Should the PS3 automatically decode TrueHD to PCM?

[jason_grumpy]

Mods.. feel free to sticky, delete, or move if I didn't set this up correctly..

This poll is paidgeek's request from this thread:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=524

TrueHD decoding with bitstream enabled -- old and new PS3 firmware preferences.

On older PS3 firmware if you had "Dolby Digital 5.1" selected in the PS3 audio options along with bitstreaming, the PS3 would automatically switch to internal decoding for TrueHD selected tracks and pass it via PCM when using HDMI. For those titles with Dolby Digital 5.1 (including DVD) it would bitstream Dolby Digital 5.1+ to the receiver as normal. This was done without any PS3 configuration changes, as the PS3 was smart enough prioritize TrueHD decoding over Dolby Digital 5.1 core's when using Blu Ray.

A recent firmware update changed this priority and ignores TrueHD selected tracks when using bitstreaming. Now if Dolby Digital 5.1 is selected in the PS3 audio menu along with bitstreaming, the PS3 will bitstream the core of the TrueHD track as Dolby Digital 5.1 lossy instead. This can be clearly seen by using the bitrate meter during playback. For an example, use any TrueHD Blu Ray and select "Dolby Digital 5.1" in the audio menu with bitstreaming enabled. My own personal example is Across the Universe as it shows Dolby Digital @448kbps and does not decode TrueHD when DD5.1 is selected in the audio configuration.

To get TrueHD to decode and pass via HDMI with bitstreaming enabled, you first have to go into the PS3 configuration settings and uncheck Dolby Digital 5.1 from the PS3 audio menu before you playback a Blu Ray movie with it. This will then decode TrueHD and pass it via PCM. Unfortunately this also impacts Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks as well. Instead of bitstreaming true "Dolby Digital 5.1" tracks on DVD and Blu Ray, it will internally decode and pass it via PCM as well. This causes issues for DVD's or Blu-Rays with 6.1 mixes, as bitstreaming is the only option to listen to these tracks correctly.

It is an all or nothing approach when Dolby Digital for Dolby Digital AND TrueHD when selected or not in the PS3 audio menu with bitstreaming enabled.

This is a major hindrance for owners of PS3 that do not want to make changes to audio configuration's based on audio codec/disc format while keeping bitstreaming for legacy Dolby Digital 5.1+ (especially 6.1) to their receiver.

Imagine putting in a Blu Ray with TrueHD, selecting the track, and to your horror realize that it is passing Dolby Digital 5.1 lossy instead of lossless. Or having to change to continually switch back and forth between Linear PCM and bitstreaming for legacy tracks and lossless.

I would also assume that DTS HD (when available) will act the same way as TrueHD now does.