Samsung BD-C6900 audio connection problem

by om parkash joneja
(Renens/Switzerland)

I have an ancient Philips FR965/FR966 amplifier system. This offers an optical connection for home cinema and also six jack type connections for 5.1. I just bought a Samsung BD-C6900 3D player and i am unable to hook my Philips amplifier to the blue ray player - either from the optical connection or with the six jack type connectors.

Any suggestions?

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Samsung BD-C6900 audio connection problem

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Connecting the BD-C6900
by: Paul - The Home Cinema Guide

Hi

Thanks for your question - although I'm not sure that you have too much of a problem.

I've just had a look at the UK manual for the Samsung BD-C6900, and it appears to have optical audio and analogue phono outputs.

Therefore you can use either of these with your Philips FR965/FR966.

What you could do is connect the Blu-ray player directly to your HDTV via HDMI (for the picture).

Then connect the optical output of the Blu-ray to the optical input of your Philips receiver. This will transmit 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. This is described on page 26 of the manual (case 3).

Alternatively, if you connect the Blu-ray and receiver using the 6 analogue audio phono connections, you can get the Blu-ray to decode high-definition audio soundtracks (Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio). To do this, make sure you set the Blu-ray audio output to PCM in the menu. This is explained on page 25 of the manual (case 2).

Hope that helps.

Paul

Connection clarifications
by: o.p. joneja

Thanks Paul, Pl note that the Blue-ray is connected to 3D-HDTV via HDMI and functioning fine, except the sound tracks of 2D DVD's are some what lower than usual TV sound levels.

However, both the optical as well as jack audio connections are established with Philips amplifier and despite selecting PCM option via the blue-ray player, and selecting the correct source, the 5.1 option is not functional.

It is just dead.

No sound
by: Paul - The Home Cinema Guide

Hi

No sound at all - or just no 5.1 sound? You should at least hear stereo.

Do you have both optical and 6-channel phono connected at the same time? Don't know if it makes a difference but pick one to get working and disconnect the other. If nothing else it makes it easier to find the problem.

Try this: connect the front left and right phono outputs from the Blu-ray to the left and right input on the amplifier. Put in a CD and play it. Hear anything?

If not, if you have an old DVD/CD player around, connect this via front left and right only and see if you can get some sound.

I notice your Blu-ray also has a separate stereo audio left and right output (red and white). Try this into your amplifier.

Paul

All Settled
by: Anonymous

Thanks very much Paul.

As suggested, I started looking step by step with an old dvd/HDD system and finally tracked down that amplifier connection which was displaying only DVD, was in fact, DVD (coaxial in -1).

All settings on the 3D blue ray player and 3D TV were fine as desired. The source selector of receiver was then scanned to find the DVD-optical setting.

With this option as expected, things turned out to be just normal i.e., 5.1 effects are clearly audible.

Thanks once again and the problem stands resolved.

Good news
by: Paul - The Home Cinema Guide

Glad to hear your connection issues are resolved. It can be a tricky business at times.

Enjoy your Blu-ray player!

Paul

Same problem
by: Russ

Hi, I have the same Samsung 3D blu ray player and have connected it to my Sony S550 amp via an optical digital cable - but only get PCM stereo through the speakers.

I have noticed in the manual at the bottom of the page it says if you are using connection method case 3 via optical that you will only hear PCM stereo.

Is there any way to get Dolby Digital 5.1 through my 3D blu ray player?

It works fine for my PS3 and Sky+.

Any info would be a great help.

PCM audio through optical
by: Paul - The Home Cinema Guide

Russ

That isn't quite what it says. It says that any PCM audio soundtracks will only play back in stereo (through the front two speakers).

That means that if your Blu-ray movie has a 5.1 PCM soundtrack - then it will be downmixed to stereo. This is because 5.1 PCM audio requires a higher bandwidth than optical connections can handle.

If you play a Dolby Digital soundtrack, then this should play ok over optical in 5.1.

It can be confusing. You can go here for a guide to the different Blu-ray audio codecs.

Is there any reason why you aren't connecting via HDMI to your receiver? This would be the best way to send the audio/video to your system as it will handle all the different formats.

All the best.

Paul

Solved
by: Russ

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your reply I was at work when I sent the first message and I didn't explain myself very well.

