PCM with PS3

[ShootingBlanks]

Hello. I was wondering if there's some certain audio settings somewhere in the PS3's system settings that make the uncompressed PCM audio tracks on Blu Ray Discs available?...

...the Dolby 5.1 tracks work fine, but when I switch to uncompressed PCM on any disk, then it just plays out of my L/R front speakers (like I was watching any SD television channel).

Is it possible that my receiver doesn't support that option? It's a Yamaha receiver that's not even two years old (I wish I had the model number, but I'm at the office and not at home, so I don't).

Thanks!

[turboLAZER]

Originally Posted by ShootingBlanks

Hello. I was wondering if there's some certain audio settings somewhere in the PS3's system settings that make the uncompressed PCM audio tracks on Blu Ray Discs available?...

...the Dolby 5.1 tracks work fine, but when I switch to uncompressed PCM on any disk, then it just plays out of my L/R front speakers (like I was watching any SD television channel).

Is it possible that my receiver doesn't support that option? It's a Yamaha receiver that's not even two years old (I wish I had the model number, but I'm at the office and not at home, so I don't).

Thanks!

5.1 uncompressed PCM requires an HDMI connection to the audio receiver

then go though the audio setup on your ps3 to select audio output formats you want to use

[nhaase]

As turboLAZER said, you need the HDMI connection for that. How is your PS3 hooked up to the receiver? Is it optical or HDMI for audio? If it's optical, that does not support the bandwidth needed for lossless surround sound.

[ShootingBlanks]

Ahhhh - it's optical...

...I have the HDMI hookup to my TV (for the video), and then that's the only HDMI port on the PS3, so for audio to my receiver I had no choice but to use optical. My receiver does have an HDMI input, though. How would I work around this? Wouldn't the PS3 need another HDMI output port?

[David Craig]

HDMI from PS/3 to receiver "in" jack.

HDMI from receiver "out" jack to the screen.

On the PS/3 you probably need to change from BitStream to Linear PCM.

With all that you will get 5.1 PCM. Without it you get 2.0 as you found out.

The only drawback is that the receiver must be on to get an image. I.E. you can't just watch TV with the TV speakers and the receiver off.

[cartier]

If the receiver has an HDMI in makes sure it has an HDMI out, then run an HDMI from PS3 to receiver then another from the receiver to the TV.

[ShootingBlanks]

Originally Posted by cartier

If the receiver has an HDMI in makes sure it has an HDMI out, then run an HDMI from PS3 to receiver then another from the receiver to the TV.

I'm not positive (I'll have to check when I get home), but I THINK it only has HDMI in (and component out)...

...so, in your opinion, would it be better to:

* Keep what I have now (HDMI video and optical audio)?

OR

* Move to HDMI audio (so I can get PCM sound) but then only have component video going out from the receiver?

I mean, does PCM make THAT big of a difference over Dolby Digital with an optical cable? A big enough difference that I should sacrifice the HDMI video signal for a component video?

[tofur69]

Most HD tv's cannot do 1080P with component video hookups. The usual will be 1080i. Most sets need the HDMI to get the 1080P. If you have a REALLY good receiver and great speakers, uncompressed PCM is the way to go. If your equipment is so-so, then stick with the optical.

[ShootingBlanks]

I should note, then, that this particular TV maxes out at 1080i. Does that affect your advice? Should I still just stick to how I currently have it set up with optical audio and HDMI video? It's a 60" tv (LCD rear-projection), so that's why I wanted the quality to be as best as I could (with HDMI), since you'll probably notice it more on a TV that size.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by ShootingBlanks

I should note, then, that this particular TV maxes out at 1080i. Does that affect your advice? Should I still just stick to how I currently have it set up with optical audio and HDMI video? It's a 60" tv (LCD rear-projection), so that's why I wanted the quality to be as best as I could (with HDMI), since you'll probably notice it more on a TV that size.

If you've got a good speaker setup, you'll definitely hear a big difference between regular Dolby Digital/DTS and uncompressed PCM/decoded Dolby TrueHD.

Since you said that your TV maxes out at 1080i (please verify) and that your receiver does not have HDMI out, then it would be better to use the HDMI output on your PS3 to deliver audio only and component cables to your HDTV. If your receiver can handle audio and video via HDMI, then use that.


fuad

[ShootingBlanks]

Yeah - the TV in question is definitely 1080i (and the receiver definitely dow not have HDMI outputs - only HDMI inputs and component outputs). So, if I won't see any difference in 1080i video quality with component vs. HDMI, then I guess I'll switch that all around. Thanks!

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by ShootingBlanks

I should note, then, that this particular TV maxes out at 1080i. Does that affect your advice? Should I still just stick to how I currently have it set up with optical audio and HDMI video? It's a 60" tv (LCD rear-projection), so that's why I wanted the quality to be as best as I could (with HDMI), since you'll probably notice it more on a TV that size.

