Panasonic DVD-S77S DVD Player
Dolby Digital EX issue (but DTS ES is fine)
I got my two, yes two, S77 players last night and as I'm an audio freak as I am I started playing with the audio settings. I have a 6.1 set up in my living room with all B&W 700 series speakers. I searched for a DOLBY EX and DTS ES among my DVD collection and found one that includes both: Austin Powers - Goldmember. I noticed that the rear center light on my player, a panny XR55 - outstanding receiver by the way, doesn't lit up. Hey I thought there's something wrong with my cabling. I double checked and nothing seemed to be wrong. Frustrated, I plugged in my old panasonic dvd player and voila, the rear surround light came on my receiver.     I plugged in again the S77 and the rear center light is gone again. This time I chose the DTS ES option in Austin Powers and finally the rear center light came on. I also tested Lord of the Rings and Monsters in Dolby Digital EX to no avail.  I also hooked up the other S77 to a yammy HTR receiver with Energy Take 5.2 speakers in my bedroom and tested the same way and the results are the same.          S77 CANNOT DECODE DOLBY DIGITAL EX          Please test this with your system. A rear center speaker need not be present with you system to test this. Your A/V receiver indicators can readily tell you if it's receiving a 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 channels.    I'm very frustrated because there are only a handful of DTS ES but a lot of Dolby EX out there now. Is there any player that comparable to this glorious S77?     EDITED:  Well, I just found out by playing more with the player that one of the LOTR - Two towers can actually play Dolby Digital EX (6.1) but Austin Powers still remains 5.1.   *BUMMER*