My ps3 is connected to my onkyo home cinema via hdmi cable. when i'm playing a game with a dolby digital soundtrack its converted to pcm does anybody know why and how to stop this?
ps3-home cinema pcm?
- Thread starter admin_exported
- Start date
professorhat
Well-known member
I've been looking into this as I've noticed the same and I've also noticed that, although you can select Bitstream under the BD / DVD Audio Output Format (HDMI) setting, this doesn't affect the behaviour for games where it still decodes Dolby Digital onboard to PCM. There's only two solutions to this that I can see (NB - this is for an older PS3, not the new slim model, I've no idea if it's the same or not on the slim):
1. Go into Sound Settings, then Audio Output Settings, select HDMI, then select Manual. Leave Dolby Digital 5.1 Ch and DTS 5.1 Ch ticked and then scroll down the list and untick all the Linear PCM options which aren't greyed out. You'll find as you untick one, other Linear PCM options above become available to untick so untick them as they become available. Eventually, you should be left with only four ticked at the top, the Dolby Digital and DTS settings and two Linear PCM 2 Ch. settings which you can't untick as they are greyed out. If you scroll right to see the confirmation list, it should look like this:
Confirm this and now, since the PS3 doesn't think it can output Linear PCM, it will send Dolby Digital or DTS natively over the HDMI for everything. Of course the big issue with this is if you use your PS3 for Blu-Rays since the PS3 can no longer convert to PCM, so you won't get HD audio, just the regular Dolby Digital / DTS core tracks. This means using this option, you'd have to constantly turn these settings off and on.
2. The other method would be to connect an optical lead from your PS3 to the amp, as well as the HDMI lead. Since the optical lead can't handle 5.1 PCM, it won't try and send it. So when playing a game, switch to the optical output through Sound Settings, then Audio Output Settings, select Optical Digital and then tick the boxes for Dolby Digital 5.1 Ch and DTS 5.1 Ch if they're unticked. You may also need to set your amp to use the optical input for sound rather than HDMI. This will mean Dolby Digital and DTS are bitstreamed across the optical. When you want to watch a Blu-Ray with HD audio, you'll then need to reverse this by going into Sound Settings, then Audio Output Settings, select HDMI and then Automatic. Again, change your amp to use HDMI for sound instead of optical and HD audio tracks will be decoded to PCM.
At any rate, if you use the PS3 for both games and Blu-Ray, either method is a bit of a pain and I would be tempted to just let your PS3 decode the Dolby Digital to 5.1 PCM...
EDIT - Ha - just seen you have the slim model - typical! Well, give it a go on the slim and see if it works, would be interesting to know. Alternatively, maybe you get different settings on the slim, such as the option to tick Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio during step 1. If so, this could well sort it so you don't need to keep changing between the two...
1. Go into Sound Settings, then Audio Output Settings, select HDMI, then select Manual. Leave Dolby Digital 5.1 Ch and DTS 5.1 Ch ticked and then scroll down the list and untick all the Linear PCM options which aren't greyed out. You'll find as you untick one, other Linear PCM options above become available to untick so untick them as they become available. Eventually, you should be left with only four ticked at the top, the Dolby Digital and DTS settings and two Linear PCM 2 Ch. settings which you can't untick as they are greyed out. If you scroll right to see the confirmation list, it should look like this:
Confirm this and now, since the PS3 doesn't think it can output Linear PCM, it will send Dolby Digital or DTS natively over the HDMI for everything. Of course the big issue with this is if you use your PS3 for Blu-Rays since the PS3 can no longer convert to PCM, so you won't get HD audio, just the regular Dolby Digital / DTS core tracks. This means using this option, you'd have to constantly turn these settings off and on.
2. The other method would be to connect an optical lead from your PS3 to the amp, as well as the HDMI lead. Since the optical lead can't handle 5.1 PCM, it won't try and send it. So when playing a game, switch to the optical output through Sound Settings, then Audio Output Settings, select Optical Digital and then tick the boxes for Dolby Digital 5.1 Ch and DTS 5.1 Ch if they're unticked. You may also need to set your amp to use the optical input for sound rather than HDMI. This will mean Dolby Digital and DTS are bitstreamed across the optical. When you want to watch a Blu-Ray with HD audio, you'll then need to reverse this by going into Sound Settings, then Audio Output Settings, select HDMI and then Automatic. Again, change your amp to use HDMI for sound instead of optical and HD audio tracks will be decoded to PCM.
At any rate, if you use the PS3 for both games and Blu-Ray, either method is a bit of a pain and I would be tempted to just let your PS3 decode the Dolby Digital to 5.1 PCM...
EDIT - Ha - just seen you have the slim model - typical! Well, give it a go on the slim and see if it works, would be interesting to know. Alternatively, maybe you get different settings on the slim, such as the option to tick Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio during step 1. If so, this could well sort it so you don't need to keep changing between the two...
professorhat
Well-known member
No probs - I should point out that by doing one of the above, it leaves you open to potentially missing out on uncompressed PCM soundtracks on PS3 games. I'm not aware of any which have them, but I've seen rumours that Uncharted 2 comes with a 7.1 PCM soundtrack, but I can't find anything official which says this (which makes me think it's probably not true).
professorhat
Well-known member
Not entirely sure what you mean here, but if you're only using an optical cable you shouldn't need to change anything.
sonycentre
Well-known member
The following games are in 7.1 pcm surround sound.wipeout hd,uncharted 1 and 2,killzone 2 resistence fall of man 1 and 2.pcm 5.1 sound most other ps3 titles.they all sound awesome.enjoy
professorhat
Well-known member
Interesting, where'd you find that info sonycentre? I ask because I looked for a while today for info on Uncharted 2's soundtrack and nowhere (other than people claiming such on forums) could I find it detailed officially. Surely if it did contain an uncompressed 7.1 PCM soundtrack they'd be marketing that like mad wouldn't they?
sonycentre
Well-known member
I rented uncharted 2,gives you loads of audio options,dolby 5.1,dts 5.1 pcm.5.1 pcm 7.1.It is strange but not everyone is like ourselves.Wipeout hd just sounds mind-blowing,If you get the chance download it from playstation store.Kill zone 2 is also very good.I look into this kind of stuff when we have quiet moments in the store,and test them out in our demo part of the store.
professorhat
Well-known member
Ah, there's a choice in the menus - interesting! Very surprised there isn't more made of this in the marketing I have to say. Also, I have to admit I bought Wipeout HD ages ago but only played it once before forgetting about it - will have to check this out tomorrow!
Similar threads
TRENDING THREADS
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Is hi-fi really getting better? Our technical editor ponders its progression
- Started by What Hi-Fi?
- Replies: 19
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram