PS3 and Dolby True HD Question... - Blu-ray Forum

Zaphod · 05-30-2007, 01:09 AM

Does anyone know, or have heard of, whether you can disable the onboard Dolby TrueHD decoding? Or has anyone heard or know if this would be obtainable through a firmware update. I want to buy one of the new Onkyo receivers that have the decoding but am skeptical with the PS3 doing the decoding and then passing the audio out already decoded.

My next question with this is would then the audio that goes to the receiver already decoded be any less of quality as opposed to the Onkyo receiver doing the actual decoding? Or would the audio quality be extremely degraded or even that the receiver may try to downsample to a lossy format or worse of all the possibility of it not working since the receiver will try to decode what is already decoded.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

BTBuck1 · 05-30-2007, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaphod

Does anyone know, or have heard of, whether you can disable the onboard Dolby TrueHD decoding? Or has anyone heard or know if this would be obtainable through a firmware update. I want to buy one of the new Onkyo receivers that have the decoding but am skeptical with the PS3 doing the decoding and then passing the audio out already decoded.

The onkyo will receive the TruHD signal as PCM. The ps3 is unable(at this time) to bitstream the TruHD track to a receiver, so you will just be letting the player (ps3) do the decoding before it gets to the receiver.

Quote:

My next question with this is would then the audio that goes to the receiver already decoded be any less of quality as opposed to the Onkyo receiver doing the actual decoding? Or would the audio quality be extremely degraded or even that the receiver may try to downsample to a lossy format or worse of all the possibility of it not working since the receiver will try to decode what is already decoded.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Imagine it as a file, wether it is opened here or there...the same contents are in the package.

Zaphod · 05-30-2007, 03:47 AM

Thank you for the reply, so let me ask this then...

Currently my setup is a Onkyo receiver, which has no HDMI pass through, and the audio from my PS3 is through the optical, running at 5.1. Is it safe to say that I would not need to buy one of the newer suped up Onkyo models that inclue Dolby TrueHD or DTS Master HD (since not supported by the PS3 yet), and just buy one of the other models with 1.3 HDMI w/o the decoders for those two audio codecs, and the audio will run fine via HDMI with uncompressed 5.1 PCM, and not lose much in the audio department by not going with the higher $1000 receiver?

Thanks in advance.

ClaytonMG · 05-30-2007, 04:18 AM

Technically, you don't even need HDMI 1.3. If the player decodes it, you can use HDMI 1.1 and it will decode it and send it as a PCM track. However, nothing as far as players go decodes DTS-HDMA at the moment so getting a reciever that does might not be a bad idea. Unless you plan on getting another player down the road that decodes it.

mainman · 05-30-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTBuck1

The onkyo will receive the TruHD signal as PCM. The ps3 is unable(at this time) to bitstream the TruHD track to a receiver, so you will just be letting the player (ps3) do the decoding before it gets to the receiver.

As far as I know, the PS3 is able to do bitstream output.

If you go to:
Settings - BD/DVD settings - BD/DVD audio output format (HDMI):
here you can select bitstream or linear PCM.

But I dont know if it will output bitstream when playing games, but it should be bitstream when watching movies.

ClaytonMG · 05-30-2007, 04:46 PM

But I wonder if that Bitstream out actually works for things like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD. It might just make it bitstream like it would be if it were an optical output.

inaz4sun · 05-30-2007, 05:42 PM

I don't know the difference between those two settings, but I found out last night that when trying to watch a DVD that had Dolby 5.1 and DTS using Linear PCM it kept cutting out. So I switched it to Bitstream and it worked perfectly, out putting both to my receiver correctly via optical connection.

Luis_A51 · 06-01-2007, 07:23 PM

Optical cable does not have the bandwith to output 5.1 channel PCM. It can however send the signal as bitstream. That is why it kept cutting out. Optical can only transfer 2.0 channel PCM.

In order to get Dolby TrueHD from your PS3, you need an HDMI cable and a receiver that accepts 5.1 LPCM (or even 7.1 LPCM, although there are very few sources). This is the most important feature you should be looking for. Older receiver cannot do this, because they never had any reason to (since optical can only carry 2.0 LPCM)

Additionally, some audio features may not function properly when you use a receiver to decode the audio as opposed to the PS3. Therefore using the PS3 to decode is superior in terms of function, and also in terms of choice (more receiver options, as there are many more that accept 5.1/7.1LPCM than there are receivers with internal DTSHD or DtrueHD decoding)

Lets just hope Sony eventually (sooner rather than later) patches the PS3 to internally decode DTS HD. Id much rather see that, than see a patch that sends them via bitstream.

szhjcn · 10-16-2007, 05:18 PM

Thanks that was the answer I was looking for. So either I need to upgrade my A/V Pre-Amp or get a standalone player so I can use the analogue outs.

But not the answer I wanted to hear.

Frode · 10-16-2007, 09:37 PM

The PS3 can't do bitstream out of TrueHD. Instead, when set to bitstream, it'll send a 640kbps DD track.

