wihat is the difference between bitstream and PCM on the PS3

[paulca]

I cannot even choose the bitstream option when choosing the optical output it just says some of the audio on the disc will not play. Which is the best option the PCM or bitstream - and how does one choose the bitstream option?

[ProvenFlipper]

Bitstream sends the audio to the reciever to be decoded, PCM makes the PS3 do the decoding of the audio.

[dewey79]

In my experience, bistream gives you a more liffe like sound with carity. I have a sony reciever.

[JBlacklow]

Originally Posted by dewey79

In my experience, bistream gives you a more liffe like sound with carity. I have a sony reciever.

It doesn't have anything to do with sound quality, per se. IIRC, If you're outputting over optical, bitstream downmixes PCM to 2-channel or DTS-HD to regular DTS. Moving to HDMI gives you full lossless and DTS-HD @ 1.5Mbps.

[takezo]

Originally Posted by paulca

I cannot even choose the bitstream option when choosing the optical output it just says some of the audio on the disc will not play. Which is the best option the PCM or bitstream - and how does one choose the bitstream option?

Uh you should be able to choose bitstream, cause thats how I got my audio set up via optical. Just note that PCM over optical will only alow stereo playback. Only HDMI suports 5.1 PCM audio.