PS3 - Bitstream or Linear PCM

[screwuhippie]

Hey Smart Folks,

I have a PS3 and a Yamaha Receiver ... decent but not top of the line (forgetting number). What will give me better audio from my PS3 for Blu-Ray discs. The Linear PCM output or the Bitstream Output. I can never quite figure that out ready posts and tutorials. I think I have a learning disability when it comes to that.

Thanks

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by screwuhippie

Hey Smart Folks,

I have a PS3 and a Yamaha Receiver ... decent but not top of the line (forgetting number). What will give me better audio from my PS3 for Blu-Ray discs. The Linear PCM output or the Bitstream Output. I can never quite figure that out ready posts and tutorials. I think I have a learning disability when it comes to that.

Thanks

LPCM, the PS3 will decode the HD audio formats and send to receiver. Just be sure your receiver accepts HDMI and does Multichannel PCM..

[fronn]

If you're using HDMI, then your best bet is picking the LPCM option.

If you using optical/coax then you may as well bitstream, as it doesn't have enough bandwidth in the spec to transfer 6-8 channels of LPCM... it can only handle 2.

[bluJames]

Originally Posted by fronn

If you're using HDMI, then your best bet is picking the LPCM option.

If you using optical/coax then you may as well bitstream, as it doesn't have enough bandwidth in the spec to transfer 6-8 channels of LPCM... it can only handle 2.

sorry I'm a newb at this and I usually search but why not ask the question while you brought up the subject. So what is the better audio cable to use? Optical or HDMI?

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by bluJames

sorry I'm a newb at this and I usually search but why not ask the question while you brought up the subject. So what is the better audio cable to use? Optical or HDMI?

When available, HDMI.

[Collectors Set]

That might depend though on the receiver. When did you get it?? All of Yammy's receivers for example from last years run are HDMI 1.2, so if that is the case, your only option would be PCM.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by Collectors Set

That might depend though on the receiver. When did you get it?? All of Yammy's receivers for example from last years run are HDMI 1.2, so if that is the case, your only option would be PCM.

What other option would he have with an HDMI and the PS3?

[Collectors Set]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

What other option would he have with an HDMI and the PS3?

Maybe someone else more familiar with PS3 can elaborate; my only point was that if his Yammy receiver is not brand new and an older one running HDMI 1.2, you would not be able to bitstream regardless.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by Collectors Set

Maybe someone else more familiar with PS3 can elaborate; my only point was that if his Yammy receiver is not brand new and an older one running HDMI 1.2, you would not be able to bitstream regardless.

Yea, the PS3 cant bitstream HD Formats anyways.

[Collectors Set]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

Yea, the PS3 cant bitstream HD Formats anyways.

Well then question kind of answered itself

[GeneD5]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

Yea, the PS3 cant bitstream HD Formats anyways.

this is correct...the PS3 decodes dolby true hd and dts hd master audio from within the PS3 itself and sends the audio out as PCM.

[kingofgrills]

If his Yamaha receiver does not have an HDMI input that will pass audio, he'll need to use the digital optical cable from the PS3. If that's the case, he should select bitstream on his PS3 menu, and he will receive the DTS core track, and Dolby Digital 5.1.

If his Yamaha does have HDMI inputs he should select linear PCM as the output method from the PS3. That will allow his PS3 to decode all the new lossless audio codecs and pass them through the receiver.

Given the choice, he should always pick HDMI and linear PCM as the preferential choice, if they're available. If not, bitstreaming the traditional Dolby Digital and DTS core tracks over digital optical is the only remaining solution with PS3.

That's about it.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

If his Yamaha receiver does not have an HDMI input that will pass audio, he'll need to use the digital optical cable from the PS3. If that's the case, he should select bitstream on his PS3 menu, and he will receive the DTS core track, and Dolby Digital 5.1.

If his Yamaha does have HDMI inputs he should select linear PCM as the output method from the PS3. That will allow his PS3 to decode all the new lossless audio codecs and pass them through the receiver.

Given the choice, he should always pick HDMI and linear PCM as the preferential choice, if they're available. If not, bitstreaming the traditional Dolby Digital and DTS core tracks over digital optical is the only remaining solution with PS3.

That's about it.

Why couldnt he just leave the LPCM for the core tracks of HD Formats? Is there not enough bandwith with optical to do this? Or does it do it in 2 channel? I forget to be honest.

[bases1616]

Originally Posted by screwuhippie

Hey Smart Folks,

I have a PS3 and a Yamaha Receiver ... decent but not top of the line (forgetting number). What will give me better audio from my PS3 for Blu-Ray discs. The Linear PCM output or the Bitstream Output. I can never quite figure that out ready posts and tutorials. I think I have a learning disability when it comes to that.

Thanks

What cable are you using HDMI or optical? Either way just keep your PS3 on LPCM. There is no reason to go back and forth. Even if you are only using optical the PS3 will decode it and it will just get downgraded when it goes to your receiver. I would recommend getting a receiver that supports at least multichannel PCM. You are missing out on the great audio tracks available on Blu-ray.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by screwuhippie

I have a PS3 and a Yamaha Receiver ... decent but not top of the line (forgetting number).

Please find the model number so we know what we're working with.

[kccarl]

So, taking this in a newer direction, I saw recently that The Doors movie, just reviewed on this site is a 7.1 DTS MA release. I have the yamaha RSV 2700 which doesn't do DTS MA (or True HD for that matter), but does have the ability to receive MPCM. I have my BDP S1 set for this and thus each flick I watch, the yamaha displays MPCM on the display. Right now, with blue ray disks my back 6th and 7th surround speakers don't fire, even if I have also set DolbyIIx.

My question is what do you think will happen if I play the 7.1 DTS MA of The Doors on my system as its set up? With MPCM displayed on the screen, do you expect all 7 speakers to fire?

Thanks,
KCCARL

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by bases1616

What cable are you using HDMI or optical? Either way just keep your PS3 on LPCM. There is no reason to go back and forth. Even if you are only using optical the PS3 will decode it and it will just get downgraded when it goes to your receiver. I would recommend getting a receiver that supports at least multichannel PCM. You are missing out on the great audio tracks available on Blu-ray.

Thats what I thought too, didnt see a reason to switch to Bitstream at all.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

Thats what I thought too, didnt see a reason to switch to Bitstream at all.

Probably so you can apply post-processing such as Dolby Pro Logic IIx.

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

I have a question. Can I still decode DTS MA, True HD, etc. even without a receiver? The settings on my PS3 is already set on Linear 2-Channel (all of them) and of course I'm using HDMI.

[Driver_King]

What would you want to connect it to?