Which Yamaha model receiver do you have? I have my PS3 running through my HTR-5960 via the optical inputs. Your receiver should have 192 khz DACs inside, so you should be able to up the sampling rate in the PS3's audio setup menus to 170 khz or so without a problem. When I do this on mine and select uncompressed PCM soundtracks, it decodes it using the DTS CODEC in my receiver. It's not fully uncompressed like you'll find with the true lossless formats, but it does sound better than conventional Dolby Digital OR DTS 5.1 tracks.

Also, if you listen to Super Audio CDs at all, hook up the PS3's multi/AV output as well, connecting the left and right audio jacks to the audio in side of your receiver. You can then select the multi-av output option from the PS3's menu to enjoy 2 channel SACD playback. In addition to being a great blu-ray player, the PS3 is also a great SACD and CD player too.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

Which Yamaha model receiver do you have?

yeah we gotta know what model is your Yamaha, to determine if it can even utilize HDMI audio...

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by ShootingBlanks

I'm not positive (I'll have to check when I get home), but I THINK it only has HDMI in (and component out)...

...so, in your opinion, would it be better to:

Which model receiver do you have? It would seem to be strange to me for a receiver to have an HDMI input and not have an HDMI output, but I guess it made sense to somebody at some point to design such a thing.

But if you give the model number, there probably is more then a few here that will know exactly what it can do and how it should be setup

[Anthony_b]

I have an older Yammie using optical for sound from my PS3. Half of the time I select the PCM track and set my receiver to DPLII and I think it sounds better than the 640k DD 5.1 track.

[jcdennis]

Originally Posted by ShootingBlanks

Yeah - the TV in question is definitely 1080i (and the receiver definitely dow not have HDMI outputs - only HDMI inputs and component outputs). So, if I won't see any difference in 1080i video quality with component vs. HDMI, then I guess I'll switch that all around. Thanks!

Just throwing this out there… but if the TV’s maximum resolution is 1080i, then I would think you’ll find there is no difference at all between the signal via HDMI vs component.

It follows then that if your Yamaha receiver does have an HDMI (in) port then you have nothing to loose, and possibly PCM to gain, by changing how it’s wired to component video, and HDMI audio.

My two cents….

In short, I think you're on the right track.

[ShootingBlanks]

Thanks for all the great input, everyone!

My receiver is a "YAMAHA HTR-5960"....does that help anyone to provide me with a final definitive answer?

I think "KingOfGrills" had the same model, so if you can either post or PM me with the exact settings that you're using (on both the receiver and the PS3) to get the uncompressed PCM sound, it'd be much appreciated. Thanks again!!!

[LUkassZ]

Originally Posted by ShootingBlanks

Thanks for all the great input, everyone!

My receiver is a "YAMAHA HTR-5960"....does that help anyone to provide me with a final definitive answer?

I think "KingOfGrills" had the same model, so if you can either post or PM me with the exact settings that you're using (on both the receiver and the PS3) to get the uncompressed PCM sound, it'd be much appreciated. Thanks again!!!

To clear some things up: Firstly, they would never make a receiver with HDMI in without and HDMI out, EVER! Second, your receiver has NO HDMI capability at all. Thirdly, anyone looking to go with PCM/uncompressed, don't let receivers fool you when they claim to have HDMI capabilities. Many many receivers have HDMI, but its only video pass-through. They started this for people with more than one HDMI source, so they could run it into the receiver and have only one HDMI cable running to their TV's.

To get PCM you have to make sure the receiver handles HDMI video AND audio. If you see the words "pass-through" walk away!

[LUkassZ]

On a side note, the Onkyo tx-sr605 is rocking V1.3, what all the audiophiles have been waiting for. I think it retails for $550 but is always on sale from circuit city for $450.

[egon_spengler]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

Also, if you listen to Super Audio CDs at all, hook up the PS3's multi/AV output as well, connecting the left and right audio jacks to the audio in side of your receiver. You can then select the multi-av output option from the PS3's menu to enjoy 2 channel SACD playback. In addition to being a great blu-ray player, the PS3 is also a great SACD and CD player too.

As of version 2.01 you can listen to the 2 channel PCM via optical. (Multichannel will downmix to 2 channel). Version 2.00 would actually downmix the multichannel to DTS or Dolby 5.1 via optical, but for reasons still unexplained 2.01 removed this feature and left us with only the 2 channel. Which is still okay, because at least it saves going to the sound menu and changing the audio output everytime you want to listen to a disc. What we really want is the SACD multichannel thru DTS or DD back!!! (Not all of us can afford HDMI amps at the moment)