Only 2 Channel Output on DMP-BD55 7.1-ch analog out? Here's Why

[MrBoylan]

When we reviewed the Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray player this past September, we noticed that the pink noise test tone for the 7.1-channel analog outputs was only making noise in the front left/right outputs. By setting HDMI Audio output to OFF in the BD55's set-up menu, sound was restored to all 7.1 channels of the analog outputs, and the test tone worked in all 7 main channels (the BD55 does not output a test tone to the subwoofer channel but that's a known, documented behavior).

But later, with a different configuration, the BD55 was putting out 7.1 channels of analog output even with the HDMI Audio left ON. For those who want to use the HDMI audio output (to connect to a TV) simultaneously with the multi-channel analog output (to connect to an older home theater receiver with no HDMI audio support), this is an important issue to understand. Does the Panasonic BD55 Blu-ray player support simultaneous output over analog and HDMI?

Baffled by this inconsistency, we assumed it was a firmware update that caused the change in behavior. But that wasn't the case, we asked Panasonic about this and this is what we got back from the engineers:

"To use multi-channel analog outputs, you should set HDMI Audio Output to OFF. Otherwise, the sound may not be output with the desired audio. If a piece of equipment that you connect via HDMI can handle multi channel audio, the analog multi channel output terminal outputs 2 channel audio because of the mismatch of the channel number between analog out and HDMI out. In this case the HDMI output has priority. So I recommend turning off HDMI audio output. But if you connect the HDMI output to equipment like a television that can handle only stereo via HDMI, analog multi channel output terminal outputs multi channel audio."

So, in other words, the capabilities of the device connected to the BD55 player via HDMI will determine whether or not the BD55 can output multi-channel audio over analog. So the best bet, if you want to connect audio to your TV directly (to watch movies without the receiver being on) and to a receiver via the analog multi-channel output is to TRY IT. If you get the expected audio from both terminals, then you're in good shape. But if simply having the HDMI output plugged into your TV causes the multi-channel analog outputs to drop to 2-channel, then you'll need to find another solution.

One solution (if you only need 5.1-channel and not 7.1-channel analog output for your receiver) is to use the "2-ch+5.1-ch" analog output setting on the BD55 instead of the 7.1-channel setting. This will allow you to use the 5.1-channel analog outputs for your receiver and use the main stereo left/right outputs to your TV. Of course, this assumes that your TV supports the assignment of an analog input to one of the HDMI inputs, but this is fairly common.

Hope this helps someone who is only getting 2 channels of output over multi-channel analog figure out exactly what's going on.

-CB

[JFC]

MrBoylan,

I'm seeing exactly the behavior that you are describing, but disabling HDMI Audio Output does not solve it - I still only get 2 channel audio.

I have a Pioneer VSX-816 receiver (using the 5.1 ch analog inputs) and have upgraded the BD55's firmware to 1.16 to no avail. My Panasonic TH-50PZ700 Plasma definitely has multi-channel sound (4 speaker, I believe) but according to Panasonic's response to you above as long as I disable the HDMI Audio Output, it shouldn't matter right?

Obviously using HDMI to my receiver would be the ideal solution, but my VSX-816 cannot handle HDMI and I bought the BD55 because I did not want to upgrade my receiver as well and thought that the analog audio would be sufficient (otherwise I would have bought the BD35 like most).

Do I have to use those other two analog outputs from the BD55 and connect them to my TV since I'm only using 5.1 into my receiver analog inputs? If so, would I have to send the front left and front right to the TV?

Any suggestions?
- JFC

[MrBoylan]

Originally Posted by JFC

MrBoylan,

I'm seeing exactly the behavior that you are describing, but disabling HDMI Audio Output does not solve it - I still only get 2 channel audio.

I have a Pioneer VSX-816 receiver (using the 5.1 ch analog inputs) and have upgraded the BD55's firmware to 1.16 to no avail. My Panasonic TH-50PZ700 Plasma definitely has multi-channel sound (4 speaker, I believe) but according to Panasonic's response to you above as long as I disable the HDMI Audio Output, it shouldn't matter right?

Obviously using HDMI to my receiver would be the ideal solution, but my VSX-816 cannot handle HDMI and I bought the BD55 because I did not want to upgrade my receiver as well and thought that the analog audio would be sufficient (otherwise I would have bought the BD35 like most).

