adjust the sub level on you receiver to a higher level and lower your sub level on the receiver for the DD and DTS. In this format you don't have to keep adjusting the sub between analog and digital. The analog is by default 15db lowere than the other channels if your speakers are all set to small and 10db lower if your speakers are all set to big. Therefore, you have to inclrease the sub level10 or 15 db by the receiver and sub to compensate for the lower level that comes from the player. The digital sound has a lot of base but not as clear as the lossless. The sound stage of the lossless is also much better than the digital. It took me a while to adjust the sub for the analog. Once I confirmed the level of sub between the didgital and analog to be the same and man you get the best of the both world. I hope this could help.

I was playing with the remote and found on-screen the "sound effects". I did not see anything about that in the manual, but then again I didn't read the whole thing (as I apparently should in this case). I'll read more and play with it more and see if I can get more bass.

I don't mind using the sub's volume control so to adjust the sub via the receiver for both analog and digital is no big deal (assuming my receiver can do that, which I doubt).

Thanks so much!!

 

[Tomorrow]

yes, if you increase the sub level either on the SW or in the receiver for analog input and then decrease the sub level in the receiver for the digital input, you will basically callibrate your system for both analog and digital and you don't have to play with the level of sub by switching between analog and digital. But make sure your receiver has a level for sub to be adjusted seperately between digital and analog. Some receivers have a gain for sub if used for analog and some have sub level that can be adjusted globally (digital & analog) then it also has a sub level for digital only. That way you can have the SW adjusted seperate between digital & analog.

This is the ideal setup. However, I wonder how many receivers are capable of the subwoofer level matching range. There is (to me a yet unexplained reason) the issue of the default DVD player bass settings being 10 dB low. My Yamaha RX-V2500 does not have the range of sub gain to handle the equalization of both the analog and digital modes. Either one is going to be too low or the other too high. I'd suspect this to be the case with most receivers. This fact, because my rx has a 10 dB amplitude variable range, it should/could work. I believe that there is signal loss when the player pre-out passes through the rx pre-out and on to the sub. I started a thread in an attempt to get this theory tested or confirmed. But after a couple of days, no one either knows or is willing to test it.

This 10 dB low default player setting is a nutty convention in player technology. I would love someone to explain the reasoning to me.

 

[billy p]

This is the ideal setup. However, I wonder how many receivers are capable of the subwoofer level matching range. There is (to me a yet unexplained reason) the issue of the default DVD player bass settings being 10 dB low. My Yamaha RX-V2500 does not have the range of sub gain to handle the equalization of both the analog and digital modes. Either one is going to be too low or the other too high. I'd suspect this to be the case with most receivers. This fact, because my rx has a 10 dB amplitude variable range, it should/could work. I believe that there is signal loss when the player pre-out passes through the rx pre-out and on to the sub. I started a thread in an attempt to get this theory tested or confirmed. But after a couple of days, no one either knows or is willing to test it.

This 10 dB low default player setting is a nutty convention in player technology. I would love someone to explain the reasoning to me.

For me, this was not optional and its why I'm opting for an HDMI receiver because I didn't want the burden of having to adjust my setting to accommodate the source .

 

[MrMagic]

Connection with Yamaha RX-V2400

I'm the pending owner of the BD55 player. SInce I'm reluctant buy a new receiver at this time, I figured the BD55 player would allow me enjoy the new high-rez audio codecs with my current receiver. After reviewing the excellent discusion in this thread the consensus seems to be that may not be as convient as I hoped. Particularly in light of bass management issues between the player and the receiver. Until I can rationalize the cost of a new receiver, would I be missing out on much if I connect the player to the receiver using one of the digital audio jacks (either optical of coaxial). And if this is a viable option, has anyone compared the effectiveness of multichannel movie audio to the various soundfields available with the V2400. Or maybe I should just replace the BD55 with the BD35 until I can upgrade my receiver. I'd appreciate your thoughts and/or advice.
In my heart of hearts, I'd really like to hold off until I can get the new Oppo BDP83.

 

[Tomorrow]

I'm the pending owner of the BD55 player. SInce I'm reluctant buy a new receiver at this time, I figured the BD55 player would allow me enjoy the new high-rez audio codecs with my current receiver. After reviewing the excellent discusion in this thread the consensus seems to be that may not be as convient as I hoped. Particularly in light of bass management issues between the player and the receiver. Until I can rationalize the cost of a new receiver, would I be missing out on much if I connect the player to the receiver using one of the digital audio jacks (either optical of coaxial). And if this is a viable option, has anyone compared the effectiveness of multichannel movie audio to the various soundfields available with the V2400. Or maybe I should just replace the BD55 with the BD35 until I can upgrade my receiver. I'd appreciate your thoughts and/or advice.
In my heart of hearts, I'd really like to hold off until I can get the new Oppo BDP83.

I'm not sure how to answer your question, other than what I've already said. I feel that there is not much improvement of the analog vs. the Yammie DSP modes...some perhaps, especially with concert discs. I think the lack of 7.1 source discs hampers your decision a tad. BUT (!!!) for only a little more money, you'll be future proof for some time if you go with the BD-55.

It will be some time before I can afford an HDMI receiver, but it will come. My attitude is that it's best not to pinch pennies on equipment (if possible), but to add good items when you can afford them...and don't buy old technology (again, if possible).

 

[MrMagic]

Tomorrow, thanks that's sage advice; I'll keep it in mind.

 

[Tomorrow]

Tomorrow, thanks that's sage advice; I'll keep it in mind.

By the way, welcome to the forum, MrMagic!

