Blu-ray audio format question. - Blu-ray Forum

richieb1971 · 03-02-2008, 06:12 PM

Can someone list in order from best to worst all the audio formats currently supported by Blu ray?

Thanks,

Richard.

Gremal · 03-02-2008, 06:27 PM

Well, this is supported by the PS3, not Blu-ray per se.

SACD (DSD at 2.41 MHz)
PCM (24-bit at 192 kHz)
PCM (24-bit at 96 kHz)
PCM (24-bit at 48 kHz)
TrueHD
DTS HD MA
DTS HD
DTS
CD (PCM 16-bit 44.1 kHz)
DD

beakergeek · 03-02-2008, 06:31 PM

There really is not a across the board best format. Always look at bit-rate and sampling frequency. For linear PCM this is usually given like (48khz, 16 bit). For dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master you have to look more closely because they don't always tell you on the box. Best bit-rate/sampling frequency available so far is 96khz/24bit like on the blu-ray Dave Mathews disc encoded in Dolby TrueHD at 96khz/24bit. In general, best to worst: DTS-HD Master, Dolby TrueHD, Linear PCM, DTS, Dolby Digital.

MatrixS2000 · 03-02-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gremal

Well, this is supported by the PS3, not Blu-ray per se.

SACD (DSD at 2.41 MHz)
PCM (24-bit at 192 kHz)
PCM (24-bit at 96 kHz)
PCM (24-bit at 48 kHz)
TrueHD
DTS HD MA
DTS HD
DTS
CD (PCM 16-bit 44.1 kHz)
DD

My only change is I would rank PCM 16/44 just under DTS MA as it is lossless where everything below is not.

Clark Kent · 03-04-2008, 03:03 AM

On Blu-ray movies always look for lossless soundtracks. These can come in only three types: PCM, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA. Anything else is a lossy soundtrack and inherently inferior to a lossless soundtrack.

emm7th · 03-04-2008, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beakergeek

best to worst: DTS-HD Master, Dolby TrueHD, Linear PCM, DTS, Dolby Digital.

The proper order is:

best to worst: LINEAR PCM, DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD, DTS, Dolby Digital.

chriharr · 03-04-2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emm7th

The proper order is:

best to worst: LINEAR PCM, DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD, DTS, Dolby Digital.

Bingo spot on.

I thought PCM can be either 16 or 24 bit at 48KHz (up to 7.1 ch) and 16 bit @ 96KHz (up to 5.1 ch)

am I right, or have I mixed something up.

appreciate any answers.

HDJK · 03-04-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriharr

Bingo spot on.

I thought PCM can be either 16 or 24 bit at 48KHz (up to 7.1 ch) and 16 bit @ 96KHz (up to 5.1 ch)

am I right, or have I mixed something up.

appreciate any answers.

Not quite. You can go 24/96 for 5.1, I think even 7.1 and 24/192 for stereo. I have to check the 7.1 part though.

emm7th · 03-04-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDJK

Not quite. You can go 24/96 for 5.1, I think even 7.1 and 24/192 for stereo. I have to check the 7.1 part though.

Yes you are right. Blu-ray supports up to 7.1 24/96 and 2.0 24/192 PCM... though, there still aren't any 2.0 192KHz-24bit audio on any BD title that I know of - I sure want one...

emm7th · 03-04-2008, 01:28 PM

The bandwidth for:

2.0 24bit 192KHz is 9.216Mbps

5.1 24bit 96KHz is 13.824Mbps

7.1 24bit 96Khz is 18.432Mbps

these are high resolution audios that will match or exceed (in the case of 7.1 24/96) the capabilities of DVD-Audio or SACD (considering an equivalent of multi-channel DSD to PCM)... choosing the highest resolution possible, however, could compromise the video quality.

emm7th · 03-04-2008, 01:39 PM

And it's really nice for Blu-ray to have won the format war because we Audiophiles and/or Videophiles can enjoy the optimum COMBINED Audio & Video experience (with 54Mbps max bandwidth). I can't imagine that with the other format's maximum bandwidth of 36.55Mbps - insufficient indeed.

Brian Cash · 03-04-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emm7th

And it's really nice for Blu-ray to have won the format war because we Audiophiles and/or Videophiles can enjoy the optimum COMBINED Audio & Video experience (with 54Mbps max bandwidth). I can't imagine that with the other format's maximum bandwidth of 36.55Mbps - insufficient indeed.

yeah it has the capabilities of that much bandwidth but have we seen yet on a blu ray

MatrixS2000 · 03-04-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emm7th

COMBINED Audio & Video experience (with 54Mbps max bandwidth). I can't imagine that with the other format's maximum bandwidth of 36.55Mbps - insufficient indeed.

