Which audio output setting do I use for PS3 to avr?

[sharptailhunter]

I'm loving the new PS3! This is my first BD player. The VQ is amazing. This is also my first HT system, so I'm just getting stuff hooked up. Question that I have is this, once I connect it to my Marantz 5004 avr, what audio output setting should I set it for, i.e. automatic, one of the Dolby choices, or linear PCM 7.1? If I do PCM, which kHz setting? Sorry for not knowing.

 

[Ares]

What are you using to connect the PS3 to the 5004 HDMI or Optical?
If you are using the Optical output you would go to Video Settings in your XMB an scroll down to BD Audio Output Format(Optical Digital) and choose Bitstream and the same for the HDMI setting since the Slim can send True HD and DTS HD bitstream. After you have done that then you will go to Audio Output Settings and choose either HDMI or Optical, choose manual not auto,auto will always set the PS3 up for 2 ch. Now it will give you a list of Audio formats choose only the ones you will use, Optical will not do 5.1 or 7.1 pcm that should about covert it.

 

[sharptailhunter]

the same for the HDMI setting since the Slim can send True HD and DTS HD bitstream.

Oops, I forgot to mention that the connection is via HDMI. Is there a difference between True HD and DTS HD? Is there a time when I would want one vs. the other? Thanks for the help.

 

[Chitown2477]

Only HDMI allows you to get True HD and DTS HD. Typically, the Blu-ray disc has one or the other so the choice of which to use is made for you already.

By the way, if you want the PS3 to do the decoding for True HD and DTS HD, use the PCM setting. If you want the AVR to do the decoding for True HD and DTS HD, use the bitstream setting (on your AVR). The latter assumes your AVR can decode True HD and DTS HD.

I have researched this on my own and it seems there is not much difference (if any) between PCM and bitstream. The real difference is what can decode True HD and DTS HD better (PS3/BD player or AVR).

I have also read that using bitstream may be slightly better as your AVR's bass management may be more effectively utilized. I am not sure if this is true - I saw it out there is Google-land.

 

[Ares]

Here is a list of what each format can do.

Dolby TrueHD

* Supports up to 8 channels
* 18Mbps Bit rate
* 100% "Lossless" Audio
* 24-bit depth resolution
* Transfers at 96khz sampling frequency
* Down-mix capable

Dolby Digital +

* Mutlichannel output (up to 7.1)
* Up to 6Mbps Bit rate
* Can be used with both HD/Blu-ray DVDs and standard DVDs

Dolby took the same road as DTS by having two versions of its new audio format to choose from-- Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus (or Dolby Digital +). Dolby TrueHD is the "better" format of the two, with Digital Plus considered to be a "smaller" version.


DTS-HD High Resolution Audio

* Delivers up to 7.1 channel audio
* Transfers at 96khz sampling frequency
* 24-bit depth resolution
* Bit rates ranging from 6.0Mbit/s to 3.0Mbit/s
* Used as an alternative to HD Master Audio if disc space isn't sufficient
* Only available for Blu-Ray/HD-DVD
* Down-mix capable

DTS-HD Master Audio

* Virtually unlimited number of surround channels
* Transfers at 96khz sampling frequency
* 24-bit depth resolution
* Blu-ray supports 24.5Mbit/s
* HD-DVD supports 18.0Mbit/s
* Down-mix capable to 5.1 and 2 channel