Thread: Anybody really serious about using PS3 for audio playback?

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Post by The Seventh Taylor June 19, 2007 (51 of 243)
mbash said:

No, the HDMI repeater receiver will process audio (multi channel) and video.

Sorry, I believe we're talking about the same thing: an AV Receiver with HDMI input and output, that processes the audio. It doesn't matter whether it's an HDMI switcher or repeater.

Post by kingofgrills June 19, 2007 (52 of 243)
I'm pretty sure the PS3 will only pass SACD multichannel through HDMI v1.3, it will not work through 1.2. I almost bought a Yamaha receiver with HDMI 1.2, but I stopped for that sole reason.

In order to get good SACD sound out of the PS3, without an HDMI 1.3 receiver, you'll need to use analog outputs via the PS3's multi/av port. The PS3 will only output SACD through HDMI 1.3 or RCA analog output. The PS3 will not play SACDs through the digital optical out, so you were probably listening to the regular CD track on a hybrid SACD.

Post by The Seventh Taylor June 19, 2007 (53 of 243)
kingofgrills said:

I'm pretty sure the PS3 will only pass SACD multichannel through HDMI v1.3, it will not work through 1.2. I almost bought a Yamaha receiver with HDMI 1.2, but I stopped for that sole reason.

I'm not so sure. It's worth a try (though not worth buying a receiver to try, I admit). It seems v1.2 does not differ from v1.3 in this respect: the only difference regarding audio formats is support of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio; the others differences are about colour space, a new mini connector and lip sync... unless the higher speed is needed to relay the high-sample rate PCM that the PS3 currently outputs. For DSD, v1.2 would be good enough but remarkably, that output option is (still) not provided on PS3.

http://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/faq.aspx

Post by kingofgrills June 20, 2007 (54 of 243)
Okay, I stumbled across this article today, and it's an interview with two of Sony's PS3 engineers who are responsible for firmware upgrades. They are very revealing about how they developed SACD playback, as well as DVD and game upscaling. I think the good news is the article shows how determined they are to perfect the functionality of the PS3. They're not just jamming features in to have them.

Here it is: http://www.playstatic.com/news/570

Post by Possum Pete June 21, 2007 (55 of 243)
kingofgrills said:

The PS3 will not play SACDs through the digital optical out, so you were probably listening to the regular CD track on a hybrid SACD.

I'm going to try it again tonight but I heard 5.1 sound. I heard specific sounds coming out of the right rear speaker that weren't coming out of the front. It may have been that I had the sound field on the receiver set up for 5.1 sound. Like I said, I'll experiment some more tonight.

I think I'll try my DSOTM disc. Either way, I'll be listening to good music!

Post by The Seventh Taylor June 21, 2007 (56 of 243)
kingofgrills said:

I stumbled across this article today, and it's an interview with two of Sony's PS3 engineers who are responsible for firmware upgrades... http://www.playstatic.com/news/570

Thanks, that's a better translation of the interview I referred to above than Babelfish and Google can provide.

Sadly it still doesn't answer the question why they don't (offer the option to) simply output DSD rather than hi-res PCM.

Post by swestbom June 24, 2007 (57 of 243)
I think the answer is obvious as to why no DSD, they no longer make a receiver that handles it, it isn't part of Blu-Ray, no one makes DSP equipment for it. PCM won out, inferior or not.

Pioneer also no longer makes a receiver that handles DSD (the 84 was the last) and I would guess others will follow. SACD is being relegated to the 2 channel "audiophile" group and the home theater user who is not serious about sound quality (thus the conversion to PCM).

Post by Sigfred June 24, 2007 (58 of 243)
swestbom said:

I think the answer is obvious as to why no DSD, they no longer make a receiver that handles it, it isn't part of Blu-Ray, no one makes DSP equipment for it. PCM won out, inferior or not.

Pioneer also no longer makes a receiver that handles DSD (the 84 was the last) and I would guess others will follow. SACD is being relegated to the 2 channel "audiophile" group and the home theater user who is not serious about sound quality (thus the conversion to PCM).

Pioneer very recently released a new inexpensive DVD player (DV-696AV) that transmits DSD over HDMI, at least according to the English manual page 48: http://www.service.pioneer-eur.com/peeservice/RegistrInstrMan.nsf/search?openform&Modelnr=DV-600AV

I find it a bit strange Pioneer will introduce a new player with DSD over HDMI if they do not consider introducing a receiver with DSD (via HDMI) decoding capability.

Post by swestbom June 24, 2007 (59 of 243)
DSD does much better in Europe than here in the States. The existing DSD recording equipment doesn't have all the mixing bells and whistles that PCM has, it does a much better job of capturing natural sound but cannot be mixed the way PCM can be on any computer. No sound effects, no crap, that is why it owns the high fidelity classical and jazz market and DVD-Audio owns the popular music market (such as it is for either format).

Post by The Seventh Taylor June 26, 2007 (60 of 243)
swestbom said:

I think the answer is obvious as to why no DSD, they no longer make a receiver that handles it, it isn't part of Blu-Ray, no one makes DSP equipment for it. PCM won out, inferior or not.

Bollocks. If Sony had given up on DSD, they wouldn't be emphasizing the new DSD recording and playback functions of their new VAIO desktop range like they are.

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