(silly) Question regarding 970 and Bluray player

Ive been using a Panasonic DMP-BD85 BuRay with my 970. I'm currently using the coax digital audio out from the pang into the 970. Would I benefit from using the analog outs from the BluRay and analog ins on the 970 and let the player do the D to A processing rather than the 970?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I would say yes because the Bluray is more likely to be able to decode the newer formats of the audio codecs than the 970 can just due to age. The 970 was around before the lossless formats were available.

I have the 990 and I have my Oppo connected via the analog outs.
That way the Oppo can decode the lossless codecs and send them to the 990.
You will be very happy with the way this setup sounds.

There are basically two considerations here.

1. Access to the lossless audio options.
2. DAC performance.

The Model 970's going to have better D/A conversion capabilities than the Panasonic, which argues in favor of digital connection. (In contrast, Butchgo's OPPO player has a better D/A section than either the 970 or the 990.) The 970 doesn't support HDMI, though, so the lossless audio offerings available with Blu-ray (TrueHD, DTS-HD master Audio, raw PCM) can only be used via an analog connection from player to processor, which argues in favor of analog connection. Of the two, I think analog connection probably wins out.

If you use the analog audio connection, you will probably want to experiment with either the total bypass or the analog bass management on the 970's 7.1 channel input.

FWIW I used the analog outputs of my Panny DMP-BD80 into my 970 specifically because, as Gonk mentions, there is no HDMI on the 970.

I then upgraded to the 975 using the HDMI output of the Panny and that gave marked better performance than the Panny-970 Combo.

Thanks so much everyone. I have done as suggested. using analog (5.1) outs. Now I have different problem. When I choose "External 7.1" as the DVD source audio on the 970 the I think I am missing the center audio information. No dialog at all. IF I choose "Digital" on the 970 bass management three way toggle switch I get dialog but much less bass and surround. Now let me back up and say I have been using phantom center. I do not have a center speaker. On the 970 speaker selections I selected

I have Monitor Audio Silver RS6 L and R and their bookshelf model as Surround L and R. Epik Legend Sub. Outlaw 7500 amp.

Speakers size: small. L, R, C,Crossover at 40 (the RS6 goes down to 38), Surround at 80.
Center channel: "None".
Surround back L and R "none".

I assume that the center channel info is being sent to the non existent center channel speaker, but I assumed that it would recognize the speaker setting and put center info across the L and R in mono. Any advice is, as always much appreciated. Thanks guys. FWIW I am upping to a Panasonic BDT 500 in a few weeks.

I had the same problem. I seem to remember that the 970 can only do Center Width with the digital processing. There was an old thread on this topic but I couldn't find it.

My solution: I purchased a center speaker.

Yeah, that was what I was afraid of. But finding a RS6 center in black is tough. Or I could get a 975 (cough, cough, he says to the wife). Ah, the kids can fend for themselves for shoes and college fund.

Find a quality speaker of similiar efficiency and specs and go with that. It will sound fine.