Codecs, Recievers: What do I need to know?

[BassBomb]

I am somewhat confused regarding PCM steams and codecs. Not sure which part will do what and how I should set up everything:

My output devices are:
PC via Audigy2 via Digital Coaxial (From what I find, this is PCM steam)
PS3 via Optical Audio (No idea what this streams out)

They will be connected to either of the following (one is upstairs in my room, one is downstairs with our 52" LCD)
Input Devices:
JVC RX8000V (Optical, Coaxial, Dolby Digital, DTS and PCM)
Yamaha HTR5730 (Optical, Coaxial, Dolby Digital PLI, Dobly Digital PLII, DTS and PCM)

What should I be setting up the PS3 or PC to stream out?

PC:
-I know if I use DD or DTS from PC I won't always get LFE or surround from games, but this is ok if I can easily change it back to PCM.
-I have a Transformers HD-DVD rip (x264 and DTS 5.1) that I can use to test (via VLC or Media Player Classic - Home Cinema)
> When using VLC to play the movie, I changed the input setting on reciever to DTS to see if it works like that and it would sound like it was skipping

PS3:
-This had quite a few options, check boxes, to select when choosing output signal
-I understand it can either decode the streams directly and output PCM, or it will output the DD/DTS stream to reciever so it will do it.
> Will it be better for the reciever or PS3 to decode such streams?
> For codecs that my reciever does not support, I am assuming these will need to be decoded by the PS3 to send as PCM.
> Will a TV passthrough via HDMI still carry any streams (PCM or DD/DTS)? For example I have the Sharp 52" D62U downstairs, I can hook the PS3 via HDMI also sending audio to tv speakers, then send optical out from TV to reciever.

Always fun to get the most out of what you already have.

 

[erwos]

Alright, here we go:

Optical and coax SPDIF cannot carry more than two channels of PCM. Ergo, if you want surround sound over SPDIF, you're going to need to use DTS or DD-5.1, not multi-channel PCM.

Most TVs will _NOT_ pass a DD-5.1 or DTS bitstream from an HDMI input to the TV's optical output. (They will do so for the internal tuner, though!)

Therefore, you'll want to:
1. Set your PS3 to bitstream (PCM isn't helpful over optical).
2. Either start using analog output on your sound card, or be prepared to only get surround sound on files with DD-5.1 or DTS (via pass-through - set it in the player).

 

[BassBomb]

So for

PC:
Upstairs PC I'll want to use two Stereo Mini to RCA adaptors, one for L/R the other for Sub/x
> 2.1
Downstairs PC I'll want to use 3 Stereo Mini to RCA adaptors, F L/R, R L/R, Sub/C
> 5.1 HTIB

How can I check to make 100% sure the Audigy2 cannot bitstream and is limited to two channel?

PS3:

Bitstream means it will decode DTS/DD on the reciever? And what about for things that are not in DTS/DD (BluRay?)

 

[Slick5150]

Only sound cards that have Dolby Digital Live or DTS Interactive can send multi-channel audio over a digital connection. They're basically taking the multi channel sound, encoding it real-time into a dolby digital stream or a DTS stream, and then sending that to your receiver to decode it. Otherwise, like erwos said, all its going to do is mush everything that's not already a Dolby Digital or DTS source (DVD, etc..) and send it out via 2-channel PCM.

So, your best options are to either connect your Audigy to the receiver using analog connections, or get a new sound card that can do Dolby Digital Live or DTS Interactive.

And yes, bitstreaming means its just sending the signal as-is over the wire for your receiver to decode. For non DD/DTS stuff, your receiver wouldn't know what to do with it, but while I'm not familiar with the PS3's media capabilities at all, I'm assuming it would send anything else out via PCM anyways.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Only sound cards that have Dolby Digital Live or DTS Interactive can send multi-channel audio over a digital connection. They're basically taking the multi channel sound, encoding it real-time into a dolby digital stream or a DTS stream, and then sending that to your receiver to decode it. Otherwise, like erwos said, all its going to do is mush everything that's not already a Dolby Digital or DTS source (DVD, etc..) and send it out via 2-channel PCM.

So, your best options are to either connect your Audigy to the receiver using analog connections, or get a new sound card that can do Dolby Digital Live or DTS Interactive.

And yes, bitstreaming means its just sending the signal as-is over the wire for your receiver to decode. For non DD/DTS stuff, your receiver wouldn't know what to do with it, but while I'm not familiar with the PS3's media capabilities at all, I'm assuming it would send anything else out via PCM anyways.

A. Analog is a better idea even for 2.1?

B. So for these things, I will again be limited to 2 channel?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
I am somewhat confused regarding PCM steams and codecs. Not sure which part will do what and how I should set up everything:

My output devices are:
PC via Audigy2 via Digital Coaxial (From what I find, this is PCM steam)
PS3 via Optical Audio (No idea what this streams out)

They will be connected to either of the following (one is upstairs in my room, one is downstairs with our 52" LCD)
Input Devices:
JVC RX8000V (Optical, Coaxial, Dolby Digital, DTS and PCM)
Yamaha HTR5730 (Optical, Coaxial, Dolby Digital PLI, Dobly Digital PLII, DTS and PCM)

What should I be setting up the PS3 or PC to stream out?

