PCM vs. True HD on 300

[cembros]

im watching 300 right now and im switching back between pcm and dolby true hd, and iv noticed that pcm sounds much better than the true hd. Is this the case in all movie, i thought that true hd would be the better of the two.

[stockstar1138]

PCM is uncompressed audio, while TrueHD matches the master bit by bit, it has to go through digital nomilzation. PCM > True HD

[cembros]

i dont really see the point then of putting a true hd soundtrack on the movie. Any receiver that can decode true hd can play pcm audio, so if pcm sounds better why waste disc space by putting on an extra inferior track

[canuckerfan]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

PCM is uncompressed audio, while TrueHD matches the master bit by bit, it has to go through digital nomilzation. PCM > True HD

aren't they identical?

[cembros]

there def not identical the uncompressed runs a t 4.6mbps and true hd runs at 1.9

[cpgator]

Originally Posted by cembros

there def not identical the uncompressed runs a t 4.6mbps and true hd runs at 1.9

I think the idea is that they sound identical, not that the mbps are always identical. Though if given the choice, I would always choose PCM.

[TigerShark]

Originally Posted by cembros

im watching 300 right now and im switching back between pcm and dolby true hd, and iv noticed that pcm sounds much better than the true hd. Is this the case in all movie, i thought that true hd would be the better of the two.

Did you use a PS3? Because PS3 does not directly support TrueHD, it converts it to LPCM first; maybe this is the reason why it did not sound that great.

Anyways PCM = Dolby TrueHD = DTS HD Master Audio

[ryoohki]

If you are using a PS3... PCM is 4db louder than DD TrueHD.

Louder = More quality to the ear, while it's just.. Louder... every TrueHD track sound be equalized +4db when doing comparison.

TrueHD is a ZIP File like container

a 22k .DOC is the same as the 2k.ZIP winzip create from it. There's no difference.

[owa]

Originally Posted by TigerShark

Did you use a PS3? Because PS3 does not directly support TrueHD, it converts it to LPCM first; maybe this is the reason why it did not sound that great.

Yes it does. Just because it's decoded on the PS3 instead of being passed to a receiver to do the decoding doesn't mean it's not directly supported. There should be no difference having the PS3 decode it versus the receiver decoding it (they're both doing the same thing).

Except for maybe volume level differences, PCM and TrueHD should sound the same although some people have mentioned one or the other sounding better to them (not sure why though).

[blurayisking]

In case your using the Sony BDP-S300, the unit does not fully decode Dolby Digital True HD. You only get the default core Dolby Digital track which is the same thing as listening to regular Dolby Digital . Check your manufacture specs for the player on page 48 of the manual and you will see that 5.1 Chan Dolby Digital True HD is passed as 5.1 Chan Dolby Digital bitstream via the digital output, 5.1 channel analog via the analog outputs or 5.1 ch LPCM via the HDMI output. You cannot pass 5.1 LPCM via the digital output. (only 2 channel LPCM is capable via the digital output) providing the player's setup menu is set to output PCM rather than bitstream.

A true uncompressed 5.1 PCM audio soundtrack sent via 5.1 analog inputs to your receiver is the best audio you can get from the BDP-S300 player. Yes, the 5.1 uncompressed PCM audio is louder and is more distinct and clearer.

[cembros]

i have a ps3 and it defiently does decode dolby true hd, it just doesnt sound as good as pcm

[Grim Reaper]

my crappy receiver wont play nothing above DTS.

[stockstar1138]

True HD uses dialog normilaztion as well as Dynamic range compresseion. Dynamic range compression also called DRC (often seen in DVD player settings), audio level compression, volume compression, compression, or limiting, is a process that manipulates the dynamic range of an audio signal.

While PCMspecifies that the values stored are proportional to the amplitudes, rather than representing say the logarithm of the amplitude, or being related in some other manner. In practice these values will be quantized. Theoretically, there is no loss or error in conversion and reconstruction

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Grim Reaper

my crappy receiver wont play nothing above DTS.

whats the model number and how do you have it connected? HDMI, Optical? what bluray player used?

[Sonny]

I'd take PCM any day

[Grim Reaper]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

whats the model number and how do you have it connected? HDMI, Optical? what bluray player used?

harman kardon avr 146
ps3
hdmi
optical

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

True HD uses dialog normilaztion as well as Dynamic range compresseion. Dynamic range compression also called DRC (often seen in DVD player settings), audio level compression, volume compression, compression, or limiting, is a process that manipulates the dynamic range of an audio signal.

While PCMspecifies that the values stored are proportional to the amplitudes, rather than representing say the logarithm of the amplitude, or being related in some other manner. In practice these values will be quantized. Theoretically, there is no loss or error in conversion and reconstruction

Dialog Norm is not use on Sony Title...

DRC is a Metadata that is determinated by the Receiver. You can set it at LOW (NIGHT MODE), NORM or HIGH. If you're a decoding it inside the receiver, you should let it to Normal or the defaut setting.

This fonction is great for Night Mode..

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

Dialog Norm is not use on Sony Title...

DRC is a Metadata that is determinated by the Receiver. You can set it at LOW (NIGHT MODE), NORM or HIGH. If you're a decoding it inside the receiver, you should let it to Normal or the defaut setting.

This fonction is great for Night Mode..

do you know whats up with Sony now using TrueHD instead of PCM.

[owa]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

do you know whats up with Sony now using TrueHD instead of PCM.

If you check the insiders thread, I think it was mentioned they would be transitioning to TrueHD. I think it was paidgeek that said it and it was probably in the thread that is archived now.

[stockstar1138]

also, this is a WB title, so it very well could have used dialog norm, making th e difference quality.