Do I have to use those other two analog outputs from the BD55 and connect them to my TV since I'm only using 5.1 into my receiver analog inputs? If so, would I have to send the front left and front right to the TV?

Any suggestions?
- JFC

Well, one minor correction - your TV doesn't have multi-channel sound. Whether it has 2 or 4 speaker drivers, it definitely only has 2-channel (stereo) sound. But, as you say, if HDMI audio is OFF on the BD55, then this should not come into play.

First thing to do is simplify the connections. Make sure you are not currently plugging in the BD player to the receiver via any other connections (e.g., fiber-optic or coax). Because if you ARE doing this, and if you have "Dolby" and "DTS" set to "PCM" in the "Digital Audio Output" menu on the BD55, then you absolutely WILL get two-channel PCM sound from these digital outputs and that may be what you're hearing instead of the multi-channel analog inputs. Fiberoptic and coax digital outputs do not support multi-channel PCM sound - only two channel. If you want to use the fiberoptic or coax digital outputs, then the correct setting for those is "bitstream."

So, assuming you've connected only those 6 RCA cables from the 5.1-channel outputs of the BD55 to the multi-channel inputs of the VSX816 and still are not hearing multi-channel sound, here are a couple of things to check:

• Make sure you are connecting the 6 cables to the input labelled "DVD/LD" on your receiver - the layout is a bit confusing with the front left/right connections on the left side of the back panel, and the center, rear surround and subwoofer inputs toward the top center of the back panel.
• Make sure you are listening to the 5.1-ch inputs - Press "DVD/LD" to select the DVD input, then hit "Signal Select" until it says "DVD 5.1" and "Analog" on the receiver's display (page 33 in your manual). If you don't do this extra step, then you'll probably only get the front left/right channels.

Let me know if this helps.

BTW, many people who use the analog multi-channel outputs also use the fiberoptic or coax digital output of the BD55 connected directly to their receiver for regular DVD playback (again, with the digital audio outputs set to "bitstream"). This allows you to take advantage of your receiver's speaker levels, delays, and bass management while listening to standard DVDs. And it allows you to get 6.1-ch sound from DTS-ES encoded DVDs (which you wouldn't get from the analog outputs). You would then switch your receiver between the digital input and the multi-channel analog input, depending on whether you're watching Blu-ray Discs or regular DVDs. But if you are configured for a 5.1-channel system then this is less important.

Good luck and let me know how this goes.

Later,

-Chris

[JFC]

Wow... what a response! (I'll be sure to click some sponsored links )

I'm currently only using the 6 audio cables for the BD55 and was still using the optical from my old DVD player until I got this sorted out. I was using the Signal Select to switch between the DVD player and the BD55 accordingly. But I'll try removing the Optical for a bit to make sure that my receiver is isolated on the analog inputs from the BD55.

I'll tinker a bit more once the kids are down for their naps and let you know how it ends up. If I can assist some other baffled semi-newbie like myself it'll be worth it.

Thanks again for taking the time to write that out and research the back panel of my VSX-816, I really appreciate that!

[JFC]

Also, I saw this post from you...

OK, official word from Japan is that there is no difference between using the 5.1-channel outputs whether you're configured for "2-ch+5.1-ch" analog out or "7.1-ch" analog out with the rear channels turned off. Both of these come from decoding the lossless tracks (usual caveats apply: Secondary Audio must be OFF or if ON, then there can be no menu clicks or Secondary Audio in the stream).

The reason for those shaded areas in the manual is that the only way you'll hear exactly what was laid down in the studio is if you use the 7.1-channel out and use a 7.1-channel speaker system (in other words, you'll get the original, full 7.1-channel mix from 7.1-channel original soundtracks). Mixing a 7.1-channel mix to 5.1-channels can still technically be called "lossless" (since you're losing nothing to compression) though you are (in a sense) losing some spaciousness from the original 7.1-channel mix by mixing down the rear and side channels.

And yes, I know about the meta data in the lossless mixes that can actually allow a single lossless stream to carry both 5.1 and 7.1-channel mixes, both designed by the product/mixer/engineer and optimized for each configuration. But that isn't possible in PCM 7.1 soundtracks (for example) because there *IS* no meta data to describe alternate mixes in a PCM stream.

