Bitstream Or PCM!?!?

[HDFan101]

Okay so i have a DMP-BD30 Panasonic Blu-Ray player and it can't decode the DTS MA Or Dolby True HD. So i have it connected via HDMI to the reciever. When i watch movies it shows on the reciver MULTI CH IN. I was looking through my setup menu on the blu-ray player and noticed that each codec had 2 options, bitstream or pcm. Can someone explain both to me and also what should i use?

BTW : I put DTS-MA on bitstream and my reciever shows DTS-MSTER, something like that.
Also, what is BD-Video Secondary Audio??
Thanks!

[Canada]

I do PCM because I dont have to worry about Bitstream bombs

DTS-MA and DTS-MSTER are bot the same thing they stand for DTS Master Audio

[HDFan101]

I know what it is. What is a bitstream bomb?

[BStecke]

Originally Posted by HDFan101

I know what it is. What is a bitstream bomb?

A couple of years ago there was a problem with certain brands of receivers when decoding a DTS-HD track on a small handful of discs that would cause a very loud noise, or "bomb," that many claimed sounded like a gunshot from their speakers. If I remember right it only happened in some Onkyo, Integra, and Yamaha receivers.

A fix was instituted for the issue quite some time ago . . . I don't really think it's a relevant concern anymore.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by HDFan101

Okay so i have a DMP-BD30 Panasonic Blu-Ray player and it can't decode the DTS MA Or Dolby True HD. So i have it connected via HDMI to the reciever. When i watch movies it shows on the reciver MULTI CH IN. I was looking through my setup menu on the blu-ray player and noticed that each codec had 2 options, bitstream or pcm. Can someone explain both to me and also what should i use?

Without attempting a full explanation, you definitely need to set your BD30 to bitstream. The BD30 does not have decoders for lossless TrueHD and dts-MA. When set to PCM, the BD30 will decode a lower quality lossy track and send that to the receiver. When set to bitstream, the player sends the lossless track to the receiver for decoding. Since your receiver shows DTS-MSTER, that means it has the needed lossless decoders.

Also, what is BD-Video Secondary Audio??

Secondary audio is the audio for PIP commentaries and menu clicks. The audio is not part of the movie soundtrack. The player has to decode the movie soundtrack and mix in the secondary audio. The mix gets sent to the receiver.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Canada

I do PCM because I dont have to worry about Bitstream bombs

But, with a BD30, PCM means settling for lossy audio instead of lossless.

As for bitstream bombs, BStecke's post is quite correct. There was a problem with a few receivers decoding some dts-MA soundtracks. The manufacturers issued firmware fixes for their AVRs. Problem solved.

[HDFan101]

So should i keep it on bitstream and what should i do with BD-Video Secondary Audio, turn it on or off?

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by HDFan101

So should i keep it on bitstream and what should i do with BD-Video Secondary Audio, turn it on or off?

Turn it off. When Secondary audio is on, the player will send DD 5.1 and DTS instead of the lossless codecs. Only turn on Secondary Audio when you want to listen to a PIP commentary. Then, turn it back off to watch movies with lossless audio.

[Blove23]

Originally Posted by BIslander

Without attempting a full explanation, you definitely need to set your BD30 to bitstream. The BD30 does not have decoders for lossless TrueHD and dts-MA. When set to PCM, the BD30 will decode a lower quality lossy track and send that to the receiver. When set to bitstream, the player sends the lossless track to the receiver for decoding. Since your receiver shows DTS-MSTER, that means it has the needed lossless decoders.

Secondary audio is the audio for PIP commentaries and menu clicks. The audio is not part of the movie soundtrack. The player has to decode the movie soundtrack and mix in the secondary audio. The mix gets sent to the receiver.

I never heard or saw this problem with my Pioneer vsx-92thx!

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Blove23

I never heard or saw this problem with my Pioneer vsx-92thx!

What problem? You quoted my post, which was about setting the BD30 player to bitstream to get lossless audio and about the definition of secondary audio.

[HDFan101]

Okay so for all of them im putting back PCM and ill leave secondary audio off unless i want pip commentary. Correct?

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by HDFan101

Okay so for all of them im putting back PCM and ill leave secondary audio off unless i want pip commentary. Correct?

Not sure what you mean about PCM. Set all of the Dolby and DTS outputs to bitstream, not PCM, and leave Secondary Audio turned off.

[rpatt]

I have a DMP-BD30 with a Yamaha receiver. If you want the highest quality audio, use bitstream with secondary audio off. I have installed the latest firmware for both components and have never had a problem with bitstream bombs.

[HDFan101]

Okay im going to set all of the outputs to Bitstream and turn off secondary audio.
Thank You Very Much!
(BIslander)

Edit : I just noticed there were two options under audio :
Dynamic Range Compression
PCM Down Conversion.
They are both set to Off, is that okay?

[ZedsDead]

Originally Posted by HDFan101

Okay im going to set all of the outputs to Bitstream and turn off secondary audio.
Thank You Very Much!
(BIslander)

Edit : I just noticed there were two options under audio :
Dynamic Range Compression
PCM Down Conversion.
They are both set to Off, is that okay?

Both of those should be off.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by HDFan101

Okay im going to set all of the outputs to Bitstream and turn off secondary audio.
Thank You Very Much!
(BIslander)

Glad to help.

Edit : I just noticed there were two options under audio :
Dynamic Range Compression
PCM Down Conversion.
They are both set to Off, is that okay?

They don't matter with bitstream. Those settings affect player decoding for PCM output.

If you are using PCM, DRC would normally be set to Off. DRC is used to boost dialog relative to special effects and helps in some situations.

PCM Down Conversion depends on the capability of the attached AVR.

But, again, those don't matter with a bitstream output. With bitstream, the AVR handles DRC instead of the player.

[HDFan101]

Okay so ill leave it off.