I have a Samsung UE46C8000 3DTV, Samsung BD-C6900 3D blu ray player connected to Sony DAV S880 AMP/DVD Player (my mistake on the model) makes a big difference.

All is solved anyway, I found an audio option on the blu ray player menu to change the bit rate of the audio stream depending on what amp you are connecting to, and then i got DTS and Dolby Digital options being played through via the blu ray player.

Much better.

Thanks for your reply.

Not using an amp; audio is weak.
by: Wrey

I have the BD-C6900 like everyone else, but I do not have an amp at the moment.

I have the Bluray player connected directly to the UN55C7000WFXZA 3D TV, also by Samsung.

I'll be the first to admit that I know very little about these things, and both the Bluray player and the television have an array of audio options which are daunting to the uninitiated.

I have to crank the TV up to near maximum to get a satisfactory audio level. I am sure that there must be a set of audio options on both the player and the TV which I have chosen incorrectly.

I'm not looking for spleen bursting sound, just an audio level that doesn't force me to crank the TV to maximum.

Low sound problem
by: Paul - The Home Cinema Guide

Hi

Are you connecting via HDMI for picture and audio? This would usually be best.

Here's a couple of things to check out:

1. Blu-ray player - in audio settings make sure 'downmixing mode' is set to normal stereo.

2. Also, in the same menu, you could try setting the dynamic range control to 'on'. This may allow you to get more volume overall by limiting the dynamic range. If you don't like how it sounds - turn it off again.

3. For the Samsung UN55C7000, try these audio settings in the audio menu:

- SRS TheaterSound -> Normal (or try different ones to see if they are better for you)

- SRS TruSurround HD -> Off

- Auto Volume -> Off

- Speaker Select -> TV speaker

Don't be afraid to play with the audio settings, there is a sound reset option to put it back to where you started if you get in a mess.

Do you have any other device connected to the TV? Cable box for example? Is this quiet too?

All the best.

Paul

Paul! You fixed it!
by: Wrey

Dude! Happiness on a 24k stick! Thanks much.

Wrey

Samsung BDC6900 and Onkyo HT-R538
by: Slide71

I have both of the above and when selecting "Audiophile" within the player I get no DTS-HD from the AV! I am using HDMI 1.4 Cables the AV supports DTS-HD as does the player. Nothing unless I choose Bitstream re-encode. I know other people have had the same problem but I've not found a resolution. Any help would be great.

No DTS HD
by: Paul (Site Editor)

I can't think of an obvious reason right now.

Have you managed to get DTS-HD Master Audio from another player - or is this the first time you have tried on this receiver?

Do you get Dolby True HD ok?

The main thing I would check is that the firmware of the Blu-ray player and the Onkyo receiver are up to date.

Check the manual/websites of both and see how (and if) you can update the firmware. Issues like this are often down to out of date firmware.

Paul

Samsung BD 6900 via Marantz av receiver problem
by: Anonymous

I have connected my samsung 6900 blu ray player to my marantz sr4001 av receiver with a hdmi cable and get picture but no sound. I then tried to connect it directly to the tv and used and optical cable to the av receiver for sound and this works. Has anyone any suggestions?

Problem with Samsunc BD6900 with Onkyo 5.1 Receiver
by: Cyrus

Hi,
I have Samsung BD-C6900 blurayplayer (supports upto 7.1) connected to my onkyo 5.1 receiver. I am only getting sound from my center and front speakers. There is no sound from the surround speakers and hence no 5.1 surround effect. I switched the bluray player to my PS3 and the surround speakers are working fine.

Below is how my connection is:

BD-6900 player -->connected to Onkyo 5.1 amplifier with HDMI cables

Can anyone please help me configure to get 5.1 surround effect with my BD-6900 player.

Would appreciate anyone's help on this.

Thanks!

Connections to Sky and blue ray player
by: Robert Hall

Yes I have a Sky HD box connected to a Samsung HD ready tv and a Samsung HT- UP30 Home Cinema System. I will be soon changing my present television to a 3D one and wish to know if I buy a Samsung 3d blue ray player which one should I chose plus and how could I connect all three units

Sound Problems
by: Paul (Site Editor)

@Cyrus

If it's working ok with the PS3, but not the Samsung, it suggests an issue with the Samsung settings.

