BH200 Firmware Update (BH02080314B)

[oilblue]

Sorry, we don't have Cars on BD--we already own it on DVD.

What firmware are you currently running? If you've never updated it, at least try the January firmware (BH02080124R) that's available on LG's website. See the first post in this thread for general download instructions. Ignore filesize references though as those were specific to the March firmware. Just download the first set (PDF and zip).

Also, if your receiver can handle DTS, try "SPDIF-DTS Re-encode" to see if that makes a difference. We just leave it on DTS Re-encode, and it works fine (only exception was Sunshine with the original firmware).

FWIW, we do have Ratatouille on BD and it seems to play fine, though we haven't watched it from beginning to end yet. Just tried out a few scenes to make sure it was OK.

[dragonx117]

I have a dumb question about the audio options on the LG Bh200

I have the january update and waiting on the newer update.

I dont have a surround sound system yet but will do so in the future. but for now what should i setup the audio on the player too?

I have the Samsung 40' LNT4071F TV with SRS TruSurround XT Enabled. and yes it is hooked up with a Monster 1000 HDMI... What settings should i have the player set too for Audio?

I dont fully understand the settings on the BH200 what should i set the audio options for the player.. HDMI, SPDIF, Sampling Freq, DRC... if its only hooked up to my tv with hdmi and SRS TruSurround Enabled?

Just want to make sure i get the best sound out of my tv for now till i can afford the surround - since i am spending so much money on HD-DVD fire sales from {site}.com

[oilblue]

SPDIF settings correspond to the digital optical output--this type of connection has been commonly used from DVD players to surround receivers. Since you're not using this, you can pretty much ignore it (though SPDIF PCM Stereo wouldn't hurt anything at all).

Given your current connections, the HDMI audio settings are the ones you're interested in. Your TV has two speakers, correct? In that case, use HDMI PCM Stereo. That'll transcode any of the source audio tracks to a stereo format your TV can interpret. At least that's the theory. If HDMI PCM Stereo doesn't work at all, just go with the tried and true stereo connectors (the R/L stereo outputs can be connected to your TV). Either way you're getting stereo sound to your TV, so there shouldn't be much difference. Whether you prefer the SRS TruSurround enabled or not is up to you.

Definitely understand how these sale prices get in the way of saving for a receiver.

edit: You're aware that the site you mentioned merely aggregates items / prices from Amazon.com, right? Myself, I'd feel more secure ordering through Amazon Marketplace than a 3rd party site. That's just me though.

[oilblue]

Originally Posted by Joxer

Thanks Oilblue (and for all the edits!). I guess this unit would do a decent 480P output for DVD and do component plus bitstream audio at the same time for Bluray? I may have to keep an eye out for some sales as the $500 price tag at FS right after the $1050 for the HTR6190 (plus thinking about that apple time capsule for my fairly new Mac) may push me into the doghouse. Or maybe I'll give up worrying about this until fall and enjoy that new hi resolution thing called Outside in the meantime!

Glad to help.

Can't say I've tested the BH200's 480p DVD picture quality, but yes, that's what it will do over component.

Also correct that the BH200 can then bitstream DTS-HD MA for BD and HD DVD titles...with the March firmware that's no longer on the LG website. Prior firmware versions couldn't bitstream either Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA (or decode Dolby TrueHD to multi-channel PCM). The March firmware changed that, like Sony's upcoming firmware will add DTS-HD MA decoding to the PS3.

The rumoured time frame for new BH200 firmware is next month (May). I guess we'll see.

Be aware of the difference between bitstreaming and decoding hi-def audio tracks (see this thread). With new firmware, the BH200 will decode Dolby TrueHD, and bitstream both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. That's slightly different than the PS3 (it will decode both formats). Whether decoding or bitstreaming is better is up to you, and your receiver handles both from what I can tell.

