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

[Blu-Tsunami13]

Hey guys, I've actually been following this site for for almost a year now, but I recently had 2 make an account, so i can give y'all a probable solution to this problem. The thing is I just bought a Next-Gen Receiver (Onkyo 605) on Friday September 12, 2008. And I've been re watching my Blu Collection to enjoy the latest Codecs. After watching Top Gun (Dolby True HD) and Chrono Narnia (PCM 5.1) I decided 2 play a few mp3's on my PS3 last night, and encountered the same problem as y'all. The mp3's only come out of 2 speakers, and the sub, not the other channels. But videos, games, and Blu Rays come out on all speakers just fine.

I didn't want 2 resort to the alt. solution of hooking up an optical to the ps3, because that defeats the purpose of an HDMI cord...right. HDMI supposed 2 be one wire for everything. So I searched a whole bunch of forums to find a solution. To the 2.0 problem for Mp3's/Wav's. If you have an Onkyo 605, or an Onkyo that has a similar Set-up.

Press and hold the Enter button on ur receiver, (not the remote), for about 3 seconds. The display should then say Auto (Hdmi) press enter again then it should say PCM - Hdmi. That will give u the ability of modifying the listening modes, while u have an Hdmi setup for ur ps3.

This way u can take advantage of ur 5.1/7.1 set up when listening to any mp3/wav files on ur ps3. Let me know if u have any questions, this solution is harder to explain on a computer then verbally, u know.

[Kryptron]

Originally Posted by Blu-Tsunami13

Hey guys, I've actually been following this site for for almost a year now, but I recently had 2 make an account, so i can give y'all a probable solution to this problem. The thing is I just bought a Next-Gen Receiver (Onkyo 605) on Friday September 12, 2008. And I've been re watching my Blu Collection to enjoy the latest Codecs. After watching Top Gun (Dolby True HD) and Chrono Narnia (PCM 5.1) I decided 2 play a few mp3's on my PS3 last night, and encountered the same problem as y'all. The mp3's only come out of 2 speakers, and the sub, not the other channels. But videos, games, and Blu Rays come out on all speakers just fine.

I didn't want 2 resort to the alt. solution of hooking up an optical to the ps3, because that defeats the purpose of an HDMI cord...right. HDMI supposed 2 be one wire for everything. So I searched a whole bunch of forums to find a solution. To the 2.0 problem for Mp3's/Wav's. If you have an Onkyo 605, or an Onkyo that has a similar Set-up.

Press and hold the Enter button on ur receiver, (not the remote), for about 3 seconds. The display should then say Auto (Hdmi) press enter again then it should say PCM - Hdmi. That will give u the ability of modifying the listening modes, while u have an Hdmi setup for ur ps3.

This way u can take advantage of ur 5.1/7.1 set up when listening to any mp3/wav files on ur ps3. Let me know if u have any questions, this solution is harder to explain on a computer then verbally, u know.

Thank you kindly for posting that. And Welcome to the boards

[Pelican170]

Maybe im the only one, but why do you wanna listen to 5.1 for music? and i listen to music from my ps3 and it plays fine in stereo with the sub working...Maybe im missing something in this thread?

[Blu-Tsunami13]

Well, yes ur right 2.1 sounds good enough, but why stop there, like the topic creator before I had my next-gen receiver, we were outputting our music with 5.1. So why settle for decreasing ur speaker output for music, I mean we spent tons of money to upgrade our sound system. So we want to do everything we did before, plus more.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by Blu-Tsunami13

Well, yes ur right 2.1 sounds good enough, but why stop there, like the topic creator before I had my next-gen receiver, we were outputting our music with 5.1. So why settle for decreasing ur speaker output for music, I mean we spent tons of money to upgrade our sound system. So we want to do everything we did before, plus more.

Well, i mean, if i were that concerned with the music, i wouldnt be listening to digital in the first place since its one of the worst forms, ya know... Also, i tend to think that for music, stereo sounds better, especially when coming out of towers in the front, compared to smaller speakers in a 5.1 setup...

[Blu-Tsunami13]

Oh yea, i can see ur point. Sometimes, depending on the quality of the mp3, 5.1 won't sound as good. But for the most part my mp3's defiantly tend to take advantage of 5.1 very well.
In most cases the majority of the vocals and the most noticeable instruments tend to come out the front 3 speakers, and of course the sub provides the bass. But the minor instruments and sounds that may not be as dynamic in the beat. Tend to be more noticeable in the rear surround speakers.
But hey man u got the tower speakers, i'm sure they can hold their own.

[SBrooks1]

I would love to be able to listen to my MP3's using setting called Multi Stereo on my Sony 720 receiver. It works fine for anything other than MP3's. It works great for Rock Band! You get to hear the songs in stereo in front of you and behind you.

[Kenshiro]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

Maybe im the only one, but why do you wanna listen to 5.1 for music? and i listen to music from my ps3 and it plays fine in stereo with the sub working...Maybe im missing something in this thread?

I usually listen to music <<in stereo>> when I'm by myself, but when I have friends or guests over I like to listen to music with stereo-surround to fill the room better.

But yeah, like people have said this is a receiver issue. I two receivers, a sony str-dg910 receiver and a denon 2807. The only way for the 910 to play mp3s in 5.1 was to go into the PS3 audio options and force the PS3 into 2.0 PCM. With the 2807 I can select a 7ch-stereo mode even if the PS3 is outputting 2 channel audio in 5.1 mode.