Okay, RE Apocalypse is the first BR movie I have that has PCM5.1 listed on it, which Sony has been going on non-stop about, but what is so great about it? When I went to watch RE:A, I was only getting audio out of my center speak, and slightly audio out of the rest as it sounded no different than normal PCM audio. Once I switched it to the Dolby 5.1, the sound was booming as it always does. So can someone explain why Sony is going on about PCM and why it is not coming out on my receiver as they claim it to be? Thanks in advanced.
SOmeone explain PCM 5.1 to me
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PCM is uncompressed audio.
If you use a PS3 you need HDMI connected to your receiver and that can accept a multi channel PCM audio.
If you have a standalone player, you can use either HDMI or analog outs.
Trust me once you hear PCM audio, it is much much better.
If you use a PS3 you need HDMI connected to your receiver and that can accept a multi channel PCM audio.
If you have a standalone player, you can use either HDMI or analog outs.
Trust me once you hear PCM audio, it is much much better.
Kain, something is screwy with your setup, maybe the audio options in your player? Currently there are only 2 ways to get PCM:
Over analog outs (one wire for each speaker going from the back of the player to the back of the receiver)
Or over HDMI. HDMI is very tricky because lots of receivers have HDMI, but it's just passthrough so you can't select it. Also some receivers only decode 2 channel PCM. It's a bunch of crap if you ask me.
I just ordered a well reviewed HDMI receiver from walmart.com, the Panasonic SA-XR57K, probably the best HDMI receiver available for the money($300).
Over analog outs (one wire for each speaker going from the back of the player to the back of the receiver)
Or over HDMI. HDMI is very tricky because lots of receivers have HDMI, but it's just passthrough so you can't select it. Also some receivers only decode 2 channel PCM. It's a bunch of crap if you ask me.
I just ordered a well reviewed HDMI receiver from walmart.com, the Panasonic SA-XR57K, probably the best HDMI receiver available for the money($300).
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$300? And it does LPCM audio via HDMI? WOW.
$300? And it does LPCM audio via HDMI? WOW.
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As long as you are not expecting any miracles like a dedicated $3k+ scaler, then it does it's job.
As long as you are not expecting any miracles like a dedicated $3k+ scaler, then it does it's job.
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if you mean a cable, then no.
if you mean a cable, then no.
Okay, thanks guys. That is why. I use an Optical Cable as my receiver is 4 years old, and I see no reason to upgrade as my receiver still works perfectly. Thanks for the info guys, it sounds like it is the same thing needed to get True Dolby HD on HD-DVD.
I have the elite VSX-82TXV and I don't use the scaler...it's suppsed to be pretty good but I only watch HD on it anyway.
Problem is, it was a replacement for a 72txv that was fried during the firmwear upgrade. When I got the 82, the HDMI was very foggy, when I called Pioneer they said it needed a firmwear upgrade...brand new unit needed a firmwear upgrade.
Well, it's currently at Pioneer for the upgrade, as for the overall performance of theunit, the sound quality was significantly better than the 72 and the Denon I have.
Great sounding unit, just make sure the one you get has the current firmwear.
Oh, almost forgot, the great thing about the 82 is that it's a great HDMI switcher, I run my Xbox via component, PS3 via HDMI, HD-A! via HDMI, sat box via HDMI and run only one HDMI line out to the projector...it's awsome.
Problem is, it was a replacement for a 72txv that was fried during the firmwear upgrade. When I got the 82, the HDMI was very foggy, when I called Pioneer they said it needed a firmwear upgrade...brand new unit needed a firmwear upgrade.
Well, it's currently at Pioneer for the upgrade, as for the overall performance of theunit, the sound quality was significantly better than the 72 and the Denon I have.
Great sounding unit, just make sure the one you get has the current firmwear.
Oh, almost forgot, the great thing about the 82 is that it's a great HDMI switcher, I run my Xbox via component, PS3 via HDMI, HD-A! via HDMI, sat box via HDMI and run only one HDMI line out to the projector...it's awsome.
Just a clarifying point for the OP...
PCM = Pulse Code Modulation
It's a digital representation of an audio signal. The term itself doesn't indicate anything about whether it is subsequently compressed or not.
If you use something like Dolby Digital or DTS you're hearing PCM also, but it won't be quite as nice as the original uncompressed data because they compress by throwing some info away (mostly sounds that humans can't hear). If you use Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA which are are lossless, you will literally be hearing the exact same PCM signal as before compression, it was just stored differently to take up less space.
Lots of BD discs offer entirely uncompressed PCM audio. The key term is "uncompressed", not PCM. It's a fair way for BD to offer "maximum" quality audio in light of the fact that many BD players (and audio receivers) don't yet support Dolby TrueHD / DTS MA HD. The cost is that it wastes lots of disc space.
PCM = Pulse Code Modulation
It's a digital representation of an audio signal. The term itself doesn't indicate anything about whether it is subsequently compressed or not.
If you use something like Dolby Digital or DTS you're hearing PCM also, but it won't be quite as nice as the original uncompressed data because they compress by throwing some info away (mostly sounds that humans can't hear). If you use Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA which are are lossless, you will literally be hearing the exact same PCM signal as before compression, it was just stored differently to take up less space.
Lots of BD discs offer entirely uncompressed PCM audio. The key term is "uncompressed", not PCM. It's a fair way for BD to offer "maximum" quality audio in light of the fact that many BD players (and audio receivers) don't yet support Dolby TrueHD / DTS MA HD. The cost is that it wastes lots of disc space.
If you want to hear the difference, listen to A Warner Movie using Dolby Digital Plus, then watch a similar film that uses PCM. You won't tell the difference. It isn't possible without an audio board. As a matter of fact, I have been playing with several PCM files and compared them to vanilla Dolby Digital 5.1. In terms of shear volume PCM kills it. Interms of fidelity, they are equal. As far as noise, Dolby Digital and Dolby+ destroy PCM. PCM is noisy.
In terms of a happy medium, DTS is still the best their is or ever will be IMO! PCM is uneeded and way to noisy to be used.
In terms of a happy medium, DTS is still the best their is or ever will be IMO! PCM is uneeded and way to noisy to be used.
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