I have the Yamaha RX-V663 and a PS3 and using HDMI 1.3a to connect them. I've done the searches on this forum, and I've seen BOTH answers: use Bitstream, use Linear PCM output on the PS3. Which one is it!??

The only way to get HD audio (TrueHD, DTS-MA HD) from the PS3, regardless of receiver, is via PCM over HDMI. The PS3 decodes them internally, and converts it to LPCM. The PS3 does NOT pass those over bitstream, whether optical or HDMI. The PS3 will only bitstream DD and DTS (legacy) over optical or HDMI.

When I use Bitstream, my receiver shows DTS or Dolby Digital, but not DTS HD or Dolby True HD. When I use PCM, it just shows PCM... I just want to see that I'm hearing my sound in these HD formats. :confused:

Well, with the PS3, you won't see on the receiver that you're getting those codecs. Because the receiver isn't doing any decoding, it's simply passing through the PCM signal from the PS3. Again, the PS3 is doing the decoding. If you set your PS3 to PCM, and watch a BD movie, push "select" on your PS3 controller and the top right will tell you what audio codec you're listening to. That's the best you can get with the PS3. The receiver will always show "multich" or "PCM" (depending on your receiver).

If you absolutely, must see the TrueHD or DTS-MA or DD+ light up on your receiver, you'll have to get a BD player that has the capability of bitstreaming those codecs, such as the Panasonic DMP-BD30 (or BD10, older generation), or other standalone units. However, most of the people here on AVSForum that have both the PS3 and a standalone BD player and have compared the codecs via PCM and via bitstream say there is no audible difference. So, last time...the PS3 CANNOT bitstream those codecs, which is the only way your receiver will be able to show on its screen that it's decoding those codecs.

Ok, thanks, I believe ya. :) I just wanted to have SOMEWAY of telling that I'm getting the TrueHD/DTSHD codecs, and if its on the PS3 and not the receiver, thats fine.

Any idea why its being output as 5.1 and not 7.1?

The reason it's 5.1 is because there aren't too many 7.1 mixes out yet. New Line has a few, and there are others, but most of the mixes are still 5.1. You'll have to look on the back of the BD boxes to see if the audio is a 5.1 or a 7.1 mix.

Theatrical movie releases are mixed in 5.1, not 7.1. So, creating 7.1 for home release requires additional mixing, which doesn't happen very often.

Also, there are a few New Line titles that are being played as 5.1 by the PS3 as of now (Hairspray, Pan's Labyrinth, Shoot 'em Up).

set it to PCM...when your watching a movie with TrueHD or DTS MA etc, click select on the PS3 remote. That can be your indicator to let you know your listening to the HD audio track. It will display it on the top of the screen, along with the mbps.