Many different opinions and need some help

[katiehlvr1]

Hi all, I have done hours of researching this. Even called up Samsung to try and get an answer here.
Let me first start with my system.
I have a 42 inch lcd that all components are hooked up via HDMI for tv audio and video picture. Here is my real question.

I have a receiver hooked up to my bluray using digital coaxial. On my samsung bluray player it asks if I want pcm or bitstream. Do I need to set this bluray to play Bitstream or Pcm? I am getting one answer from one person and another answer from another.

I just know that the BR discs have many different sound options. TruDD, DTS HD, DTS, DD 5.1 etc. I am looking to get the best sound out of the player and have everything setup correctly just trying to get a definate answer as to if you have a receiver that decodes these muliple formats and it is hooked up with an audio coaxial digital cable should I select PCM or Bitstream on my BR and other components?
I know many many people have this question but I just keep getting mixed signals like i am running in a circle. With a receiver that decodes and a br player, hooked up voa digital coaxial should i set this BR on Bitstream or PCM?
Please can anyone set me straight with a direct answer?
I would greatly greatly appreciate it as I am getting very worn out trying to find this what would seem to be simple question. The tv is set. All hdmi cables going to the componets for picture and tv sound. Just need to know what setting to put this BR on PCM or Bitstream.
Thanks
Corey

[Zman2k2]

I think that the best possible sound for you is to use the analog outputs on the player. The player would be set to PCM and your receiver would just amplify.

[katiehlvr1]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

I think that the best possible sound for you is to use the analog outputs on the player. The player would be set to PCM and your receiver would just amplify.

when you say analog do you mean simply running two composite red and white cables from my BR to Receiver?

[guitarist155]

he is referring to 5.1 analog out which would have 6 cables from your blu-ray player to your receiver. but we need to know more specifics as to which player and receiver you have as this might not be an option.

also if you are using a ps3 just keep the optical and set it to bitstream

[guitarist155]

also you need to read this it will help you understand the difference between optical and multi-channel analog https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=32976

[katiehlvr1]

Originally Posted by guitarist155

also you need to read this it will help you understand the difference between optical and multi-channel analog https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=32976

No, my receiver has the built in decoder and achieved 5.1 and dts through optical where I did not have to run 6 cables to get 5.1. That was what was so great about the optical cable. It was one cable that gave you instant 5.1 access rather than hooking up 6 cables to achieve the same thing. So to answer your question. My only option is optical, coaxial digital or rca left and right. I do not have the 5.1 rca panel on the receiver.
So my question would still be this. based on only have the option to run coaxial, optical and rca 2 cable should i set my BR player to PCM or Bitstream?
That is exactly my setup. I can run two analog cables to my BR or I can run optical or coaxial to my reciever from my bluray. To achieve best sound, which should i set my player at PCM or Bitstream?
thanks
Corey

[guitarist155]

optical or coax and set it to bit-stream.


optical and coax cannot carry 5.1pcm only stereo pcm and 5.1 bit-stream

also the reason 5.1 analog was suggested is alot of people don't know that it is actually better than optical or coaxial as it can send uncompressed so you would get the new codecs like dts-hdma and true-hd. but since you don't have the inputs on your receiver this would be irrelevant.

[katiehlvr1]

Originally Posted by guitarist155

optical or coax and set it to bit-stream.


optical and coax cannot carry 5.1pcm only stereo pcm and 5.1 bit-stream

also the reason 5.1 analog was suggested is alot of people don't know that it is actually better than optical or coaxial as it can send uncompressed so you would get the new codecs like dts-hdma and true-hd. but since you don't have the inputs on your receiver this would be irrelevant.

