Need Clarification - Blu-ray Forum

J.Cornelius · 07-02-2008, 02:30 PM

I recently purchased the Onkyo TX-SR605 and have the Sony BDP-S300 Blue Ray player. Connections were made via HDMI and I switched the audio setup on the Blue Ray player from "auto" to PCM. Reading other threads I know this enables the True Dolby Digital HD to sent over HDMI to the receiver and converted to PCM (on the Onkyo the display reads PCM multichannel 5.1).

Here is where I have my issue, it seems to me that the PCM multichannel 5.1 does not sound as crisp when compared to DD and DTS. Further, for standard DVDs there seems to be an even bigger difference is quality of sound. Is the conversion to PCM really the same as True Dolby Digital HD or would it be beneficial to purchase the new Sony BDP-S350 when it comes up later this summer.

jswilli1 · 07-02-2008, 02:42 PM

I have the 805 and my PS3 is setup to Linear PCM so my setup is the same Multichannel PCM 5.1 you see on your 605. In Bitstream (this applies to your Sony BP and my PS3) it DOES NOT pass Dolby True HD or DTS MA so the only way you can enjoy those codecs is through PCM. There is no conversion to PCM since PCM is uncompressed Audio. The above Codecs however have a form of compression but is considered "Lossless" and very close to uncompressed PCM. If you are used to listening to your movies in DD or DTS and using the reciever sound fields to enhance the soundtracks this might why the PCM may not sound crisp to you.

J.Cornelius · 07-02-2008, 02:46 PM

Thanks for the information, do you find PCM on the 805 to be superior to the other Codecs?

jswilli1 · 07-02-2008, 02:54 PM

All I use in Multichannel PCM 5.1 since the PS3 sends the codecs via PCM. When I play games on the PS3 it is Bitstream so the 805 will automatically select DTS, DD, THX for the game being played.

kpkelley · 07-02-2008, 03:00 PM

The BDP-S300 doesn't decode dts-hd ma or true hd, so you would only be getting the lossy core of those encodes. This may be why you are underwhelmed. PCM soundtracks should pass over hdmi in all their lossless glory, but the other codecs converted to pcm will only be lossy. Unfortunately, they player cannot decode or bitstream those lossless audios.

J.Cornelius · 07-02-2008, 03:26 PM

Thanks for the confirmation, the BDP-S300 is inferior from an next generation audio standpoint. Looks like a new Blue Ray DVD is in my future.

07-02-2008, 02:30 PM	#1
J.Cornelius Active Member Member since:Jun 2008	Need Clarification I recently purchased the Onkyo TX-SR605 and have the Sony BDP-S300 Blue Ray player. Connections were made via HDMI and I switched the audio setup on the Blue Ray player from "auto" to PCM. Reading other threads I know this enables the True Dolby Digital HD to sent over HDMI to the receiver and converted to PCM (on the Onkyo the display reads PCM multichannel 5.1). Here is where I have my issue, it seems to me that the PCM multichannel 5.1 does not sound as crisp when compared to DD and DTS. Further, for standard DVDs there seems to be an even bigger difference is quality of sound. Is the conversion to PCM really the same as True Dolby Digital HD or would it be beneficial to purchase the new Sony BDP-S350 when it comes up later this summer.

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07-02-2008, 02:42 PM	#2
jswilli1 Active Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Rio Rancho, NM Blu-ray collection:32	I have the 805 and my PS3 is setup to Linear PCM so my setup is the same Multichannel PCM 5.1 you see on your 605. In Bitstream (this applies to your Sony BP and my PS3) it DOES NOT pass Dolby True HD or DTS MA so the only way you can enjoy those codecs is through PCM. There is no conversion to PCM since PCM is uncompressed Audio. The above Codecs however have a form of compression but is considered "Lossless" and very close to uncompressed PCM. If you are used to listening to your movies in DD or DTS and using the reciever sound fields to enhance the soundtracks this might why the PCM may not sound crisp to you.

07-02-2008, 02:46 PM	#3
J.Cornelius Active Member Member since:Jun 2008	Thanks for the information, do you find PCM on the 805 to be superior to the other Codecs?

07-02-2008, 02:54 PM	#4
jswilli1 Active Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Rio Rancho, NM Blu-ray collection:32	All I use in Multichannel PCM 5.1 since the PS3 sends the codecs via PCM. When I play games on the PS3 it is Bitstream so the 805 will automatically select DTS, DD, THX for the game being played.

07-02-2008, 03:00 PM	#5
kpkelley Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Framingham, MA 4K collection:385 Blu-ray collection:2478 Digital collection:113 Blu-ray reviews: 152	The BDP-S300 doesn't decode dts-hd ma or true hd, so you would only be getting the lossy core of those encodes. This may be why you are underwhelmed. PCM soundtracks should pass over hdmi in all their lossless glory, but the other codecs converted to pcm will only be lossy. Unfortunately, they player cannot decode or bitstream those lossless audios.

07-02-2008, 03:26 PM	#6
J.Cornelius Active Member Member since:Jun 2008	Thanks for the confirmation, the BDP-S300 is inferior from an next generation audio standpoint. Looks like a new Blue Ray DVD is in my future.

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