PS3 Audio Issues

[TheBlackshirt]

Having a few issues with the surround-sound set up for the PS3 when playing a Blu-ray movie...

My receiver is only displaying sound coming out of the FL and FR speaker of my 7.1 setup, and although I know sound is coming out of the other 5 channels, I'm not too sure if it is different sound or if it is just the front 2 split up and sent to the other speakers....I have updated the PS3 for DTS-HD Audio (Update 2.30 or something like that?) and i have it checked in the PS3's sound menu...

Anybody else had any issues? Is this a problem with my receiver or PS3?

[CptGreedle]

It might be the setting on your receiver, check to make sure it is on surround decode or some equivalent. If you have it set to a presetting, it will do whatever that setting wants.
Hopefully others will fill you in better than this.

[kpkelley]

How is your ps3 connected to your receiver?

[TheBlackshirt]

It is just optical. The receiver is a little older and can't carry HDMI. I know I'm not going to get master audio with this, but shouldn't it still be 5.1? (because its a 5.1 disc)

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by TheBlackshirt

It is just optical. The receiver is a little older and can't carry HDMI. I know I'm not going to get master audio with this, but shouldn't it still be 5.1? (because its a 5.1 disc)

make sure your ps3 is set to bitstream.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

make sure your ps3 is set to bitstream.

[TheBlackshirt]

With all this talk about DTS-HD MA, Dolby TrueHD, and PCM, i thought PCM was the way to go? I guess I'm just getting a little confused here, can somebody briefly explain the differences between PCM and Bitstream?

And un4gvn94538, thank you, I switched it to Bitstream and my receiver now shows 5.1. Nothing is coming out of my back speakers though, instead of the sound being supplemented from surround to the right and left.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by TheBlackshirt

Nothing is coming out of my back speakers though, instead of the sound being supplemented from surround to the right and left.

you have to use a sound mode to expand 5.1 into 6.1 or 7.1 (ex dolby digital prologic IIx)

[TheBlackshirt]

Ok, I'll have to give that a whirl sometime tonight when I have more time. Thanks for the help

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by TheBlackshirt

can somebody briefly explain the differences between PCM and Bitstream?

What is Linear PCM? ...and What is Bitstream??

In laymans terms...think of it this way:

Linear PCM is used when the audio is decoded inside the Player first, and then sent to the Receiver.

Bitstream, is used when the Player does not touch the audio...instead it is left in its raw form and sent to the Receiver, where it is then decoded by the Receiver.

To make a long story short, its just two ways to transfer audio from the Player to Receiver...just a different route taken and theoretically the same in the end.