PS3 CD audio quality

[Bloodstriker]

Does anybody know how the new patch for the PS3 176KHz CD upscaling compares to stand-alone CD players? (i.e. would it be equivalent to a low end, mid range, or high end player?)

 

[MDS]

I don't know anything about the PS3 upsampling but I can tell you that if you think upsampling a 16/44.1 CD to 176 kHz is going to radically improve the sound quality you will be disappointed.

Upsampling will push quantization noise into higher frequencies well beyond your hearing and that is all it will do. You might notice a slight difference in the high frequencies; that is if you were able to hear any problems in the first place.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I don't know anything about the PS3 upsampling but I can tell you that if you think upsampling a 16/44.1 CD to 176 kHz is going to radically improve the sound quality you will be disappointed.

Upsampling will push quantization noise into higher frequencies well beyond your hearing and that is all it will do. You might notice a slight difference in the high frequencies; that is if you were able to hear any problems in the first place.

However, from the early days of Cds, they were already oversampled many X times, 8 and more, doing the same thing. So, I am not sure what they would be upsampling.

 

[Bloodstriker]

I don't know anything about the PS3 upsampling but I can tell you that if you think upsampling a 16/44.1 CD to 176 kHz is going to radically improve the sound quality you will be disappointed.

Upsampling will push quantization noise into higher frequencies well beyond your hearing and that is all it will do. You might notice a slight difference in the high frequencies; that is if you were able to hear any problems in the first place.

My first instinct is to agree with as there's no "new" information coming from the source material - and that's what really matters, right?

 

[j_garcia]

I can give it a try and report back. I haven't even tried out this feature since it was released.

 

[j_garcia]

I just tried it out and the upsampling does make a noticeable difference. Can't say that I hear any more detail, but it does have a more smooth, clean sound. It doesn't suddently sound like SACD, but it does sound good.

 

[avaserfi]

What option is this on the PS3 that you guys are discussing here? I am out of town so don't have access to my PS3 but haven't seen a upsampling option anywhere and I do have the latest firmware.

 

[j_garcia]

Under music settings you can change CD playback from 48K to 44/88/176K. The difference was noticeable on the one disc I tried.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Under music settings you can change CD playback from 48K to 44/88/176K. The difference was noticeable on the one disc I tried.

If you have a test disc with sine waves and have a good volt meter, see if the voltage on the speaker terminal changes at say 60Hz, since most meters could read 60Hz AC, when changing the various sampling rates.

 

[j_garcia]

I don't have a volt meter, but I do have a test disc with a variety of frequencies. I only tried one disc, but it is a well recorded one with a lot of brass (jazz w/sax & trumpet) that tends to be a bit bright. The first thing I noticed was that that brightness was tempered a bit and the overall presentation was a bit smoother. There is no more depth or detail as far as I can tell, so I don't know how to describe it exactly or if it is really a "benefit". I am going to try a different disc that I use for auditioning a lot, that I have on CD and SACD, and see what I come up with.

 

[monsteraudio]

If you have a test disc with sine waves and have a good volt meter, see if the voltage on the speaker terminal changes at say 60Hz, since most meters could read 60Hz AC, when changing the various sampling rates.

I wish I understood how upsampling is going to increase the voltage the amp puts out

 

[chris6878]

I have a question? My ps3 IS hooked to my reciever via optical out. I cant get any sound from music cds. I get sound from everthing else. I can get the sound from music cds when I play via hdmi through the TV. Why cant I get it through optical? Can anyone help? THx

 

[mtrycrafts]

I wish I understood how upsampling is going to increase the voltage the amp puts out

I don't know, but an easy test to do if you have a test disc and a volt meter to eliminate that possibility, no?
And, why would upsampling make that difference. CDs have been oversampled from the mid 80s:

http://www.simaudio.com/upsampling.htm

http://www.mlssa.com/pdf/Upsampling-theory-rev-2.pdf

http://www.thetadigital.com/upsampling.htm

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have a question? My ps3 IS hooked to my reciever via optical out. I cant get any sound from music cds. I get sound from everthing else. I can get the sound from music cds when I play via hdmi through the TV. Why cant I get it through optical? Can anyone help? THx

You should check the output selected, PCM or bitstream and digital/optical out.
Do you have a coax out? Try it.

 

[chris6878]

I know why It would nt work. My system on plays 48 k why is that?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

When I changed to the 44/88/176K I noticed that I can only play CDs in "straight mode" anyone else notice this? Movies still have all the options available.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I know why It would nt work. My system on plays 48 k why is that?

If I were a psychic... I would read their minds.

 

[gus6464]

Does the PS3 play sacd through the optical out or does it have to be hooked up to an HDMI receiver? And if it can go through optical what does the receiver recognize the signal as?

 

[avaserfi]

Does the PS3 play sacd through the optical out or does it have to be hooked up to an HDMI receiver? And if it can go through optical what does the receiver recognize the signal as?

The only way the PS3 will play SACD is through HDMI. I tried to get my dads PS3 to play SACD through optical out and the system noted that HDMI was needed to support SACD.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Only plays SACD through HDMI.

Does the PS3 play sacd through the optical out or does it have to be hooked up to an HDMI receiver? And if it can go through optical what does the receiver recognize the signal as?