How do i set up my PS3 to send audio to my receiver via TOSLINK?

[evident]

I have a PS3 w/ HDMI out to tv, and want to have the optical audio out to go to my receiver.

I have a 2.0 setup w/ my Pioneer elite vsx-90txv receiver. (im cheap yes i know)


I am not sure whether my toslink cable is broken or not, but when i connect the cable to my ps3, i see a red light on the other side, so i assume that it's not messed up.
When i plug the other end to my receiver and turn configure the receiver to digital output, and the ps3 to output audio via toslink, i get no sound.

Is this because I do not have a full blown 5.1 setup, and because the optical is sending out a digital 5.1 signal to the receiver, it doesn't know what to do and I am not hearing anything?

 

[thomsbrain]

Sure you've got the correct digital input selected on the receiver? Most of them have more than one.

Also, make sure you have the PS3 set to bitstream rather than PCM output. The optical output can only send 2-channel PCM or bitstream surround. It cannot output PCM surround like HDMI can, and I think the PS3 defaults to PCM surround if you are using an HDMI cable. So if the PS3 sees the HDMI cable and is set to PCM, then anytime you watch a movie, the optical out will probably be disabled because it isn't capable of sending what the PS3 is decoding and sending over HDMI. Bitstream can be sent over either connection and lets your receiver do the decoding.

If you use the optical out, you won't get to use the new surround codecs like DTS-HD MA or DD-HD because the PS3 can only send those as PCM surround.

I hope that is helpful, but I'm flying blind because I have things connected differently on mine (HDMI for audio only, S-video for video).

 

[Chunkee]

i have my optical playing the sound on my onkyo amp...so what you are saying is, I am not getting the full effects if I used optical...only HDMI (goes to TV)? I am wondering if I could pass the sound from the TV via optical out to the amp and get all the decoding?

JC

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Originally posted by: Chunkee
i have my optical playing the sound on my onkyo amp...so what you are saying is, I am not getting the full effects if I used optical...only HDMI (goes to TV)? I am wondering if I could pass the sound from the TV via optical out to the amp and get all the decoding?

JC

Probably not, but it would depend on your TV.

I have a similar setup right now (PS3 to TV via HDMI, TV to old receiver via optical), and the TV will only output 2 channel sound via optical connection. It's not a problem for me because that's all I have for a sound system right now. In addition, I also gain the advantage of not having to change the input on the receiver when changing between the PS3 and my cable box (which also outputs to the TV by HDMI).

 

[Shawn]

Actually, if you only have 2.0 then you should set the ps3 to PCM.

 

[evident]

is my toslink cable broken? i am not able to get any sound at all whatsoever to my receiver. i guess only way to find out is to order another toslink cable. argh!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

So you're sure you have the correct input selected?

Is your other equipment working fine with the receiver?

Do you have a DVD player (or something else with a toslink output) that you could hook up in place of the PS3 to isolate the problem?

 

[thomsbrain]

A final possibility is that the input on the receiver might be messed up. Along the lines of Yoyo's thinking, is there a different input on the receiver you could try, even temporarily?

 

[spidey07]

Dumb question - did you remove the dust caps on the toslink cable and is the cable seated well on both ends? It should seat pretty firmly with a "click" that you can feel.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Actually, if you only have 2.0 then you should set the ps3 to PCM.

Actually it really won't matter if you set it to PCM at the player or just send DD. I prefer sending DD and DTS to any setup.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Shawn
Actually, if you only have 2.0 then you should set the ps3 to PCM.

Actually it really won't matter if you set it to PCM at the player or just send DD. I prefer sending DD and DTS to any setup.

except that DD and DTS aren't lossless. If he sets it to PCM he will get 2.0 lossless. since he only has 2.0 that is fine for him.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Shawn
Actually, if you only have 2.0 then you should set the ps3 to PCM.

Actually it really won't matter if you set it to PCM at the player or just send DD. I prefer sending DD and DTS to any setup.

except that DD and DTS aren't lossless. If he sets it to PCM he will get 2.0 lossless. since he only has 2.0 that is fine for him.

I don't believe the PS3 will decode and send lossless audio over an optical connection...even 2.0. Perhaps I am wrong though with how it handles the conversion. If it just goes from the lossless audio tracks to PCM then I suppose it could work but I thought it would reduce the resolution of even PCM tracks over a optical connection.

Looking into it more it looks like you are correct. Shame you would lose the dedicated LFE track for those with 2.1 setups...would be nice.

 

[Shawn]

PCM is lossless. The only reason you can only get 2.0 is because that's a limitation of toslink. HDMI doesn't have that limitation.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Dumb question - did you remove the dust caps on the toslink cable and is the cable seated well on both ends? It should seat pretty firmly with a "click" that you can feel.

thanks

the toslink cable on the ps3 end is a little bit loose though, but it still works. i feel dumb now. LOL

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: spidey07
Dumb question - did you remove the dust caps on the toslink cable and is the cable seated well on both ends? It should seat pretty firmly with a "click" that you can feel.

thanks

the toslink cable on the ps3 end is a little bit loose though, but it still works. i feel dumb now. LOL

heh, you're not the first and won't be the last by a long margin. Glad it's working for you.

There is a fair amount of wiggle with toslink but as long as you feel the "click" of it mating and it can't be pulled out with little force you're good to go. The connector has orientation meaning you can't just push it in, there is a flat part to it that must be aligned with the receptacle.

 

[Spoooon]

Sort of related but not really question: are all TOS link cables created equal? I'm just using the plastic one that came with my HT-CT100, but was considering ordering one from monoprice next time I need some cables. Does it even matter over a short distance? Even if it had some impact on the quality of the audio, I doubt i'd notice.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: Spoooon
Sort of related but not really question: are all TOS link cables created equal? I'm just using the plastic one that came with my HT-CT100, but was considering ordering one from monoprice next time I need some cables. Does it even matter over a short distance? Even if it had some impact on the quality of the audio, I doubt i'd notice.

The main differences in optical cables I have noted are their abilities to click in place, some will not click and just hang there where some fit snugly

just get some from monoprice they will be fine for you