PS3 audio modes that can't be output when watching Blu-ray movies?

[zak88lx]

Hello,

I did some searching but I was hoping for some clarification here.
I have a PS3 40GB unit (v2.10) hooked up to a Yamaha RX-V3800 via HDMI.

Yamaha RX-V3800 specs

I know that the PS3 has a few limitations for audio output when playing Blu-ray movies but I'm not sure what it can and can't do.
If I list the audio modes in question can someone please let me know if it can output with a Yes or No?

- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1
- Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Thanks,
Zak

[crackinhedz]

From the PS3?


- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 NO,possible with firmware update.
- DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 NO,possible with firmware update.
- Dolby TrueHD 5.1 YES


...as well as Uncompressed PCM YES

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

From the PS3?


- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 NO,possible with firmware update.
- DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 NO,possible with firmware update.
- Dolby TrueHD 5.1 YES


...as well as Uncompressed PCM YES

Doesn't the Dolby TrueHD get output as a PCM track? At least that's what the receiver read the output as?

[zak88lx]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

From the PS3?


- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 NO,possible with firmware update.
- DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 NO,possible with firmware update.
- Dolby TrueHD 5.1 YES


...as well as Uncompressed PCM YES

Thanks for the reply.

So for DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 6.1 a future version update should enable these modes?

Thanks,
Zak

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Doesn't the Dolby TrueHD get output as a PCM track? At least that's what the receiver read the output as?

Everything is PCM at one point or another. Dolby TrueHD starts out as PCM, is encoded into TrueHD and then decoded in the player or receiver, back into its original PCM state.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Doesn't the Dolby TrueHD get output as a PCM track? At least that's what the receiver read the output as?

The PS3 decodes Dolby TrueHD to the raw PCM before sending it to the receiver. That's why it shows up on receivers as a PCM stream even though you're hearing the Dolby TrueHD track. Theoretically it should be identical.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by zak88lx

So for DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 6.1 a future version update should enable these modes?

yes, well as far as rumors go. We've been hearing for a very longtime now of an update to access Dts-HD decoding. Even Hidefdigest hinted "word on the street is that DTS is working with Sony to add internal DTS-MA decoding to the PS3 before Christmas."


its now officially day two after Christmas (east coast ). So when will we see this update? who knows.

[zak88lx]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

The PS3 decodes Dolby TrueHD to the raw PCM before sending it to the receiver. That's why it shows up on receivers as a PCM stream even though you're hearing the Dolby TrueHD track. Theoretically it should be identical.

Should my receiver display the TrueHD logo or does it think it's PCM?



Zak

[zak88lx]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

yes, well as far as rumors go. We've been hearing for a very longtime now of an update to access Dts-HD decoding. Even Hidefdigest hinted "word on the street is that DTS is working with Sony to add internal DTS-MA decoding to the PS3 before Christmas."


its now officially day two after Christmas (east coast ). So when will we see this update? who knows.

According to the PlayStation forum v2.20 is about 2 months away.
I will cross my fingers and hope it happens.

My biggest fear is that the PS3 does not contain the hardware required to support these audio modes.

Zak

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by zak88lx

Should my receiver display the TrueHD logo or does it think it's PCM?



Zak

...hit the "Display" button on your BD Remote (if you have one?)


tell me what it reads?

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by zak88lx

Should my receiver display the TrueHD logo or does it think it's PCM?



Zak

Receiver will show PCM and your PS3 will show TrueHD. Everything is working correctly then.

[zak88lx]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

...hit the "Display" button on your BD Remote (if you have one?)

tell me what it reads?

I just popped in Spiderman 3 and selected TrueHD 5.1.

While movie is playing I clicked on Display with BD remote and it shows:
Dolby Digital multi-Channel 48 kHz 640 kbps AVC 27.8 Mbps

When I click on info for Yamaha it shows:

Format: Dolby Digital
Sampling: 48 kHz
Channel: 3/2/0.1
Bitrate: 640 kbps

Is something not right here?

Zak

[zak88lx]

My bad!

My PS3 audio output for BD was set as Bitstream, after changing it to PCM the PS3 display now shows TrueHD and my Yamaha shows PCM.

Is there a web page that lists audio modes from best to worst?
For example, is TrueHD better than PCM uncompressed or is it the other way around?

Thanks,
Zak

[crackinhedz]

High-Def FAQ: Uncompressed vs. Lossless Audio

give this a read.

[JohnGalt]

Originally Posted by zak88lx

Is there a web page that lists audio modes from best to worst?

PCM & Dolby TrueHD are the way to go with the PS3 at the moment. Just be sure to set the audio output option on the PS3 to "LPCM" rather than "bitstream" to ensure that you get the decoded TrueHD track rather than the DD track.