PCM, Dolby Digital or DTS output from my TV to my Vizio VHT510

[Cpemploy]

My TV can send PCM, Dolby Digital or DTS via toslink or analog cables (no hdmi option) to my Vizio VHT510 soundbar. My questions are:
1. For the best sound which should I select, PCM, Dolby digital or DTS?
2. What are the advantages of one over the other?
3. What output should i use toslink or analog? Is there a big difference?

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

A PCM setting will mean that your TV is decoding the raw audio stream for your soundbar, while the other two settings mean that the TV is sending the raw audio stream to your soundbar. If I read the specs on your soundbar correctly, it will decode Dolby Digital and DTS from a raw audio stream. So, you should be able to select either of those three settings on your TV and get audio from your soundbar - but the best is to experiment and (a) make sure and (b) see if you prefer one over the other.

As for toslink versus analog, definitely go for the toslink. Toslink can carry full surround sound (5.1), while analog can at best carry matrixed surround sound (like Dolby Pro Logic) because it can only carry two audio channels.

 

[Cpemploy]

TY for your answer. Are there other comments because I have seem so many other ideas like:
1. Select PCM as this sends more data to the reciver, if you select DD or DTS they are compressed and you lose data
2. If you select PCM and use toslink you only get 2 channel and not 5, (although I am getting surrond)
3. If you select PCM and use analog you get 5 channel
4. choose dd is better
5. choose DTS it is better

Help!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, I would bitstream everything (DTS or DD). Not PCM.

 

[Cpemploy]

Do you choose DTS or DD beacuse, 1. they sound better than PCM or 2. the toslink can't handle PCM or 3.some other reason?

 

[Adam]

Do you choose DTS or DD beacuse, 1. they sound better than PCM or 2. the toslink can't handle PCM or 3.some other reason?

I tend to choose DTS and DD because (a) I like to see it displayed on my receiver and (b) it gives me more control over surround sound modes on my receiver. For your soundbar, there might not be any difference outside of what it displays on the front. Toslink can handle PCM, so that's not an issue. You can always try the different settings to check if you can tell any difference.

Btw, which TV do you have, and what do you have connected to it? If you are connecting sources (like cable or a blu-ray player) to the TV using HDMI, then it might be converting the audio from those sources into two-channel stereo for output (a lot of TVs do that).

 

[markw]

It may be a moot point because most TV's I've heard of won't "pass through" a multi-channel (5.1) signal out when it came in from external sources. All you can really count on is rwo channel PCM.

Then again, they might have improved in that area but you might want to check your owners manual before getting your hopes up.