Dumb Audio Question

[jjsevdt-bd]

Why is DD or DTS bitstream so bad? Wouldn't the PCM track basically be the same, but already decoded? I haven't found too much explanation as to what makes it better.

[GreenMotion]

Originally Posted by jjsevdt-bd

Why is DD or DTS bitstream so bad? Wouldn't the PCM track basically be the same, but already decoded? I haven't found too much explanation as to what makes it better.

No one stated DD or DTS is bad ... It's just that DD and DTS are compressed audio tracks, while uncompressed audio obviously isn't.

Uncompressed audio may give you fuller audio with more finer details.

i.e. the difference between MP3 (compressed) and a regular CD.

[BStecke]

It's not that uncompressed MAY give you fuller audio . . . it DOES give you fuller audio. DD and DTS, as stated above, are compressed audio tracks. Due to this, they will often have a "thin" feeling to them, as well as a tendency to be somewhat harsh at higher volumes. Uncompressed audio will give you a much meatier sound, typically with a lot more range that is easier to listen to at louder volumes. It's not one of those things audiophiles endorse just because it's better from a technical standpoint, it's something every person can distinguish. I was AMAZED at the difference.

[XSilentCobraX]

I was also amazed that the difference was SO big, i first heard Stealth, and in the very beginning of that movie i chould hear that the sound was so much better, its over 50% better id say. PCm uncompressed really blows u away. and it feels soooo good

[CptGreedle]

Speakers do play a big part in audio quality, as an mp3 will sound better than a cd when the cd is played on cheap portable speakers and the mp3 on a high quality Bose (or comparable) system.
But yes, uncompressed does sound better than compressed. I have not compared the two and I would absolutely love to do that, but technically it should be a noticeable difference.
It's funny how, now that we have a nice surround sound system, my wife and I will hear something that sounds like a door or footstep coming from our side and think it's in the house, only to realize it is part of the movie. LOL
I hope to see Gladiator on that system soon, the opening in surround on the DVD totally emerges you into the scene.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by XSilentCobraX

I was also amazed that the difference was SO big, i first heard Stealth, and in the very beginning of that movie i chould hear that the sound was so much better, its over 50% better id say. PCm uncompressed really blows u away. and it feels soooo good

I completely agree.


For audio reference I like to use House of the Flying Daggers (picture quality is so so)...the scene near the beginning where the commander has the blind girl play this game where he throws a peanut (i think?) against various drums settup in a room 360 degrees around...and by the sound she must locate which drum it hit and hit the same drum with her gown....

because the girl is blind, this whole scene is complete audio bliss to help signify her blindness to the audience. Its a WOW. Crank it up and you will shit your pants.

[jermwhl]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Its a WOW. Crank it up and you will shit your pants.

Just make sure you wear a diaper if you have an expensive couch!!!!

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by jermwhl

Just make sure you wear a diaper if you have an expensive couch!!!!

Yeah, I learned that the hard way!

[Ender]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

a high quality Bose (or comparable) system.

How can you write high quality and Bose in the same sentence?

[CptGreedle]

Simple.. better quality than what I have.
My point is the same though... low quality speakers vs high top end quality speakers make a huge difference in the way anything sounds.
But the audio compression is just another factor in the sound quality.
There must be a way to test uncompressed and compressed audio on my system (using yamaha and JBL speakers... until i can afford all JBL).

BTW... I am not an audiophile. I am a videophile. The sound is important, but comes second to the video for me.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

Simple.. better quality than what I have.
My point is the same though... low quality speakers vs high top end quality speakers make a huge difference in the way anything sounds.
But the audio compression is just another factor in the sound quality.
There must be a way to test uncompressed and compressed audio on my system (using yamaha and JBL speakers... until i can afford all JBL).

BTW... I am not an audiophile. I am a videophile. The sound is important, but comes second to the video for me.

Is your Yamaha HDMI? (if so set the ps3 to Linear PCM and listen to an uncopmpressed PCM track)...if not, then youre pretty much outta luck.

[WickyWoo]

Speakers do play a big part in audio quality, as an mp3 will sound better than a cd when the cd is played on cheap portable speakers and the mp3 on a high quality Bose (or comparable) system.

Bose is not high quality. Merely priced as such

http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

[CptGreedle]

of course it's HDMI. Yamaha 6090 (discontinued now).
It does a great job and I got it at a great price. The speakers did not come with it though. I used older ones I had from a previous system that did not support HDMI (which is why i got the new one).
Linear huh? I'll try that.
Thanks.

Bose is not high quality. Merely priced a

I said I am not an audiophile. How should I know? I look at the price. I did hear things about Bose that weren't good ("no highs, no lows... must be Bose") so I prolly still wouldn't get one. But I don't know which ones are high quality, but I know they are out there.
Still, the point is valid. And thanks for the link.

[WickyWoo]

Polk Audio
JBL

Both reasonably priced, quality brands for speakers. You should be able to assemble a great sounding system for 2/3 of what Bose will run you that'll be 10x better.


higher than that you get klipsch, boston acoustics and the like.

[CptGreedle]

Well since 4 of my 9 speakers are JBL, and the rest are Yamaha, I think I am heading in the right direction.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

Well since 4 of my 9 speakers are JBL, and the rest are Yamaha, I think I am heading in the right direction.

I say, your speakers are only as good as your ears!

If you like what you hear, theres nothing wrong with that. I know that speakers play a big part is sound quality, but at what point do you say its good enough? When it sounds good to you.

(room design and layout also plays a big part...)

Only speakers I would'nt recommend are the one's those scammers go around at gas stations and sell out the back of their SUV.


I'll be honest, they got me! and for $200 they did'nt sound too bad.


So again, weather you spend $200 or $2000 for speakers, as long as they sound good to you.

[jjsevdt-bd]

I'm looking at picking up a new receiver, hopefully not at the cost of my marriage so then linear pcm would be better than Dolby True HD and DTSMA from what you all are saying correct?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by jjsevdt-bd

I'm looking at picking up a new receiver, hopefully not at the cost of my marriage so then linear pcm would be better than Dolby True HD and DTSMA from what you all are saying correct?

well, Linear PCM is a way to send the audio to the reciever, bitstream being the other... but there are three high deffinition audio formats, Uncompressed PCM, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master.

You cant really say anyone is better than the other, well because they are different and also uncompressed, so they are all lossles formats.


Now, when looking for a reciever, all you need is a reciever hdmi v1.1 or higher that can process a PCM signal.

Uncompressed PCM is already in pcm format, so no decoding needs to take place, but for Dolby True HD and DTS-HD, they are decoded in the host player (Playstaion 3 for example) into PCM, then sent as Linear PCM to the reciever.


read this article, hopefully it will give you a better idea of what im talking about. In the end, its all high definition audio.


HOW TO: Get uncompressed PCM 5.1/7.1 audio from your PS3!