Audio Setup Help - Getting the best audio possible with my setup. - Blu-ray Forum

ridergroov1 · 12-27-2008, 01:09 PM

Hi folks. I'm trying to achieve the best sound out of my home theater setup. I'm not an audiophile by any means. I know a little but not a lot. Just what I learned in researching a bit before I bought my stuff a few years ago. Anyway, my current Blu Ray setup consists of a PS3, 5.1 Speaker setup, and a Sony STR-DG800 receiver. The receiver has 2 HDMI in and 1 out. I run the HDMI from the PS3 to the receiver which in turn has another HDMI out to the TV. This receiver unfortunately does not do HDMI audio pass-through so I have to use another cable for audio; optical for the PS3. So unless the Blu Ray has DTS audio track, all I get is Dolby 5.1 displayed on the receiver which in reading this morning is a bit old school. I wanted to know if there is a way to get TrueHD sound using this setup. I'm not familiar with PCM and which component does the processing or anything which is why I'm here asking questions. If anyone can help me with my setup, I'd appreciate it greatly. Thanks!

Driver_King · 12-27-2008, 03:29 PM

Unfortunately, you can only get 2.0 Uncompressed PCM with your current system but your receiver may be able to matrix that into all channel or matrix surround. You will need to upgrade your receiver to get the whole shebang.

callas01 · 12-27-2008, 03:39 PM

Personally I cannot find anything when I read up on this receiver as to whether or not it has multi-channel or Linear PCM. I would think that it is only going to have 2 channel, but your manual should tell you. If you don't have the manual, then you can put your PS3 under the audio setup section to "mix" (I think) which will decode the hd audio and send it out as Linear PCM (LPCM). Once again, if you have your manual please verify.... otherwise it needs to be set to "direct".

According to CNET's review of this receiver you have the Sony STR-DG800, it can pass audio and video through one cable, HDMI. According to their review this was done almost primarily for the PS3.

If this receiver in fact cannot process the audio, especially LPCM, then you will need to get a new one for lossless audio. In that case come up with a budget and start auditioning receivers. If you like Sony's then I would suggest that for about $400 you can get the 920. Or for $200 you can get the 720... but from the specs & performance of it all, you will be under-whelmed a bit. For about $250 you can find referbished Onkyo 606's.

Because you have the PS3, your major concern is going to be with a reciever that can decode multi-channel PCM or as sony calls it LPCM. Just about all the receivers on the market can do that now..... except for the extreme low end.

Understand that no matter what receiver you buy, because the PS3 is doing the HD audio decoding, it will only display Linear or Multi-channel PCM, not DD THD or DTS HD MA.

good luck, any questions, please come back, we love to help.

un4gvn94538 · 12-27-2008, 04:12 PM

ridergroov1 · 12-27-2008, 04:44 PM

Alright, I don't really understand what LPCM and whatever the alternative to that is. I don't think this receiver can use the audio from the HDMI, only the video. I remmeber being really pissed about that when I got it so that sucks. I dont' understand what everyone is talking about when they talk about changing the PS3 audio. When I go to the settings for audio, it's a bunch of check boxes and it appears that DTS would be the best it can do? Lost still with this but I think I did figure out that DTS HD and True HD need to come from an HDMI port. Correct?

un4gvn94538 · 12-27-2008, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

Alright, I don't really understand what LPCM and whatever the alternative to that is. I don't think this receiver can use the audio from the HDMI, only the video. I remmeber being really pissed about that when I got it so that sucks. I dont' understand what everyone is talking about when they talk about changing the PS3 audio. When I go to the settings for audio, it's a bunch of check boxes and it appears that DTS would be the best it can do? Lost still with this but I think I did figure out that DTS HD and True HD need to come from an HDMI port. Correct?

correct. multi ch hd audio through hdmi only. there is audio setting for the connection your using and then theres audio settings in the bd/dvd settings (i think they changed the title now) where you would change from bitstream to pcm. if your using optical it should stay at bitstream. pcm selection would be used for hdmi with a pcm compatable reciever. typically.
there are sticky threads in these forums that you can read to catch up on audio formats

