I hope that this question hasn't been answered yet but i searched for quite a bit and basically found a lot of talk of bitstream vs. pcm. My dilemma is When i watch movies or play games on my PS3 I notice that my receiver doesnt tell me anything about what sound format it's playing in. All I am able to see is the blue multi channel light lit up and the speaker indicators lit up which should be telling me that the sound file is playing multichannel but i have no idea what form it's playing in. Now if I watch a BD and i change the soundfield while watching the movie through the PS3's remote then i can definitely tell the difference from LPCM to DolbyTrueHD and the down to 5.1 but the receiver doesnt tell me anthing even while i'm switching on the PS3. I have a Sony STR-DG2100 and it is definitely capable of doing all the sondfields including DolbyTrueHD and both forms of DTS HD Audio's. But i just wanted to know If i am doing something wrong by not being able to see the icon or the text light up on the receiver and tell me exactly what it's doing. Thanks guys for all your help.

I have my receiver set the the AFD Auto setting as well.

I hope that this question hasn't been answered yet but i searched for quite a bit and basically found a lot of talk of bitstream vs. pcm. My dilemma is When i watch movies or play games on my PS3 I notice that my receiver doesnt tell me anything about what sound format it's playing in. All I am able to see is the blue multi channel light lit up and the speaker indicators lit up which should be telling me that the sound file is playing multichannel but i have no idea what form it's playing in. Now if I watch a BD and i change the soundfield while watching the movie through the PS3's remote then i can definitely tell the difference from LPCM to DolbyTrueHD and the down to 5.1 but the receiver doesnt tell me anthing even while i'm switching on the PS3. I have a Sony STR-DG2100 and it is definitely capable of doing all the sondfields including DolbyTrueHD and both forms of DTS HD Audio's. But i just wanted to know If i am doing something wrong by not being able to see the icon or the text light up on the receiver and tell me exactly what it's doing. Thanks guys for all your help.

I have my receiver set the the AFD Auto setting as well.

How is it connected?

HDMI? Optical? Composite?

What are the current settings? Bitstream? PCM?

Help us out here.

I too am wondering how to decipher and/or designate what format is being used with playback of various media.

For instance, i just bought a concert DVD tonight recorded in DD 5.1 and DTS--how do I determine/choose which format is being used to playback the audio?

BTW I'm hooked up HDMI to a Denon 4308ci (complex as hell), which is capable of decoding basically everything currently available. As such, is it best to set my ps3 to bitstream???

The PS3 will not send Dolby TrueHD or DTS-MA as bitstream. So even if your receiver will decode those formats, the PS3 won't send them. You have to set it to LPCM if you want the best sound quality. The PS3 will convert Dolby TrueHD to PCM. It can't decode DTS-MA, so you will only get DTS core.

Your receiver will most likely display Multi-Channel PCM.

The PS3 will not send Dolby TrueHD or DTS-MA as bitstream. So even if your receiver will decode those formats, the PS3 won't send them. You have to set it to LPCM if you want the best sound quality. The PS3 will convert Dolby TrueHD to PCM. It can't decode DTS-MA, so you will only get DTS core.

Your receiver will most likely display Multi-Channel PCM.

IS it that the ps3 won't do truehd or dts-ma via bitstream or that it won't do them at all? I'm sure it's been discussed here somewhere, but it it likely that firmware updates will lead the eventual inclusion of these formats and/or the ability to send them bitstream?

Also, what is your statement that LPCM is needed for the best sound quality based on? BELIEVE me--I am not arguing with you, as I'm a total NEWB with these new formats( my last AVR was a mid 90's mid range JVC). However, is it at least fathomable that the AVR and it's DAC's would do a "better" job with the bitstream vs. the PS3 doing the decoding?

Interestingly enough, when watching a concert DVD(Niirvana New York), if i select linear PCM, the Denon displays "multi-channel in". When I switch to bitstream, the Denon displays "DTS surround"(or Dolby PLII w/ Dolby 5.1 selected fromt the DVD setup).

I have the PS3 connected to HDMI port 2 on my STR-DG2100 and then I have the output from that receiver going into the side input of my tv which is a KDL-40XBR2 I think that side port is HDMI input 3. I have the PS3 set to Linear PCM under the HDMI audo settings under BD/DVD settings in the PS3. The receiver is set to AFD Auto and I see the multi channel blue light lit up with the speakers also lit which should signify they are playing. just recently i was playing an mp3 and the blue light is lit which should mean i am supposed to be getting 5 channel audio even though i am playing an mp3. I thinki it may be something to do with that AFD Auto setting but i don't know how to disable it. hope this helps you guys out with answering my question. Thanks again :)

hit the display button on the ps3, it will give you what codec is being transmitted at what bitrate as well as the video bitrate and codec info.

Your receiver will just get the multi channel pcm so it does not know what its getting, it does not need to decode anything. The PS3 decodes it and just sends it to the receiver since its allready decoded the receiver just amplifies and passes the sounds through.

also agravatingly enough the ps3 will NOT automatically select the the best sound track you will have to select it in the menu.

The ps3 cannot bitstream the lossless codecs, so you have to have the ps3 set to lpcm under blu ray settings I believe. If you can hear a diffrence when you change tracks you have it set up correctly.

IS it that the ps3 won't do truehd or dts-ma via bitstream or that it won't do them at all? I'm sure it's been discussed here somewhere, but it it likely that firmware updates will lead the eventual inclusion of these formats and/or the ability to send them bitstream?

It will decode TrueHD internally and send it as LPCM to the receiver. As of now, the PS3 cannot decode DTS-MA. Hopefully this will be changed in a future update. It has been said that the hardware is incapable of bitstreaming DTS-MA and TrueHD so don't expect that to ever come. Not a big deal as long as it will eventually decode DTS-MA internally. Its unfortunate that we never get to see the cool lights on receiver though. :D

I have the PS3 connected to HDMI port 2 on my STR-DG2100 and then I have the output from that receiver going into the side input of my tv which is a KDL-40XBR2 I think that side port is HDMI input 3. I have the PS3 set to Linear PCM under the HDMI audo settings under BD/DVD settings in the PS3. The receiver is set to AFD Auto and I see the multi channel blue light lit up with the speakers also lit which should signify they are playing. just recently i was playing an mp3 and the blue light is lit which should mean i am supposed to be getting 5 channel audio even though i am playing an mp3. I thinki it may be something to do with that AFD Auto setting but i don't know how to disable it. hope this helps you guys out with answering my question. Thanks again :)

On my sony amp (DE897) you push the AFD buttom to cycle thru different decoders.

I'm thinking of buying a PS3 and have been asking the same questions.

My amp only has optical so in my case I could only receive 5.1.

Also, what is your statement that LPCM is needed for the best sound quality based on? BELIEVE me--I am not arguing with you, as I'm a total NEWB with these new formats( my last AVR was a mid 90's mid range JVC). However, is it at least fathomable that the AVR and it's DAC's would do a "better" job with the bitstream vs. the PS3 doing the decoding?
- The DAC in the receiver would still be used since the receiver still receives a digital signal in the form of Multi-Channel PCM. Here's a really good read.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/853

You can also use the "select" button if you're only using the controller or the remote for that matter. I find it easier to find the select button in the dark than the display button.