#1 reason why I picked Blu-Ray.

Ben123 · 03-04-2008, 04:56 PM

For those that have a BD player that can playback DTS-HD/MA, I just wondering how much better is the lossless sound of DTS-HD/MA compare to the 1.5Mbs DTS "Core" soundtrack? Big difference? Or only audible for those with "golden ears".

I'm picky on sound and comparing Dolby TrueHD/PCM lossless with Standard Dolby Digital is a world of difference. But listening to the 1.5mps DTS soundtrack sounds quite good to me on the few Fox BD disc I have. I can't really compare bec I don't have any disc with DTS-HD/MA and PCM/TrueHD in one disc.

BTW, I have a PS3 and it doesn't support DTS-HD/MA yet. I'm thinking of getting a standalone player just to get DTS-HD/MA.

03-02-2008, 06:31 PM	#3
beakergeek Member Member since:Jun 2007	Best Blu-ray format There really is not a across the board best format. Always look at bit-rate and sampling frequency. For linear PCM this is usually given like (48khz, 16 bit). For dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master you have to look more closely because they don't always tell you on the box. Best bit-rate/sampling frequency available so far is 96khz/24bit like on the blu-ray Dave Mathews disc encoded in Dolby TrueHD at 96khz/24bit. In general, best to worst: DTS-HD Master, Dolby TrueHD, Linear PCM, DTS, Dolby Digital.

03-04-2008, 01:28 PM	#10
emm7th Active Member Member since:Sep 2007 Blu-ray collection:3	The bandwidth for: 2.0 24bit 192KHz is 9.216Mbps 5.1 24bit 96KHz is 13.824Mbps 7.1 24bit 96Khz is 18.432Mbps these are high resolution audios that will match or exceed (in the case of 7.1 24/96) the capabilities of DVD-Audio or SACD (considering an equivalent of multi-channel DSD to PCM)... choosing the highest resolution possible, however, could compromise the video quality.

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03-02-2008, 06:12 PM	#1
richieb1971 Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 4K collection:89 Blu-ray collection:706 Trading Score:16	Blu-ray audio format question. Can someone list in order from best to worst all the audio formats currently supported by Blu ray? Thanks, Richard.

03-02-2008, 06:27 PM	#2
Gremal Blu-ray Samurai Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Daddyland Home Theater Gallery:49 Blu-ray collection:184	Well, this is supported by the PS3, not Blu-ray per se. SACD (DSD at 2.41 MHz) PCM (24-bit at 192 kHz) PCM (24-bit at 96 kHz) PCM (24-bit at 48 kHz) TrueHD DTS HD MA DTS HD DTS CD (PCM 16-bit 44.1 kHz) DD

03-04-2008, 03:03 AM	#5
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	On Blu-ray movies always look for lossless soundtracks. These can come in only three types: PCM, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA. Anything else is a lossy soundtrack and inherently inferior to a lossless soundtrack.

03-04-2008, 01:39 PM	#11
emm7th Active Member Member since:Sep 2007 Blu-ray collection:3	And it's really nice for Blu-ray to have won the format war because we Audiophiles and/or Videophiles can enjoy the optimum COMBINED Audio & Video experience (with 54Mbps max bandwidth). I can't imagine that with the other format's maximum bandwidth of 36.55Mbps - insufficient indeed.

03-04-2008, 04:56 PM	#14
Ben123 Active Member Member since:Feb 2008 Blu-ray reviews:1	For those that have a BD player that can playback DTS-HD/MA, I just wondering how much better is the lossless sound of DTS-HD/MA compare to the 1.5Mbs DTS "Core" soundtrack? Big difference? Or only audible for those with "golden ears". I'm picky on sound and comparing Dolby TrueHD/PCM lossless with Standard Dolby Digital is a world of difference. But listening to the 1.5mps DTS soundtrack sounds quite good to me on the few Fox BD disc I have. I can't really compare bec I don't have any disc with DTS-HD/MA and PCM/TrueHD in one disc. BTW, I have a PS3 and it doesn't support DTS-HD/MA yet. I'm thinking of getting a standalone player just to get DTS-HD/MA.

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