12-27-2008, 01:09 PM	#1
ridergroov1 Senior Member Member since:Dec 2008 4K collection:64 Blu-ray collection:70 Blu-ray reviews:1	Audio Setup Help - Getting the best audio possible with my setup. Hi folks. I'm trying to achieve the best sound out of my home theater setup. I'm not an audiophile by any means. I know a little but not a lot. Just what I learned in researching a bit before I bought my stuff a few years ago. Anyway, my current Blu Ray setup consists of a PS3, 5.1 Speaker setup, and a Sony STR-DG800 receiver. The receiver has 2 HDMI in and 1 out. I run the HDMI from the PS3 to the receiver which in turn has another HDMI out to the TV. This receiver unfortunately does not do HDMI audio pass-through so I have to use another cable for audio; optical for the PS3. So unless the Blu Ray has DTS audio track, all I get is Dolby 5.1 displayed on the receiver which in reading this morning is a bit old school. I wanted to know if there is a way to get TrueHD sound using this setup. I'm not familiar with PCM and which component does the processing or anything which is why I'm here asking questions. If anyone can help me with my setup, I'd appreciate it greatly. Thanks!

12-27-2008, 04:12 PM	#4
un4gvn94538 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Limbo (Bakersfield, Ca.) 4K collection:143 Blu-ray collection:811 DVD collection:54 Digital collection:1494 Trading Score:277	all i could find on pcm is in the manual: audio menu perameters on pg 55. but doesnt specify if its 2ch pcm or multi. manual says copyright 2006 so i doubt it can do multi ch pcm.

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12-27-2008, 03:29 PM	#2
Driver_King Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Tampa Bay, Florida Home Theater Gallery:96 Blu-ray collection:28 Trading Score:10	Unfortunately, you can only get 2.0 Uncompressed PCM with your current system but your receiver may be able to matrix that into all channel or matrix surround. You will need to upgrade your receiver to get the whole shebang.

12-27-2008, 03:39 PM	#3
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	Personally I cannot find anything when I read up on this receiver as to whether or not it has multi-channel or Linear PCM. I would think that it is only going to have 2 channel, but your manual should tell you. If you don't have the manual, then you can put your PS3 under the audio setup section to "mix" (I think) which will decode the hd audio and send it out as Linear PCM (LPCM). Once again, if you have your manual please verify.... otherwise it needs to be set to "direct". According to CNET's review of this receiver you have the Sony STR-DG800, it can pass audio and video through one cable, HDMI. According to their review this was done almost primarily for the PS3. If this receiver in fact cannot process the audio, especially LPCM, then you will need to get a new one for lossless audio. In that case come up with a budget and start auditioning receivers. If you like Sony's then I would suggest that for about $400 you can get the 920. Or for $200 you can get the 720... but from the specs & performance of it all, you will be under-whelmed a bit. For about $250 you can find referbished Onkyo 606's. Because you have the PS3, your major concern is going to be with a reciever that can decode multi-channel PCM or as sony calls it LPCM. Just about all the receivers on the market can do that now..... except for the extreme low end. Understand that no matter what receiver you buy, because the PS3 is doing the HD audio decoding, it will only display Linear or Multi-channel PCM, not DD THD or DTS HD MA. good luck, any questions, please come back, we love to help.

12-27-2008, 04:44 PM	#5
ridergroov1 Senior Member Member since:Dec 2008 4K collection:64 Blu-ray collection:70 Blu-ray reviews:1	Alright, I don't really understand what LPCM and whatever the alternative to that is. I don't think this receiver can use the audio from the HDMI, only the video. I remmeber being really pissed about that when I got it so that sucks. I dont' understand what everyone is talking about when they talk about changing the PS3 audio. When I go to the settings for audio, it's a bunch of check boxes and it appears that DTS would be the best it can do? Lost still with this but I think I did figure out that DTS HD and True HD need to come from an HDMI port. Correct?

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