Official PS3 FAQ Master Thread - Page 60

Well, I ran the ps3 system restore (which took over 5 hours) and then tried to play Lakeview Terrace again. This time it recognized the disc (the name of the movie appeared on the XMB), then the screen went black and eventually a new error mesage popped up: This is an invalid disc 80029906. I ejected the disc and tried a standard dvd and just got the spinning disc icon up in the upper right corner. I tried turning the system off and on with the same result. I then switched the console off in the back and unplugged it (from standby), then plugged it in again and no discs will play (they just spin).

Sounds like a failed optical drive at this point.

If it's under warranty, you want to consider sending it in. It sounds like optical drive failure. If it's not under warranty, searching youtube & google for similar problems and fixes could do you some good.

Brandon

Thanks for the replies. It's under warranty - just purchased it at the end of December.
Looks like I'll have to send it in to Sony.

That's pretty good service and glad the advice I gave turned out fine

I also replaced my AVR with one that does LPCM (no HD audio but for the PS3 it doesn't matter). The difference is, you installed yours immediately. Mine is still in a box after 2 months(!) since my current AVR works pretty well (DD and DTS only) and I am put off by the complex wiring with having to rethink completely all my HDMI connections which current go through a switcher and audio via optical to all HDMI and no switcher - just use the 3 HDMI ports on the AVR. Plus complete re-programming of my 880.

Have to bite the bullet one day I guess

I just upgraded my receiver, too. My 5 year old Yamaha RX-V2400 still performed well but lacked either HDMI connections or the ability to decode the new high bitrate, lossless Codecs from my PS3. I just received and installed its replacement, a Yamaha RX-V3900 yesterday. I test drove it with the DD TrueHD soundtrack on the Blade Runner Final Cut Edition ED this morning. Wow!

Reconfiguration of the PS3 turned out to be more of a problem than I had anticipated. When I first tried out the Blade Runner BD last night I was able only to get the low bitrate legacy soundtrack. It took me awhile to figure out that the audio output from the PS3 was still set on bitstream, which was what had been required when I had to use optical audio cable to connect the PS3 to my old receiver. Changing the setting over to PCM solved the problem

I've been having this same problem. However I am thinking it has to do with the fact that mine is one of the new 160gb systems. Anyone out there that has had this issue on their sytem have that particular system, and do you Matt have that same system? This is frustrating the heck out of me because I have tried every know thing there is to try. I am begining to think certain PS3 systems simply are defective in this way. If someone has something that is not general information. I'd love to hear it. Sorry to sound so grumpy, but I'm frustrated beyound explination at not getting this fixed.

Not a systems Issues
Had the 60GB, 80GB, 160GB they all fill the screen
Go back and Double check your settings.

How many times do I need to recheck my settings? Do you have the 160 gb system released in Nov. 2008, or the original?

Besides we don't want to FILL the screen we want a true 2.35:1 or 2.40:1 widescreen, not some chopped picture.

Hmmm thats strange and i have never had that issue at all.

I have mine set up for Y Pb / Cb Pr / Cr with Superwhite on

I know you can get black crush by setting the Playstation to RGB with limited set to off so maybe worth checking that out.

I have never experienced an issue with pixellisation unless the actual Blu Ray disc transfer has it and to date none i have watched suffer from this issue. Picture is excellent and indeed i watched Alien vs Predator: Requiem just a month or so back and that has to be one of the darkest movies on the format to date but i found it perfect and nominated it for my Film Grain thread below.

I can't really comment on whether the Samsung produces finer detail or not as i haven't seen it in action but i can say i am happy with the Playstation 3 picture quality which i find to be most film like on appropriate discs.

This is what sounds like is happening. I have a setting on my projector in the menu which i can switch on or off - If switched on it overscans and you can actually toggle between both settings and see the image getting chopped off at the left and right sides.

Naturally i have HDMI overscan set to off as i want the full image.

160GB system released in Nov. 2008, you tried a diff. PS3 on your TV? Sounds like a TV setting or TV issue. The PS3 is set to normal scaling?

Has anyone here done a side-by-side test (using TrueHD, DD+ or DTS-MA content) of a PS3 over HDMI to an HBR recevier versus a machine that bitstreams? I thought the results were supposed to be digitally identical (apart from volume). But now I'm reading on the thread for my pre/pro that people are getting much better sound from standalone machines that bitstream.

Sorry if this has been discussed to death elsewhere in this long thread.

On a related note, is it still considered technologically impossible for the PS3 to get bitstreaming via a firmware update?

I would have left the word considered out

From I have read, I would consider the opinions that feel the sound is (significantly/noticeably) different are related to a difference in setup. There are quite a few variables that can/could change that most people do not realize and just assume that the difference is between PCM and bitstream.

I have a Region A BDP-S550 to go along with my Region B PS3 (live in NZ). Playing two of my region free titles (Dark Knight Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Mamma Mia DTS HDMA 5.1 - my wife's I swear ) as bitstreaming through my 550 and PCM through my PS3 there is no discernible difference I can detect in the audio quality.

To decode the lossless audio tracks (TrueHD / HDMA) there is no 'interpretation' possible. The PS3 will produce exactly the same result as another player or receiver doing the decoding.

