PS3 and SACD

[jcs913]

I know the PS3 will play SACD's. What process does it go through to output the sound? If I remember correctly, the PS3 decodes the SACD and send it out as PCM? What level of khz does it send it out as? Can I set the PS3 to send out the audio as a bitstream type, kind of like BD's, and have my Pioneer Elite 92 process the sound, or does the PS3 have to do all the work?

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by jcs913

I know the PS3 will play SACD's.

The 40GB PS3 can't.

What process does it go through to output the sound? If I remember correctly, the PS3 decodes the SACD and send it out as PCM?

DST->DSD->PCM

What level of khz does it send it out as?

44.1kHz, 88.2kHz and 176.4kHz. It's all there in the HDMI audio menu.


Can I set the PS3 to send out the audio as a bitstream type, kind of like BD's, and have my Pioneer Elite 92 process the sound, or does the PS3 have to do all the work?[/QUOTE] No bitstreaming the DSD. The PS3 has to decode.


fuad

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

The 40GB PS3 can't.

DST->DSD->PCM

44.1kHz, 88.2kHz and 176.4kHz. It's all there in the HDMI audio menu.


Can I set the PS3 to send out the audio as a bitstream type, kind of like BD's, and have my Pioneer Elite 92 process the sound, or does the PS3 have to do all the work?

No bitstreaming the DSD. The PS3 has to decode.


fuad[/QUOTE]


I have the original 60gb, which I know does. What I mean in the khz question, I know my receiver can handle all 3 khz selections, but does the PS3 decide how it is output, the disc, or my receiver?

[The Seventh Taylor]

Originally Posted by jcs913

I have the original 60gb, which I know does. What I mean in the khz question, I know my receiver can handle all 3 khz selections, but does the PS3 decide how it is output, the disc, or my receiver?

The PS3 decides, based on the information it gets from the receiver via HDMI. The two devices simply negotiate the best possible connection.

For more info about SACD on PS3 see the PS3 SACD FAQ.

[frenchglen]

I wonder why Sony haven't enabled pure DSD bitstream, it's in the HDMI spec since version 1.2.

I mean, I can't see any reasons for not enabling it, why isn't Sony making it a better SACD player. Yeah it's a small market, but why not make it more competitive in that market. Like ps3sacd.com says, one can only hope for a firmware update, asap.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by jcs913

I have the original 60gb, which I know does. What I mean in the khz question, I know my receiver can handle all 3 khz selections, but does the PS3 decide how it is output, the disc, or my receiver?

You either let the PS3 decide (Auto) or you can decide for it (Manual). I think if you select all three (Manual), the decoding process automatically proceed to the highest sampling frequency meaning 176.4kHz. The Auto process helps the PS3 determine the quality of the DAC in your receiver;older HDMI receivers can only go up to 92kHZ which means that 88.4kHz is about as high as they can go.

It's never the receiver's choice since the PS3 is not bitstreaming. The disc never decides as SACD has a fixed sampling rate unlike DVD-A.


fuad

[kingofgrills]

My current Yamaha receiver is not HDMI equipped (I'm waiting for the HTR-6180 to come down a little bit online), so I can only play SACDs in 2 channel stereo through PS3. In doing so, I use the Multi-AV plugs from the PS3 and deliver the signal to my receiver with full analog stereo output. If you don't have an HDMI equipped receiver, then at the moment this offers the highest resolution for 2 channel SACD playback.

I'd love it if the PS3 enabled DSD bitstreaming, but I'm afraid that won't happen. For the best info on the PS3's SACD playback visit www.ps3sacd.com

[Ectoplasm]

Well, I just purchased an Oppo 980H DVD Player, and compared to the PS3. Sound quality is similar, but I have noticed that the PS3 has a lower center channel level than the Oppo. At first, I thought this made the PS3 seem to have more bass extention, but I learned that when I adjusted the center channel, the Oppo and the PS3 sounded so very similar. I was using digital out through HDMI for both. I couldn't notice a difference between RAW and PCM on the Oppo.

Video is better on the Oppo though. Not by much, but it is better... more clear. Don't sell your PS3 for an Oppo though... it's so close it's not worth bothering over.