Audio problems with Golden Compass?

[GooMan]

I did a quick search and didn't see anythig, so I apologize is this has already been addressed . . .

When we have the panasonic (BD-30) player set to bitsream the sound is very distorted, it sounds like the surround speakers are cranked way up, while the center channel is supper low.

When the player is set to PCM the sound is fine.

I haven't had problems bitstreaming other DTS-HD master movies (die hards play fine).

I have the latest firmware for the panasonic and the receiver (denon 3808)

I'm not sure if this is some hardware problem or there is something wrong with the disc so I thoguht I would check here before returnign the disc incase there is just some setting I need to change.

Thanks

[JJ]

The Denon, huh? I only thought the Onkyos had problems, and thats a completely different problem than what you are stating - perhaps the speakers have different decibel levels? I doubt it would be something so easy...hmm...

[GooMan]

I think it is the disk. I tried Rush Hour 3 which is also 7.1 DTS HD MSTR.

I thought it was strange since the audio for Golden Compass plays fine when the player is set to PCM but is so distorted when set to bitstream. It seams like if it was a problem with the disc the PCM output from the player would be bad as well

[Canada]

I have a PS3 and the sound on The Golden Compass was fine. The only way the PS3 can output DTS MA is through PCM though

[m6bigdog]

Originally Posted by GooMan

...When we have the panasonic (BD-30) player set to bitsream the sound is very distorted, it sounds like the surround speakers are cranked way up, while the center channel is supper low.

When the player is set to PCM the sound is fine.

I haven't had problems bitstreaming other DTS-HD master movies (die hards play fine).

I have the latest firmware for the panasonic and the receiver (denon 3808)

I'm not sure if this is some hardware problem or there is something wrong with the disc so...

Thanks

I have a Panny BD30 and I use bitstream into my Integra with 7 channel audio.
The Golden Compass DTS HD-MA sound track was great and I listen to it CRANKED UP.

[FilmMixer]

Originally Posted by GooMan

I did a quick search and didn't see anythig, so I apologize is this has already been addressed . . .

When we have the panasonic (BD-30) player set to bitsream the sound is very distorted, it sounds like the surround speakers are cranked way up, while the center channel is supper low.

When the player is set to PCM the sound is fine.

I haven't had problems bitstreaming other DTS-HD master movies (die hards play fine).

I have the latest firmware for the panasonic and the receiver (denon 3808)

I'm not sure if this is some hardware problem or there is something wrong with the disc so I thoguht I would check here before returnign the disc incase there is just some setting I need to change.

Thanks

It seems to be a hardware and receiver issue, and not limited to the Denon's.

Change your receiver set up to 7.1... that will fix the issue (it also appears on "The Orphanage.")..

Just remember to set it back to 5.1 when you are done with the film

I have spoken to New Line and DTS about the issue.. they are looking into it.

[bases1616]

The newer New Line titles like The Orphanage and The Golden Compass no longer have the 7.1 issue. It does show up on my Denon 3808 with 7.1 input. Also, if you read the review from High Def Digest you will see it was mentioned that the audio was too loud at points and would drown out the dialogue. There is nothing worng with your equipment it is the way The Golden Compass audio was authored.

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1352/goldencompass.html

[AlaskaDon]

Originally Posted by FilmMixer

It seems to be a hardware and receiver issue, and not limited to the Denon's.

Change your receiver set up to 7.1... that will fix the issue (it also appears on "The Orphanage.")..

Just remember to set it back to 5.1 when you are done with the film

I have spoken to New Line and DTS about the issue.. they are looking into it.

Yup. exactly. I have the BD30 and a Denon 3808 also, and have the same problem. If your speaker config is set to standard (usually where I keep mine) then the audio is totally hosed. Setting to 7.1 fixes it. New Line needs to correct this in the future as you can get the effect of the so-called DTS Bomb from this. I was playing with my settings on the Denon while the movie was playing. I made the mistake of switching back to standard after adjusting something else and the volume went thru the roof! Luckily no speaker damage and I know better than to do it again. I had the same issue with The Orphanage also, so I was somewhat familiar with what was going on.

[FilmMixer]

Originally Posted by bases1616

The newer New Line titles like The Orphanage and The Golden Compass no longer have the 7.1 issue. It does show up on my Denon 3808 with 7.1 input. Also, if you read the review from High Def Digest you will see it was mentioned that the audio was too loud at points and would drown out the dialogue. There is nothing worng with your equipment it is the way The Golden Compass audio was authored.

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1352/goldencompass.html

That is wrong. I spoke to New Line and DTS the other day.. the stream and the discs are fine.. it is a hardware issue.. who's responsible is another story.

The original issue with the early 7.1 titles were only display related, and I was involved in that one too If you check out the earlier titles, Denon and others have fixed that display issue... two different problems.

[bases1616]

I meant to say that Denon fixed the issue with the display when New Line titles were being bitstreamed. After talking to Denon last week thet are telling me that this problem with 5.1 showing instead of 7.1 on the older New Line titles is a Sony PS3 problem. Even though some receiver like the Onyko brand do show the 7.1 from the older NL titles. He said it had something to do with the decoding of the receivers being different.

[john_1958]

Originally Posted by GooMan

I did a quick search and didn't see anythig, so I apologize is this has already been addressed . . .

When we have the panasonic (BD-30) player set to bitsream the sound is very distorted, it sounds like the surround speakers are cranked way up, while the center channel is supper low.

When the player is set to PCM the sound is fine.

I haven't had problems bitstreaming other DTS-HD master movies (die hards play fine).

I have the latest firmware for the panasonic and the receiver (denon 3808)

I'm not sure if this is some hardware problem or there is something wrong with the disc so I thoguht I would check here before returnign the disc incase there is just some setting I need to change.

Thanks

have you checked your speakers? maybe your speakers are out of whack

[GooMan]

Thanks to FilmMixer and Ryoohki for your PMs. They did the trick.

So I did as suggested and changed the Amp Assignment to 7.1 and sure enough that fixed the problem. Strange that I would need to do this for Golden Compass, but Rush Hour 3 which is also 7.1 DTS HD MSTR had no problems.

Does anyone know if this "downmix problem" occurs on any other receivers or is it just Denon. If it is just Denon I assume they can fix this with a firmware update. If not, I guess this means I need to buy two more speakers (and find somewhere to put them that doesn't piss off the wife)

[FilmMixer]

Originally Posted by GooMan

Thanks to FilmMixer and Ryoohki for your PMs. They did the trick.

So I did as suggested and changed the Amp Assignment to 7.1 and sure enough that fixed the problem. Strange that I would need to do this for Golden Compass, but Rush Hour 3 which is also 7.1 DTS HD MSTR had no problems.

Does anyone know if this "downmix problem" occurs on any other receivers or is it just Denon. If it is just Denon I assume they can fix this with a firmware update. If not, I guess this means I need to buy two more speakers (and find somewhere to put them that doesn't piss off the wife)

There are other brands having the issue also...

And RH and Golden Compass aren't authored in the same way.

[syncguy]

Does this issue apply to all players or is it limited to certain players?

[Ectoplasm]

If it means anything, I play my Oppo 980H using bitstream through HDMI out to my Marantz SR-8002. It doesn't sound any different than PCM does.

They're identical.