Audio and the PS3

[Slec]

Being that many use the PS3 as their blu-ray player this thread is meant to aid in the setup of your PS3 for optimum performance in the home theater. This thread discusses what the PS3's CURRENT abilities are, not what it has the capability of doing, or may do in the future.

For basics on HD audio, check out the HD Audio and How to get it thread and check out the HD Codecs explained thread.

If you have a 'fat' or older PS3, and you WANT HD AUDIO, YOU WILL NEED TO SET THE PS3 TO LINEAR PCM OVER HDMI TO A COMPATIBLE RECEIVER you cannot bitstream HD audio due to a hardware limitation. The PS3 Slim, however CAN bitstream information. How to achieve this is covered in post #2 below

The full specs of the PS3 can be found on this site for the 60 & 80 gig as well as the 40 gig.
Here's a good read on SACD support for the older PS3 models from blu-ray.com and another from a dedicated PS3 SACD site. <discovery credit to The Seventh Taylor>

Many new receivers have multiple assignable inputs for video and audio. It is important to make sure you go through your receiver's menu system, assign the connections to a corresponding field (CBL/Sat, DVD, Gaming etc...) in order to take advantage of HD codecs.

Setting up for HD audio (7.1 PCM, 5.1 PCM, Dolby TrueHD, DTSHD-MA, DTS, Dolby Digital, 2.0 PCM)

In order to use the PS3 and take advantage of the HD audio codecs you will need a receiver that accepts HDMI 1.1 and also ensure the audio can be transmitted to the receiver (a small segment of receivers only ultilize video switching over HDMI). These receivers start around $350 and go up from there based on options and features. You will of course also need an HDMI cable.

One of the main benefits of an HDMI connection is that it requires one single cable to transmit audio and video. The PS3 has HDMI 1.3a capabilities which means that although it can transmit the benefits of deep color, it is unable to bitstream HD audio codecs. This is a hardware issue an could only be fixed with future models, not firmware. However, the PS3 can decode DTSHD-MA and Dolby TrueHD internally and send out to the receiver as PCM. In order to fully realize HD audio (PCM, DTSHD-MA, & Dolby TrueHD) you should set your PS3 to Linear PCM through HDMI.

As the PS3 has internal decoding, it will be displayed as "PCM" or "Multichannel" on the Receiver.


Make sure to mark your settings
Settings > BD/DVD Settings > BD/DVD Audio Output Format (HDMI) > Linear PCM
Settings > Sound Settings > Audio Output Settings > HDMI > Automatic

If your having trouble with your audio, click Manual under the Sound settings as in the above. This will take you to the output format screen where you can check and uncheck sound formats based on the capabilities of your receiver. You can find this information in the receiver's manual.



*You can also bitstream audio out over HDMI but this will only allow for traditional "lossy" core tracks from Dolby Digital and DTS. In order to take advantage of TrueHD or DTSHD-MA, it MUST be set to 'Linear PCM' (the PS3 will handle internal decoding).

What if I have an HDTV without HDMI?

If you have an older tv that is 480i/480p/1080i and does not accept HDMI, you can still take advantage of HD audio with a compatible receiver. Simply use the Sony provided (or similar) Component out for video and connect the HDMI cable to your compatible receiver and follow the setup stated above. You will most likely have to assign the HDMI input for audio through your receiver. This can be found in your receivers setup menu.


What if I don't have HDMI?

If you don't have and HDMI compatible receiver you can still get surround sound. This can be accomplished in two ways, TOSlink (optical) or Analog (red/white RCA's).

Make sure you set your audio settings to reflect that you are using Optical.
Settings > Sound Settings > Audio Output Settings > Digital Out (Optical)
Settings > BD/DVD Settings > BD/DVD Audio Output Format (Optical Digital) > 'bitstream'

With this selected you will only be able to achieve the traditional "lossy" core tracks from Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 or 2.0 PCM (stereo). If your disc does not list Dolby Digital or DTS alone, have no fear, these tracks are embedded in their lossless counterparts. Choose TrueHD or DTSHD-MA and you will get the core track as long as the settings are as described above.

If you choose to use analog outs (red/white RCA's) you will not get true surround sound. Your receiver will take the audio information from stereo and matrix it out to your 5.1 system so each speaker receives the same signal. This can be found under:
Settings > Sound Settings > Audio Output Settings > "Audio Input Connector / SCART/ AV Multi"

Atlona Tech and Ambery have released eerily similar devices that will de-embed or strip the LPCM from HDMI and output it for use with Analog inputs on a receiver.




Atlona Tech AT-HD570
Audioholics review of AT-HD570
Ambery AU-HDMICP


CD & mp3 playback

When playing a CD or file off the hard drive, update 2.7 has provided a change that allows the PS3 to transmit music as 2.0 PCM. This applies to CD's, mp3's on the hard disk, and music that has been streamed from other sources. This update will allow the music to be matrixed into All Stereo or any other music setting (DSP) available on your receiver.

For those who like to listen in Stereo (which incidentally is how the music was originally recorded), just make sure your receiver is set to Direct, pure direct, or stereo mode.


Linear PCM and Bitstream on the Fly

You can easily toggle between the two settings while the movie is in play. This allows you to switch back and forth without having to stop in the middle of the movie.

Press the Triangle button and go to A/V Settings

Here's a similar article on Engadget, tracked down by Brett_Day