Maximum output resolution over component is 1080i, but that matches your current TV, so no problem there. If a title utilizes the Image Constraint Token (ICT), component out is restricted even further. Shouldn't be a problem though presuming you get a new TV before 2012:

Some HDTV early adopters object to the ICT flag because initial HDTVs did not incorporate HDCP support and thus, if this was activated, these individuals would not be able to enjoy high-definition video off of such discs. Hollywood has reportedly agreed to not activate this flag for discs released in either of the two formats until 2012.

That said, I haven't actually connected the BH200 to our TV with component.

So, the theory is:

BH200
- DVD over component at 480p
- BD (and HD DVD) over component at 1080i
- Dolby TrueHD bitstreamed or decoded to your receiver over HDMI1.3
- DTS-HD MA bitstreamed to your receiver over HDMI1.3
- at some point, a new HDMI TV (with HDCP support) for full 1080p

PS3:
- DVD over component at 480p
- BD over component at 1080i
- Dolby TrueHD decoded to your receiver over HDMI1.3
- DTS-HD MA decoded to your receiver over HDMI1.3
- at some point, a new HDMI TV (with HDCP support) for full 1080p


Definitely keep an eye out for sales on the BH200. No sense getting in the doghouse. Seriously though, the BH200 has been on sale frequently over the last month, briefly as low as $410 (Visions). You may even want to check whether Future Shop will still do the trade-in deal (see here).

Waiting until fall sounds look a good idea too. The new BH200 firmware should be out, prices on PS3 and/or the BH200 could be lower. Might even have news on the rumoured BH300... Best of all, allows you pick up your preferred player when the price is right over the next few months, while enjoying the Outside.

Phew. Probably gave you information overload...but that's better than a lack if info I guess.

[oilblue]

Just had our first experience with a Weinstein title, and it was as glitchy as "advertised". No problems playing any HD DVD until this one. Still haven't actually played the movie yet, but thought I should post this tip in case others are struggling with Matador.

It loaded pretty quick (compared to reviews anyway), but immediately went to a Parental Control screen. Something to the effect of:
"This movie cannot be played due to the Parental Control settings of this player"

Um, yeah, no locks or controls were set. Weird...but not unprecedented. Searches indicated that Matador had the same problem in the Xbox360 add-on drive.

Grasping at straws, I tried a few things and lucked out. Here's the trick:
- change the "Area Code" under "Locks" from CA (Canada) to US. That setting specifies the movie ratings the player is supposed to use. Don't ask me why, or what Weinstein did wrong...but the movie loads now!

So, barring a firmware fix, to play Matador in a Canadian BH200, you likely have to change the two letter "Area Code" as indicated above.

Odd, but it works.

[Joxer]

Cool - thanks for the info. I'm just a little unsure what decoding happens on a PS3/BH200 and what the receiver ends up with - does that actually mean its down converted to something lesser like the 360 down converting TrueHD to DD5.1?

I am a little peeved to be going backwards after more than a year of being able to rent real HD movies on HD-DVD. Rogers content is anything but HD unless the image is static and the sound can be a low as 2.0. Haven't tried the HD downloads from the 360 marketplace although I have rented a few SD titles for my daughter - nice to be able to preview, rent, and start watching all from the couch in a few minutes and the quality was fine for what it was and playback started almost immediately.

But I really should get back to that Outside thing. I somehow managed to get myself into a 4 day 800km bicycle ride to raise money for kids cancer camps in in Ontario, and it will take quite a bit of preparation! So far I've never done more than 200km in a weekend and now I'll have to do that much for 4 days straight...

[oilblue]

Another firmware update for the BH200 has been posted!

Repeating instructions from the first post in this thread:
1. open http://ca.lgservice.com/index_b2c.jsp
2. Select the "Device Driver" icon
3. Under Product, select "DVD&VIDEO&SET TOP"
4. In subject, type BH200
5. Click "Search"

The most recent version is listed at the top. Look for: LG_BH_LV221BH_0402F.zip

There's also two PDF files with instructions for performing the update:
- Update Guide for BH200_Manual.pdf (update via USB stick, CD, or DVD)
- Update Guide for BH200_Network.pdf (update via network)

Difference between this latest version (BH02080402F) and the "March" one (BH02080314B) is anybody's guess. Might even be essentially the same, but even if that's the case, at least it's back on LG's site.

