It's almost time to buy a standalone blu-ray player

[jlee]

PowerDVD bundled with my blu-ray drive only lets me output stereo or 'dolby digital downmix'...I can't figure out how to get surround sound sent to my receiver via HDMI, even though I do have the 6ch version. :/

Other than a PS3, what's the best option around for blu-ray/netflix?

 

[NutBucket]

Wait? You said you had the bundled version of the software, yet you say you have the 6ch version? Or do you mean 6ch version of a receiver?

Assuming you have bundled PowerDVD, that's the limitation. The bundled versions only support stereo output. Moving to a full version will allow you to pass the full audio "track" to the receiver.

 

[velillen]

PowerDVD 9 came with my bluray player (lg). Outputs 5.1 just fine over spidf (dont have hdmi audio available). you probably have a limited version so i would recommend just trying a full version and see if that fixes it. if it does then just upgrade and you should be good.

Totalmedia theater 3 is the same way just if you are wondering.

 

[vshah]

try an mkv encoded with dolby digital or dts and see if your blinky lights light up(receiver shows dolby/dts input). that way you know your video card/audio settings are configured correctly, and the problem is indeed with powerdvd.

 

[s44]

Most bundled versions are stereo-only. Panasonic is well-priced and reliable, so if you don't need advanced streaming (files or internet stations over DLNA) I'd get that. Samsung and LG have better streaming options, but Samsung can have build quality issues and the LGs are pricey enough that you might start thinking PS3. Depends what you need.

 

[jlee]

Wait? You said you had the bundled version of the software, yet you say you have the 6ch version? Or do you mean 6ch version of a receiver?

Assuming you have bundled PowerDVD, that's the limitation. The bundled versions only support stereo output. Moving to a full version will allow you to pass the full audio "track" to the receiver.

I was having issues with required updates not working and Cyberlink upgraded me to the 6ch version.

 

[Howard]

Why not PS3? It's a decent BR player that can play games too (and do other stuff) for a bit more money.

 

[jlee]

Why not PS3? It's a decent BR player that can play games too (and do other stuff) for a bit more money.

3x a BR player and I have a 360 already..the only PS3 exclusive that I have any interest in is GT5.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Ps3!!! ^_^

 

[Patranus]

Check out Total Media Theater by Arcsoft.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

PowerDVD bundled with my blu-ray drive only lets me output stereo or 'dolby digital downmix'...I can't figure out how to get surround sound sent to my receiver via HDMI, even though I do have the 6ch version. :/

Other than a PS3, what's the best option around for blu-ray/netflix?

This BD player has Netflix (and others) built-in and is compatible with the latest standards AFAIK:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP-...7610812&sr=8-1

I bought it and am pretty happy. I do have a PS3 as well, but it is in my man cave and I needed something for the living room.

 

[velillen]

Do other things output in 6 channel? If theyd o then its probably just a setting in powerdvd....

 

[jlee]

Do other things output in 6 channel? If theyd o then its probably just a setting in powerdvd....

There's no option for that...the "speaker type" is grayed out and I can choose either stereo or dolby digital downmix.

 

[velillen]

Then its just a simple matter of upgrading to the full version or you can try the powerdvd10 trail which shouldnt be limited just to make sure it works. At ~$50 bucks for bluray on the pc id rather do that than shell out 100-150 for a standalone (but that is just me)

 

[jlee]

try an mkv encoded with dolby digital or dts and see if your blinky lights light up(receiver shows dolby/dts input). that way you know your video card/audio settings are configured correctly, and the problem is indeed with powerdvd.

I ripped The Transporter to MKV and bingo, I had DTS. That's a lot easier than fussing around...maybe I just need to buy more massive hard drives.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I'm lovin my Panasonic DMP-BD655K.
That said, I don't have an HTPC hooked up to my HT setup currently, so I use it for Bluray & Netflix as well as DVDs. DVD upscaling looks great. I send the sound via toslink to my reciever. (Reciever is an older Yamaha HDR5660, so no HDMI support.)
I have a cheap HDMI switch that I ordered from Amazon or Monoprice (can't remember which), and have my bluray player, and my attuverse tuner going to the switch, then a 25 foot cable going to the projector...
Works damn good, grabbed the Bluray player directly from panasonic.com when it was on sale for like $125... Almost identical player is (or was) available at costco for around $150.

 

[sdifox]

I ripped The Transporter to MKV and bingo, I had DTS. That's a lot easier than fussing around...maybe I just need to buy more massive hard drives.

Join me :biggrin: