New PS3 Slim Isn’t Slim on Audio Features
Since the PS3 Slim was officially unveiled earlier this week, news has slowly trickled in about what the differences are between the new PS3 slim, and it’s heavier predecessor. Now a new feature has been revealed that will make audiophiles rejoice.
The PS3 for the past 3 years has been at the top of the line as far as Blu-Ray players were concerned. The one thing that was holding it back was the fact it couldn’t bitstream Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio. The PS3 instead had to decode it and send it to your receiver as Linear PCM.
That’s a thing of the past as the new PS3 slim can bitstream HD audio output to your receiver. No more decoding needed, which allows for lossless audio. The average gamer wont notice the difference, as you need a high-end audio set up to really appreciate the change in performance.
[Source]
18 Responses to “New PS3 Slim Isn’t Slim on Audio Features”
Just another reason to go out and get myself another PS3.
…splooge
Does that even make any difference unless you’ve got some sort of $3,000 receiver that can – theoretically – do a better job of decoding it? I mean, the old PS3′s could certainly give you lossless audio, it was just that some audiophiles like to think that their megabuck receivers could do a better job of decoding than the PS3. And most real audiophiles actually thought it was rather silly, just people who think with their wallets instead of their heads.
@JackC8
That’s why you don’t need a $3000 setup, you just need the right setup. Would have been cook if they included Bluetooth 3.0 too.
@ Jack,
Dood, i got a Onkyo home theater package, receiver and speakers(no dvd bs) and it’s pretty sweet. PS3 Games audio thru it is pretty friggan sweet..loud, crystal clear, and you can identify what sounds come from where as we all know. I was talking to my friend who came over and we went to Best Buy. He picked up a Pioneer Elite receiver, on clearance in Best Buys Magnolia department. The receiver does the TRU HD, DTS HD, etc.. he got it for $399 ! THATS IT. They had DENON, Yamaha HD recievers from $399 up to $1600.00 So you don’t need $3,000.
But the main reason I am telling you this is when he boought it, we came back to my house(where his car was), and i asked if we could hook it up, just to see how it sounds. We hooked it up to the Onkyo speakers, turned on the PS3, and INSTANTLY you heard a difference. Say I rated my set up as 7-10 scale of sound..we hooked up his it and i never thought it would be better, BLEW me away, and him, and my perception. It sounded amazing.. you heard NEW, or unheard sounds coming from the different speakers, sounds i NEVER heard prior…it sounded FLAWLESS..
go to Best Buy, go to their Magnolia department, and check out the prices and you will be happy. You can even check some of the newer Dobly, DTS HD etc, Home theater in the box ones, with the receiver and speakers for $300+ the 1 thing the guy said to me was Do NOT get a SONY.. he said their TV rock, but their receivers don’t//as of now
that sealed the deal pre-order coming after this comment..
3000$ receivers are 2nd to 3rd room audio.. an average good one with over 100x the channel on power is 1000$ up.
@JackC8
make sure it matches the power and surround your going for .. an example: a good amp will out put 100x 5 or 7.1 surround sound fields anything above that like 110 or 120x the speaker is better aslong as you look for the audio streams like DTS, DTSHD etc and buy the cord.
even tho its the same.. id prefer the DTSHD light to light up instead of PCM audio. and for people that aren’t aware..its the same effect with a different cord. The pS3 always could do the signal just process it differently
lol @ the source
he says no one will notice the difference.. TRUE because PCM audio from the PS3 instead of bit streaming is the SAME! its just the benefit of lighting up your amps Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio light blue instead of lighting up PCM. No audio file has ever complained on forum because its the SAME process as bit streaming it. You will notice sound difference’s using an amp the supports those audio fields.
@ haskell420
make sure that amp supports those sound fields.. because buying in magnolia doesn’t guarantee the amp will have them. Theres no such thing as an HD amp. dont buy anything that supports 60 watts x the speakers since you will need to bump the sound up more to get the same power as a 100x the channel amp.
@ haskell420
if you buy a Sony amp it has to be SONY ES which is there top of the line! the guy was up selling you lol. they make more off Yamaha’s and Onkyo’s in magnolia! trust me i know
right madGreek? lol what store was that? 550? i swear that store needs to sold for scraps.
Sony always did have great audio specs, their mp3 players and new Walkman with OLED are highly regarded in audio circles.
The original creator of the PS3, I forget name, is a huge classical music fan. I saw his setup in an audiophile magazine, crazy to say the least.
That’s why when the PS3 starts up, it’s the sound of an orchestra tuning up.
Any who owns the fat PS3′s you can get the same results as the slim..
