LPCM via PS3?

[Red Pill 101]

I hope I'm asking this in the right place:

I have a friend who wants to get his first home theater system. He has a PS3, and I understand that a PS3 WILL decode DTS-MA and Dolby TrueHD, and that I would want to set the PS3 to LPCM and not bitstream.

That being said, since the player would essentially decode the HD audio codecs, would he still need a receiver capable of decoding DTS-MA, and Dolby TrueHD, or would a lower-end receiver that simply has an HDMI input suffice?

I would think that a receiver capable of decoding standard DTS and Dolby Digital would do the trick being that the receiver would be receiving a LPCM track that is already decoded at the source.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[blue11]

if the audio is set to internally decode on the PS3, the feature to look for in an AVR is PCM over HDMI. that is the feature he would need. the avr doesn't have to decode the HD codecs, as long as it can accept PCM over HDMI. Most new receviers will have this feature nowadays, even for the low-midrange receivers.

[crackinhedz]

Just be aware there are some receivers with an HDMI connection that will not process hdmi audio. These are commonly referred to as "passthrough" systems.

Easy way to avoid purchasing this waste of time system is to let us know here on bluray.com what receiver he is thinking of buying, we can help him make the right choice.

In all honesty, they sell cheap enough HDMI receivers which will decode TrueHD/Dts-HD MA audio...they also will accept multichannel LPCM. Probably in his best interest to get one of these anyway.

[Red Pill 101]

Thank you everyone for the replies.

This is the unit he is considering:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HT-SS2300...6567466&sr=8-2

It looks like it would do the job.

[crackinhedz]

yeah, that looks like it would do the job.

was he looking for something that came with speakers? or does he already have speakers?

[Red Pill 101]

He needs speakers too. He's never had a home theater system before and he's tired of me yelling at him for watching blu-rays through his tv speakers. Price is an issue, and I guess it's a fairly small room as well. The above mentioned system seemed like it would suite him, and he likes the price.

Thanks again for the reply.

[Silverwing]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't only the new slim ps3's able to bitsream True HD? If that is true and you want to use it for that purpose, make sure you have that model.

[solarrdadd]

if your friend has the fat ps3 then he needs to set it to 5 or 7.1 LPCM output that way all the lossless decoding is done oboard the ps3. almost any receiver with HDMI 1.2 or greater will accept LPCM in either the 5 or 7.1 flavor so you'll be fine. no vanity light because it's being send over already decoded and you may see something like this on the receiver, "multichannel LPCM", something like that.

if your friend has the ps3 slim (recently released) then he can either have the decoding done oboard by the ps3 OR he can bitstream the lossless codec over to his receiver to do the decoding there and have the vanity light go on for the respective codec to be displayed. mind you, the receiver then must be able to decode all lossless codecs.

best of luck to ya!

keep us posted!

[Turnda643]

OP, you can tell your friend that he will not be disappointed with this unit. I have the HT-SS2000 model and it does wonders. As long as you set your PS3 to LPCM, then he will get all audio formats and will be in awe. I also had this unit in my bedroom, but now have it in the living room of my apartment. Still, Iam not able to really turn it up cause it rocks more than just the HT area. One thing to let your friend know. I've played around with different speaker placement and have found to get the most out of the HD audio, is to really open up the listening area. I have my front & surround speakers placed at about an 8x8 square right now.

So again, unless (or until) you have a house or good size HT room, this Sony HT system will suffice.

[Turnda643]

Originally Posted by Sooner_Blu

+1

I rarely turn mine up past 24.

++1

Call it weird or just strange physics. But when I had the HT in my bedroom, I was often putting the volume at 28-30. Standard level was 25. But now that I've moved to my own apartment and have it in the living room. I can't put it above 23. Go figure!! Regardless, Iam happy.

[Nielsb90]

Originally Posted by Red Pill 101

Thank you everyone for the replies.

This is the unit he is considering:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HT-SS2300...6567466&sr=8-2

Wow that is CHEAP!
It says ``installation in the Johnson City area´´...
You live there?

[Red Pill 101]

All,

Once again, thank you all for the informative replies.

He does have the 'fat' PS3, and the HTIB came just two days after he ordered it from Amazon. I instructed him on how to set his PS3 for LPCM decoding, and he is very, very happy with his purchase.

As I said earlier, although I've never been there, I understand that his living from is of about medium-small in size. He has never had any time of surround system before, and didn't want to spend a great deal of money.

I'm going to stop over his place sometime this week and check it out. The above mentioned system seems like a really good entry-level, starter home theater.

I'm just somewhat relieved that he is happy with it because he solely went on my advice.

I'll post back with my opinion once I hear it.