TrueHD, HD Master Audio, or LPCM

[TorpedoShockwave]

Hi I am new this, I am not much familiar with different types of audio formats. My question which is better bitstream, LPCM, TrueHD, or HD Master Audio? Some people said LPCM is the best, then how come FOX’s (HD MA) movies cost more than Disney’s (LPCM)? How about TrueHD versus HD Master Audio, Universal uses TrueHD and their films are much cheaper than FOX’s? I am looking forward to buying a new surround sound system and I need some advice. Can someone please give me the order of these formats from best to worst? I know TrueHD and HD Master Audio will not function over optical audio cable, but will LPCM work over optical cable, and up to how many channels (2.0, 2.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1)? For my PS3, Dish, and X360 I prefer to use optical audio because I want the HDMI directly connected to my TV. Thank you.

[jermwhl]

There are tons of threads on this already. Please use the search function to find them.
I think you'll find a majority of people on this site prefer PCM over everything else.
As for cost...I don't think the audio codec has a direct impact on the pricing of the movies as much as the anticipation for demand does. IMO

PCM 2.1 will go over optical, nothing more.

[JadedRaverLA]

There is no quality difference between the lossless audio formats. DolbyTrueHD and DTS HD-MA are just two different methods of shrinking the file size required for multichannel PCM audio. Once decompressed, both formats produce an identical stream to the original PCM audio stream (dialog normalization, etc., notwithstanding). The advantage is in the lower bandwidth requirement... not in sound quality.

PCM will work at up to 2 channels only over optical cable. You need HDMI to send the digital output to a receiver for any of the lossless formats.

[TorpedoShockwave]

Thanks, but only 2.0, shit that sucks.

[mr.hidef]

You will really want an a/v amp,w/all of these decoders in it...DTS HD Master audio,DTS high resolution audio,Dolby true HD,and Dolby digital plus. I recommend the ONKYO TXSR-805.. [just got one and it is truely AWESOME!!!]. GO to ONKYO'S web site and look at the specs...This reciever has it all.It even has decoding for stuff that all the players[BLU-RAY] can't even output yet..as for your real questions..PCM is an analog format up to 8.1 channels.DTS HD formats,as well as Dolby TRUE HD are all digital formats output through HDMI cables...But you need the decoders in the amp to make it work. PS;PCM[analog] is sent through 5.1 a/v cables. You need a player that has 5.1 analog out jacks on it!. hope I was helpfull....mr.hidef.

[TorpedoShockwave]

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

You will really want an a/v amp,w/all of these decoders in it...DTS HD Master audio,DTS high resolution audio,Dolby true HD,and Dolby digital plus. I recommend the ONKYO TXSR-805.. [just got one and it is truely AWESOME!!!]. GO to ONKYO'S web site and look at the specs...This reciever has it all.It even has decoding for stuff that all the players[BLU-RAY] can't even output yet..as for your real questions..PCM is an analog format up to 8.1 channels.DTS HD formats,as well as Dolby TRUE HD are all digital formats output through HDMI cables...But you need the decoders in the amp to make it work. PS;PCM[analog] is sent through 5.1 a/v cables. You need a player that has 5.1 analog out jacks on it!. hope I was helpfull....mr.hidef.

Thank you, so PCM is analog? Therefore PS3 does not support digital output, since my choices are bitstream or LPCM. My PS3 does not have the option to output TrueHD nor HD Master Audio, my PS3 can only output LPCM and bitstream, and those are analog.

[mr.hidef]

Correct,your PS3 does not encode DTS HD orTRUE HD. PCM is analog uncompressed audio[5.1 a/v jacks on the back of you PS3 you would find..I sounded like yoda!sorry... When studios convert to a digital suondtrack the tracks are then COMPRESSED to a bitstream rate of sound just think of it this way.[A] analog-uncompressed LPCM orPCM.[B] DTS orDOLBY Digital COMPRESSED. If I am still making no sense ..I'llstay on line.. I'm on now!

[TorpedoShockwave]

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

Correct,your PS3 does not encode DTS HD orTRUE HD. PCM is analog uncompressed audio[5.1 a/v jacks on the back of you PS3 you would find..I sounded like yoda!sorry... When studios convert to a digital suondtrack the tracks are then COMPRESSED to a bitstream rate of sound just think of it this way.[A] analog-uncompressed LPCM orPCM.[B] DTS orDOLBY Digital COMPRESSED. If I am still making no sense ..I'llstay on line.. I'm on now!

So the PS3 can only output analog audio only, not digital? Therefore, we would need to wait for a future update for it to support HD MA and THD, which are bitstream? And optical can output 2.0 of LPCM, but what about bitstream, can it do 5.1 over optical? Thanks.

[WickyWoo]

Thank you, so PCM is analog? Therefore PS3 does not support digital output, since my choices are bitstream or LPCM. My PS3 does not have the option to output TrueHD nor HD Master Audio, my PS3 can only output LPCM and bitstream, and those are analog.

