PCM 5.1 question

Yes, exactly the same:

5.1 Uncompressed =
5.1 PCM =
5.1 LPCM =
5.1 Uncompressed PCM

I second that.

will your DD 5.1 be uncompressed if you use HDMI and have loseless sound?

DD stands for Dolby Digital and is compressed and lossy format. While it is uncompressed after decoding it is still lossy. Dolby TrueHD is compressed lossless format (as is DTS HD Master) and is lossless LPCM after uncompromising.

im sure thats a typo, but its funny nonetheless


a note - If your player decodes Dolby Digital, what gets on the HDMI is also PCM, except that it is derived from a lossy source (as opposed to PCM derived from a lossless source)

if you are familiar with WAVs, FLACs and MP3s - think of it this way; the computer can only play PCM (WAV format)

so if you have an MP3, it will have to be decoded to WAV to play - the WAV is uncompressed, but it is sourced from a lossy MP3

....but LPCM is uncompromising. Oh well I guess I should read before I post.

i think i get it lol

so i still need truHD for fully uncompressed ...from uncompressed source thru uncompressed hdmi audio to receiver that decodes the uncompressed truHD

You seem to be confusing compressed with lossy (which many do). They are two different terms. Compressed means that the data stream is reduced from the origanal LPCM. Lossy is perceptually coded and has music information thrown out and missing. Lossy is always compressed but compressed is not always lossy. DD is always lossy/compressed, TrueHD is lossless/compressed, and LPCM is lossless/uncompressed. Once TrueHD is decoded it goes from lossless/compressed to LCPM lossless/uncompressed.

i think my denon 1908 reciever does LPCM or maybe just PCM im not sure but i KNOW it doesnt do any TrueHD ... so what would be my best option?

LPCM = (L)PCM (Liner) Pulse Code Modulation

Hook up your BD/HD DVD player by HDMI and set the player to decoded TrueHD and putput LPCM. You can chose LPCM or TrueHD from the audio menu and they will be same (all other things being equal).

but my receiver doesnt decode TrueHD

Your receiver doesn't need to decode TrueHD, the player does it. Your receiver just gets LPCM audio from the player.

shinksma

Sorry for my ignorance but I'm still not sure I understand.

DTS -MA and DD HD usually sound great. If the disc says PCM 5.1, does that mean there was no loss at any point?

if the disc says PCM, Dolby TrueHD or DTS Master Audio there is no loss.

THATS AWESOME ty!

Quote:
Originally Posted by shinksma
Your receiver doesn't need to decode TrueHD, the player does it. Your receiver just gets LPCM audio from the player.

shinksma



Does that only apply to HDMI or can a optical digital cable be used?

I have a playstation 3 that decodes True HD but my receiver is not HDMI compatible

Unfortunately, no. Toslink is limited to 2 channels of PCM. It takes HDMI to get multichannel PCM. The PS3 is not a good match for those us with older AVRs lacking HDMI.