Panasonic DMP-BD50 user manual available for download.

[Ace]

http://service.us.panasonic.com/operman/

Type in DMPBD50 for the model number.

[DetroitSportsFan]

It should be out soon!

[crackinhedz]

good lookin out. Just added to my collection.

[captainrac]

Turn to page 17. If the decoders are turned on, you will only get PCM 5.1 output, not PCM 7.1 . The only way to get DTS-MA 7.1 therefore is to buy a receiver with this capability. The blu ray player then needs to only output DTS-MA bitstream

[moviefan]

Originally Posted by captainrac

Turn to page 17. If the decoders are turned on, you will only get PCM 5.1 output, not PCM 7.1 . The only way to get DTS-MA 7.1 therefore is to buy a receiver with this capability. The blue ray player then needs to only output DTS-MA bitstream

That sucks!
I had one on pre-order.
Anyone know if the Sony S550 will decode 7.1?

[captainrac]

Originally Posted by moviefan

That sucks!
I had one on pre-order.
Anyone know if the Sony S550 will decode 7.1?

Trust me, I am as disappointed as you. I work in the Digital TV industry and my feeling is that it is a general problem with bandwidth limitations when decoding DTS-MA. I wouldn't be surprised if the Sony, Samsung, Pioneer, etc. all have the same problem. Not sure if a firmware upgrade will resolve it.
We may have to wait for another revision of silicon/hardware.

If you want DTS-MA 7.1, you're only realistic option is to buy a receiver with HD audio decoders. The good news is that both the receivers and blu ray players which output DTS-MA bitstream have come down dramatically in price and can be had collectively for not much more than a single BD50.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by captainrac

Turn to page 17. If the decoders are turned on, you will only get PCM 5.1 output, not PCM 7.1 . The only way to get DTS-MA 7.1 therefore is to buy a receiver with this capability. The blu ray player then needs to only output DTS-MA bitstream

If you set to 'Custom' and turn secondary audio to "off", you will get 7.1 PCM.

[Note]
Enjoying 7.1ch LPCM
Connect this unit to your amplifier/receiver using an HDMI cable, and select “Quality” or “Custom” and then set “BD-Video Secondary Audio” to “Off”.



so yes, you can get 7.1 internal decoding.

[captainrac]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

If you set to 'Custom' and turn secondary audio to "off", you will get 7.1 PCM.

[Note]
Enjoying 7.1ch LPCM
Connect this unit to your amplifier/receiver using an HDMI cable, and select “Quality” or “Custom” and then set “BD-Video Secondary Audio” to “Off”.



so yes, you can get 7.1 internal decoding.

No. Read it carefully. If you set Custom and BD-Video Secondary Audio to "Off" you will get 7.1 PCM but only if that is the input source. If the input source is DTS-MA 7.1 bitstream, the output will be DTS-MA 7.1 bitstream and the receiver must do the decoding. When the decoders are turned on the player restricts output across the board to 5.1. The manual is very cleverly (and deceptively) written IMO

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by captainrac

When the decoders are turned on the player restricts output across the board to 5.1. The manual is very cleverly (and deceptively) written IMO

the only place this is stated is when secondary audio is set to "ON".

...ergo set to "off" = 7.1

[captainrac]

crackinhedz, please look at the chart in the block entitled "Custom", under the subheading "BD-Video Secondary Audio" : "Off". For PCM, it states "Maximum 7.1 ch original PCM".

The key operative phrase here is "original PCM". This means that only if the disc was recorded in 7.1 PCM will you enjoy 7.1 surround. If this does not make it clear, then someone from Panasonic needs to chime in and clear this up.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by captainrac

The key operative phrase here is "original PCM". This means that only if the disc was recorded in 7.1 PCM will you enjoy 7.1 surround. If this does not make it clear, then someone from Panasonic needs to chime in and clear this up.

when decoded, Dts-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD are in their "original" PCM format.

...thats what they are...PCM.

[crackinhedz]

again, the only place it states 5.1 PCM is when secondary audio is set to "ON".

...I agree, its very confusing.

[captainrac]

OK. No point in continuing to take up bandwidth. We can just agree to disagree. The bottom line is I was as excited as everyone in here about this player. However, I do not plan on purchasing it unless I'm convinced it can decode DTS-MA 7.1 and output LPCM 7.1. Maybe one of us needs to give Panasonic a call.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by captainrac

We can just agree to disagree.

agreed.


...yes an official confirmation is needed, as the manual is very confusing.

[captainrac]

There is an equally lively debate going on in AVSForum:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...970806&page=93

Seems this manual is confusing a lot of people.

[WickyWoo]

It's definately poorly written.

I've sent the q onto panasonic, but I'm pretty sure the answer is

"It will do 7.1 without secondary audio, but only 5.1 with it enabled under all internal decoding circumstances"

More than likely this limitation comes from the CPU cycles needed to mix the audio having to come from somewhere

[captainrac]

Exactly. Decoders are highly CPU intensive. When they run, the player simply cannot support as many channels.

[dobyblue]

From what I can make out it will do the following:

PCM output:
dts-ma output HDMI - 7.1 PCM (secondary decoding off)
dts-ma output HDMI - 5.1 PCM (secondary decoding on)

[ryoohki]

when the secondary audio is on, it have to Mix audio in...anyway who carez if it's 5.1 during PIP. the sound is coming mostly from the Center and the movie audio is dropped a lot ...

The BD30k Reencode in DD with Secondary is ON