Question about Blu-Ray Special Features and Oppo BDP-83

[mpompey]

I'm running the Oppo BDP-83 BR player. From what I understand, if I want to access the blu-ray special features, additional audio, director commentaries, etc, the Oppo will merge the audio and I lose the ability to have the high def audio.

Am I reading the instructions right in the manual? If that is the case, why would I want those BR features if I'm going to lose the high resolution audio?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think if you BITSTREAM the Oppo to your receiver, then it's not a problem.

I think it is only a problem if you let the Oppo decode the HD audio and send PCM to your receiver.

I recall this was a problem with the 1st generation Sony PS3 since it could not bitstream HD audio.

 

[mpompey]

Okay, I'll double check. I'm sending bitstream and letting my receiver do the de-coding. But I'll double check. I don't have the manual in front of me right now, but that was something that never seemed to make any sense.

 

[mpompey]

Here's the info from my manual regarding secondary audio, it looks like it does dial back the main audio.


Set the secondary audio program mixing option
1. Secondary Audio: To set the Secondary Audio Program mixing option. Some Blu-ray Discs
contain a secondary audio and video program, such as the director’s commentary. Some Bluray
Discs have a sound effect when you make menu choices. This Setup Menu item allows you
to decide whether to mix the Secondary Audio Program and menu clicking sound into the
primary audio. The options are:
• On – The Secondary Audio Program and menu clicking sound are mixed into the primary
audio. Usually this will cause the primary audio volume to be slightly reduced. High
resolution primary audio will be converted to a normal resolution in order to mix with the
secondary audio.
• Off – The Secondary Audio Program and menu clicking sound are not mixed into the
primary audio and you cannot hear the secondary audio or menu clicking sound. This
setting preserves the highest possible audio quality for the primary audio.

 

[j_garcia]

Yes, that is correct. I turned it off the first day.

 

[mpompey]

Yes, that is correct. I turned it off the first day.

So did I. I guess I'm wondering what's the point if I'm going to lose the HD audio I paid for. Or do other players implement this differently than the Oppo?

 

[gonk]

It is pretty common for enabling secondary audio to force players to revert to the core (DD/DTS) audio track. Keep in mind, though, that many special features do not actually use the secondary audio feature. Secondary audio is only used to mix two audio streams "on the fly" - such as overlaying menu sound effects onto the main audio stream. If you are decoding internally and don't mind having your pop-up disc menus be mute, disabling secondary audio isn't a particular hardship.

 

[j_garcia]

I don't recall where I read it, but it actually says this should be off in most cases, so I am not sure why it came set to on by default on mine (it was a pre-release unit). I can't say there has been a time when I needed to turn it on either.

 

[mpompey]

OK, well it looks like I did the right thing without even know it. I guess I can always choose to turn it on if I want to watch a special feature that takes advantage of it.