Panasonic BD35 - Did I get the wrong one?

[treehorn]

As I said in another thread, got a Panasonic BD35 a few weeks ago and have had no problems with it...until last night, when I'm having a strange problem with "Live and Let Die," which I just got from Amazon today (part of my James Bond Thanksgiving purchases).

The disc sounds fine except for the theme song. I get sound from the back channels but very little vocals. Throughout the rest of the disc I'm getting voices clear as a bell (the 'new' surround mix doesn't sound all that great, truth be told). Putting in "For Your Eyes Only" had the same problem with the end credits songs.

Since I'm not able to play the original mono track on any of the Bond discs, I'm wondering if it's the disc, a symptom of a bad set up, or a sign that I was being penny-wise/pound-foolish and should have got the BD55.

I got the BD35 because as I'm in a small apartment, I really didn't need to worry too much about the full true Blu-Ray sound. My stereo doesn't connect via HDMI (I have a Yamaha tuner that I got 2 years ago w/o HDMI...the sales person talked me out of it...darn him) and I everything I was reading implied that the audio would sound at least as good via optical connection as it would when I was watching DVDs (and in most cases, the sound has been better, as the volume level is a lot bigger and richer). So I could save the $100 and put it towards Blu-rays (and since I'm sure I'll get another receiver in a few years...)

So now I'm worrying that I screwed up - that I should have gotten the BD55 - that the downmixing just isn't going to work acceptably (but then again...it could just be the discs, as Wall-E and Chicago sounded incredible)

In case it's an audio setting:
In main audio tab I have:

Dynamic Range: off
PCM Down Conversion: off
Downmix: Surround Encoded

In Digital Audio Output I have both set at Bitstream and BD-Video Secondary Audio: off

So...should I try and return the BD35 (the box of which, truth be told...is missing the UPC for the Disney Blu-Ray promo) and swap it for the BD55? Or is a setting wonky? Or is it the discs?

[jimfear79]

Not sure what to tell you man... I will say my brand new Panny BD35K my bride got me for my birthday went tits up last night when i tried to update my firmware.. I need to return it for another one.. The cat from Panasonic said exact words "oh yeah, that is not good. Sounds like your drive is junk".

[treehorn]

I updated the firmware yesterday...and noticed an error message when I turned it on (or what I assume to be an error message) - something along the lines of U17

Now you have me wondering if the two are linked...

[treehorn]

OK...now this is weird...

I just put in "For Your Eyes Only" to see how things are going on it...and the sound was vastly improved. Even the opening menu was louder and more distinct. And the mono version of the soundtrack worked.

So I decided to put in Live and Let Die. And same thing. Menu sounds better (even get a 'click' when I make a button choice) and the theme song is now coming through fully (although man did they over do the back channels on it!)

As I mentioned in the reply before, there was a message on the LCD screen of the BD35 when I turned it on yesterday (this would be first time after firmware upgrade) that was (I believe) U17. Maybe it needed to process something with another on/off cycle?

[jimfear79]

Ghost in the Machine!

[Cochise]

OK...now this is weird...

I just put in "For Your Eyes Only" to see how things are going on it...and the sound was vastly improved. Even the opening menu was louder and more distinct. And the mono version of the soundtrack worked.

So I decided to put in Live and Let Die. And same thing. Menu sounds better (even get a 'click' when I make a button choice) and the theme song is now coming through fully (although man did they over do the back channels on it!)

As I mentioned in the reply before, there was a message on the LCD screen of the BD35 when I turned it on yesterday (this would be first time after firmware upgrade) that was (I believe) U17. Maybe it needed to process something with another on/off cycle?

The player should shut itself off after the firmware update. As for your audio problems with Live and Let Die, it sounds like what can be expected with that title, according to the review here on this site -

Like the previous Bond titles, MGM offers the 'Live and Let Die' soundtrack in either its original mono (encoded as lossy Dolby Digital 1.0) or a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 remix. The quality of the remixes on the earlier movies was hit-or-miss, and unfortunately this film is more on the "miss" side. For one thing, the levels are a mess. The musical score is REALLY FREAKIN' LOUD, like someone accidentally spun the volume dial all the way to the top and didn't notice. Meanwhile, the dialogue and sound effects are virtually silent in comparison. The track will have you riding the volume control constantly.

The score's artificial stereo processing isn't very convincing. Directional steering and surround effects are gimmicky. Bass activity has also been boosted to obnoxious effect, and throbs inappropriately throughout the movie. Yet explosions are strangely underwhelming.

