BD players & PCM

[vltor]

I'm new to this stuff and have been reading lots but I just want a clarification... Can all BD players output PCM 5.1? If so, is it only thru HDMI or can it go out analog outs? Thanks.

[WickyWoo]

Absolutely, and it'll work for both

PCM is what Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio end up as once they're decoded

[milou6]

HDMI: Yes, AND almost all hdmi equipped receivers can play back multi-channel pcm. If the player can decode TrueHD or DTS-HD/HDMA etc, it sends it out as multi-channel pcm over hdmi to your receiver.

Analog: Yes, anything the player can decode can be sent out via the analog jacks -- personally I am waiting for a player that can decode all hi-res formats internally and has 7.1 multi-channel analog output.

[vltor]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Absolutely, and it'll work for both

PCM is what Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio end up as once they're decoded

Thanks for the replies...
I thought uncompressed PCM is a different format from TrueHD & DTS-MA? I started looking at what audio is on the BD titles I'm interested in getting first (eg., Black Hawk Down, Casino Royale) and PCM 5.1 is what's listed.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by vltor

I thought uncompressed PCM is a different format from TrueHD & DTS-MA?

It is different...sort of. (easy answer)

When decoded internally by the player, TrueHD and DTS-MA are converted from the encoded format (TrueHD & DTS-MA) into a PCM signal.

An Uncompressed PCM track is simply already in the PCM form. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA can either be converted directly into PCM inside the bluray player, or it can be passed Bitstream from the player (select players) to the receiver which then decodes.


at the end of the day, its all basically PCM.