Audio Problems - The Mummy, The Mummy Returns Blu-Ray (1 Viewer)

[Shaun]

I purchased both The Mummy and The Mummy Returns on BRD yesterday. Gave them both a spin this afternoon and noticed a strange problem with the audio.

It plays too damn loud and there are abnormalities with the center channel (dialogue is crackly, distorted). My receiver is a Denon AVR-2805, Blu-Ray player is the Panasonic DMP-BD10A. Audio is connected using the 5.1 analog output to the receiver.

My normal "reference" volume is -5. To get these movies to play at the same level, I had to turn my receiver down to -25. It's like this on the menus and special features as well.

I tried playing some other discs (Batman Begins, Live Free or Die Hard, Cloverfield, etc.) and they all played fine.

Could it be bad discs? Kind of strange to get the same problem on both discs. Bad batch maybe? I'm guessing this is something that may be fixed with a firmware upgrade.

Has anyone else had a problem similar to this?

 

[Sam Posten]

Not me, but I'm listening to it in full uncompressed mode which I think that unit is incapable of producing, right?

Sam

 

[Shaun]

As far as I know, the Panny BD10A decodes all of the current lossless/uncompressed audio formats. Mine is connected to the receiver via the 5.1 analog outputs.

Does anyone with this model player have the same or similar issue with these movies or any of the Universal Blu-Rays released on 7/22?

 

[Stephen_J_H]

According to the manual, the BD10 does not decode DTS HDMA. It only decodes the lossy "core" of the codec. Of the discs you listed other than The Mummy films, I believe only Live Free or Die Hard is encoded in DTS HDMA.

 

[Shaun]

Yes, you are right. The BD10A only outputs DTS "core".

No problem playing Live Free or Die Hard.

I'm thinking bad batch of discs. No one else seems to be having any issues similar to this. I might try exchanging them.

 

[Dave Moritz]

I have had no problem here but I am not actually listening to the full bandwidth DTS-MA ether. I have played The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and Scorpion King via my Sony BDP-S300. I have the hooked up to my Yamaha RX-V995 via 5.1 analog input and an optical in. So I so far have only actually been listening to these three titles in legacy DTS. But I have not heard any problems with the audio and the discs have played with no problems.

 

[Ron-P]

I just picked these up today and plan to watch The Mummy tonight on my PS3 so I'll let you know if I have any audio issues.

 

[Shaun]

OK, guys. I tried exchanging them for new discs at another location. Same thing. Too loud and distorted sound in the center channel. Tried the Spanish and French audio tracks. No difference. These discs are not compatible with this player. A firmware upgrade will need to be released by Panasonic to fix this problem.

 

[Ron-P]

I just finished The Mummy and no audio issues at all. I played the DTS-MA track and it sounded excellent, the PQ was a different story, not very good. Dirt on the print in several places, some of the effects were quite out of focus as were some of the background shots and yet some scenes looked fantastic.

I really enjoy this movie it's a shame they couldn't have spent more time perfecting the image quality.

 

[Shaun]

Ron,

What player are you using?

 

[Edwin-S]

I watched the film last night. I listened to the DTS core, because my receiver is not HDMI capable. I noticed that the soundtrack was loud, but chalked that up to the fact that DTS tracks tend to be louder than the equivalent DD tracks. I didn't notice any distorted dialogue, but then again I didn't see the dirt that Ron-P noticed. I used a PS3 as a player.

I did note that some of the computer generated effects look soft, but I thought that might be due to limitations in the technology used to generate them.

 

[Ron-P]

PS3 and an Onkyo 805 with all outboard Adcom amps. Everything connected via HDMI.

 

[Shaun]

So no one else here is using a Panasonic DMP-BD10A that confirm these issues?

I tried contacting Panasonic about this, but I doubt they'll worry about a firmware upgrade if no one else is having these problems.

Help please!!

 

[Sam Posten]

I think a lot of the softness you guys are attributing to poor transfer is limited depth of field.

Depth of field - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is intentional and used artistically to guide the viewer's attention. On my set up The Mummy looks great transfer wise, tho I agree the limitations of the CGI are clearly visible but astounding for year of release.

Sam

 

[Ron-P]

Thanks for posting that Sam.

 

[Sam Posten]

You are welcome. If you see something that looks like it could be softness in the transfer and could take a picture of it with a digital camera I'd be interested in seeing it. It does happen! But in this case I thought the detail and sharpness were great.

 

[Neil Joseph]

I am using the Panasonic dmp-bd10 player with the latest firmware code and a Yamaha rxv-2400 receiver connected via hdmi for the audio and I experience the same problem. I usually listen at -20 but for these movies I have to listen to them around -40 to get the same levels. I have not seen a firmware update for the Panasonic since Oct 2007 though/

 

[Ron-P]

I also did not have to adjust the volume with The Mummy, it was set at the same level all my other Blu's do.

 

[Sam Posten]

May I introduce you Panny owners to this thread then:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...available.html

=)

Sam

 

[Shaun]

As popular as the PS3 is, it doesn't have everything. Such as 5.1 analog outputs, which saves many of us from having to buy new receivers.