HDMI out from the PS3
into the amp than
another HDMI out from the amp into your HDTV.
go to your PS3 and select PCM and audio source HDMI and check mark everything..
the only benefit of the slim is that it goes threw the optical cable and lights up your amps DTSHD light instead of the HDMI. REGARDLESS.. the HDMI source always gives you better sound than bitstreaming and is the ONLY WAY TO ENABLE 7.1 you WILL NEVER GET 7.1 from an optical source. And if the source is DTSHD 7.1 and your running optical it wont process because you need the HDMI.. you will only benefit from 5.1 bitstreaming and not 7.1,
I was never an audio phile, and certain things, you can read over and over again and still not get it. Like the whole PCM bitstream thing. My PS3 is on Bitstream setting. When I called SONY tech for a different reason, I asked about it etc, and he said keep it on bitstream, and NOT linear PCM. This was last year sometime.
Then we did get a update on the PS3 that now accepts the whole HD range, DTS HD Dolby HD etc.. but now it confuses me as I am reading that even though the PS3 accepts the Dolby HD Signal,it then decodes it, and sends it too the receiver and then the receiver turns it into Linear, not Bitstream. So now I’m ALL messed up lol……
And on the cables front: I found a site, cablewholesaler.com that sells top o line cables cheap. I needed a USB extension cable for my DS3 cause I had back surgery. The USB cost $1.25.. Best Buy..29.95…. Needed a 30 foot CAT 6 ethernet cable. Best Buy. 49.99.. got it for 9.95…. Now i orderd 4 extra USB for my PS3, 2 6FT HDMI…w/ shipping 24 bucks…
Now what suprised me is they had 2 NEW listings.. the NEW USB 3.0 which is coming out, but what got me more, is the brand new HDMI format coming SEPT 25th is HDMI 1.4
http://www.cablewholesale.com/hdmi-1.4-cable.
Here is the link, but i copy n pasted the info, and when i sent it too my buddy, he stopped the guys working on certain projects in his house until he knows more about this 1.4 cable
HDMI version 1.4 is the next huge step in high-definition media transfer and boasts an array of new and exciting features. Future technology will be able to take advantage of these features to deliver cutting-edge content to a variety of different devices. Some of the benefits of version 1.4 are:
HDMI Ethernet Channel
The HDMI 1.4 specification will add a data channel to the HDMI cable and will enable high-speed bi-directional communication. Connected devices that include this feature will be able to send and receive data via 100 Mb/sec Ethernet, making them instantly ready for any IP-based application.
The HDMI Ethernet Channel will allow an Internet-enabled HDMI device to share its Internet connection with other HDMI devices without the need for a separate Ethernet cable. The new feature will also provide the connection platform to allow HDMI-enabled devices to share content between devices.
Audio Return Channel
The new specification will add an Audio Return Channel that will reduce the number of cables required to deliver audio upstream for processing and playback. In cases where HDTVs are directly receiving audio and video content, this new Audio Return Channel allows the HDTV to send the audio stream to the A/V receiver over the HDMI cable, eliminating the need for an extra cable.
3D Over HDMI
The 1.4 version of the specification will define common 3D formats and resolutions for HDMI-enabled devices. The specification will standardize the input/output portion of the home 3D system and will specify up to dual-stream 1080p resolution
4K x 2K Resolution Support
The new specification will enable HDMI devices to support high-definition (HD) resolutions four times beyond the resolution of 1080p. Support for 4K x 2K will allow the HDMI interface to transmit content at the same resolution as many digital theaters. Formats supported include:
3840×2160 24Hz/25Hz/30Hz
4096×2160 24Hz
Expanded Support For Color Spaces
HDMI technology now supports color spaces designed specifically for digital still cameras. By supporting sYCC601, Adobe RGB and AdobeYCC601, HDMI-enabled display devices will be capable of reproducing more accurate life-like colors when connected to a digital still camera.
Micro HDMI Connector
The Micro HDMI Connector is a significantly smaller 19-pin connector that supports up to 1080p resolutions for portable devices. This new connector is approximately 50% smaller than the size of the existing HDMI Mini Connector.
Automotive Connection System
The Automotive Connection System is a cabling specification designed to be used as the basis for in-vehicle HD content distribution. The HDMI 1.4 specification will provide a solution designed to meet the rigors and environmental issues commonly found in automobiles, such as heat, vibration and noise. Using the Automotive Connection System, automobile manufactures will now have a viable solution for distributing HD content within the car.
Backwards Compatibility with HDMI v1.3
HDMI version 1.4 cables are backwards compatible with existing HDMI products that use HDMI v1.3.
I run mine through a sony reciever using linear pcm and the qaulity is amazing so im good.
