no 5.1 surround sound coming out of HDMI from PS3

[natieamwong]

Hi, I am new to this site.
I have a problem and really need help. I called Sony technical support but they can't help me and also hung up on me too.
I have a 52" Sony TV, KDL-52W3000, Home theartre system Sony DAV-IS10, PS3 and HD-DVD player.
I used HDMI cable to connect PS3, HD-DVD player to TV (TV has 3 HDMI inputs and 1 optical output) then I used optical cable to connect the TV to Home Theatre (this home theatre DAV-IS10 has only 1 optical input) then I don't receive the true 5.1 surroud sound from that optical cable.
Do you know what is the problem? Why can't I get the DTS, 5.1 Surround sound?

If I connected the optical cable directly from PS3 to Home Theatre then I got the surround sound.

I have looked at the manual, I found some interesting info here it is
"HDMI IN 1/2/3 : Video 480i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 1080/24p / Audio Two channel linear PCM 32,44.1 and 48kHz. 16,20 and 24 bits, Dolby Digital.
AUDIO (HDMI IN 1 only) : 500 m Vrms (100% modulation)/Impedance : 47kilohms."

You will see that they say, "Two channel Linear PCM" so that mean it won't carry 5.1 surround sound right? what about "Dolby Digital", is it a 5.1 Sourround?????

It is very frustrated...really need help.....thanks in advance.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by natieamwong

If I connected the optical cable directly from PS3 to Home Theatre then I got the surround sound.

[ps3 to system] this is how you should have it connected. (you might just need an optical switcher)

If you insist on going from TV to the system, set the PS3 on bitstream, and also your TV on Bitstream (it might be labeled as "dolby digital") ...not sure if you will lose support for Dts this way?

[gearyt]

I " think " that the connection on the tv is an OUTPUT... It is to send DD broadcast signals to an amp... So you need to connect the PS3 to the amp, not the tv
All the TV's I have worked on, have a menu setting to turn this option on

[natieamwong]

The optical switcher sounds good.

Yeah, I set to Bitstream on PS3, no option on TV but it still doesn't work.

Thank you so much.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by natieamwong

The optical switcher sounds good.

Yeah, I set to Bitstream on PS3, no option on TV but it still doesn't work.

Thank you so much.

the option on the tv should be "dolby digital" out.

[beakergeek]

Connections:
1. Use an HDMI cable to connect PS3 to the HDMI INPUT on the Home theater DAV-IS10
2. Use an HDMI cable to connect HD-DVD player to the TV and an optical cable to connect the HD-DVD to the DAV-IS10
3. Use an HDMI cable to connect the OUTPUT on the DAV-IS10 to one of the INUPUTS on the TV.

Settings:
1. PS3 under audio set output format to bitstream
2. HD-DVD player- not sure how yours works but should be able to send audio out via the optical and the video out the HDMI. This way you can send 1080p from HD-DVD player to TV
3. To watch/play PS3 select the HDMI input (1, 2, or 3) on the TV and select the HDMI input on the DAV-IS10

[natieamwong]

Originally Posted by beakergeek

Connections:
1. Use an HDMI cable to connect PS3 to the HDMI INPUT on the Home theater DAV-IS10
2. Use an HDMI cable to connect HD-DVD player to the TV and an optical cable to connect the HD-DVD to the DAV-IS10
3. Use an HDMI cable to connect the OUTPUT on the DAV-IS10 to one of the INUPUTS on the TV.

Settings:
1. PS3 under audio set output format to bitstream
2. HD-DVD player- not sure how yours works but should be able to send audio out via the optical and the video out the HDMI. This way you can send 1080p from HD-DVD player to TV
3. To watch/play PS3 select the HDMI input (1, 2, or 3) on the TV and select the HDMI input on the DAV-IS10

DAV-IS10 has no HDMI input, and has only 1 optical input....sorry I didnot specify that at the beginning.

[natieamwong]

Originally Posted by gearyt

I " think " that the connection on the tv is an OUTPUT... It is to send DD broadcast signals to an amp... So you need to connect the PS3 to the amp, not the tv
All the TV's I have worked on, have a menu setting to turn this option on

Do you mind to explain little more please?

[beakergeek]

Thats odd, I looked at the specs for the sony DAV-IS10 on sony's website and it says that it has 1 hdmi input and 1 hdmi output. Have you looked at the back of the unit recently?

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by natieamwong

Do you mind to explain little more please?

What I have seen is the Optical connector on TV's is to provide an Output to an aux amplifier to tap off the 5.1 sound from the internal off-air receiver, not used as an input to its internal amps and speakers. The port is usually turned on/off thru menu functions such as Dolby Digital "on"

I think you by-passed the audio by hooking up the HDMI from the PS3 to the TV, and then optical back to the AMP. You need to tap the audio at the source , not the destination

hope this helps

[natieamwong]

Originally Posted by beakergeek

Thats odd, I looked at the specs for the sony DAV-IS10 on sony's website and it says that it has 1 hdmi input and 1 hdmi output. Have you looked at the back of the unit recently?

Yes I looked and here is the info

DAV-IS10 home theatre: 1 HDMI output, 1 Optical Input (there is no HDMI input)
KDL-52W3000 TV : 3 HDMIs Input, 1 Optical Output
PS3 : 1 HDMI output, 1 Optical output

[natieamwong]

Originally Posted by gearyt

What I have seen is the Optical connector on TV's is to provide an Output to an aux amplifier to tap off the 5.1 sound from the internal off-air receiver, not used as an input to its internal amps and speakers. The port is usually turned on/off thru menu functions such as Dolby Digital "on"

I think you by-passed the audio by hooking up the HDMI from the PS3 to the TV, and then optical back to the AMP. You need to tap the audio at the source , not the destination

hope this helps

Hi thanks for your advise but what do you mean about your last paragraph???
"tap the audio at the source, not the destination"
thanks again.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by natieamwong

Hi thanks for your advise but what do you mean about your last paragraph???
"tap the audio at the source, not the destination"
thanks again.