DefTechPioElite · 10-17-2007, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaphod

Does anyone know, or have heard of, whether you can disable the onboard Dolby TrueHD decoding? Or has anyone heard or know if this would be obtainable through a firmware update. I want to buy one of the new Onkyo receivers that have the decoding but am skeptical with the PS3 doing the decoding and then passing the audio out already decoded.

My next question with this is would then the audio that goes to the receiver already decoded be any less of quality as opposed to the Onkyo receiver doing the actual decoding? Or would the audio quality be extremely degraded or even that the receiver may try to downsample to a lossy format or worse of all the possibility of it not working since the receiver will try to decode what is already decoded.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

when it comes to decoding, if you get a receiver than can decode it, just set your PS3's BD audio output to "Bitstream" at that point, the PS3, utilizing it's HDMI 1.3 connection, CAN OUTPUT TrueHD OR DTS-HDMA via bitstream over HDMI. However, if you are not concerned with DTS-HDMA, you can do it either way and it wont make a difference, your reciever will recognize either a LPCM signal or TrueHD signal depending on you PS3's BD audio output. That's why sony used hdmi 1.3, duh. its called future proof.

Frode · 10-17-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

when it comes to decoding, if you get a receiver than can decode it, just set your PS3's BD audio output to "Bitstream" at that point, the PS3, utilizing it's HDMI 1.3 connection, CAN OUTPUT TrueHD OR DTS-HDMA via bitstream over HDMI

No it can't. It *might* be able to do that using a software update in the future, but as of right now it doesn't.

crackinhedz · 10-18-2007, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DefTechPioElite

the PS3, utilizing it's HDMI 1.3 connection, CAN OUTPUT TrueHD OR DTS-HDMA via bitstream over HDMI.

such bold words for false information.

crackinhedz · 10-18-2007, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frode

No it can't. It *might* be able to do that using a software update in the future, but as of right now it doesn't.

My bet is on never. Maybe the newer 40gb and 80gb that just came out...perhaps they have the right kind of hdmi chip inside to one day allow bitstream. (maybe?)

But as for myself, and those who have the launch day systems...my bet is on never happening. But all is forgiven so as long as they add DTS-HD MA on board decoding...then it wont matter.

ay221 · 10-18-2007, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

My bet is on never. Maybe the newer 40gb and 80gb that just came out...perhaps they have the right kind of hdmi chip inside to one day allow bitstream. (maybe?)

But as for myself, and those who have the launch day systems...my bet is on never happening. But all is forgiven so as long as they add DTS-HD MA on board decoding...then it wont matter.

Are there any rumors of the dts-hd decoding for the next PS3 firmware update?

kiskiboy97 · 10-18-2007, 02:59 AM

With DTS HS being the norm on all the Fox titles, I would sure hope so. Not to mention being another big selling point for the PS3.

crackinhedz · 10-18-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ay221

Are there any rumors of the dts-hd decoding for the next PS3 firmware update?

yes. It has been spoken that an update before christmas is coming. (fingers crossed)

navychop · 10-18-2007, 02:48 PM

crackinhedz said it best. Wrong chip. But hopefully one day it will be decoded internally and output as PCM over HDMI.

I am now looking at an Onkyo 705 just to get the HDMI audio support. Way less than $1,000. Many are happy with the Onkyo 605. My current optical is not bad- just not as good as it could be, with my nice 7.1 speaker setup.

airkitty · 10-18-2007, 03:17 PM

OK -so over the last two days I have run some experiments with the PS3 and my Marantz 7002 receiver and the results are not so hot. The Receiver is able to process via HDMI 1.3a the DTS-HD MA/ Dolby TrueHD. The PS3 can decode the Dolby TrueHD but will not send it as bitstream only linearPCM which my amp will not recognize as Dolby TrueHD, darn it. The sound is real sweet but WTF. The PS3 is updated to 1.93. The Pioneer 95FD is starting to look real nice since it is supposed to have HDMI1.3 of DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD. I am open for recommendations on set up if you guys have any.
Airkitty
PS3 - on loan
Sony KDL40V3000
Marantz 7002
B&W 602 and LC center

navychop · 10-18-2007, 04:27 PM

I wouldn't think your amp would recognize it as TrueHD. At the point it reaches the amp, it's already been decoded and is PCM, no?

05-30-2007, 01:09 AM	#1
Zaphod Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2007 Location:A small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse. Blu-ray collection:350 Trading Score:4	PS3 and Dolby True HD Question... Does anyone know, or have heard of, whether you can disable the onboard Dolby TrueHD decoding? Or has anyone heard or know if this would be obtainable through a firmware update. I want to buy one of the new Onkyo receivers that have the decoding but am skeptical with the PS3 doing the decoding and then passing the audio out already decoded. My next question with this is would then the audio that goes to the receiver already decoded be any less of quality as opposed to the Onkyo receiver doing the actual decoding? Or would the audio quality be extremely degraded or even that the receiver may try to downsample to a lossy format or worse of all the possibility of it not working since the receiver will try to decode what is already decoded. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

05-30-2007, 03:47 AM	#3
Zaphod Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2007 Location:A small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse. Blu-ray collection:350 Trading Score:4	Thank you for the reply, so let me ask this then... Currently my setup is a Onkyo receiver, which has no HDMI pass through, and the audio from my PS3 is through the optical, running at 5.1. Is it safe to say that I would not need to buy one of the newer suped up Onkyo models that inclue Dolby TrueHD or DTS Master HD (since not supported by the PS3 yet), and just buy one of the other models with 1.3 HDMI w/o the decoders for those two audio codecs, and the audio will run fine via HDMI with uncompressed 5.1 PCM, and not lose much in the audio department by not going with the higher $1000 receiver? Thanks in advance. Last edited by Zaphod; 05-30-2007 at 03:50 AM.

