Linear PCM vs Bitstream

[LembasBread]

Well, you certainly can bitstream or LPCM the audio, but once PiP comes along the audio from the PiP and from the movie have to be mixed within the player itself.

Second, as I've stated, with today's off the shelf receivers, manufacturers like to add a lot of DSP's that mess around with the quality of the audio. The less DSP's and DAC/ADC's there are in the signal path, the more pure the audio is.

On the rare occasion that you have a 6.1 DTS-ES track (which are very rare when compared to 5.1 DTS tracks) and if you even have a DTS-ES decoder let alone the extra center-surround speaker, then bitstream is necessary on the PS3. But, with the whole confusion of putting it on LPCM or bitstream, most newbies don't even know what that means to begin with let alone what DTS-ES is and how to properly set up the 6.1 configuration. They won't be missing out on that discrete center surround channel anyway. Plus, most receivers have DSP's that matrix in the back surround channels effectively adding that center surround channel from a DTS-ES track that comes in as 5.1 LPCM.

So, if you're a purist who needs that discrete DTS-ES back surround channel, then chances are you know what's the dealy-o and you'll know the difference between bitstream and LPCM and the benefits of each.

If you're player doesn't bitstream (i.e. the PS3) it's safest to leave everything as LPCM to get the full benefit of all the audio it's capable of decoding like Dolby TrueHD and hopefully DTS-HD MA soon.