Well I have a sony very nice receiver. A true receiver that is a little bigger than the one i have now that has that option on it. I can simply swap receivers. My question is, will it be worth it? If I hook up these analog 5.1 cables to my BR is it going to sound better than having a coaxial going to the receiver i have hooked up now? My second run around with this that maybe somone could give me some friendly advice is on the back of my Sony Reciver (the one with all the options just a bit bulky) I have all speaker inputs (wire) and then I have a sub JACK. Now from past experience in order for my DD light to come on, i need to plug a sub into this jack. My problem is this. I have the bose acoustimass 10 system (yea some love it some hate it) I LOVE IT.
Anyhow, there is no jack on the back of the module and the only way of achieving this is to put another 100 dollars into a sub when I really do not need it because i live in an apartment and to be quite honest it is just to much. I will have people complaining all over the place. I live in FL and as you know we have a retired community down here so I am trying to stay away from buying another sub for money reasons and neighbor concerns. Is there anyway that I can send a signal from my bose (so called Bass Module to this jack or any type of Magyver hookup for the sony to see that there are truly 5 speakers running and a sub? In short I have speaker inputs on my receiver (wire) front left center rears then a sub jack. In order to get 5.1 to light up i need something going into this jack to show I have a sub. With the way the bose system is setup you do not have a jack feature. Surely there must be a way to overide this. Maybe somoene has even been in the same boat. If I can get this solved I will for sure be bringing out the Sony receiver. Let me some real tech advice on what I can do here.
Thanks
Corey

[katiehlvr1]

Originally Posted by guitarist155

optical or coax and set it to bit-stream.


optical and coax cannot carry 5.1pcm only stereo pcm and 5.1 bit-stream

also the reason 5.1 analog was suggested is alot of people don't know that it is actually better than optical or coaxial as it can send uncompressed so you would get the new codecs like dts-hdma and true-hd. but since you don't have the inputs on your receiver this would be irrelevant.

One more thing quitarist. I am not feuding here but i did just as you mentioned by turning on pcm and and I am not hearing nearly the clearity, special effects or all around performance when set on bitstream.
Maybe to each their own but if you were sitting here watching a blu ray there would be no way you would say turn it on PCM and leave it. To much is going on with the system performance I am noticing from pcm and bitstream.
Call me nuts but there is no room for discussion with what I am hearing personaly on the receiver I am using now on PCM v/s Bitstream. Bitstream is sounding probably 25% better? I dont know. Again, ive had people to tell me to DEFINATELY put it on bitstream with the receiver and others pcm. That is why I started this.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by katiehlvr1

I have a receiver hooked up to my bluray using digital coaxial. On my samsung bluray player it asks if I want pcm or bitstream. Do I need to set this bluray to play Bitstream or Pcm? I am getting one answer from one person and another answer from another.

The difference between bitstream and PCM is where the decoding is going to happen.

When set to bitstream, the player will send the undecoded audio to the receiver for it to decode it to PCM then convert to analog for amplification then sent to your speakers..

When set to PCM, the player will decoder the audio and send it to the receiver as PCM. The receiver will then convert it to analog for amplification then sent to your speakers.

IMO, setting the player to PCM and having it decode the 2 channel HD track and then send it to my processor (receiver) as PCM and then having the processor matrix it to 7.1 sounds better than sending as bitstream and only getting the DD or DTS that are 5.1.

[guitarist155]

Originally Posted by katiehlvr1

One more thing quitarist. I am not feuding here but i did just as you mentioned by turning on pcm and and I am not hearing nearly the clearity, special effects or all around performance when set on bitstream.
Maybe to each their own but if you were sitting here watching a blu ray there would be no way you would say turn it on PCM and leave it. To much is going on with the system performance I am noticing from pcm and bitstream.
Call me nuts but there is no room for discussion with what I am hearing personaly on the receiver I am using now on PCM v/s Bitstream. Bitstream is sounding probably 25% better? I dont know. Again, ive had people to tell me to DEFINATELY put it on bitstream with the receiver and others pcm. That is why I started this.

actually i said to put it on bit-stream

also as far as the receiver i would just leave it hooked up to the receiver you are using now, i will do some research on hooking it up to the other receiver and post what i find but it is looking to be too complex so i would just leave it the way you have it, if you like the way it sounds it's good enough.


edit: ok i have done some research and i think you are better off using the receiver you are using now , since you have the non-powered bass module i can't find any way to get the bass to it using the 5.1 analog.


so i would just connect your receiver with optical and set the player to bit-stream. (please note that with this setup you will not get dts-hdma or true-hd only the standard surround sound formats )

[crackinhedz]

what Bluray player and (Sony) Receiver do you have?? model #?

if you have an optical cable connected, your player should be set to bitsream as others mentioned.

