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Playstation 3 as an SACD Player

64K views 159 replies 87 participants last post by  ToEhrIsHuman 
#1 ·
Anybody have an opinion on using a PS3 as a SACD player? My understanding is that it will only have analog stereo outputs. Does this mean that you won't be able to use it as a multi-channel SACD player?
 
#3 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by happykev /forum/post/0


it will be able to play Multi channel audio through the HDMI output.


Kev

What about optical? Or is there no Optical out? (haven't followed the PS3 too much)


Also...not to sound like an idiot, but which format had Pink Floyd, again? SACD or DVD-A?
 
#6 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by locomo /forum/post/0


But the DVD-A is "supposedly" better.

Ehh, as long as it's better than stereo CD's, I'm happy. Point: Pink Floyd in HiFi



This is another excuse to keep a PS3 (first one: Blu-Ray. Reason for wanting it: MGS4)
 
#10 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nachosgrande /forum/post/0


HDMI or 5.1 Analog for SACD/DV-A

That's what I thought. So, I guess it's stereo only until I buy a reciever with HDMI 1.3 and an SACD decoder. Cheaper just to buy a dedicated SACD player.


I'm guessing it will encode DSD to PCM over the optical output (Yes it does have one).
 
#14 ·
Looks like the "multi a/v" interface" breaks out into stereo RCA and composite video.

http://boardsus.playstation.com/play...read.id=715674


Quote:
Originally Posted by happykev /forum/post/0


I see what you're saying. I don't even know if there are

normal l/r RCA outs on the PS3. It's a weird "Multi a/v" interface. I haven't seen a close up of it yet.


Kev
 
#15 ·
Using the MultiOut on the PS3, you can get two-channel stereo off your SACD.


Using HDMI, you have the option of listening to either two-channel or multichannel off your SACD. Out of that option, you can choose to let the PS3 perform the DSD-to-LPCM conversion or let it pass through the DSD bistream to a DSD-decoding receiver/pre-amp.


It doesn't have to be HDMI 1.3. HDMI 1.2 is enough to pass the DSD bitstream and decoded LPCM. Except for not having DVD-Audio capability, the PS3 is quite versatile. If you're in the market for a new receiver, look into the Panasonic SA-XR57; this 7.1 channel, HDMI receiver's starting price is at US$280 online.



fuad
 
#16 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by WriteSimple /forum/post/0


Using HDMI, you have the option of listening to either two-channel or multichannel off your SACD. Out of that option, you can choose to let the PS3 perform the DSD-to-LPCM conversion or let it pass through the DSD bistream to a DSD-decoding receiver/pre-amp.


It doesn't have to be HDMI 1.3. HDMI 1.2 is enough to pass the DSD bitstream and decoded LPCM.

fuad

To clarify, "let (the Playstation 3) pass through the DSD bistream to a DSD-decoding receiver/pre-amp" requires a receiver with a HDMI 1.2 input, such as a few recent Marantz, Pioneer, and Yamaha models.


(Since the Playstation 3 is the first HDMI 1.3 player, and there have been no HDMI 1.2 players, the first person to do this with the Playstation 3 will be the first to send a DSD bitstream over an HDMI connection. If life were fair, Sony would give out some kind of prize for this, but they haven't promised any
)


"you can choose to let the PS3 perform the DSD-to-LPCM conversion" requires a receiver with a HDMI 1.1 input. At this date, there are many more (and less expensive) HDMI 1.1 than HDMI 1.2 receivers.
 
#17 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by locomo /forum/post/0


But the DVD-A is "supposedly" better.

Not quite. DVD-Audio may be better than regular audio CD (thanks to the higher sampling frequency and more bits per sample) but it inherited all the disadvantages of PCM encoding/decoding, while SACD uses the far more transparent DSD (Direct Stream Digital).


What's more, there are about 100 DVD-Audio titles available compared to over 4,000 on SACD.


Anyway, what's still not clear to me (following conflicting information above): Is the SACD multi-channel output on PS3's HDMI port always PCM (downconverted from DSD) or is there an option in the setup menu for configuring the machine to stream pure DSD?


I'm hoping the DSD-to-PCM conversion is for feeding the optical output only (and an *option* for feeding receivers with HDMI input that can handle PCM but not DSD) or for feeding an internal D/A converter at worst.