This may sound sort of hokey and I usually don't do personal stories, but I used to love doing magic tricks AND the missus and I have the word inscribed in our wedding rings. I've lost my ring three times...once in a lake, once buried somewhere in the sand on a beach in San Diego, and once it spent an entire night under a table at a Mexican restaurant with nobody seeing it. Like magic, even tho' I had no idea where it went, I luckily walked RIGHT TO IT all three times when I realized it was gone. It was dusk and about 25 feet out into the lake in about 3 feet of water. It fell off my finger at the beach and it was under about 3" of sand, but I didn't see where it went. In the restaurant, it fell off when I was using my napkin. I just guessed where the ring might have gone each time (long story about how/why I dropped them...but basically it was because of weight loss and a loose fit on my finger and I didn't know it fell off). There is indeed magic in that ring. So...whenever I see the word, I get a happy face!

 

[MrMagic]

Thanks for the welcome, and thanks for sharing!

 

[JimChad]

BD55 and Onkyo NR905 Problems with HDMI sound

I have just connected my new BD55 through DHMI to an ONKYO NR905 AV amp and HDMI output to a Panasonic AE2000 Projector and lost Multichannel sound!

I get poor quality Left, Right and LFE only.

Using a PS3 with the same HDMI cable and AMP and Projector settings, the result is perfect 5 channels.

Anyone any ideas? It seems to me to be a hardware interface problem. I have tried every programable option on the BD55 without a satisfactory result.

Jim C

 

[jhanley]

I have just connected my new BD55 through DHMI to an ONKYO NR905 AV amp and HDMI output to a Panasonic AE2000 Projector and lost Multichannel sound!

I get poor quality Left, Right and LFE only.

Using a PS3 with the same HDMI cable and AMP and Projector settings, the result is perfect 5 channels.

Anyone any ideas? It seems to me to be a hardware interface problem. I have tried every programable option on the BD55 without a satisfactory result.

Jim C

Check to see if you have secondary audio set off and your outputting using bitstream mode.

 

[bnewt]

I also just hooked up this blu-ray player & am having audio sync problems that I did not have with my old Pioneer dvd player. The 55 is connected to my lcd tv via hdmi. It is also connected to my Pioneer 45 Elite receiver via coax. I also tried connecting via optical cable with no difference. My older receiver does not have audio sync adjustment. Is there anything that I can do to correct this problem? Would connecting the player & tv by component cables help any??

 

[JimChad]

Check to see if you have secondary audio set off and your outputting using bitstream mode.

Thanks for your input John.

The answer is yes, Using bitstream mode I have tried secondary audio both ways with no success.

Jim

 

[usxplongback]

Thanks for your input John.

The answer is yes, Using bitstream mode I have tried secondary audio both ways with no success.

Jim

Hello Jim,
You are running HDMI twice (TV & Receiver). The audio I think gets confused. You can connect your 55 to your receiver by HDMI and from your receiver to TV by HDMI. Or you can connect your TV to 55 by HDMI and your receiver to 55 by Optical or Coax and turmn the HDMI audio off on the 55. This way you will not get the lossless audio. The 3rd option is to connect the 55 to your receiver by analog and optical/coax, your tv by hdmi and turn off the hdmi audio. This way you will get lossless audio, DD & DTS thru optical or Coax and pure picture. On all these cases make sure you turn the secondary audio off. the only draw back of the analog connections is that you have to raise your sub level to compensate for 110db or -15 db for the lossless audio. See my previous post. Good luck.

 

[usxplongback]

Hello Jim,
You are running HDMI twice (TV & Receiver). The audio I think gets confused. You can connect your 55 to your receiver by HDMI and from your receiver to TV by HDMI. Or you can connect your TV to 55 by HDMI and your receiver to 55 by Optical or Coax and turmn the HDMI audio off on the 55. This way you will not get the lossless audio. The 3rd option is to connect the 55 to your receiver by analog and optical/coax, your tv by hdmi and turn off the hdmi audio. This way you will get lossless audio, DD & DTS thru optical or Coax and pure picture. On all these cases make sure you turn the secondary audio off. the only draw back of the analog connections is that you have to raise your sub level to compensate for -10db or -15 db for the lossless audio. See my previous post. Good luck.

Sorry I meant -10db not 110db.

 

[MinusTheBear]

I hooked up my BD55 today . I did a very quick setup and put on I, Robot and I am totally blown away! It is hooked up to Monoprice analog and HDMI cables and playing it through my Denon on Ext In. I am happy to say I have no low bass volume issues with the multi-channel analog. Funny enough I had to turn it down because it was so overwhelming . The picture and sound quality is superb from this player! Everything is so detailed and crisp, now I know what I have been missing out.

BTW I also noticed during my quick setup that there is a seperate calibration menu that can control all the speaker levels and the SW level on the Ext. In, plus there is another control that can bump the sub 10-15 db. I have not played with any calibration levels on the BD55 and just skimmed over everything briefly so I will look into this further. It has been pretty much plug and play, so far so good .

 

[billy p]

I hooked up my BD55 today . I did a very quick setup and put on I, Robot and I am totally blown away! It is hooked up to Monoprice analog and HDMI cables and playing it through my Denon on Ext In. I am happy to say I have no low bass volume issues with the multi-channel analog. Funny enough I had to turn it down because it was so overwhelming . The picture and sound quality is superb from this player! Everything is so detailed and crisp, now I know what I have been missing out.

BTW I also noticed during my quick setup that there is a seperate calibration menu that can control all the speaker levels and the SW level on the Ext. In, plus there is another control that can bump the sub 10-15 db. I have not played with any calibration levels on the BD55 and just skimmed over everything briefly so I will look into this further. It has been pretty much plug and play, so far so good .

Was this the first gift you opened!! Hey Minus, I did fine that bumping the ext in. to +15 on the receiver helped the overall output, but I still wanted slightly more.
PS: Which Denon unit do you own?