[Arkadin]

you know I'm not trying to criticize, but I just don't get all the threads that pop up here that wonder what is wrong with x player based on 1 FRIGGIN' TITLE.
I mean people are like "this x player I bought has worked flawlessly with every title until x title. now with x title I have a problem. is my player a lemon?"
I mean at least have problems on like 3 or 4 titles before freaking out.
just my 2 cents.

[gene9p]

did 1.5 and then 1.6 updates..no problems whatsoever..works perfect..beware using internet hookup to player..always issues..i always recommend download and burn to cd..also after disc loads in player..get the hell away from the tv or player until it's done..you touch or do one thing..and adios to the player..that goes for all players ..not just the panny

[jimfear79]

did 1.5 and then 1.6 updates..no problems whatsoever..works perfect..beware using internet hookup to player..always issues..i always recommend download and burn to cd..also after disc loads in player..get the hell away from the tv or player until it's done..you touch or do one thing..and adios to the player..that goes for all players ..not just the panny

I ran like hell just to come back and find out that it had locked up again.. I am kind of bummed because i was ready to rock TDK on it tonight.. i

[gene9p]

sorry to hear that..I watched it twice..no issues

[treehorn]

you know I'm not trying to criticize, but I just don't get all the threads that pop up here that wonder what is wrong with x player based on 1 FRIGGIN' TITLE.
I mean people are like "this x player I bought has worked flawlessly with every title until x title. now with x title I have a problem. is my player a lemon?"
I mean at least have problems on like 3 or 4 titles before freaking out.
just my 2 cents.

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!

Since I wasn't able to access any of the mono tracks on the discs, and the sound was weird on two discs, it made me wonder if I had set something wrong on the audio setup...

So was thinking I had either done somethings stupid in set up that only showed up on certain audio codexes or that I was a total idiot and was expecting my machine to do something it inherently couldn't...

...the fact that it was the proverbial 'ghost in machine'...is standard for me it seems!

[treehorn]

did 1.5 and then 1.6 updates..no problems whatsoever..works perfect..beware using internet hookup to player..always issues..i always recommend download and burn to cd..also after disc loads in player..get the hell away from the tv or player until it's done..you touch or do one thing..and adios to the player..that goes for all players ..not just the panny

I wish that they would have the firmware updates as something other than an exe file...I know we're a minority, but we mac people have no choice but to do an internet connection.

[Mainiac]

did 1.5 and then 1.6 updates..no problems whatsoever..works perfect..beware using internet hookup to player..always issues..i always recommend download and burn to cd..also after disc loads in player..get the hell away from the tv or player until it's done..you touch or do one thing..and adios to the player..that goes for all players ..not just the panny

I just got my BD35k on Wednesday and plan on watching my first disc on it tonight (The Dark Knight). I haven't updated the firmware yet. If you do it via disc do you have to do each upgrade individually (i.e. one for 1.5 and another for 1.6) or does 1.6 contain everything you need regardless of which firmware you have?

Also, how do you check the firmware version. Yeah I know, read the manual. I have looked through it, but didn't see it though I'm sure it says how.

Thanks.

[jimfear79]

I just got my BD35k on Wednesday and plan on watching my first disc on it tonight (The Dark Knight). I haven't updated the firmware yet. If you do it via disc do you have to do each upgrade individually (i.e. one for 1.5 and another for 1.6) or does 1.6 contain everything you need regardless of which firmware you have?

Also, how do you check the firmware version. Yeah I know, read the manual. I have looked through it, but didn't see it though I'm sure it says how.

Thanks.

I just got a new player from my local Circuit City!!! They had one stock and was willing to hold it until i got there.. Just watched TDK, WOW what a picture... I can say this player does seem different trhen my last one.. It loads faster and just seem to be more "put together". i know weird right?

I didn't bother updating the firmware yet.. I am going wireless next week, i will just wait..

Set up menu then go to Display. When in Display leave the top box highlighted and press Status button... Hold it for a few seconds, your firmware will appear.

[typ44q]

I just got my BD35k on Wednesday and plan on watching my first disc on it tonight (The Dark Knight). I haven't updated the firmware yet. If you do it via disc do you have to do each upgrade individually (i.e. one for 1.5 and another for 1.6) or does 1.6 contain everything you need regardless of which firmware you have?

Also, how do you check the firmware version. Yeah I know, read the manual. I have looked through it, but didn't see it though I'm sure it says how.

Thanks.

1.6 should have everything so if your firmware is older than 1.5 you will just need the 1.6 and everything will be up to date. It's in the setup menu under firmware, I just got my player yesterday and it had 1.5 on it and I updated it through the network connection to 1.6 and everything went fine.
watched Dark Knight on it and was very happy