Panasonic firmware, April 2007.

[bferr1]

I just got this e-mail:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your interest in the Blu-ray software upgrade offer for your model number DMP-BD10. This software release is not scheduled until April 2007. We have your address on file and will be sending it to you as soon as it becomes available.

Sincerely,

Panasonic Fulfillment Dept.

Although April isn't what I was hoping for, it's better to have a date than have nothing at all and be left wondering.

[Josh]

Thanks for contacting them. I hope they can get it out before then.

[bferr1]

Actually, I didn't contact them on my own. This was a reply to the postcard for the firmware update that I mailed in. I'm sure that everyone who did so will be getting this same e-mail.

[Chris Beveridge]

yeah, just got that myself. Disappointing that it's so far out, but at least I know the deck will be usable into the future by being able to decode some advanced audio. This unit just moved into my office as well.

[goodstuff]

Question on advanced codecs: if my receiver has HDMI will I need to use the 7.1 analogs for anything? What is the plus of having those outputs if you're only using a 5.1 or 6.1 speaker setup? Are the 7.1 analogs necessary for the True HD/DTS-MA codecs?

[Chad Varnadore]

Originally Posted by goodstuff

Question on advanced codecs: if my receiver has HDMI will I need to use the 7.1 analogs for anything? What is the plus of having those outputs if you're only using a 5.1 or 6.1 speaker setup? Are the 7.1 analogs necessary for the True HD/DTS-MA codecs?

As long as you've got HDMI 1.1 or higher and the player decodes the audio you don't need anything else. In fact if BD implements their version of IME the same as HD DVD, you'll need to decode in the player for that, as the player has to mix the commentary into the sound option.

[mickmmd]

I don't know which upgrade they are talking about because I just upgraded to the newest version last week. It enabled the DTS HD in the player and that rocks. Maybe they will have another one in April. Currently evaluating the Sony side ny side with the Panasonic player So far the Sony seems to have poor gamma control.

[shamus]

Originally Posted by mickmmd

I don't know which upgrade they are talking about because I just upgraded to the newest version last week. It enabled the DTS HD in the player and that rocks. Maybe they will have another one in April. Currently evaluating the Sony side ny side with the Panasonic player So far the Sony seems to have poor gamma control.

?????

[goodstuff]

Originally Posted by Chad Varnadore

As long as you've got HDMI 1.1 or higher and the player decodes the audio you don't need anything else. In fact if BD implements their version of IME the same as HD DVD, you'll need to decode in the player for that, as the player has to mix the commentary into the sound option.

OK, I just want to get this straight. Say Panny brings out the FW that enables TrueHD decoding in the player. My HDMI 1.1 reciever obviously doesn't have a built-in TrueHD decoder, but it does have 7.1 analog-ins. So with the Panny FW upgrade I will be able to listen to TrueHD tracks through my HDMI connection and not have to use the 7.1 analogs? Basically I can continue using the HDMI for all audio inputs?

And the main plus in the audio sense between the Panny and the other BD players (not sure about the PS3) is that it will have the ability to do TrueHD decoding internally, while the others won't?

Thanks for your help!

[shamus]

Originally Posted by goodstuff

OK, I just want to get this straight. Say Panny brings out the FW that enables TrueHD decoding in the player. My HDMI 1.1 reciever obviously doesn't have a built-in TrueHD decoder, but it does have 7.1 analog-ins. So with the Panny FW upgrade I will be able to listen to TrueHD tracks through my HDMI connection and not have to use the 7.1 analogs? Basically I can continue using the HDMI for all audio inputs?

And the main plus in the audio sense between the Panny and the other BD players (not sure about the PS3) is that it will have the ability to do TrueHD decoding internally, while the others won't?

Thanks for your help!

The player(when firmware is available) will decode TruHD to PCM. You can then send that to your receiver via analog outs or HDMI. The problem is some receivers can not accept 5.1 PCM via HDMI, regardless of which HDMI version they use. Check your owners manual!

[goodstuff]

Thanks. My reciever certainly does take PCM through HDMI, so I'm a happy camper!

[WriteSimply]

The PS3 can decode DD and DTS, as well as TrueHD and DSD (SACD's audio format) and output 5.1 via HDMI.


fuad

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by bferr1

Actually, I didn't contact them on my own. This was a reply to the postcard for the firmware update that I mailed in. I'm sure that everyone who did so will be getting this same e-mail.

Yep, I got the same email. I'm a little disappointed as well, but in the end, is 4 moths really that long to wait? Now, if they start delaying it again and again, then I'll be angry and impatient, but April certainly qualifies as 'ear;y 2007'.

[GoldenRedux]

I'm really looking forward to this firmware upgrade. My receiver does not do HDMI for me it's the analogue 7.1 outputs all the way, which is fine with me. I've seen the specs on the Panasonic, and they have some nice audio components in that box. I'm all set up for analogue multichannel as I've been doing SACD and DVD-A for years now. My receiver has two sets of analogue multichannel inputs - (1) x 5.1 and (1) x 7.1, plus I have a Zektor 3x1 5.1 analogue multichannel switcher: http://www.zektor.com/mas3/index.html.