The only difference would be if the receiver is doing post-processing only on the bitstream for some reason.

I remember reading somewhere (on the audio forum, I believe) that some of the newer receivers do a better job with onboard decoding than from taking LPCM. I know with the Onkyo 605 the bitstream seemed better from my Panny 30 than from LPCM from my PS3.

Wouldn't that mean there's an issue with the receiver then if it's only able to do post-processing on the bitstream.

There is supposed to be no interpretation when decoding the lossless tracks. Once decoded they should be identical to the uncompressed audio. If there are differences (other than possible DB loss/gain) then the receiver is doing something extra to the track, which would mean you're also not getting the sound as intended by the content provider.

From my experience anyway, I've noticed no difference when using my multi-region disks in both players.

Nobody has done a controlled test to the best of my knowledge. I have never seen the claim of bitstream superiority supported by anything but subjective opinion and the wish to justify buying expensive equipment.

A controlled test would be difficult, but not impossible, to set up. It would require two identical players and processors, both connected to the same set of speakers through an instantaneous switcher. The two processors would have to be carefully level-matched playing test tones from the same calibration disc, and the processor would have to be somehow certified that its "direct" mode handles both incoming LPCM and the output of its own decoders identically.

Then the test could be conducted by synchronizing playback of the same disc on both players, one bitstreaming and one decoding, and then switching randomly between the two so that the listener never knows which one is active, or even when there's a switch. The person conducting the test does the switching and records the listener's impressions.

It's safe to say that none of the people posting about this have done anything approaching such an objective and prejudice/agenda-free test. I believe it's also safe to say that without such a test, any opinions about differences between lossless audio via bitstream vs LPCM are worthless.

Having the overscan/image zoom problem?

It is very unlikely that older versions of the PS3 handle the video differently from newer versions. First of all, the TV and display settings are mostly what drive the overscan options of the image. 2nd, all PS3s are driven by the same firmware (assuming they are all updated to the latest/greatest) and have the same audio/video output capabilities.

While it is possible Sony used a cost-cutting measure with the newest batch of PS3s that affects A/V output, something like that would/should manifest itself in other ways that I've not heard of (like unable to pass BTB, lack of upscaling, etc).

Unless more info on this version of the PS3 comes in to support that, my guess is that if your PS3 is acting in a way that a previous DVD player did not in terms of overscan, it's because it's on a different input with different overscan/image settings. On my display device, all of the overscan settings are specific to each input and the incoming resolution of the source material.

I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but rechecking the settings to make sure your PS3 has the appropriate resolution & upscaling settings and the display is set up on that input properly (including aspect ratio, overscan, and resolution specific settings) is the best place to start.

I recommend starting with the following:

PS3
BD/DVD Upscaling is set to normal
Display Resolution has 1080i/p selected as one of the highest resolution options (assuming your display can accept it)

TV
HDMI Input for PS3 is set to "just scan", "full pixel", "dot-by-dot", or "1:1" mode. Whatever your display manufacturer calls it.
Aspect ratio is set properly for HD sources.

If all those are set, you may want to try a different PS3 or BD player on the same input with the same settings as the 160GB PS3 to see if you get differing results.

Brandon

IF there is a difference it is how the receiver deals with the LPCM from internal and external sources. and if there is a difference, the receiver is fundamentally at fault.

I have a PS3 and a Mitsubishi HD-60735. I have noticed that a few movies have a red tracer on a fast moving/action shot. Has anyone any experiece with this issue or know anyone else that has had this problem. Thanks

Never had any issues with fast action scenes. Don't know anything about your display, but if you're using it @ 1080p24, try turning of any motion enhancer option in the tv. Only issue I had was my Bravia X series motion engine just doesn't work properly when displaying 1080p24 signals and I was getting shadows and other anomalies. Turned it off and it worked perfectly. Motion enhancer worked quite well at 1080p30/60 though.

Quick update:

After my recent posts comparing the PS3 (old 60gb version) to the Sammy 2550, I returned the defective Sammy and got a PS3. A few observations:

-Blu-ray picture is now just as good as the Sammy's.

-SD DVD upconversion (to 1080i on 90" projector screen) is about the same, MUCH improved from the older 60gb version I used for the initial comparison. In fact it may be even better.

-LPCM sound is also improved somehow on this new unit (80gb)

There is a problem however, the PS3 is putting a loud buzz into my system. It's incredibly annoying and increased my noise floor (which was around 30db to ~36db). And I know this is 100% the cause because it's the only thing I changed in the system, and when I turn it off it stops.

Has anyone else experienced this? I'm guessing it's defective because I don't remember this in the older unit I tested before, and no way people are happily using this player with this issue.

Check all of your cable connections first. If necessary swap out cables and see if the issue persists.

Brandon

It's like unzipping a file in Windows. Regardless of where it's done, the file contents of the zipped file should be the same. That is, I could either unzip it and send you the files or I can send you the zipped file and you unzip it.

The unzipping should have no bearing on the quality of the files inside.

Tried that already unfortunately. And I don't have any cable/satellite connections at all which I know cause problems as I don't watch TV.

I may have to get another exchange *sigh*.

Is the unit plugged into a power conditioner or UPS?