how to prevent PS3 from outputting MP3/WAV in PCM 5.1 channels?

[Durentis]

I have this same problem streaming music/video from TVersity and haven't figured out a solution yet. I thought it might be my computer transcoding it as 5.1, but that wouldn't be the case if you're getting the same thing from an MP3 saved on your PS3.

The workaround, however annoying, is good to know though, thanks.

To those above who think it's a receiver setting or nothing to worry about, it's not. It's nice to have bass coming through the sub and the rest from the other 5-7 speakers. Try listening to Black Velvet with no sub, for example.. weak!

Because the PS3 is sending a 5.1 signal, you cannot set the receiver to PL or other similar audio processors to make the subwoofer and other speakers work. Why would the receiver think it's getting 2.0 just because 3.1 channels are silent when the PS3 is telling it to play all 5.1 channels? Why would it allow you to spread the two audible channels over channels it expects to be silent?

Sounds to me like a bug in the PS3 firmware - intentional or otherwise - and I hope Sony fixes it. There's no reason for it to output a stereo encoding as 5.1 PCM. It should output as 2.0 and let the receiver decide where to send the audio.

/me glares in Sony's general direction.