@ haskell420
i know it was copy and pasted no problems and i never called you an audiophile..
i am
Its something you need to have a passion for.. My friend starts talking to me about car parts and i never understand one word..ha ha
the ps3 slim doesn’t support HDMI 1.4a because 1.4a is not out yet commercially, even than you need a 1.4a HDTV for the extra features. the slim supports 1.3a …the fats don’t.(they max out on 1.2a) you need a 1.3a HDTV along with the slim. it can still enhance your picture but not fully supported unless both products are the same specs. (1.3a slim and 1.3a HDTV) if your passing threw an amp than to the HDTV your amp also needs to support 1.3a.
LPCM audio is for streaming 7.1 surround sound from your PS3 to the speakers mostly for Blue-Ray movies that support it.. Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio were added threw an software update some time last year . ( i hate using firmware update because there large files). LPCM is for 7.1 use and to enable the HD sound settings for movies and Blue Ray. The light on your amp wont turn blue like when its using standard surround sound because the PS3 is decoding it. When it hits your amp its ready to go.. Thats why LPCM lights up and not Dolby TRUEHD, DTSHD etc. but it is being decoded.
when running your PS3 to an amp that supports TrueHD and DTSHD you need HDMI going in the amp for the (fat PS3′s). Than on the sound settings select HDMI not toslink aka (digital out) in your PS3 sound menu settings.
In the movie section go to BD audio output format and select LPCM you can do the same for BD/DVD (optional). You will get higher quality sound threw HDMI and its needed for the BD and 7.1 (if you ever go that direction). Slim PS3′s can now pass the high level surround sound threw optical aka toslink… toslink was designed by Toshiba (random info).
heres a guys comment on that other blog:
ZOMG! The TrueHD and DTS-HD MA lights on my receiver will finally be used, my life will be changed forever!!!
ROTFL!! thats the ONLY difference with the SLIM PS3′s and the FATS.. now the blue lights on your amp turn on since its forced to decode it. Every HDMI is backwards compatible as in connection but you wont enable the new features unless all the items are the same specs. You HDMI 1.3a will behave like a 1.1a if the HDTV is a 1.1a model.
this is why people never get the new HDMI performance because there items aren’t all the same HDMI specs. 1.3a and b can pass the high hertz needed for those televisions. example, those new 120/240hertz HDTV’s perform on all HDMI cables but only pass better performance that can be SEEN on 1.3b and higher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Definition_Multimedia_Interface
basic run down of the difference’s scroll down to each version side by side. There chart is accurate. When you run LPCM its loud because its not filtered people think its not working because the lights on your amp wont turn on but it is WORKING.. good amps that support various ranges of sound will sound better… basic amplifiers sound cluttered and not focused like noise. Some Amps you have to enable LPCM since it considers the sound analog THE HUMAN EAR HEARS IN ANALOG not DIGITAL. MP3′s DTS all that shit is compressed sound. thats why Analog tends to sound louder and why Sony made SUPER AUDIO CDS there higher resolution analog signals.
You heard it from another SONY tech guy….. next time, give me there badge number. hope that helps..
jin
I would really love to set up the sounds of my entertainment system. I just don’t have enough room, plus my 1 1/2 yr. old son would probably mess it up.
Didn’t the original PS3s have support for SuperAudio CDs? Not that I ever used that but just a question?
@mcx
CECHF and lower it was removed on later models CECHG and higher.
the quick explanation: its 5.1 surround sound in analog (which is higher quality than digital and more tuned into the human ear.. human don’t hear in digital) without getting to technical its also known as DSD direct stream digital and compressed DST Direct Stream Transfer. imagine each speaker is getting 1 audio stream to reproduce in surround sound with effects but in analog. Mostly for music. 5.1 surround sound but audio. crystal clear.. you get the recording done at the studio. They came in hybrids also.. 1 CD held the surround sound information or 2 channel stereo that is better quality than standard CDS. If you look at the back of any amp, they have 6 openings called muti channel in or out (basically 5.1 but each needing 1 good analog cord). Some people would connect there DVD players using multiple channel.. SACD player connects the same way. Its alot of cords but worth it, if your into audio. newer versions now can pass the high resolution audio information threw the toslink but TRUE audiophiles still prefer separate cords per speaker. All SACD can be played in regular CD players but you wont get the HIGH DEF portion unless you have the player and the connections. Some DVD players have muti channel out so you can use DSD on your amp and get a better audio signal.
@ kirobz
why not use an audio cabinet?
@shadowjin
you make that sound simple
jk cool stuff but way out of my league!!!
Listen to shadowjin….mine has been setup like that since day 1.