But you can also use 5.1 analog to get Lossless audio. Which would be better.

[Brian Cash]

just use the 5.1 analog cables then you will be able to get better sq and dont have to upgrade your receiver so soon

[guitarist155]

the thing is he is using the bose system with the un-powered sub and i could not think of a way to combine the LFE output in with all of the speakers so it would go to his sub if he used 5.1 analog as there isn't any processing with 5.1 analog

[katiehlvr1]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

what Bluray player and (Sony) Receiver do you have?? model #?

if you have an optical cable connected, your player should be set to bitsream as others mentioned.

But you can also use 5.1 analog to get Lossless audio. Which would be better.

See this is where I get confused. If you look at this thread many people are saying bitstream where others are saying pcm. I have a sony that is not hooked up with the 5.1 setup jacks, and optical and coaxial digital input. The receiver now just simply has the coaxial and dts. It does not have the OLD way of hooking up 5.1
However, if it is going to give me better sound and give me these options then I will go out and get a cheap sub so I can connect it to my 5.1 jack on the receiver and the speakers into the speaker wire jack. That is the main reason why I am not using the Sony Receiver. I do not have a sub. Never got around getting one after I moved and have the acoustimass 6 system. In order for my 5.1 to work I have to have a subwoofer that is going into this jack on the standard method of hooking up 5 cables for the speakers. On my receiver I have to hook up wire to speakers on the receiver and plug in a cable to the sub jack for the sony to give me there 5.1. When I hook up the jack a light blue led light comes on telling me i am using 5.1
If i just hook up the bose without a sub going into the sub jack the light will not come on. As I mentioned when I hook up the bose with a sub and get my blu light it sounds about 50 percent better than just hooking up the bose the way it is suppose to. Though IMO u need somewhat of a small sub to fullfill the bose anyways because of the poor bass. Also when the sub is hooked up with the bose i couldnt be much more than a happy camper because it sounds terrific in my opinion and I have heard many many upscale 5.1 speaker systems. I know some hate it and others love it. I fall in the category of loving it, so i guess i will have to hit up ebay to get a cheap sub just to a) get the real 5.1 and b) be able to hook it up the traditional way and have a shot at getting these new formats. I think what I am going to do is get out the sony rehook my bose to that and buy a sub. I just finished moving into a place and havent had the time to get a sub because i sold mine when i left.
That is basically my situation in a nutshell but from the majority of the post it seems pcm is the wa y to go but then I have those selected few that say bitstram and that is what confuses me. You would think it would be a pretty straight forward answer but I guess some people prefer PCM and other bitstream. I am holding off on buying a hdmi receiver to where i have everything but something tells me with the rise of HD and BR in time they will be coming out with a system that has the receiver and speakers as they do now. Though I could be wrong.
As far as the sony model goes it is a STR DE-635

[katiehlvr1]