Go straight from the player to the receiver with optical cable.

Going from TV to receiver can be a headache for many reasons.

[beakergeek]

Best way to do this is:

Connections
1. HDMI cable from PS3 output to input 1 on your TV
2. Optical cable from PS3 to DAV-IS10
3. HDMI cable from HD-DVD player to input 2 on TV
4. Digital coaxial audio cable from HD-DVD player to DAV-IS10

First check if this will all work, it should based on what you have told me so far. The only question is does the HD-DVD player have a coaxial digital audio output (looks just like an RCA jack) and does the DAV-IS10 have a coaxial digital audio input (according to sony website it does). Let me know if this works then we can work on getting your settings in the HD-DVD, PS3, DAV-IS10 and your TV.

[beakergeek]

One more thing, to enjoy the highest quality audio from HD-DVD and PS3 you will need a new receiver that has multiple HDMI inputs and an HDMI output. Onkyo is the best bang for your buck at less than $500 you will have ALL the latest audio decoding AND the ability to utilize 1080p at 24 frames/sec. I very strongly recommend you get a new receiver since you have already invested in a nice TV, a PS3, and a HD-DVD player.

[ClaytonMG]

Originally Posted by beakergeek

One more thing, to enjoy the highest quality audio from HD-DVD and PS3 you will need a new receiver that has multiple HDMI inputs and an HDMI output. Onkyo is the best bang for your buck at less than $500 you will have ALL the latest audio decoding AND the ability to utilize 1080p at 24 frames/sec. I very strongly recommend you get a new receiver since you have already invested in a nice TV, a PS3, and a HD-DVD player.

But! neither the PS3 or the HD DVD player will be able to bitstream those new audio formats so you don't absolutely need one that decodes everything. However I do recommend it just for a little bit more future proof-ism.

As for the output on the TV, I haven't read all the posts but if it's like my TV (see sig) it will NOT output anything more than PCM 2.0. The TV accepts things like Dolby Digital, but due to copy protection laws, it can only output PCM 2.0.

So what I recommend is to either A - Buy a new reciever with at least 2 HDMI inputs or B - Use component cables (not sure which HD DVD player you have but using component cables actually can result in a better picture, as some HD DVD players don't output all shades of black or color and some even accidently switch the color space output to SD instead of HD resulting in a less colorful picture and other issues) and then if you do that, you optical cables to the reciever. The problem with the optical output on HD DVD is that it does downgrade the audio. I am about 99% sure bass response is somewhat restrained when it switches the audio to regular DTS/Dolby. Anyway, I hope this helps.

[natieamwong]

Originally Posted by beakergeek

Best way to do this is:

Connections
1. HDMI cable from PS3 output to input 1 on your TV
2. Optical cable from PS3 to DAV-IS10
3. HDMI cable from HD-DVD player to input 2 on TV
4. Digital coaxial audio cable from HD-DVD player to DAV-IS10

First check if this will all work, it should based on what you have told me so far. The only question is does the HD-DVD player have a coaxial digital audio output (looks just like an RCA jack) and does the DAV-IS10 have a coaxial digital audio input (according to sony website it does). Let me know if this works then we can work on getting your settings in the HD-DVD, PS3, DAV-IS10 and your TV.

HD-DVD player doesn't have coaxial output (it has only 1 optical output and RCA jack) and you were right DAV-IS10 has 1 coaxial input.

I am thinking to get the Optical switcher for 3 inputs and 1 output so I can connect PS3, HD-DVD player and TV (cable) to optical input and connect 1 optical output to DAV-IS10. I checked ebay it will cost less than $10. What do you think?
If you agree, how should I set up PS3, HD-DVD player, TV and DAV-IS10?
I will need your help on this because I don't understand much about Bitstream and PCM.

I very appreciate your advise.

[emacs]

Originally Posted by natieamwong

how should I set up PS3, HD-DVD player, TV and DAV-IS10?

video
connect PS3 to TV with HDMI
connect HD-DVD player to TV with HDMI

audio
connect PS3 to optical switch with TOSLINK (optical cable)
connect HD-DVD player to optical switch with TOSLINK
connect optical switch to DAV-IS10 with TOSLINK

on the PS3 set audio output to bitstream
on the HD-DVD set audio output to bitstream

you will only get lossy compressed audio (Dolby Digital or DTS) because you are limited to optical cable for audio. if you want Dolby TrueHD and/or DTS-HD Master Audio, get a receiver with at least two (2) HDMI inputs and one output.

[ascian]

To actually answer your question, yes the HDMI and fiber-optic out connections only support 2-channel audio. As previously alluded to, you have to use a direct connection to your receiver for any true surround sound. You could also use an HDMI 1.3 compliant receiver for true lossless audio and simpler connection to receiver and television for your devices. i.e. Only need to switch input on receiver, sends correct sound to speakers and correct video to TV which remains on 1 input.

However, while it is true that the audio using fiber-optic is "lossy" it's still far from terrible as you probably are already aware of. In addition, if your surround sound system is all from a home theater-in-a-box, a receiver replacement is not a worthwhile investment for lossless sound support given the expense and inferior (hey, mine are too) speakers.

[ClaytonMG]

You don't need HDMI 1.3 for true lossless audio. All you need is a reciever that accepts multichannel HDMI and your player can do the decoding (which the HD DVD player and PS3 both require).

I still recommend getting a new reciever over a switcher just for future use and with a switcher, it adds another component which adds more room for error and frustration.