razredge
11-07-08, 08:52 AM
Ok, this is quite a complicated and unusual issue I have, hopefully I can get help from the highly respected AVS Forum.
I'll try to keep it simple:
I have a Sony Bravia 46XBR4 (which is excellent) and a PS3 which I use as a DVD/Bluray player, they are connected via HDMI only. However I have no surround sound system, and just use the Bravia's speakers (which are reasonable).
Now, I know not having a surround sound system probably amounts to heresy here, but bear with me. I will probably get one eventually, but for now I have limited space and will have to mount speakers on the wall, do the cabling etc.
One of the reasons I brought a Bravia was because of its 'S Force Front Surround' a virtual surround feature that does a reasonable job of emulating the real thing (Yes, I know you have to sit between the speakers for it to work properly and has poor bass and mutates sounds like drumstrokes etc).
Now virtual surround works fine (to me at least), when I watch movies on Digital TV.
My question is does anyone know of a way to get Virtual Surround to work while watching a DVD or (though less importantly) playing a game on the PS3.
Has anyone else tried to do this?
Firstly I have called tech support, which was a royal pain, as if you called SCEE they would tell you its a TV issue and to call Sony Electronics, and vice versa etc.
I have also done some experiments myself, although I am not very patient, and don't have enough of an ear for surround sound or have sound test DVDs, to know whether tweaking the PS3 audio output settings and enabling the surround option on the TV, does anything other than broaden the sound stage ie. 'throw' stereo sound out further.
Now when you watch a movie/program on DTV, and press the display button to get the info banner up, it will tell you the audio format of the content being watched, normally Mpeg for shows, and Dolby Digital for movies.
When the PS3 is set to output a surround signal eg DD5.1, the info banner will only say stereo and doesn't change.
Now I am not one to experiment with the myriad audio options and combinations available on the PS3, eg Bitstream/Linear PCM output (which I think is important here) or the many formats, Dolby Digital, DTS 5.1, 7.1 . 44 khz, 48 khz etc. Though I have tried, you need to be systematic and know what your looking for etc.
This link has lots of technical and little known info on the PS3 that might come be helpful:
h**p://www.edepot.com/playstation3.html#PS3_Audio
Another thing I should mention if I remember correctly, is that tech support say that when the Bravia receives an audio signal which has more than two channels, it decodes and uses at least part of the non stereo channels to create the Virtual Surround output.
Now perhaps people here have more knowledge of how the Bravia handles audio streams, and can help.
Anyway I know I should really get a surround system, but for the meantime can anyone think of a way to make this set up work?
Thanks in advance
PS: I'm not quite sure if this is the right forum, so mods please move it if you think it necessary.
I'll try to keep it simple:
I have a Sony Bravia 46XBR4 (which is excellent) and a PS3 which I use as a DVD/Bluray player, they are connected via HDMI only. However I have no surround sound system, and just use the Bravia's speakers (which are reasonable).
Now, I know not having a surround sound system probably amounts to heresy here, but bear with me. I will probably get one eventually, but for now I have limited space and will have to mount speakers on the wall, do the cabling etc.
One of the reasons I brought a Bravia was because of its 'S Force Front Surround' a virtual surround feature that does a reasonable job of emulating the real thing (Yes, I know you have to sit between the speakers for it to work properly and has poor bass and mutates sounds like drumstrokes etc).
Now virtual surround works fine (to me at least), when I watch movies on Digital TV.
My question is does anyone know of a way to get Virtual Surround to work while watching a DVD or (though less importantly) playing a game on the PS3.
Has anyone else tried to do this?
Firstly I have called tech support, which was a royal pain, as if you called SCEE they would tell you its a TV issue and to call Sony Electronics, and vice versa etc.
I have also done some experiments myself, although I am not very patient, and don't have enough of an ear for surround sound or have sound test DVDs, to know whether tweaking the PS3 audio output settings and enabling the surround option on the TV, does anything other than broaden the sound stage ie. 'throw' stereo sound out further.
Now when you watch a movie/program on DTV, and press the display button to get the info banner up, it will tell you the audio format of the content being watched, normally Mpeg for shows, and Dolby Digital for movies.
When the PS3 is set to output a surround signal eg DD5.1, the info banner will only say stereo and doesn't change.
Now I am not one to experiment with the myriad audio options and combinations available on the PS3, eg Bitstream/Linear PCM output (which I think is important here) or the many formats, Dolby Digital, DTS 5.1, 7.1 . 44 khz, 48 khz etc. Though I have tried, you need to be systematic and know what your looking for etc.
This link has lots of technical and little known info on the PS3 that might come be helpful:
h**p://www.edepot.com/playstation3.html#PS3_Audio
Another thing I should mention if I remember correctly, is that tech support say that when the Bravia receives an audio signal which has more than two channels, it decodes and uses at least part of the non stereo channels to create the Virtual Surround output.
Now perhaps people here have more knowledge of how the Bravia handles audio streams, and can help.
Anyway I know I should really get a surround system, but for the meantime can anyone think of a way to make this set up work?
Thanks in advance
PS: I'm not quite sure if this is the right forum, so mods please move it if you think it necessary.