So for those of you using the 2-ch+5.1-ch option (so you can send 2 channel sound to your TV and 5.1 to your receiver), fear not as you are getting lossless audio decoding.

Perhaps more interesting is what can happen when you leave HDMI Audio ON when using the multi-channel analog output, and that will have its own post since it is a new topic (but not here, as the moderators took the link out of my SIG)...

-CB
__________________
Chris Boylan
Home Theater Editor
www.bigpicturebigsound.com

Does that mean I should be sending two of the analog outputs from the BD55 somewhere else (i.e. my HDTV) given that my 5.1 analog inputs on my VSX-816 can't handle all 7.1 channels anyway?

Obviously my TV can handle the front_L and front_R inputs, but since my receiver can only handle center, front_L, front_R, rear_L, rear_R, and subwoofer what should I be doing with the surroundBack_L and surroundBack_R analog outputs from the BD55?

Thanks!
- JFC

[MrBoylan]

Originally Posted by JFC

Wow... what a response! (I'll be sure to click some sponsored links )

I'm currently only using the 6 audio cables for the BD55 and was still using the optical from my old DVD player until I got this sorted out. I was using the Signal Select to switch between the DVD player and the BD55 accordingly. But I'll try removing the Optical for a bit to make sure that my receiver is isolated on the analog inputs from the BD55.

I'll tinker a bit more once the kids are down for their naps and let you know how it ends up. If I can assist some other baffled semi-newbie like myself it'll be worth it.

Thanks again for taking the time to write that out and research the back panel of my VSX-816, I really appreciate that!

Well don't go too crazy clicking on links in the ads (unless they're things that interest you). The best way to support the site is to go to our "online shopping" page and click *those* links to buy stuff from our affiliate sites such as Amazon, OneCall, and Vann's. Anything you buy through these links will generate income for BPBS. We also periodically post online deals in our "HDTV and Home Theater Deals" page - these also include affiliate links.

But having your old DVD player hooked up via optical wouldn't cause you to hear only two-channel from the BD55. Have you gone into the BD55's speaker configuration screen and hit the "test" button to generate test tones around all of the channels (except the subwoofer)? Is this where you're only hearing two channel output?

-CB

[JFC]

Yup, the speaker config screen in the BD55 is definitely only outputting 2 channels (front left and front right).

Is it because of the 8 analogs outputs, only 6 were connected to my receiver? Do all 8 connections need to be terminated even to just do the "2 ch + 5.1" "Analog Audio" setting in the BD55?

Should I just terminate all 8 analog connections to the VSX-816 (put the 2 rear surrounds in some random input that won't be used) and then set it to 7.1 instead of 2ch + 5.1 in the Analog Audio section?

[MrBoylan]

Originally Posted by JFC

Yup, the speaker config screen in the BD55 is definitely only outputting 2 channels (front left and front right).

Is it because of the 8 analogs outputs, only 6 were connected to my receiver? Do all 8 connections need to be terminated even to just do the "2 ch + 5.1" "Analog Audio" setting in the BD55?

Should I just terminate all 8 analog connections to the VSX-816 (put the 2 rear surrounds in some random input that won't be used) and then set it to 7.1 instead of 2ch + 5.1 in the Analog Audio section?

No. There is no need to plug in the other 2-ch output if you are using the 2-ch+5.1-ch option. But also, it's possible that you *are* getting all 6 channels output even without hearing the test tones on all the channels.

Put on a movie that you know has surround sound (5.1) on it, and see if you get the full 5.1 channels through your speakers. You have to be in the movie itself as the menu and trailers are often in 2.0.

The only other thing I can think of would be to re-set to factory defaults in the set-up menu, double-check that HDMI Audio is set to OFF and try again.

If even that doesn't work, then you might also try a hard reset of the player by holding the power button for three seconds.

Basically, if HDMI Audio is OFF, Analog audio is set to 2-ch+5.1-ch, you're connecting all 6 cables to the right inputs on your receiver, you've selected the DVD 5.1-ch input on your receiver, and the speakers are all ON in the BD55's analog speaker configuration panel and you're STILL not getting 5.1-channel sound, then there is a problem with the player (or the receiver). Hopefully a factory reset or hard reboot will solve the problem.

But let me know if it doesn't.

Regards,

-Chris