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Blu-ray player downscaling?

  • July 14, 2023
  • 16 replies
  • 172 views

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Hey everyone,

I just upgraded my blu-ray player to the Panasonic UB-420 with the twin HDMI ports.  I had the 150 and was able to get Dolby Atmos, but for some reason I can’t get it now and it seems the sound is being downscaled.  I have an LG UN9000 tv, and no settings on that have changed, and the Beam (gen 2) is connected to the eArc with the pass-through setting on the tv.  Does anyone know the settings i need from the blu-ray player and which port the audio HDMI cable should be in to get Dolby Atmos/Digital and multichannel PCM sound like I had with the previous player?  Any assistance appreciated. 

Thanks, 

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16 replies

Set the TV to these settings:

HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream
Digital Sound Output: Pass Through
eARC Support: On

 

Set the UB420’s Digital Audio Output settings to this:

Dolby Audio: Bitstream
DTS/DTS-HD: PCM
Secondary Audio: Off

 

You only need to use the Video Out HDMI port on the UB420. Connect this to any HDMI port on the TV.


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  • Contributor II
  • July 14, 2023

Thank you so much!  I do have those as the current settings, but still am not getting Atmos.  Is there any other setting I may be missing??


Thank you so much!  I do have those as the current settings, but still am not getting Atmos.  Is there any other setting I may be missing??

What specific Blu-ray disc are you playing? What audio format are you getting?


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  • Contributor II
  • July 14, 2023

When I try a disc w/DTS audio (Tenet) i’m getting Stereo PCM as opposed to Multichannel PCM 5.1 like I used to get.  I tried Top Gun:Maverick and am getting Multichannel PCM 7.1 as opposed to Atmos.   


When I try a disc w/DTS audio (Tenet) i’m getting Stereo PCM as opposed to Multichannel PCM 5.1 like I used to get.  I tried Top Gun:Maverick and am getting Multichannel PCM 7.1 as opposed to Atmos.   

Are you 100% sure the UB420 settings are set to this?

Dolby Audio: Bitstream
DTS/DTS-HD: PCM
Secondary Audio: Off

Have you manually selected the Dolby Atmos audio track on the Top Gun disc?

You might try unplugging the TV, Beam, and Blu-ray player from power for a couple of minutes. Also try toggling the eARC Support setting on the TV off and then on again.


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  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • July 14, 2023

100% sure of those settings, yes.  i’ll try unplugging and/or toggling the eARC support off then on.  

Thanks so much for the info.  


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  • Contributor II
  • July 14, 2023

Could it possibly be something with how i have the HDMI cables configured?  I have the Beam into the eARC port and the audio cable from the player right next to the Beam input.  I put the video HDMI cable into the remaining port, and I get video just fine.  I’m really perplexed. 


Based on the audio you are getting, it seems like you have the settings switched on the Blu-ray player. Can you send me a photo of the current Digital Audio Output settings on the UB420?


Could it possibly be something with how i have the HDMI cables configured?  I have the Beam into the eARC port and the audio cable from the player right next to the Beam input.  I put the video HDMI cable into the remaining port, and I get video just fine.  I’m really perplexed. 

Don’t use both HDMI ports on the Blu-ray player. Just use one cable from the player’s VIDEO OUT to the TV’s HDMI port.


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  • Contributor II
  • July 14, 2023

Yeah, i did an experiment and unplugged the audio cable and i was getting the higher audio.  HOWEVER, when i just use the one HDMI cable, at certain points in the movie, the audio will cut in and out for a second or two and be spotty (mainly during loud action scenes).  So I was hoping the second audio only HDMI would alleviate this problem, and it did while i had it plugged in, but wasn’t getting the higher audio.  Any workaround for this issue? 


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  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • July 14, 2023

I should clarify: that audio cutting out and being spotty only happens w/Atmos, not DTS. 


Is the HDMI Input Audio Format setting on the TV set to Bitstream on all of the used HDMI ports?

Try using a different HDMI cable with the single cable connection.


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  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • July 18, 2023

Ok, I tried a new, higher speed HDMI cable and i’m still getting this same issue with Dolby audio.  I used it as the single connection for audio and video and the issue still isn’t fixed.  i also tried putting this new cable into the Beam and connecting it to the eArc port on the tv and it did the same thing.  i’m really at a loss here, is this just a setting i’m missing, or am i just going to have to suffer with this sound issue until i can add another component (receiver?) to my home theater setup?  it’s so frustrating. 


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  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • July 18, 2023

And all of the HDMI inputs on the TV are set to Bitstream, and the dolby audio setting on the blu-ray player is set to Bitstream as well. 


Can you please post photos of the HDMI cables connected to the back of the Blu-ray player and TV and post a screenshot of the current Digital Audio Output settings on the UB420?


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  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • July 18, 2023

Yep, i’ll post those.