More discussion in thread 9089325 (sorry, it wouldn't let me post the URL)
 
#18 ·
As far as I'm aware it currently only outputs PCM on HDMI. People with DSD-capable receivers have said it still sends PCM, and there's no option. Whether this could be changed in future firmware depends on whether it has a DSD-capable HDMI transmitter with its DSD inputs connected.


I don't think you'll find it outputting SACD on its optical; no box has ever done that - it's against the rules to send enencrypted digital output from SACD, even at low resolution.


(And leaving aside the DVD-Audio/SACD quality arguments, which are pointless, there are probably about 750 DVD-Audios around. And the vast majority of SACDs are classical, meaning its numerical advantage largely vanishes if you're not a classical person. Plus there are DVD-Audio car players - no SACD car players, for some reason.)
 
#19 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by mscalisi /forum/post/0


Sure, if you have a reciever which will decode DSD from an HDMI port.

So I'm assuming that I'm stuck with stereo only from the analog outs.

No, because the PS3 doesn't output DSD, it outputs PCM - currently at 88.2kHz, and 176.4kHz in a future update. You just need HDMI 1.1. What's annoying is that it doesn't even have a DSD option.
 
#21 ·

T7T said:
Not quite. DVD-Audio may be better than regular audio CD (thanks to the higher sampling frequency and more bits per sample) but it inherited all the disadvantages of PCM encoding/decoding, while SACD uses the far more transparent DSD (Direct Stream Digital).


What's more, there are about 100 DVD-Audio titles available compared to over 4,000 on SACD.


QUOTE]


First of all, locomo was obviously referring to Dark Side of the Moon specifically when he said "the DVD-A is 'supposedly' better," not the format in general. He was referring to the "unofficial" version of DSOTM floating around on the Internet in DVD-A format.


Secondly, as others have stated, there are way more than 100 DVD-A's out there. I personally own more than 100 and there are plenty out there that I don't own.


Lastly, as an owner of both SACD and DVD-A formats, I love them both and hope the releases continue on both sides. As someone else said, arguing about which one is better is pointless.
 
#22 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by KMO /forum/post/0


No, because the PS3 doesn't output DSD, it outputs PCM - currently at 88.2kHz, and 176.4kHz in a future update. You just need HDMI 1.1. What's annoying is that it doesn't even have a DSD option.

I can confirm that the PS3 outputs SACDs at 176khz PCM with Firmware v1.30. I think my receiver (Sony STRDG1000) is HDMI 1.2, so when I get home, I'll see if I can set HDMI output to bitstream, and let you know what happens. For more on the PS3 and this receiver, see my effusive post from the Future-Proof HDMI Receivers thread .
 
#23 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Odys /forum/post/0


First of all, locomo was obviously referring to Dark Side of the Moon specifically when he said "the DVD-A is 'supposedly' better," not the format in general. He was referring to the "unofficial" version of DSOTM floating around on the Internet in DVD-A format.

DSotM was issued on DVD-A? I wasn't aware. How did they do that? Is it a conversion of the SACD? I suppose not, because then the resulting disc could not be better, obviously. Is it a conversion of some older quad mix perhaps?

Quote:
Originally Posted by KMO /forum/post/0


there are probably about 750 DVD-Audios around.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Odys /forum/post/0


Secondly, as others have stated, there are way more than 100 DVD-A's out there. I personally own more than 100 and there are plenty out there that I don't own.


Lastly, as an owner of both SACD and DVD-A formats, I love them both and hope the releases continue on both sides. As someone else said, arguing about which one is better is pointless.

Wow. Is there a comprehensive overview somewhere on the web, like there is for SACD?


I'll stop the SACD vs DVD-A argument here. I misinterpreted the above comment and although given a choice I'd prefer SACD I'm pragmatic enough to buy DVD-A when SACD is not available, like for instance with the Beatles' Love album.
 
#24 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by T7T /forum/post/0


DSotM was issued on DVD-A? I wasn't aware. How did they do that? Is it a conversion of the SACD? I suppose not, because then the resulting disc could not be better, obviously. Is it a conversion of some older quad mix perhaps?

Look for the big thread further down the page about the DVD-A of DSOTM. Get a hold of it if you can. It's outstanding.
 
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