Originally Posted by katiehlvr1

See this is where I get confused. If you look at this thread many people are saying bitstream where others are saying pcm. I have a sony that is not hooked up with the 5.1 setup jacks, and optical and coaxial digital input. The receiver now just simply has the coaxial and dts. It does not have the OLD way of hooking up 5.1
However, if it is going to give me better sound and give me these options then I will go out and get a cheap sub so I can connect it to my 5.1 jack on the receiver and the speakers into the speaker wire jack. That is the main reason why I am not using the Sony Receiver. I do not have a sub. Never got around getting one after I moved and have the acoustimass 6 system. In order for my 5.1 to work I have to have a subwoofer that is going into this jack on the standard method of hooking up 5 cables for the speakers. On my receiver I have to hook up wire to speakers on the receiver and plug in a cable to the sub jack for the sony to give me there 5.1. When I hook up the jack a light blue led light comes on telling me i am using 5.1
If i just hook up the bose without a sub going into the sub jack the light will not come on. As I mentioned when I hook up the bose with a sub and get my blu light it sounds about 50 percent better than just hooking up the bose the way it is suppose to. Though IMO u need somewhat of a small sub to fullfill the bose anyways because of the poor bass. Also when the sub is hooked up with the bose i couldnt be much more than a happy camper because it sounds terrific in my opinion and I have heard many many upscale 5.1 speaker systems. I know some hate it and others love it. I fall in the category of loving it, so i guess i will have to hit up ebay to get a cheap sub just to a) get the real 5.1 and b) be able to hook it up the traditional way and have a shot at getting these new formats. I think what I am going to do is get out the sony rehook my bose to that and buy a sub. I just finished moving into a place and havent had the time to get a sub because i sold mine when i left.
That is basically my situation in a nutshell but from the majority of the post it seems pcm is the wa y to go but then I have those selected few that say bitstram and that is what confuses me. You would think it would be a pretty straight forward answer but I guess some people prefer PCM and other bitstream. I am holding off on buying a hdmi receiver to where i have everything but something tells me with the rise of HD and BR in time they will be coming out with a system that has the receiver and speakers as they do now. Though I could be wrong.
As far as the sony model goes it is a STR DE-635

Seconldly would you remove the coaxial and hook it up it with 2 rca ables going into a dts dd 5.1 decoder receiver or leave teh coax cable in?

[guitarist155]

ok i think i can break this down.

-the only way to get real 5.1 audio over optical is to use bit-stream
-optical can carry pcm but only stereo
-5.1 analog will not make any audio codecs on your receive like dts or DD light up, it should only say 5.1 or direct.

- when u use 5.1 analog it only uses the receiver as an amp and not a decoder.

with your setup ( if i understand this correctly ) the satellites connect to the bass module then with a special cable the bass module connects to the speaker outputs of the receiver.

when you have it setup like this the receiver takes the bass and sends it to all speakers, since they go through the bass module it takes those freq and sends the rest out to the satellites.

when you connect the 5.1 analog the receiver acts as just an amp so it will not combine the bass in with the speaker outputs to send to the bass module.

so what you will need to do is to hook up the other receiver, go from the blu-ray player to the receiver with 5.1 analog cables ( there should be six, one for each speaker and one for the sub ) then set the receiver to analog 5.1 in ( don't worry about any lights ) then go from the speaker outs to the bass-module and from there to the satellites.

now to get bass you will have to connect a powered sub to the LFE output on the receiver ( this is only because the receiver will not send the bass to the satellites and bass module it will go straight through to the LFE output )

this setup should give you true-hd and dts-hdma hope this helped

or you can just keep using the receiver you have now and connect the optical or coaxial, then set the player to bit-stream ( this will only give you dts 5.1 and DD 5.1 it will not give you true-hd or dts-hdma, the only way to get those is with 5.1 analog or hdmi )

[guitarist155]

Originally Posted by katiehlvr1

Seconldly would you remove the coaxial and hook it up it with 2 rca ables going into a dts dd 5.1 decoder receiver or leave teh coax cable in?

you would use the coaxial to get real 5.1 the 2 rca will only give you dolby pro-logic which is only encoded 2 channel audio and is not real 5.1

[MatrixS2000]

To simplify things.

1 - connect via optical
2 - select bitstream on your PS3
3 - select a movie that has DD and a PCM track
4 - listen to an action filled part of that movie on DD
5 - change the PS3 to PCM
6 - listen to the same part of the movie with PCM selected
7 - If you liked the DD track better, pick bitstream
8 - If you liked the PCM track better, pick PCM

[guitarist155]

i don't think he is using a ps3 as he said he was using coax and that it had 5.1 analog