PS3 Gets DTS-HD Master Audio

bykes

Preview of the new store too.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/04/10/firmware-v230-details-and-store-walkthrough/#comment-53258

bknauss

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Its about dang time!

Imperitor

Very good news. I was going to post this... you beat me to it!

cheddar

When this update hits, the ps3 will exceed the specs on all currently available players and meet the specs of the newer players coming this summer and Christmas with the exception of internal Lossless Audio decoding instead of bitstreaming but compatibility with all blu-ray profiles. Can't wait to hear the DTS-HD MA tracks...finally...

Very nice for a format launch player...;)

Imperitor

cheddar wrote: »

When this update hits, the ps3 will exceed the specs on all currently available players and meet the specs of the newer players coming this summer and Christmas with the exception of internal Lossless Audio decoding instead of bitstreaming but compatibility with all blu-ray profiles. Can't wait to hear the DTS-HD MA tracks...finally...

Very nice for a format launch player...;)

So basically it will be better then pressent and future players since you will not require a reciever with any decoders

BIZILL

Imperitor wrote: »

So basically it will be better then pressent and future players since you will not require a reciever with any decoders

it's the best out there TO DATE. who knows what the future has in store. but keep in mind, the thing plays games and sacd's as well.;)

cheddar

Even without the games, music, and media center capabilties, I'm still amazed that my 2006 blu-ray player can go toe to toe with the best that 2008 players can offer...it's like getting a new player in the mail every couple of months or so...and it was the cheapest player at the time too...:D.

Sami

So, does it output that DTS-HD through toslink?

mantis

Sami wrote: »

So, does it output that DTS-HD through toslink?

No man, the only way to get any of the HD audio is over HDMI with the Ps3. It also has no 6 channel analog outs so you can't get it that way.

A 1.1 1.2 or a 1.3a receiver or pre pro will work with it. Internal decoding is a blessing in todays market. This is great news which I have been waiting for. This also may speed up my new preamp sale. I love the Ps3 for everything it can do.

The kicker is SACD. You have to have a 1.2 or better with built in processing for Sacd in the preamp or receiver. The Ps3 as I understand it doesn't decode/process the Sacd signal just sends it over HDMI for processing in the preamp. I'm so cool with that.

Owning any other Blu ray player to me makes no sense. I get mad at every other blu ray player I install including the beautiful Pioneer Elite 95 which I just did today. It's so damn slow I want to rip it out of the system and chuck it out the window.

BeRad

BIZILL wrote: »

it's the best out there TO DATE. who knows what the future has in store. but keep in mind, the thing plays games and sacd's as well.;)

Unfortunately the 40 gig does not play SACD's. I still love having a player AND gaming system made by the same company that developed Blu-Ray. I have a feeling it will always be the first player to get new firmware updates. For only 100 dollars more than most other standard BR players, can't go wrong!

mantis

BeRad wrote: »

Unfortunately the 40 gig does not play SACD's. I still love having a player AND gaming system made by the same company that developed Blu-Ray. I have a feeling it will always be the first player to get new firmware updates. For only 100 dollars more than most other standard BR players, can't go wrong!

When buying any piece of gear and they offer a cheaper model, they remove features. If you buy the 40g, you already should know this, if you don't you didn't do your homework. It would be nice if you only lost hard drive space but thats not the case here.

Dan

LuSh

I wish the PS3 allowed you to bit-stream out to a receiver in DTS HD or TrueHD. When internally decoded there have been nothing but bugs with LFE channels.

mantis

LuSh wrote: »

I wish the PS3 allowed you to bit-stream out to a receiver in DTS HD or TrueHD. When internally decoded there have been nothing but bugs with LFE channels.

Please explain. I have not run into this yet in the field.

BeRad

mantis wrote: »

When buying any piece of gear and they offer a cheaper model, they remove features. If you buy the 40g, you already should know this, if you don't you didn't do your homework. It would be nice if you only lost hard drive space but thats not the case here.

