Playing SACDs on a 9700

[Gerhard]

Hi,

I have a problem in playing SACDs. The BDP is connected via two HDMI cables to the outer
world. One to the TV set (audio disabled) and the second one to the AVR (bitstream).

Each time I'd like to listen to a SACD I ony have the Stereo channels.
Any ideas. I only once managed to make it work in multi channel mode.

Cheers
Gerhard

[Toengel]

Hi,

please check your Firmware Version and MCU Version: http://www.supportforum.philips.com/...-been-released

Is your BDP Setup to use the SACD layer?

Toengel@Alex

[Gerhard]

[...]
please check your Firmware Version and MCU Version: http://www.supportforum.philips.com/...-been-released

Is your BDP Setup to use the SACD layer?

Update was done correctly, MCU checked okay and setup set to use SACD layer.

Gerhard

[Toengel]

Hi,

which AVR do you have?

Toengel@Alex

[Gerhard]

I have a Pioneer VSX921 and a 40PFL9705.
- Gerhard

[Gerhard]

Seems nobody than me uses the 9700 for SACDs - what a pity

Anyway - just to add some more annoying observations:
- some SACDS (namely Pink Floyd promotion disc "Money" and Peter Gabriel "Shaking the Tree"
cause the player to hang - sometimes the ">|" button helps, sometimes a power cycle
- the user interface without having the TV screen on is simply useless - selecting
single tracks on CDs or SACDs is pretty difficult, as the player always shows "play",
when pressing the ">|" button instead of simply counting up the tracks. Pressing
stop and showing "Browser" is also not really helpful - simply showing the current selected
track and the total number of tracks would make more sense.
- trying to start a CD sometimes causes the player to "hang". Power cycling or
resetting helps.

Are there any plans to improve things and more important to fix bugs?

If needed, I could provide more information and test results.
- Gerhard

[Gerhard]

Okay, nobody asked for but here some more stuff (for completeness):
As mentioned above I'm using the HDMI "bi-wiring" scheme. Disconnecting HDMI Main
from the TV set before plugging in the PDP9700 makes the multi-channel output work
for a SACD (DSOTM - Pink Floyd) on HDMI AVR. While playing a track from this CD,
I plugged in HDMI Main to my TV set (which is in standby mode) and suddenly the sound
switches to "stereo". Needless to say that the player restarts playing track 1...

- Gerhard

[WillemV]

Hi,

I have a problem in playing SACDs. The BDP is connected via two HDMI cables to the outer
world. One to the TV set (audio disabled) and the second one to the AVR (bitstream).

Each time I'd like to listen to a SACD I ony have the Stereo channels.
Any ideas. I only once managed to make it work in multi channel mode.

Cheers
Gerhard

Hallo Gerard,

I have the same issue, and in addition I noticed that the Stereo signal that comes through (When SACD are played) is PCM 24/88Khz. So, some kind of conversion takes place based on the max capabilities of the DA converter in the TV set. Wrong offcourse. Hopefully this kind of info gives the Philips engineers some kind of clue what needs to be done.

[WillemV]

Okay, nobody asked for but here some more stuff (for completeness):
As mentioned above I'm using the HDMI "bi-wiring" scheme. Disconnecting HDMI Main
from the TV set before plugging in the PDP9700 makes the multi-channel output work
for a SACD (DSOTM - Pink Floyd) on HDMI AVR. While playing a track from this CD,
I plugged in HDMI Main to my TV set (which is in standby mode) and suddenly the sound
switches to "stereo". Needless to say that the player restarts playing track 1...

- Gerhard

This sounds like valuable information. I will try this option too. It will mean though that no picture will be available at all (Not even the limited play menu)
Did you get native DSD output or was it some kind of PCM downsampling?

[WillemV]

Hallo Gerard

I did some checks and agree that it works, but I can hardly imagine that this setup is intentional.

So, a summary: In order to get direct DSD output in both the HDMI connector and at the same time through the ANalog RCA (7.1) connectors one has to disconnect the "HDMI main" from any TV set.

