blu ray HD Master question

[skads_187]

I will be using a Pioneer amp: VSX-1016TXV. This amp does not support HD Master 5.1 audio. Some movies offer dobly digital 5.1. However , my question (worry) is, if I were to play Die Hard 1 on blu-ray, it has the following audio options:

Dolby Digital Formats:
- English Surround 2.0
- French 5.1
- Spanish 5.1


DTS Formats:
- English HD Master 5.1

PCM Formats:
- None

Using the amp that I have, do I choose the 2.0 surround, or can I choose the HD master 5.1 and it will still play?

[Thunder18]

Need some more info like what kind of player you're using and if it's sending audio via HDMI or SP/DIF. Anyway, if you're using one of the digital connections, the player should send the receiver a 1509Kbps DTS stream if you select DTS HD-MA. It will be a downsampled version of the original lossless HD-MA track, but at a higher bitrate than a standard DVD would be.

[Seth=L]

If using SPDIF the DTS core will still be present, but at its highest bitrate as Thunder18 stated. Most Blu-ray players will not decode DTS-HD for output over analog audio.

[skads_187]

I will be using my ps3 actually to be watching blu-ray movies, and will probably be connecting it via optical cable. So does the down-sampling still apply?

[j_garcia]

Yes it still applies and the same goes for Dolby TrueHD. Set it to optical and bitstream and it will work fine; that is how I am running mine right now.

[skads_187]

Just to confirm, this is done through the amp's/receiver's settings?

[Seth=L]

Just to confirm, this is done through the amp's/receiver's settings?
It is automatic. The PS3 automatically converts DTS-HD and DOlby Digital Plus/TrueHD formats to standard DTS and Dolby Digital for output over optical SPDIF.

[MUDBUCKET]

I have the same receiver with a PS3 and wonder why the Digital symbols don't come on when watching blu-ray movies but do when playing games, I am using optical connection .

[Thunder18]

Mudbucket, the reason you don't see the dolby light lighting up is because in this case the Blu-Ray player is doing the audio decoding. With standard dvd players we are used to bitstreaming the audio data to the receiver via optical/coaxial digital connections to be decoded by the receiver which then turns the signal into PCM converts it to analog and outputs it via the speakers.
So with the new stuff, the receiver has no idea what it's getting because it's not doing any decoding. In fact it should be telling you either multi channel or PCM or something like that.

[skads_187]

one more questions, using the same setup, ps3 and pioneer receiver VSX-1016TXV, will I be able to play pcm 5.1? and what is the difference between pcm and dolby digital? Thanks

[Duffinator]

Most Blu-ray players will not decode DTS-HD for output over analog audio.I don't think there are any players that decode DTS-HD. I wish there were. :D

[j_garcia]

Internally or only via analog? There are at least 3 players that can do it via HDMI right now...

[Duffinator]

Via analog.

[Seth=L]

one more questions, using the same setup, ps3 and pioneer receiver VSX-1016TXV, will I be able to play pcm 5.1? and what is the difference between pcm and dolby digital? Thanks
No, not with the PS3. The PS3 can only output multichannel PCM over HDMI. The Pioneer cannot process any information (audio or video) over it's HDMI inputs (just pass-thru). SPDIF only supports 2 channel PCM or legacy DTS and Dolby Digital bistreams.

[skads_187]

Sorry, forgot to mention, it will be connected via optical cable for audio.

[Seth=L]

Sorry, forgot to mention, it will be connected via optical cable for audio.
Right, that's SPDIF, refer to the above post to see the limitations of SPDIF.;)

[j_garcia]

What Seth is saying is, you can select a TrueHD, DD Plus, DTS-HD track on a BD movie and they will work, but they will be downconverted to a core 5.1 signal (at a high bitrate). You will still get good sound, but it won't be the full blown deal.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't think there are any players that decode DTS-HD. I wish there were. :D

The new Denon BD player (DVD-3800BD) is said to internally decode DTS-MA, but I'll believe it when I see it.:D

[obscbyclouds]

The new Denon BD player (DVD-3800BD) is said to internally decode DTS-MA, but I'll believe it when I see it.:D

It's not going the be the most affordable BD player though....I'm still praying for a PS3 patch.

[Seth=L]

It's not going the be the most affordable BD player though....I'm still praying for a PS3 patch.
LOL

It cracks me up the PS3 is one of the most up to date Blu-ray players, and also the cheapest and fastest loading, it also plays games LOL:D

[j_garcia]

WAS one of the cheapest...now that the new players are being introduced, we are seeing prices like the Philips at $349 and even the Funai who says it will street for under $200.

[Stoner51]

I think this thread is the one I'm looking for. I have a PS3, Denon 3808. Untilethe PS3 update for DTS hd, there is no way for my receiver to Play this correct. Right now it says multi ch in or pcm. I assume that multi channel pcm sounds better than Dolby DTS? I currently run audio through HDMI. When I had my older rec 2106 I ran through optical and it said DTS. Which is the better format.

steve

[obscbyclouds]

I think this thread is the one I'm looking for. I have a PS3, Denon 3808. Untilethe PS3 update for DTS hd, there is no way for my receiver to Play this correct. Right now it says multi ch in or pcm. I assume that multi channel pcm sounds better than Dolby DTS? I currently run audio through HDMI. When I had my older rec 2106 I ran through optical and it said DTS. Which is the better format.

steve

Basically, you have it right. The PS3 (at this point) cannot pass DTS-HD MA either as bitstream or LPCM. If a BRD has only DTS-HD MA (Flyboys comes to mind for me), you will get the 1.5mb DTS Core track, which can still sound pretty good. If the BRD has LPCM or Dolby TrueHD, the PS3 will pass this as LPCM (uncompressed) to your reciever.

Currently the PS3 will not bitstream (send raw data to the reciever to decode) either of the uncompressed formats. As to what sounds better, Dolby TrueHD and LPCM will usually sound better than the Lossy DTS or Dolby Digital track.

One other point, make sure in the BR/DVD settings tab, the PS3 is set to PCM for HDMI Audio, so you can get LPCM and Dolby TrueHD tracks. I hope I answered your question. Good luck. :)

[D.R. Payne]

The word from CES is that the PS3 will never be able to bitstream these formats, but that they are working with DTS for DTS-HD decoding inside the PS3.

[skads_187]

One other point, make sure in the BR/DVD settings tab, the PS3 is set to PCM for HDMI Audio, so you can get LPCM and Dolby TrueHD tracks. I hope I answered your question. Good luck. :)

Is this if its connected via hdmi only?
Does this make sense, have my ps3 connected via hdmi and optical for sound?
Do I still change the setting as mentioned? Thanks

[obscbyclouds]

Is this if its connected via hdmi only?
Does this make sense, have my ps3 connected via hdmi and optical for sound?
Do I still change the setting as mentioned? Thanks

No, you must have a reciever that can process audio from HDMI. S/PDIF (Optical) cannot carry more than 2.0 channels of uncompressed audio. You must use HDMI if you want the Hi-Res audio (LPCM and Dolby TrueHD) from the PS3.

Using Optical will get you the DTS core soundrack, as well as Dolby Digital. Without HDMI, I'm afraid your only other option for the Hi-Res tracks is to get a player with analog multichannel outputs. The PS3 does not have this.