Dan

I know, I did my homework and didn't see the extra 100 dollars to be a justifiable expense for me. I don't think I'd use SACD anyways. I didn't state that I wished the 40 gig had SACD either. Just saying that it is unfortunate for anyone who appreciates audio enough to be here, that they left it out of that model. Any purchase I make I do as much research as I can (aside from pure impulse purchases). If I didn't, I wouldn't know of this site. Generally speaking, I like to know my ****! (and am always looking for more knowledge)

cheddar

LuSh wrote: »

I wish the PS3 allowed you to bit-stream out to a receiver in DTS HD or TrueHD. When internally decoded there have been nothing but bugs with LFE channels.

Actually, there are no bugs with the ps3, it's mostly user configuration error. I guess this is something that's been known in SACD, DVD-A circles and is only slowly making its way to a more general crowd.

You can read about how the LFE channel is recorded and processed here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=748147

But the gist of it is:

You can't have the LFE signal transmitted over ICs at full level because the connections were not designed for a signal so much stronger than the other speaker info. So it's recorded 10db lower and transmitted at this level over hdmi, other ICs, etc.

At the receiver/pre it should:

1) After receiving bitstream, decode and add 10db to the LFE signal.

or

2) After receiving the PCM (the results of internal player decoding), add 10db to the LFE signal.

Since the bitstream format is automatically identified, the processor knows it should add 10db. However, in many cases, you have to configure your receiver or preamp to add 10db to the PCM signal (usually there are standard settings in the menu just for this) since the receiver/pre doesn't always default to boosting it. When the receiver/pre isn't configured properly to do this, people think there is a problem with the ps3. But it's really user error (and the rare bug) on the receiver/pre side not configured to properly boost the LFE on a multichannel PCM signal.

kolyan2k

one of the best purchases i have made ! this is just great !

Sami

mantis wrote: »

No man, the only way to get any of the HD audio is over HDMI with the Ps3.

Yep, that's what I thought. If the PS3 was normal sized AV component to go with the rest of the equipment, and would have analog outputs it would be perfect. The way it is, I'm not getting another, I'll wait for a decent priced standalone. Not worth it to get a new preamp, not just for DTS-HD, I'll rather get something with analog outs if I ever feel the need for HD tracks.

dbaldus

cheddar wrote: »

At the receiver/pre it should:

1) After receiving bitstream, decode and add 10db to the LFE signal.

or

2) After receiving the PCM (the results of internal player decoding), add 10db to the LFE signal.

Since the bitstream format is automatically identified, the processor knows it should add 10db. However, in many cases, you have to configure your receiver or preamp to add 10db to the PCM signal (usually there are standard settings in the menu just for this) since the receiver/pre doesn't always default to boosting it. When the receiver/pre isn't configured properly to do this, people think there is a problem with the ps3. But it's really user error (and the rare bug) on the receiver/pre side not configured to properly boost the LFE on a multichannel PCM signal.

This is very interesting to me because I've been having this exact problem when I tell my PS3 to output Linear PCM to my H/K 247. Do you know of a way to tell the H/K "If you are receiving a PCM signal, add 10dB to the LFE"? Its really annoying to me because I play games, watch movies, listen to SACD's on my PS3 with an added 10dB, but then I switch over to TV or my DVD player (bit stream) and it sounds WAY too bassy.

If anyone knows how to do this, please speak up! Its annoying to have to change the setting back and forth.

Thanks!

Sami

Different inputs should have different channel level settings. At least that's how it is in my HK AVR7200.

fatchowmein

Sweet. Now, they just need to be able to read ifo files from a backend computer and we'll have a true multimedia front end that will spank the Xbox 360.

cheddar

Sami wrote: »

Different inputs should have different channel level settings. At least that's how it is in my HK AVR7200.