The above setup will result in very good sound from SACD (and BLue Ray audio sources), both from the HDMI AVR connector as well as from the RCA connectors. THe DSD D/A conversion in the 9700 seems very well done, so people can stick to their high quality older amplifiers that lack HDMI connections.

As a consequence of the above setup the BDP9700 does not produce any picture; the only thing you get is the black and white screen with warning text HDMI AVR is audio only. !

[WillemV]

Hi,

I have a problem in playing SACDs. The BDP is connected via two HDMI cables to the outer
world. One to the TV set (audio disabled) and the second one to the AVR (bitstream).

Each time I'd like to listen to a SACD I ony have the Stereo channels.
Any ideas. I only once managed to make it work in multi channel mode.

Cheers
Gerhard

Several inputs have been delivered already but it was somewhat fragmentaric hence my attempt to create clarity for potential support team members that use the forum as a help to fix issues: I have created a list of scenario's and tested those with my equipment availalbe at home: Feel free to add more scenario's.


Scenario 1: HDMI centric high quality SACD playback according to manual
1. Connections: HDMI AVR to AVR, HDMI Main to Digital TV set.
2. Audio Settings BDP9700: HDMI AVR: Bitstream, HDMI Main: Off
3. Result: No six channel DSD bitstream fed into AVR. Instead 88Khz stereo. Analog audio not high quality (Probably a PCM derived signal, too many conversions).
4. Video: Video available through TV set channel.


Scenario 2: Analog centric to AVR
1. Connections: HDMI AVR not connected, HDMI Main to AVR, Analog 7.1 to AVR.
2. Audio Settings BDP9700: HDMI AVR:Bitstream, HDMI Main: Off
3. Result: 6 channel (or 5 since most SACD’s are 5.0) analog sound available in very high quality. However Player stops after most tracks and need next track restart.
4. Video (for selection of tracks and progress of the player) available through monitor out of the AVR.

Scenario 3: Analog centric to external HDMI TV set (for AVR’s without HDMI input)
1. Connections: HDMI AVR not connected, HDMI Main to digital TV, Analog 7.1 to AVR.
2. Audio Settings BDP9700: HDMI AVR:Bitstream, HDMI Main: Off
3. Result: 6 channel analog sound available in very high quality. Occasional stop after tracks and in need of next track restart.
4. Video (for selection of tracks and progress of the player) available through external TV channel..

Scenario 4: HDMI centric DSD direct
5. Connections: HDMI AVR to AVR, HDMI Main to AVR.
6. Audio Settings BDP9700: HDMI AVR: Bitstream, HDMI Main: Off
7. Result: High quality six channel DSD bitstream fed into AVR.
8. Video: No Video available when using the HDMI AVR connected input on the AVR. Switching over to the HDMI Main connected input on the AVR provides Picture from the BDP9700 but causes the DSD bitstream to stop and silence overwhelms.

Used equipment:
Room1: BDP9700 connected to Onkyo TX 875 (With Burr Brown 1796, DSD Direct capable converters); 5 large speakers. Philips Digital TV set 6000 serie

Room2: BDP9700 connected to Marantz SR12-S1 (7.1 channel amplifier without HDMI) 5 Large speakers. Philips 5000 serie TV set.
Other players available for comparison: Sony BDP590, Marantz UD8004, Philips 963SA and Philips 9000SA.

At it stands today Scenario 1 and 4 are useless for different reasons. (no video or no sound)

Normally I would have returned the player already but I decided to put some extra effort in place because the sound quality so far has been very promissing; Seems even better than my beloved UD8004 (Sorry Marantz)

Willem

[Toengel]

Hi,

please try the new firmware 3.76...

Toengel@Alex

[hellochishing]

Tried the 3.76 version. But it didn't solve my issue of need to turn on tv to play sacd.

... Great hardware, awesome sound quality .... sloopy software .... Sigh .... What a waste...

[WillemV]

Hi,

please try the new firmware 3.76...

Toengel@Alex

Sounds great to have new firmware. Unfortunately I cannot find it. It is not posted at the standard product website yet. ? Can you provide me with a link to upload ?

[Toengel]

Hi,

go to www.philips.com/support and search for your BDP...

Toengel@Alex