PC:
-I know if I use DD or DTS from PC I won't always get LFE or surround from games, but this is ok if I can easily change it back to PCM.
-I have a Transformers HD-DVD rip (x264 and DTS 5.1) that I can use to test (via VLC or Media Player Classic - Home Cinema)
> When using VLC to play the movie, I changed the input setting on reciever to DTS to see if it works like that and it would sound like it was skipping

PS3:
-This had quite a few options, check boxes, to select when choosing output signal
-I understand it can either decode the streams directly and output PCM, or it will output the DD/DTS stream to reciever so it will do it.
> Will it be better for the reciever or PS3 to decode such streams?
> For codecs that my reciever does not support, I am assuming these will need to be decoded by the PS3 to send as PCM.
> Will a TV passthrough via HDMI still carry any streams (PCM or DD/DTS)? For example I have the Sharp 52" D62U downstairs, I can hook the PS3 via HDMI also sending audio to tv speakers, then send optical out from TV to reciever.

Always fun to get the most out of what you already have.

Set the default audio device to waveout instead of default or anything else. It's in the preferences, you'll have to select advanced options. Close the program and reopen. Also, make sure passthrough is selected in the Creative control console so it doesn't decode the DTS sound.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
A. Analog is a better idea even for 2.1?

That would depend on the quality of your receiver's DD/DTS decoder. Generally, I doubt it would matter too much. But, I think the implication was that if your receiver has analog multi-in, you could use that to work-around your sound card's lack of DD-L/DTS-I and always get surround sound from your PC.

B. So for these things, I will again be limited to 2 channel?

Define "these things". There's a lot we don't know about your setup that makes it hard to give a good answer (eg, does your receiver have analog multi-in? what model of Audigy 2 is it?).

 

[BassBomb]

Both recievers have 6ch analog inputs. Both PCs use the sound card I believe is Audigy2 (pretty sure its not ZS)

For the "these things" I was referring to non DD/DTS steams from say a BluRay disc

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
Both recievers have 6ch analog inputs. Both PCs use the sound card I believe is Audigy2 (pretty sure its not ZS)

For the "these things" I was referring to non DD/DTS steams from say a BluRay disc

Blu-ray audio tracks can be converted into standard DD/DTS by the player and output via the PS3's optical connection

 

[BassBomb]

I guess the best will be to use:

Upstairs:
PS3 bistream PCM (since I only have 2.1 setup)

>If I set it to DD/DTS upstairs, will it try outputting C, and REAR even though they dont exist? It seems it tried to do this, but I don't know whether it reduced the sound coming through L/R.

Downstairs:
PS3 bistream DD5.1 DTS5.1 (since I have 5.1 setup)
--------

Still trying to figure out how to do dts/dd from PC. The Audigy console did not have any options pertaining to dd/dts passthrough.
I read sound skipping when using SPDIF in VLC is a known issue for Audigy

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
I guess the best will be to use:

Upstairs:
PS3 bistream PCM (since I only have 2.1 setup)

>If I set it to DD/DTS upstairs, will it try outputting C, and REAR even though they dont exist? It seems it tried to do this, but I don't know whether it reduced the sound coming through L/R.

Downstairs:
PS3 bistream DD5.1 DTS5.1 (since I have 5.1 setup)
--------

Still trying to figure out how to do dts/dd from PC. The Audigy console did not have any options pertaining to dd/dts passthrough.
I read sound skipping when using SPDIF in VLC is a known issue for Audigy

Provided you have a receiver capable of receiving a DD5.1/DTS5.1 signal upstairs for your 2.1 setup, set it to output bitstream. The receiver will handle deciding which speaker you do and do not have.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: BassBomb
I guess the best will be to use:

Upstairs:
PS3 bistream PCM (since I only have 2.1 setup)

>If I set it to DD/DTS upstairs, will it try outputting C, and REAR even though they dont exist? It seems it tried to do this, but I don't know whether it reduced the sound coming through L/R.

Downstairs:
PS3 bistream DD5.1 DTS5.1 (since I have 5.1 setup)
--------

Still trying to figure out how to do dts/dd from PC. The Audigy console did not have any options pertaining to dd/dts passthrough.
I read sound skipping when using SPDIF in VLC is a known issue for Audigy

Provided you have a receiver capable of receiving a DD5.1/DTS5.1 signal upstairs for your 2.1 setup, set it to output bitstream. The receiver will handle deciding which speaker you do and do not have.

Yes it was decoding (the JVC RX8000V). My issue was whether there would be any difference from PCM and DD/DTS while using 2.1.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: BassBomb
I guess the best will be to use:

Upstairs:
PS3 bistream PCM (since I only have 2.1 setup)

>If I set it to DD/DTS upstairs, will it try outputting C, and REAR even though they dont exist? It seems it tried to do this, but I don't know whether it reduced the sound coming through L/R.

Downstairs:
PS3 bistream DD5.1 DTS5.1 (since I have 5.1 setup)
--------

Still trying to figure out how to do dts/dd from PC. The Audigy console did not have any options pertaining to dd/dts passthrough.
I read sound skipping when using SPDIF in VLC is a known issue for Audigy

Provided you have a receiver capable of receiving a DD5.1/DTS5.1 signal upstairs for your 2.1 setup, set it to output bitstream. The receiver will handle deciding which speaker you do and do not have.

Yes it was decoding (the JVC RX8000V). My issue was whether there would be any difference from PCM and DD/DTS while using 2.1.

You will lose the dedicated LFE channel if you don't send the receiver bitstream signals.

 

[BassBomb]

Rented my first blu-ray movie, watched it in 5.1 via DD bitstream on the Yamaha reciever. It sounded great! I'll have to try out upstairs before I return the movie.