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05-30-2007, 04:18 AM	#4
ClaytonMG Blu-ray Samurai Member since:May 2006 Location:New Brighton, MN Home Theater Gallery:16 4K collection:836 Blu-ray collection:2373 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:1	Technically, you don't even need HDMI 1.3. If the player decodes it, you can use HDMI 1.1 and it will decode it and send it as a PCM track. However, nothing as far as players go decodes DTS-HDMA at the moment so getting a reciever that does might not be a bad idea. Unless you plan on getting another player down the road that decodes it.

05-30-2007, 04:46 PM	#6
ClaytonMG Blu-ray Samurai Member since:May 2006 Location:New Brighton, MN Home Theater Gallery:16 4K collection:836 Blu-ray collection:2373 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:1	But I wonder if that Bitstream out actually works for things like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD. It might just make it bitstream like it would be if it were an optical output.

05-30-2007, 05:42 PM	#7
inaz4sun Active Member Member since:Apr 2007	I don't know the difference between those two settings, but I found out last night that when trying to watch a DVD that had Dolby 5.1 and DTS using Linear PCM it kept cutting out. So I switched it to Bitstream and it worked perfectly, out putting both to my receiver correctly via optical connection.

06-01-2007, 07:23 PM	#8
Luis_A51 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Calgary, AB Blu-ray reviews:4	Optical cable does not have the bandwith to output 5.1 channel PCM. It can however send the signal as bitstream. That is why it kept cutting out. Optical can only transfer 2.0 channel PCM. In order to get Dolby TrueHD from your PS3, you need an HDMI cable and a receiver that accepts 5.1 LPCM (or even 7.1 LPCM, although there are very few sources). This is the most important feature you should be looking for. Older receiver cannot do this, because they never had any reason to (since optical can only carry 2.0 LPCM) Additionally, some audio features may not function properly when you use a receiver to decode the audio as opposed to the PS3. Therefore using the PS3 to decode is superior in terms of function, and also in terms of choice (more receiver options, as there are many more that accept 5.1/7.1LPCM than there are receivers with internal DTSHD or DtrueHD decoding) Lets just hope Sony eventually (sooner rather than later) patches the PS3 to internally decode DTS HD. Id much rather see that, than see a patch that sends them via bitstream.

10-16-2007, 05:18 PM	#9
szhjcn New Member Member since:Aug 2007	Thanks that was the answer I was looking for. So either I need to upgrade my A/V Pre-Amp or get a standalone player so I can use the analogue outs. But not the answer I wanted to hear.

10-16-2007, 09:37 PM	#10
Frode Special Member Member since:Feb 2007	The PS3 can't do bitstream out of TrueHD. Instead, when set to bitstream, it'll send a 640kbps DD track.

10-18-2007, 02:59 AM	#16
kiskiboy97 Blu-ray reviewer Top contributor Member since:Sep 2007 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:2	With DTS HS being the norm on all the Fox titles, I would sure hope so. Not to mention being another big selling point for the PS3.

10-18-2007, 02:48 PM	#18
navychop Active Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Northern VA	crackinhedz said it best. Wrong chip. But hopefully one day it will be decoded internally and output as PCM over HDMI. I am now looking at an Onkyo 705 just to get the HDMI audio support. Way less than $1,000. Many are happy with the Onkyo 605. My current optical is not bad- just not as good as it could be, with my nice 7.1 speaker setup.

10-18-2007, 03:17 PM	#19
airkitty Active Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:South East Trading Score:1	OK -so over the last two days I have run some experiments with the PS3 and my Marantz 7002 receiver and the results are not so hot. The Receiver is able to process via HDMI 1.3a the DTS-HD MA/ Dolby TrueHD. The PS3 can decode the Dolby TrueHD but will not send it as bitstream only linearPCM which my amp will not recognize as Dolby TrueHD, darn it. The sound is real sweet but WTF. The PS3 is updated to 1.93. The Pioneer 95FD is starting to look real nice since it is supposed to have HDMI1.3 of DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD. I am open for recommendations on set up if you guys have any. Airkitty PS3 - on loan Sony KDL40V3000 Marantz 7002 B&W 602 and LC center

10-18-2007, 04:27 PM	#20
navychop Active Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Northern VA	I wouldn't think your amp would recognize it as TrueHD. At the point it reaches the amp, it's already been decoded and is PCM, no?

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