[JaySea]

Can you get at this update from the LG's ethernet/WEB connection (activated by the March "beta" firmware)?

[JaySea]

Might have answered my own question. The second PDF (network update guide) gives instructions for updating through the LG's ethernet link. Who wants to be the first to try this?

[oilblue]

Missed posting this before (a little distracted I guess ).

From LG's website:

New firmware update includes the followings:

* Firmware version : BH02080402F

1. Bonus View (BD Profile 1.1) Update
2. High Resolution Audio Support Update:
- a) DTS-HD 7.1Ch output via pass through
- b) Dolby Digital Plus 7.1Ch output via pass through
- c) Dolby TrueHD 7.1Ch decode & PCM output via HDMI
3. User selectable Film Mode (1080p 24Hz) has been enabled
4. Firmware update via Network has been enabled

* Attached File List
1. Firmware file for BH200 : LG_BH_LV221BH_0402F.zip
2. Update instruction (Manually) : Update Guide for BH200_Manual.pdf
3. Update instruction (Using Network) : Update Guide for BH200_Network.pdf

(note: "via pass through" equates to bitstreaming those codecs)

So, it definitely looks like the capabilities introduced in the March firmware have been reposted by LG. Excellent.

[nelsonm64]

Originally Posted by oilblue

Another firmware update for the BH200 has been posted!

Repeating instructions from the first post in this thread:
1. open http://ca.lgservice.com/index_b2c.jsp
2. Select the "Device Driver" icon
3. Under Product, select "DVD&VIDEO&SET TOP"
4. In subject, type BH200
5. Click "Search"

The most recent version is listed at the top. Look for: LG_BH_LV221BH_0402F.zip

There's also two PDF files with instructions for performing the update:
- Update Guide for BH200_Manual.pdf (update via USB stick, CD, or DVD)
- Update Guide for BH200_Network.pdf (update via network)

Difference between this latest version (BH02080402F) and the "March" one (BH02080314B) is anybody's guess. Might even be essentially the same, but even if that's the case, at least it's back on LG's site.

where you useing the pulled march version? and if so. do you see any difference? im wondering if this is the same one thats been tweeked ...

[oilblue]

Yeah, I've been using the March version (installed it before it was pulled). Haven't had a chance to get this one installed, but all indications are, it's the March one (see the fix list), plus a couple more fixes. For example, on AVS there were reports of Studio Canal HD DVDs not playing with the March firmware (they worked fine with the January version, so it was a regression bug in the March firmware). Apparently those are fine again.

So yeah, I agree that it's the March firmware, with a couple extra tweaks.

[silversage]

I just have updated to April firmware version, all seems to be okay. The Eagles Farewell Tour 1 still sounds fantastic in DTS HD MA. Funny also played tonight the DreamGirls in HD DVD in DD + and yes it kind of sucks compared to the DTS HD MA. Ironic how what was once great is now medicore......or at least it is to me. This new Onyko receiver I have plays some mean audio!!!

[testikoff]

Are you sure about DTS-HD MA on Eagles' HD DVD? I thought the soundtrack on this disk is LPCM 2.0 & DTS 5.1 only. Maybe the player firmware is still buggy ...

[silversage]

Are you sure about DTS-HD MA on Eagles' HD DVD? I thought the soundtrack on this disk is LPCM 2.0 & DTS 5.1 only. Maybe the player firmware is still buggy ...

LOL well that is what the Receiver is reporting, well it does sound better than the other setting. So subjective, but good point testikoff, I get so confused with all these new audio codecs, but do really like the loss less ones better...I think..hows that for a definitive answer.