Playstation 3 - DTS-HD output.

[admin_exported]

Hello.

Just updated my PS3 to software 2.42. I have it set up to output audio via HDMI to my Onkyo TX-SR805 AV amp in PCM, not Bitstream. However when I play a Blu-Ray that has DTS-HD Master Audio on it, all my amp is receiving from the PS3 is Linear PCM. The amp is not showing that it is receiving DTS-HD Master Audio. Therefore I assume the amp is not decoding it, as I want it to. Am I actually listening to DTS-HD Master Audio, ie is the PS3 decoding it and sending it to the amp as Linear PCM, and is that in 7.1? How can I set it up so that the amp is decoding it?

All very complicated and the PS3 website is hopeless for this sort of question. Please help someone.

 

[Anonymous]

was there an option on the blu-ray sound settings?-sometimes you can choose whether you want to listen to dts hd or dolby true hd for example

 

[Anonymous]

Everything is allright: only 'drawback' of the PS3 is that it ALWAYS decodes HD-streams before sending it over to your amp (HDMI-connection is mandatory !). If you set the output to Linear PCM (as you already did) you are actually listening to HD-sound but your amp will never-ever 'see' it as DTS-HD or TrueHD...

Greetings, Wilco

 

[Anonymous]

so wilco,out of curiosity,would you be listening to hd sound from a playstation 3 ,if it were rigged up to say a 'normal' amp like the onkyo 505 for example?,as this is my set up ,and the ps3 is connected via hdmi and optical[which i know only carries normal dd and dts]?

 

[Anonymous]

coletti:so wilco,out of curiosity,would you be listening to hd sound from a playstation 3 ,if it were rigged up to say a 'normal' amp like the onkyo 505 for example?,as this is my set up ,and the ps3 is connected via hdmi and optical[which i know only carries normal dd and dts]?

Yes, you most definitly are! In fact: you don't need a HD-capable receiver at all if the decoding is being done inside the player (which the PS3 does): all you need is the right HDMI-input on your receiver...

Many people think it is a shame that the PS3 decodes internally and only outputs LPCM, but for people who have an older receiver this is a big plus!

Try it! But be aware that it could be more difficult than you think to make out the difference between 'regular' DTS and HD-DTS...

 

[Anonymous]

thats good news as i was going to buy the sony 820,just for the hd decoding,but now im not really gonna improve over my 506 it seems,am i right! -so in effect i will save myself 250 quid? so should i set the ps 3 audio out to linear or bitstream-if i remember if i switch to linear and then change my mind it comes up 'some parts of the audio will not be heard',so no need for bitstream then,exept for playing games?

 

[Anonymous]

Linear PCM it is and connect ONLY via HDMI!

Should be fine!!

 

[Anonymous]

nice one thanx matey!

 

[Anonymous]

You're very welcome!!

 

[aliEnRIK]

Im sorry but you can only get 'hi def' sound down the hdmi

heres a quote ~

"If you are using Optical for Audio, you can only take advantage of DD
5.1 (640 Kbps) and DTS (1.5 Mbps). To take advantage of TrueHD, DTS HD,
DD Plus (and other HD audio formats - Multichannel audio) you will need
to use HDMI as optical has a limit of 1.5 Mbps."

True HD is UP to 18 MBPS ~ way beyond the technical capabilities of the optical lead (And indeed a NONE hd amp)

 

[professorhat]

coletti:thats good news as i was going to buy the sony 820,just for the hd decoding,but now im not really gonna improve over my 506 it seems,am i right! -so in effect i will save myself 250 quid? so should i set the ps 3 audio out to linear or bitstream-if i remember if i switch to linear and then change my mind it comes up 'some parts of the audio will not be heard',so no need for bitstream then,exept for playing games?
Unfortunately for you, neither the Onkyo 505 nor the 506 can accept Linear PCM audio over HDMI so I'm afraid you can't get HD audio with these two amps. Your best bet is to upgrade to one that can accept Linear PCM over HDMI like the Sony you mentioned.
Also, Bitstream should still be used on the PS3 when playing a DVD or a Blu-Ray with a standard Dolby Digital / DTS soundtrack to get the best sound i.e. it bitstreams this signal over the HDMI cable for the amp to decode.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone. Most useful.

I find the fact that the PS3 decodes on board a complete pain. After all, that's why I bought a good amp in the first place; to decode all the new formats at as higher quality as possible. There is no way the PS3 decoding quality will match that of my Onkyo 805.

Wish I'd bought a dedicated blu-ray player now.

Edited for house rules violation - Mods

 

[professorhat]

Peter Barnett:I find the fact that the PS3 decodes on board a complete pain. After all, that's why I bought a good amp in the first place; to decode all the new formats at as higher quality as possible. There is no way the PS3 decoding quality will match that of my Onkyo 805.
Not necessarily, I know where you're coming from but don't forget the PS3 is very powerful with the cell processor and therefore isn't like a lot of consumer electronics in that respect. This is why it's still one of the fastest Blu-Ray players at actually beginning to play a disc because of all that processing power.

Some schools of thought actually believe it's better for the audio to be decoded onboard though I forget the reasons for this now.

 

[Anonymous]

professorhat:Some schools of thought actually believe it's better for the audio
to be decoded onboard though I forget the reasons for this now.

Well I seem to recall Sony said their
reasoning behind the PS3 not being able to bitstream was that the cell
in the PS3 could do a better job of decoding the audio than a reciever
ever could.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Lewis201:Well I seem to recall Sony said their reasoning behind the PS3 not being able to bitstream was that the cell in the PS3 could do a better job of decoding the audio than a reciever ever could.Or do they mean a better job than their own receivers ever could...........

I appreciate the upgradeability of the PS3, but I'd rather leave the decoding to a good quality AV amp/receiver.

 

[Anonymous]

My view is that my onkyo 875 is better at decoding HD sound formats than the PS3! The ps3 does a good job but there is a little something missing from the sound! My opinion only!

 

[aliEnRIK]

garethwd:My view is that my onkyo 875 is better at decoding HD sound formats than the PS3! The ps3 does a good job but there is a little something missing from the sound! My opinion only!

I dont have hd sound but from what I can tell the PS3 HAS to decode it first. So how did you test out what you have just said?

 

[professorhat]

Good question!

 

[PJPro]

Can only have used another player

 

[Anonymous]

FrankHarveyHiFi:
Lewis201:Well I seem to recall Sony said their reasoning behind the PS3 not being able to bitstream was that the cell in the PS3 could do a better job of decoding the audio than a reciever ever could.Or do they mean a better job than their own receivers ever could...........

I appreciate the upgradeability of the PS3, but I'd rather leave the decoding to a good quality AV amp/receiver.

I'd like to be at least be able to have the choice!