Newbie with a new Blu-ray needs guidance

[gbatch]

I am a newbie here and fully admit to being somewhat green to all this component TV stuff and its fast moving technologies. What brings me here are a couple of issues with my newest purchase – a Panasonic Blu-ray player, Model DMP-BD10. I welcome informed replies and opinions.

(A) As I said, I recently picked up a Panasonic Blu-ray player model DMP-BD10. I’ve updated the firmware to the latest version. The TV this is hooked up to is a 61” Sony purchased in 2000, Model KP-61HS10. The TV does not have an HDMI hookup, but it does stipulate that using the Video 5 inputs enables the reception of the 1080i, 480p and 480i digital TV formats if one uses a digital TV receiver. So, I have the Blu-ray hooked up to the Video 5 with a component video cable. The picture is very good, but it’s not what I see at the electronics stores at 1080. I suspect it’s playing at 480p because the Blu-ray manual states “Some discs prohibit high def video output from COMPONENT VIDEO OUT terminals. In this case, video resolution is converted and output as 480p.” So, my question is since it says “some discs” is there any way to know which discs will have limited video output? So far, we’ve watched 300, Spiderman 3 and DieHard 4. They all seem to have played at 480p.

I know the real solution here is a new TV, and I may look into that but I’m also interested in any info that users think would be helpful or informative.

(B) For the audio from our Blu-ray, we are presently using a 2 channel hookup directly through the TV. However, we do have a 5.1 surround sound set-up using a SONY Receiver Model STR-DA333ES. This set-up works with the other components hooked up to it (DVD player, MD player and VCR). The receiver was purchased at the same time we bought the TV, so it’s 7 years old. According to the Blu-ray instructions, I can use either a digital optical hookup from the Blu-ray to the receiver or I can use the empty 5.1 inputs on the receiver and the empty 5.1 outputs on the Blu-ray. OK, so I’ve tried using the digital optical setup, and encountered the problem of NO sound at all. I’ve changed all the settings on the Blu-ray to PCM or bitstream and got nothing. So I’ve gone back to the 2 channel set up using the TV speakers. Then, I notice this small print nugget in the Blu-ray manual - “You cannot use DTS Digital Surround decoders incompatible with DVD. Even if using this connection, output will be only 2 channels when playing DVD-Audio.” Based on this, am I correct that the only way I may be able (no guarantee) to get 5.1 surround sound is to use the 5.1 outputs / inputs?

Yes folks, I know mixing 7 year old components with new stuff is always challenging and I probably won’t be able to fully enjoy the benefits of the Blu-ray unless I upgrade both the TV and the receiver. Still, getting a new Blu-ray at the price I paid was something I could not pass up.

[Pilam69]

I'm less qualified to give advice on audio inputs/references but if your TV has a DVI input you could get an HDMI to DVI cable that MIGHT get your output up to at least 1080i I think. Good luck. You definitely came to the right place to ask questions.

[gbatch]

Pilam69: Just checked - no DVI input on the TV either. It must be really old technology, eh?

[Slec]

Use the 5.1 analog out on the Blu-ray player (RCA style plugs) and go into the receiver's 5.1 plugs. The BD-10 allows for onboard decoding, you will be able to get lossless codecs! You can probably go the other routes, but TRUST ME, you want the lossless audio. It's such a big difference.

Is there a setting or anything that needs to be adjusted on the tv to allow for 1080i? I've messed with Mitsubishi's that had to be tweaked before they would show in 1080.

oh, and Welcome!

Old School Receiver with Lossless Audio
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=17648

[Slec]

I'm going through the manual and it looks like p. 27 is the key. Do you have the aspect ratio set to 16:9?
SETUP>Set Aspect Ratio to 16:9

If you haven't changed this it will still only show 480i/p because the aspect ratio is 4:3...if this adjustment hasn't been made it ought to fix the issue

[Blu boy]

if you do choose to buy a new tv just tell us what your looking for and we will help you.

[gbatch]

Slec:
Aspect ratio is set to 16:9. I'm pretty sure it's the limitations imposed by the discs themselves using the comp video cable, based on what I read on page 9 of the DMP-BD10 manual. Also, I'm off to the elec store tomorrow for those RCA cables for the 5.1. At least if I can't get the 1080 video, I can get the good audio, eh?