1. Connect the Samsung to the internet and make sure the firmware is up to date.

2. In audio settings, select Bitstream(Audiophile). This is assuming your Onkyo receiver decodes the sound format you are sending it. What model of Onkyo do you have? Also, try setting 'Downmixing Mode' to 'Surround Compatible' (if it isn't already).

3. Failing that. Set the audio output to 'PCM' and let the player decode first. See what happens then.

@Robert Hall

The Samsung BD-C6900 is a good player. Also check out the Sony BDP-S570.

With your home cinema system and the 3D Blu-ray player, you would connect HDMI direct to the TV for the 3D TV picture, and optical cable into the Samsung HT-UP30 for the sound.

Same for your Sky Box - although you have only 1 optical input on the Samsung HT-UP30 so you have a problem! You could buy something like this to get around it - Digital Optical Audio Switch.

All the best.

Paul (Site Editor)

Samsung C6900 & older DVD 5.1 surround system
by: Steve H

Hi, I have a HD ready samsung TV, I've recently bought the Samsung BD-C6900 3D bluray player to update my samsung HT-TZ212 DVD player with its 5.1 surround sound system. Unfortunately the cables from the speakers have different connectors than the the input points in back of the bluray player, compared to the DVD player. I thought because i bought another samsung this wouldnt be an issue? So i havent got surround sound at moment!

Is there a way around this? -new cables/ adapter/ or buying an amplifier or new speakers- and selling old?

Could you recommend a good amplifier even if there is another solution pls as looking into this now anyway?

Thanks,

Steve

Samsung HT-TZ212 Connections
by: Paul (Site Editor)

Steve

The Samsung HT-TZ212 is an all-in-one system. It therefore has the DVD and amplifier all built-in together.

You cannot connect the Blu-ray player directly into the speakers without using an amplifier.

You have a couple of choices:

1. The Samsung HT-TZ212 has an optical audio input on the back. You can get the sound from your Blu-ray player into your existing speaker system by connecting it with an optical audio cable. This will work, although you won't get HD audio from Blu-ray discs - but you will get standard 5.1 surround sound.

2. By a new all-in-one home theater system which allows you to connect external devices via HDMI - this should give you HD audio.

3. Buy a 'proper' AV receiver and speaker system. I would always recommend this route if you want to improve the sound quality in your room. You can get an entry-level AV receiver for around £250 (less if you buy an older model), and reasonable speakers for around £200. You probably won't be able to use your existing speakers with an AV receiver.

What you do will mainly depend on your budget, and if you want to upgrade your sound system to something a little better.

Follow the links below where I discuss all-in-one systems and AV receivers. You will get some ideas of makes and models there.

Hope that helps.

Paul (Site Editor

No sound any more!
by: Dan

I have the Samsung BD-C6900 and a Denon 365 receiver and I'm having trouble getting sound now. Earlier it wasn't decoding TrueHD, but I switched the setting to "Bitstream (Audiophile)" to match my receiver. So now my Denon says it's in Dolby TrueHD mode, but I'm not getting any sound! My last Samsung blu-ray player was working fine with my receiver, so now I'm confused as to what's happening. Any ideas?

No Sound
by: Paul (Site Editor)

Hi

Seems a bit strange. If the Denon says it is receiving Dolby TrueHD, then the Blu-ray is sending the signal ok.

1. Try updating the firmware for the Samsung (if it isn't already).

2. Try changing the Samsung audio output to PCM. This means it will decode the HD audio first and send surround as PCM (as long as you are connected via HDMI). Any receiver should play PCM ok.

All the best.

Paul

Feel free to join in this discussion by adding your own comments below...

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BD-C6900 & Marantz SR5400
by: Dimitris

Hello, I too have a problem of connecting my Samsung BD player with TV and AV receiver. I have connected the TV and BD via HDMI and it works fine.

However, i have this Marantz receiver and i wanted to connect the BD player to it via the analog cables.

So i connected the analog out from the BD player to the 6.1ch inputs on the Marantz but i am getting no sound no matter what type of file i play in the Samsung.

Any pointers?

Thank you.

Analog Sound
by: Paul (Site Editor)

Two thoughts:

1. The manual suggests setting the digital output to PCM when using analog outputs. No idea what happens if it isn't, but might be wirth trying.

2. Are you sure you are selecting the correct input on the receiver?

All the best.

Paul

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