PCM is not analog, it is simply raw uncompressed audio data. PCM, or THD/HDMA that has been decoded by the player can than pass this from the analog audio outputs, or over HDMI in digital form. Optical does not have the bandwidth for multichannel audio, and the bitstream forms are only permitted to be passed over HDMI

It is almost certain the PS3 will decode all audio codecs found on Blu-Ray soon enough, so you need a reciever that will accept PCM over HDMI

[TorpedoShockwave]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

PCM is not analog, it is simply raw uncompressed audio data. PCM, or THD/HDMA that has been decoded by the player can than pass this from the analog audio outputs, or over HDMI in digital form. Optical does not have the bandwidth for multichannel audio, and the bitstream forms are only permitted to be passed over HDMI

It is almost certain the PS3 will decode all audio codecs found on Blu-Ray soon enough, so you need a reciever that will accept PCM over HDMI

Optical is digital, and it can only do 2.0 of LPCM, but what about bitstream, can it do 5.1 of it?

Oh, ok, I had posted w/o reading your post revision. But, what is better bitstream or LPCM, since my PS3 gives me these two choices only. Thanks

[mr.hidef]

Your PS3 has an optical cable output on it . This is DIGITAL/OUT. HDMI accepts them all. You should be able to output PCM uncompressed audio through this. Next time you are at the electronics store,turn a blu-ray player around and look for the 5.1 out jacks..that is PCM out[lossless audio!]. Of course to use any of these formats I have discussed ,you MUST first choose them on your "SET UP MENU" before watching the flick!! ...mr.hidef.

[mr.hidef]

Wicky WOO has it right ! sorry, I was typing to fast and might have been confusing..mr.hidef

[TorpedoShockwave]

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

Wicky WOO has it right ! sorry, I was typing to fast and might have been confusing..mr.hidef

So I can only do 5.1 or 7.1 over HDMI only? And optical can only do 2.0. Thanks

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

PCM is not analog, it is simply raw uncompressed audio data. PCM, or THD/HDMA that has been decoded by the player can than pass this from the analog audio outputs, or over HDMI in digital form. Optical does not have the bandwidth for multichannel audio, and the bitstream forms are only permitted to be passed over HDMI

It is almost certain the PS3 will decode all audio codecs found on Blu-Ray soon enough, so you need a reciever that will accept PCM over HDMI

Wait, so if I use my PS3 as the Blu-Ray player, I don't have to worry about buying a receiver that supports DTS HD-MA or Dolby TrueHD as long as the receiver can take PCM? So there'd be no advantage to me buying one of those expensive receivers that will decode those formats then?

[mr.hidef]

Hey wicky..I have aBDP-S1 and I was told that there would never be a software download for DTSHD or DTS/master audio. Now sony is putting out 2 new players with these formats but they skimped on the master audio, and the high res audio...nice huh? Why does sony play so many games with their consumers?...Also 4...count'em 4 new blu-ray recorders...mr.hidef

[TorpedoShockwave]

Originally Posted by Rike255

Wait, so if I use my PS3 as the Blu-Ray player, I don't have to worry about buying a receiver that supports DTS HD-MA or Dolby TrueHD as long as the receiver can take PCM? So there'd be no advantage to me buying one of those expensive receivers that will decode those formats then?

I believe PS3 decodes THD and HDMA, and converts it to LPCM. But if you would want the original THD and HDMA quality you would need to select bitstream, which PS3 currently does not support for THD and HDMA. If you buy a new decoder, it would be useless, since PS3 cannot decode THD and HDMA directly; instead it converts them to LPCM.

[mr.hidef]

NO_NO-NO! the reciever must be able to accept the signals... I can play ghost rider on blu-ray..set on DOLBY TRUEHD and it doesnt come through.I already have the [truehd upgrade in my blu-ray player and it still wont work..bought the amp,the1080ptv, and now I need the right player...]If companies keep this up,people will say forget it,and over time this could hurt the high def video market. these [companies] all need to just put this gear out now all at once or they'll be kicking themselves later..GO BLU!!!..mr.hidef

[thelonecynic]

Actually, TOSLink has enough bandwidth to pass a certain audio stream carrying up to 8-channels of 24-bit 48KHz uncompressed audio. This stream is the ADAT protocol. ADAT streams are no more compressed than LPCM, so there's no reason why 5.1 LPCM can't be passed through TOSLink. The real limitation is the protocol used by consumer equipment, S/PDIF, which is limited in bandwidth to 2-channels at 24-bit 96KHz (maybe up to 192KHz now?). This has always bugged the hell out of me, as I use ADAT streams all the time for multi-track audio recording. I'm actually surprised that no-one has taken advantage of the ADAT protocol for multi-channel audio streaming over TOSLink in consumer equipment.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by TorpedoShockwave

I believe PS3 decodes THD and HDMA, and converts it to LPCM. But if you would want the original THD and HDMA quality you would need to select bitstream, which PS3 currently does not support for THD and HDMA. If you buy a new decoder, it would be useless, since PS3 cannot decode THD and HDMA directly; instead it converts them to LPCM.

The PS3 doesn't decode DTS-HD or DTS-MA.

There's been talk of an update for months but nothing to indicate officially it will happen, at least anytime soon.

The PS3 converts TrueHD and SACD to multichannel PCM: up to 7.1 channels for TrueHD, 5.1 for SACD. Up to 24 bit 192kHz for TrueHD, 176kHz for SACD.

[kabraal]

Well there is probably no merrit in trying to pass it over toslink or s/pdif. Isn't the biggest reason for moving towards HDMI the content protection?