Yep, on mine I had to boost the subwoofer level by 10 db, then cut the LFE by 10 db on all inputs except multichannel pcm (my pre only allows cutting the LFE by input, not boosting). But I imagine that the work around you use will be very receiver/pre specific with different LFE adjustments possible on each different receiver/pre a person uses.

The best option would be a setting that allows a simple 10 db boost on multichannel PCM LFE. But you have to be careful just boosting the subwoofer 10 db if you redirect bass from non-LFE speaker channels as you will be boosting this redirected bass 10 db above calibrated levels as well.

dbaldus

cheddar wrote: »

Yep, on mine I had to boost the subwoofer level by 10 db, then cut the LFE by 10 db on all inputs except multichannel pcm (my pre only allows cutting the LFE by input, not boosting). But I imagine that the work around you use will be very receiver/pre specific with different LFE adjustments possible on each different receiver/pre a person uses.

The best option would be a setting that allows a simple 10 db boost on multichannel PCM LFE. But you have to be careful just boosting the subwoofer 10 db if you redirect bass from non-LFE speaker channels as you will be boosting this redirected bass 10 db above calibrated levels as well.

Yeah, thats what I was worried about. As far as I can tell, there is no way to boost OR cut the LFE on my H/K 247, I can only change the sub level from +/-10dB.

Can anyone else confirm this?

And if this is the case, what should I do to work around it?

dbaldus

fatchowmein wrote: »

Sweet. Now, they just need to be able to read ifo files from a backend computer and we'll have a true multimedia front end that will spank the Xbox 360.

I don't think it will do that specifically (although I'm not exactly sure), but TVersity will do a LOT of other things.

Check it out - its awesome!

djlogix

fatchowmein wrote: »

Sweet. Now, they just need to be able to read ifo files from a backend computer and we'll have a true multimedia front end that will spank the Xbox 360.

Unfortunately you'll always have to load OS first.

Different Mantras.

I'm happy about this, but at the same time sort of pissy as I'm waiting for the next DF player. I desperately need one and hopefully it does this feature and beyond.

cheddar

dbaldus wrote: »

Yeah, thats what I was worried about. As far as I can tell, there is no way to boost OR cut the LFE on my H/K 247, I can only change the sub level from +/-10dB.

Can anyone else confirm this?

And if this is the case, what should I do to work around it?

Maybe program a macro into the remote to make the process more automatic?

Sami

dbaldus wrote: »

I can only change the sub level from +/-10dB.

That should do it. Check with the 247 if it saves different inputs in different memory banks. For example in my 7200, if I have satellite in optical 1, and PS3 in optical 2 and I change the settings while optical 1 is selected it will change the channel levels for the satellite box. Once done, I switch to optical 2 and enter the channel menu again. Calibrate levels again and now I have different levels for PS3 and satellite.

The 7200 was HK's top of the line receiver so it might have this as an extra compared to the 247 but it's worth it for you to check.

nodeuces

It still does not show as DTS-HD on the amp. Still have to go with the MultiChannel. Oh well...my purchase of this amp is starting to seem like a poor decision.

cheddar

The 2.30 update is now live.

cheddar

nodeuces wrote: »

It still does not show as DTS-HD on the amp. Still have to go with the MultiChannel. Oh well...my purchase of this amp is starting to seem like a poor decision.

With the ps3 as a player, you will always have to internally decode the signal unless they release a new ps3 with a new 1.3 chip. However, if you buy a new player at some point, at least you're covered if you want to bitstream the audio to the receiver/processor to decode. Nothing wrong with a little future proofing...

landry_p2000

Do I get the v2.30 update when I log on to the store? I was looking at a Blu-ray yestaerday, and no update came up. I am new to the ps3. I just got it in January, and I am online.

Systems

landry_p2000 wrote: »

Do I get the v2.30 update when I log on to the store? I was looking at a Blu-ray yestaerday, and no update came up. I am new to the ps3. I just got it in January, and I am online.

No you don't have to log into the store, on mine it ususally tells me theres an update. If it isn't on yours just go to the update menu and manually check for updates.....