No Surround: PS3 (LPCM) and Sony STR DG720 - Blu-ray Forum

ueberbill · 05-01-2009, 07:39 PM

I've hooked up my ps3 with an HDMI cable to my brand new Sony STR DG720 which is my first HDMI-switching receiver so I was picturing ear-melting surround. The problem is that I can't get any. The ps3's audio setting is set to auto and the STR sees the audio coming in and automatically opts for Linear PCM, 48 hertz. It sounds great out of the fronts, the center, and the sub, but I get nothing out of the surround speakers. I'm not going 7.1 initially, just trying to get the plain ol' surrounds working. But nothing- the menu options around the surround speakers are greyed-out. The test tone feature of this receiver has plays sound of both surround left and right so I know they're hooked up correctly. Is there something I'm missing. I'll be happy to provide more detail if needed. Thanks a lot.

DeadDog · 05-01-2009, 07:46 PM

First make sure the PS3 is outputting audio in Linear PCM not Bitstreaming.

What movie are you playing to hear your surrounds working? If you listening to music you won't hear anything in the surrounds unless you change the listening mode on the reciever.

crackinhedz · 05-01-2009, 09:31 PM

pg.21 user manual

set "Audio For HDMI" to "Amp" only. (not AMP+TV)

Give that a try.

circuitmage · 05-14-2009, 05:47 PM

I have the same receiver and had the same issues. I upgraded from 5.1 to the DG720 and 7.1 and notice a few issues.

First, there is no avoiding some PCM48 from the PS3. I've called, emailed and searched. That's just the way it is for some apps. Mainly, it's the opening screen and when you put a game disk in that plays the AV clip in a loop. It will show PCM 48 and sound like bad stereo. It seems the opening screen and the game disk loops are optimized for 5.1 DD processing (??).

The good news is, almost everything else sounds great and has excellent sound processing...all the way up to 7.1. And, you still have control over where the audio is set to come from and what kind of process you want. You COULD use your optic cable for audio from the PS3. The video is still excellent and much improved. I don't use the optic cable cause I set up 7.1 speakers.

When you play a movie or MP3, you will see DDII or DDIIx kick in. Very nice.

And, with LPCM set for your Bluerays, you will SEE PCM48 on your receiver, but you will HEAR 7.1 (as the PS3 is decoding it and sending it to your receiver).

The major difference is when you turn OFF dynamic range control on the PS3. Bluerays and DVDs then shine. It is default set to AUTOMATIC and definitly sounds bad through HDMI.

Aside from the opening screen sound issue, the only other issue I am seeing is with Warhawk. It detects the 7.1 LPCM option, and sounds great when using that, but when I also play an mp3 while playing the game, the mp3 sound is NOT processed, and doesn't sound as good as DD. Some MP3's still sound OK, so it may also be an issue with the quality of my MP3s. BUT , straight from the MP3 menu, they ARE processed in DD and sound really really good...better than my OLD Sony receiver.

If anyone see corrections with my comments, please chime in...been workin on this for a few weeks. I think I've gotten as far as I can get in dealing with the PCM 48 from the PS3.

05-01-2009, 07:39 PM	#1
ueberbill New Member Member since:May 2009	No Surround: PS3 (LPCM) and Sony STR DG720 I've hooked up my ps3 with an HDMI cable to my brand new Sony STR DG720 which is my first HDMI-switching receiver so I was picturing ear-melting surround. The problem is that I can't get any. The ps3's audio setting is set to auto and the STR sees the audio coming in and automatically opts for Linear PCM, 48 hertz. It sounds great out of the fronts, the center, and the sub, but I get nothing out of the surround speakers. I'm not going 7.1 initially, just trying to get the plain ol' surrounds working. But nothing- the menu options around the surround speakers are greyed-out. The test tone feature of this receiver has plays sound of both surround left and right so I know they're hooked up correctly. Is there something I'm missing. I'll be happy to provide more detail if needed. Thanks a lot.

05-01-2009, 09:31 PM	#3
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	pg.21 user manual set "Audio For HDMI" to "Amp" only. (not AMP+TV) Give that a try. Last edited by crackinhedz; 05-01-2009 at 09:34 PM.

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05-01-2009, 07:46 PM	#2
DeadDog Power Member Top contributor Member since:Jul 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:355 Digital collection:96 iTunes collection:125 Trading Score:360	First make sure the PS3 is outputting audio in Linear PCM not Bitstreaming. What movie are you playing to hear your surrounds working? If you listening to music you won't hear anything in the surrounds unless you change the listening mode on the reciever.

05-14-2009, 05:47 PM	#4
circuitmage New Member Member since:May 2009	I have the same receiver and had the same issues. I upgraded from 5.1 to the DG720 and 7.1 and notice a few issues. First, there is no avoiding some PCM48 from the PS3. I've called, emailed and searched. That's just the way it is for some apps. Mainly, it's the opening screen and when you put a game disk in that plays the AV clip in a loop. It will show PCM 48 and sound like bad stereo. It seems the opening screen and the game disk loops are optimized for 5.1 DD processing (??). The good news is, almost everything else sounds great and has excellent sound processing...all the way up to 7.1. And, you still have control over where the audio is set to come from and what kind of process you want. You COULD use your optic cable for audio from the PS3. The video is still excellent and much improved. I don't use the optic cable cause I set up 7.1 speakers. When you play a movie or MP3, you will see DDII or DDIIx kick in. Very nice. And, with LPCM set for your Bluerays, you will SEE PCM48 on your receiver, but you will HEAR 7.1 (as the PS3 is decoding it and sending it to your receiver). The major difference is when you turn OFF dynamic range control on the PS3. Bluerays and DVDs then shine. It is default set to AUTOMATIC and definitly sounds bad through HDMI. Aside from the opening screen sound issue, the only other issue I am seeing is with Warhawk. It detects the 7.1 LPCM option, and sounds great when using that, but when I also play an mp3 while playing the game, the mp3 sound is NOT processed, and doesn't sound as good as DD. Some MP3's still sound OK, so it may also be an issue with the quality of my MP3s. BUT , straight from the MP3 menu, they ARE processed in DD and sound really really good...better than my OLD Sony receiver. If anyone see corrections with my comments, please chime in...been workin on this for a few weeks. I think I've gotten as far as I can get in dealing with the PCM 48 from the PS3.

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