Yup. From the manual, you’ll have several things to set:
Digital Audio Output:
- Dolby D/Dolby D+/Dolby TrueHD: PCM
- DTS/DTS-HD: PCM
- BD-Video Secondary Audio: Off
PCM Down Conversion: no effect
Downmix: Stereo
Given that this only affects 2 discs, I’m still suspicious that the best solution is in the setup menu on those disks.
Consider going over to HomeTheaterForum.com and either searching for those titles with the words “audio problem” or just posting a thread asking if anyone has had problems with those specific titles.
I saw “PCM Down Conversion” which was off, it’s now on. Next menu entry is “Downmix”, currently set at “Stereo” (the only other choice is “Surround Encoded”). This failed to help “The Green Mile”, which produces some annoying blips of sound that I find hard to describe in more detail.
Yeah, considering the fact that she’s seeing Deathtrap go straight to the video (which is highly unlikely - I’m betting the player just remembers where she left off), she may be having issues navigating the disc menus.
Also, make sure all your connections are tight and that the discs themselves are clean. Any scratches, smudges, etc. on the bottom of the discs?
Tried your first three settings (all of which needed to be changed). On the “PCM Down Conversion”, do you mean On or Off (those are the two options presented)?
Either way, this seems to have fixed “The Green Mile”. Also seems to have fixed “Deathtrap”. You’re good. 
Honest, that disc has NEVER presented me with a menu, just headed right into the movie.
Some discs can be odd to navigate, and I do not claim to be at all proficient on unusual configurations. 
I do appreciate all the help everyone put in.
I’m no technical expert, but I’d also ask where were the 2 problem DVDs acquired? I’ve borrowed a few movies from my local library that wouldn’t play at all in my Bluray player, but would play on my computer. I think their regional coding was incorrect. Is it possible that someone can put a library DVD into their PC and make coding changes, intentionally or accidentally? In at least one case, after I started the movie on my PC, I stopped it, took it back to the Bluray, loaded it up again, and was able to play it.
Especially from the early days, DVDs that go straight to the movie aren’t unheard of. DVD makers were still trying to figure out how best to balance replicating the VHS experience and the DVD technology’s new features, and some opted to lean more toward VHS. Does pressing the “menu” or “top menu” button do nothing at all? Even if you stop the movie first?
I’ve got a Panasonic blu ray player a few model #s back from hers, and it does, in fact, go straight to the movie on some DVDs. Even ones that it’s never played before. I’ve been reluctant to investigate further, since I find this to be much nicer than having to FF my way through multiple previews of movies that came out years ago.
I can always get to the DVD’s own menu however.
I believe some players also have a setting that, if the disk is encoded to allow it, will let it start playing the movie immediately.
Both are in our home collection, I don’t recall specific purchase sources (both have been in the collection for years, and we have a lot of DVDs).
No, that’s not possible. Any settings you change for a DVD take place on the hardware playing it, not on the DVD itself.
I’m not sure - I’m just going with what the manual says. It says “no effect” so I’m guessing it doesn’t matter. Were you able to set the Downmix to “Stereo”?
(FYI: Essentially what these settings are doing is stripping out all the excellent audio features of bluray, so that it can be played by your television. If it’s in a larger room, you may want to consider upgrading to a surround system, or even just a soundbar.)
My living room isn’t that big. The TV is less than 10 feet from the sofa or DH’s computer desk (the customary viewing spots).
10 feet is actually a pretty big distance for a TV. If it’s cramped, I’d look into an affordable soundbar (I’ve been seeing refurbs available for $40-50 lately) - it’ll make a pretty substantial difference, especially if you’ve been noticing the need to crank your TV volume to 80% or more of its volume bar.
Depending on the size of the TV, 10’ might be a little or a lot. Calculator.
According to the calculator, my 42" TV is the right size for my room.
If I start noticing sound problems on disc playback, I’ll consider the soundbar.
One oddity with this TV is that if I’m watching something while it airs, comfortable volume is generally in the 16-18 range. If I’m watching something from the DVR, Blu-Ray, or DVD/VCR, I have to usually put it up to about 30 to get the same apparent sound level.
That’s not an oddity. It’s a feature.
Interesting factoid, thanks. I’ve always noticed that, but was never annoyed or curious enough to find out why.
The part I hate about that is with some movies you have to really crank the volume to pick up the faint sounds and whispers, but then something blows up and the guns start blazing and your neighbors start reaching for the phone to call the police.