PS3 audio

[jrwagh333]

Hi i cant find a list of all the audio formats the PS3 can decode? dolb hd pcm etc? any help?

[jctash]

There is a place on the ps3 menu itself that allows you to chose, but i think pcm is the only one that it specifically mentions. Its in the audio section where you choose your output settings (hdmi or optical)if you want to check them out choose manual setup but don't save the changes

[LembasBread]

The PS3 decodes Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby TrueHD. It also plays LPCM multi-channel up to 24/96 7.1. For SACD, it also decodes DSD and converts it to LPCM via HDMI.

As of now, the PS3 can only bitstream DD and DTS to be decoded at a dedicated A/V reciever and can only decode TrueHD and pass it as PCM via HDMI or two channel stereo via optical and analog. It neither bitstreams nor decodes DTSHDMA but we're all hoping that it at least decodes that mysterious codec by the end of the year.

[jd13]

Much more than that. PS3 can currently decode all legacy audio, output the LPCM formats, and outputs decoded Dolby True HD as LPCM. PS3 currently cannot decode DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio.

For settings, before the 1.9 firmware, you could leave the HDMI output at Bitstream at all times (helpful if you upconvert a lot of DVDs to allow your receiver to decode legacy audio and not have the PS3 do it), and when choosing Dolby TrueHD, the PS3 would decode and output LPCM. Now, you must actually have HDMI output to PCM to get the decoded Dolby TrueHD audio. Leaving it at bitstream sends out a hidden legacy DD5.1 track.

If you are running Optical/Toslink, always leave the output to bitstream. The legacy audio will be sent to the receiver for processing. Setting it to PCM outputs 2.0 channel PCM audio.

Hope that helps. Check out the following thread for a huge amount of info on this and other PS3 as a BluRay player at AVSForum:

One-and-Only PS3 as Blu-Ray Player Thread

[shatta]

i got a reciever with an optcal input..no hdmi....iv set my ps3 to use the optical output but whata bout the audio options....what will i get if i choose bitstream over pcm and vice versa...i want to get the nice real real 5.1 surround thing

[GarettP]

Originally Posted by shatta

i got a reciever with an optcal input..no hdmi....iv set my ps3 to use the optical output but whata bout the audio options....what will i get if i choose bitstream over pcm and vice versa...i want to get the nice real real 5.1 surround thing

If you only have optical you have to choose bitstream not the Linear PCM, then you will get the nice 5.1 surround thing. Once you upgrade to a receiver that has HDMI, then you will get the really nice 5.1 surround thing called PCM or uncompressed audio!

[shatta]

Originally Posted by GarettP

If you only have optical you have to choose bitstream not the Linear PCM, then you will get the nice 5.1 surround thing. Once you upgrade to a receiver that has HDMI, then you will get the really nice 5.1 surround thing called PCM or uncompressed audio!

ok ..let me go see

[shatta]

thanks man...now this makes u my new best fren ..........i had my thing at linear pcm and i never got the real real 5.1DD..true HD etc...from my reciever.i use to be usin my reciever built equalizer thingy...............THANKS

[shatta]

ok ok i have one more question..........im using the optical output...now i did change the thing to bistream and i can now have the 5.1 whenver im playin dics wiht DD 5.1,, DTS etc.....now when i use choose umcompressed audio on the disc....eg casino royale....the sound get louder but i think i loose the 5.1..what happen there?

is now playin in 2.1 pcm?

however when this happens,,i can now use the reciever surround thing...like matrix, hall, theather...etc....are these just 2 channel tryin to give a 5.1 feel?...or is my receiver decoding something...what is goin on here?

let me know

[LembasBread]

Over optical, LPCM is limited to 2.0 stereo; it doesn't have the bandwidth for multi-channel PCM (5.1 16/48 LPCM is 4.6Mbps compared to 5.1 DD which maxes out @ 640kbps).

Most recievers allow you to use DSP's on PCM signals to create a 5.1-7.1 matrix surround sound with algorithms such as Dolby Pro Logic IIx or Neo: 6. It's not true surround sound and most recievers have shitty DSP's that you don't want your audio going through to maintain optimum quality.

If you want aggressive, multi-channel surround w/ optical, you're best off using lossy DD or DTS. But, if you want the best sound, i.e. uncompressed LPCM, you're limited to a 2-channel mixdown. 'tis a pickle, no doubt about it.

[ryoohki]

Optical :

DD @ 640kbps
DTS @ 1.5mbits
PCM upto 188.4khz in 2 channel (CD)

HDMI :

DD @ 640kbps
DTS @ 1.5mbits
PCM 7.1 upto 96khz
TrueHD 5.1 (in PCM)
SACD (in PCM)
CD (in PCM)

[crackinhedz]

Optical has sufficient bandwidth for lossless audio, it however cannot provide HDCP and is why optical does not support the new codecs.

[shatta]

DAMN...i feel like cryin now... u should see my face.....send me a link to a nice receiver wit the hdmi thingy....i'll by it next month end..........

[jd13]

Originally Posted by shatta

DAMN...i feel like cryin now... u should see my face.....send me a link to a nice receiver wit the hdmi thingy....i'll by it next month end..........

Check out this thread and learn all you ever needed to know about reecivers to play what you want, but were afraid to ask:

5.1/7.1 PCM, HDMI, and DSP - An Explanation of the Future-Proof receiver

[shatta]

i was lookin at dead man's chest last night...my ps3 is was set to bitstream and i was using the dd 5.1 option on the dvd language settin....so my receiver was displayin dolby right..........so when he open the chest i couldnt hear the heartbeat with deep bass ...but what i like was when that head was telling his body.."hey hey follow my voice follow my voice....dats a tree"...the sound came out from the front right speaker only"..which i thought was nice..... ....jus wanted to share that......it was the first time i set up like this so im glad..he he