Blu boy:
Very nice of you to offer. What might you suggest? Space is large, money is plentiful. Go wild. <

[Slec]

HDMI is only really needed for 1080p (I think due to HDCP). Everything I can find on the BD10 says it will output 1080i over component.

I think I've watched Spiderman 3 in 1080i, via a PS3, but then again maybe I'm wrong and I haven't.

[WickyWoo]

I believe the component output on the BD10 is by default 480p, you have to go into the setup menu and manually change it

[kaliraver]

I thought Component Video cables can't go anything higher than 480P?

[kaliraver]

Ok I did some research and I guess component cables are supported all the way up to 1080P but it is sometimes restricted by the TV. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video

[Big Daddy]

If your TV supports 1080p, component cables carry signals such as 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p to the TV. However, some TVs do not support 1080p through component video. Since HDMI cable carries digital signal and component cables carry analog signal, HDMI will give you better picture.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/14...mponent-video/

[crackinhedz]

(pg.9 user manual)

From the Setup menu (➡ 23), set “HDMI
Video Mode” to “Off”. Otherwise, the video
is output as 480i.

[gbatch]

crackinhedz:
HDMI Video Mode is already set to OFF. That was a mistake I caught in my first round of trouble shooting. Thx

Big Daddy:
My TV does NOT support 1080p, only up to 1080i according to the manual and only on the Video 5 component video inputs. As I said in my first post, the TV has no HDMI input.

Wick Woo: BD10 output is set to 1080i. On the TV screen when I play a Blu-ray DVD, it momentarily flashes a message saying Input to the TV is 1080i. BUT, the picture on the TV screen is definitely not 1080i; maybe it's 480i/p.

Thanks for all the suggestions gang. Keep 'em coming. My picture is still not 1080i.

Went to the store today and bought some RCA cables to get the audio up to 5.1. I also browsed around the new TV's. SONY and Samsung caught my eye in the over 60" slot. Nice pictures.

[bageleaterkkjji]

does your tv have a built in tuner? or is it just hd ready if not wont it just play 480p tops?

[gearyt]

you are very close to my Mit set-up I convert the HD output of the BD-10 to a converter box that changes to 1081i to the 5 wire input on the tv

It sounds like you are only getting 1/2 way there. The BD is outputing the 480 signal as if it was a normat DVD. Make sure you are using the HD inputs on your TV and not the Component ones

[gbatch]

bageleaterkkjji: If, by tuner, you mean a separate device hooked to the TV, the answer is No. The BD10 is conneted directly to the TV Video 5 inputs using hte comp video cable.

gearyt: Yea, something's definitely going on that I don't understand. Both the TV and BD10 manuals say 1080i will work. I'm beginning to think that it's the TV's age and I'll have to be happy with the apparent 480p I'm getting until I get a new TV. The only inputs on the TV I can use for 1080i are component video inputs, according to the manual. What type of converter box r u using?

[RISE23_BLU]

I had that Panasonic BD player when I got my VSX-94TXH receiver last Aug.. I could not get it to output the HD Audio via bitstream, so my receiver could decode it. The audio only came across on 2 channels via HDMI. I returned it!

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by gbatch

bageleaterkkjji: If, by tuner, you mean a separate device hooked to the TV, the answer is No. The BD10 is conneted directly to the TV Video 5 inputs using hte comp video cable.

gearyt: Yea, something's definitely going on that I don't understand. Both the TV and BD10 manuals say 1080i will work. I'm beginning to think that it's the TV's age and I'll have to be happy with the apparent 480p I'm getting until I get a new TV. The only inputs on the TV I can use for 1080i are component video inputs, according to the manual. What type of converter box r u using?

well i tried to hook my 360 up to my sisters tv awhile ago and it only plays in 480p because she needed the the digital tuner or whatever to play in 720p and 1080i...so your tv is probably the same if didnt come with a built in tuner so you have to buy a set-top hd tuner box to play high definition stuff
if this is the case you may have been using the stretch function for the past 7 years