PS3 - No DTS-MA

dephinistr8

Well consider me late on this one, but I just realized that my PS3 won't send the DTS-MA track via bitstream, nor will it decode it internally. It basically "downconverts" the signal to standard DTS.

I paid a lot of money for my receiver that can do DTS-MA, and now I feel a lil' ripped off that my Blu-Ray player can't send the audio. I guess it's my fault, since I assumed it could.

For those who have asked for help w/purchasing a blu-ray player, and listened to my suggestion for a PS3, I apologize. Apparently, as feature laden as it is, it is not all it needs to be.

Hopefully this will be fixed with a firmware update...
Anyone else feel a bit bitten by this?
:mad:

mutelight

I wasn't aware of that! I was contemplating upgrading to an AVR which supported the next gen audio formats but now I will hold off until they (hopefully) release a firmware update. After I read your post I looked into it a little and it seems that TrueHD works fine, correct?

dephinistr8

My HD-DVD player sends both audio formats (TrueHD and DTS-MA) just fine. Call me picky, but I like to see the audio format displayed on my receiver.
I know the PS3 doesn't do DTS-MA as of right now, and since I don't have any Blu-Ray's with TrueHD, I'm not sure if it decodes that or not.

dephinistr8

Also...it would seem that which forum you read, or believe, that it can send the audio via PCM, but not Bitstream. Most people seem up in arms about this because they want the receiver to do the decoding, therefore want bitstream...

cheddar

In almost any ps3 info thread in the past month, we've discussed this as a drawback that may eventually get fixed in a firmware update. DTS-HD MA is very rare now for even stand alone players to internally decode. And the bitstream capable players are just as rare. I believe right now you're limited to just one samsung (1400?) that can bitstream and do TrueHD internally and one panasonic (BD-30) that can bitstream but not do TrueHD or DTS-HD MA internally. You'll have to wait until the BD-50 comes out around summer to have a player that can do it all.

On the HD-DVD side, bitstreaming is just as rare. And IIRC, no player handles DTS-HD MA internally.

The ps3 is basically a launch player, and I've been pleasantly surprised that it can still match or exceed many of the features of the current generation of players. It does decode TrueHD internally and sends it out as PCM just like stand alone players do. It also handles uncompressed LPCM over HDMI. Those lossless formats account for the vast majority of available titles. And it is comfirmed to handle PiP commentary and internet features of BonusView (Profile 1.1) and BDLive (Profile 2.0). I don't think it will ever do bitstreaming as it has the wrong hdmi 1.3 chip. But there is the possibility that it will receive a firmware update for internal DTS-HD MA decoding as the surround format gets more popular (limited to Fox and New Line titles at present) There have been a lot of threads on all this lately. Sorry you missed them. You might want to just wait until the BD-50 comes out around summer if you absolutely have to have things decoded on the receiver/pre/pro side. Seems like a simple fix to just wait a few months.

dephinistr8

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dephinistr8

I'm willing to wait for what will hopefully be a firmware update. I was just surprised to see that the PS3 didn't do this as of now.

From all the threads I've been reading that last couple of days, it would seem that most people want it to be sent via bitstream. Currently, my HD-DVD player (A35) sends both TrueHD and DTS-MA via bitstream...

Going back it looks like they've been clamoring for Sony to update the PS3 to allow this for almost a year
I guess I'm just a bit disappointed is all....

cheddar

One other thing, the ps3 does not downconvert the signal to standard DVD DTS. The original DTS-HD MA track has multiple parts including a 1.5mbps core (vs a 768kbps bitrate DVD DTS track). The ps3 decodes this higher bitrate core and it is a nice improvement over standard DVD DTS.

dephinistr8

Ok I probably shouldn't have used the term downconvert
It sounds nice...I just want my MA...it would seem most blu-ray titles I own have the MA track.

cheddar

You must really like the Fox titles then...as it's the only 'big' studio that uses the format...the smaller studios that support master audio have released just a handful of titles...;)

I'd suggest looking for discs from Sony, Buena Vista, Warner, etc. to get at some really fine uncompressed LPCM and TrueHD goodness...:)

lanion

it has been the biggest complaint about PS3 playback, but I am sure DTS-MA is coming.

Although, with my older reciever DTS-MA tracks are actually the best quailty I can get. The 1.5mbps Blu-Ray DTS tracks sound good! (not good enough though, to be sure).