I'm Officially Format Neutral!

[Sehnzeleid]

Just ordered the 60GB PS3 and the BD/DVD remote and the PS3 offer was still valid so I got Crank, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Speed for free!

Time to Experience Blu!

[Derb]

Well its about time!

Good choice on those free titles too. FOX is a ripoff

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by Derb

Well its about time!

Thanks! Certainly is.

FOX is a ripoff

Yeah, I figured I'd at least try to grab 1 or 2 Fox titles if they're free.

[SilentBob]

Congrats on going Neutral.


Now make sure you buy some of them exclusive movies like Casino Royale, The Prestige, and Pirates of the Caribbean 2 (hold off on the first one)

[zepherman]

Too cool! Big congrats! Now you can get all the movies available on either format.

Enjoy!

[chlngr1970]

Originally Posted by SilentBob

Now make sure you buy some of them exclusive movies like Casino Royale, The Prestige, and Pirates of the Caribbean 2 (hold off on the first one)

The Prestige is available on HD DVD if you want to import it

j

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by zepherman

Too cool! Big congrats! Now you can get all the movies available on either format.

Yep. I was so glad when I went format neutral.

[tvine2000]

Originally Posted by Reaver

Yep. I was so glad when I went format neutral.

[SI
me to!

[Sehnzeleid]

Thanks guys.

So I'm doing more reading into my investment, and I ran into this concerning audio and now I have questions (like always ):

The minutiae of the PS3's audio settings are even less clear. Neither of the two BD Audio Output format options--Linear PCM (the default) and Bitstream--is explained. I had to go to Sony directly to find out.

The PS3's default is to convert recognized audio streams to Linear PCM, an uncompressed audio format, for output via HDMI or digital optical audio. This can be advantageous if, for example, you're outputting to an HDTV that has built-in speakers and decodes only Linear PCM. If you're using your own home theater receiver, though, you'll want to use the Bitstream setting: In this mode, the PS3 passes the audio "bitstream"--be it Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, or DTS-HD--through to your receiver via the HDMI or optical connector; from there, the receiver decodes the audio and outputs it to your speakers.

Does the PS3 transcode or "downconvert" the next gen audio via Optical? Sorta like how Toshiba's HD DVD players transcode Dolby Plus and TrueHD to full bitrate standard DTS to output via Optical and Coaxial?

Say if I set the PS3 to bitstream via Optical and play the TrueHD track on The Fifth Element re-release, would I get any sound?

I'm probably going to wait on a new AVR for the time being so I gotta learn to live with Optical for awhile.

[Sehnzeleid]

Seems I got my answer on AVS:

DTHD and DTS-HD MA have lossy legacy cores. It's these cores that are sent to the receiver as a bitstream via optical. In other words, DTHD and DTS-HD MA are backwards compatible with existing equipment, but you'll essentially be hearing normal DD and DTS over optical.

With an HDMI receiver (any type), the PS3 can decode DTHD internally and pass it as PCM via HDMI to your receiver. We're all still waiting for the same capability to be added for DTS-HD MA.

Cool.

[Derb]

No bitstream.

Use Linear PCM output on the PS3 if you use HDMI. If you use optical for lossless tracks you get compressed 2CH sound, or so I've been hearing.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Derb

No bitstream.

Use Linear PCM output on the PS3 if you use HDMI. If you use optical for lossless tracks you get compressed 2CH sound, or so I've been hearing.

Derb, he would use bitstream for the optical cable, but not choose LPCM as an audio option, because he would only get 2-channel audio. However, there are DD+, and the DTS tracks he can use until he upgrades his receiver.

[Derb]

Oops missed the part where he doesn't have/use HDMI for sound.

No idea what the PS3 does to Dolby TrueHD or LPCM tracks via optical, 2CH or 6CH?

Don't worry about dts-HDMA, that audio format is a myth.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Derb

Oops missed the part where he doesn't have/use HDMI for sound.

No idea what the PS3 does to Dolby TrueHD or LPCM tracks via optical, 2CH or 6CH?

Don't worry about dts-HDMA, that audio format is a myth.

With LPCM, it does the 2CH output. But with THD, I'm not sure. If THD can't be transmitted over toslink, then it has a lossy "core" to it as well, I believe. I think it's the 640kbps DD+ track.

[chlngr1970]

Originally Posted by ganthc

With LPCM, it does the 2CH output. But with THD, I'm not sure. If THD can't be transmitted over toslink, then it has a lossy "core" to it as well, I believe. I think it's the 640kbps DD+ track.

With HD DVD, it is converted to 1.5 Mb/Sec dts. When I watch HD DVDs, with the digital out ( Not HDMI ) the receiver shows dts.

j

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

With HD DVD, it is converted to 1.5 Mb/Sec dts. When I watch HD DVDs, with the digital out ( Not HDMI ) the receiver shows dts.

j

Weird, I would never guess that a Dolby codec would output as DTS.

[chlngr1970]

Yeah, I thought it was funny too. I think some have thought it was the 1.5MB/sec thing that made the receiver think it was dts. Either way, it sure sounds good

j

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Weird, I would never guess that a Dolby codec would output as DTS.

I believe the main reason this was done is because 1.5mbps DTS is significantly superior to 640kbps Dolby Digital (DD 640 does some tinkering in the audible frequency range while DTS 1.5 does not) and these are the two primary formats supported by older receivers. Therefore, in order to get the best quality on an old receiver that does not have HDMI input/analog input or if the player does not have analog output you would decode the DD+ and transcode to DTS. Goal being to have a the best quality in the long run, even if it means transcoding one format to the other.

Since DTS claims 1.5mbps is perceptually lossless and this claim is supported by engineers/mixers, DD+ transcoded to DTS 1.5mbps should sound as good or nearly as good as the same track sent via HDMI to receiver. Although, some were turned off to transcoding due to Microsoft's initial poor transcoding implementation that had "night mode" enabled, resulting in poor quality/limited dynamic range output via 360 HDAO optical. Thankfully, that has been fixed. Toshiba players on the other hand have always had great quality DTS 1.5mbps transcoded output via optical/coax.

Then again, many believe that when doing two lossy encodes on top of one another sometimes you get unexpected results that degrade the final output. So HDMI/analog will always be preferred if possible.

[Sehnzeleid]

C'mon, Amazon! Don't pull a Buy.com on me! Ship it already!

They shipped the remote out already.

[sub780lime]

Well, at least you can pretend with the remote until the system actually comes.

[Sehnzeleid]

Just got this!

Shipped via UPS Ground (estimated arrival date: 11-September-2007).

Tomorrow, on standard shipping!!!

[Sehnzeleid]

Got it!

After two hours or so of playing around:

- Easy to set up, plug in a few cables and go.
- I really like how you can just hook up a router/modem and download the latest update. No fuss at all.
- The default purple/pink background on the Crossbar is ugly.
- I'm unsure what the RGB HDMI (Limited/Full) and Super White color settings are, but my display supports them.
- The system and BD start up load times and scene jump speeds on Blu-ray discs completely smoke my Toshiba HD-A1. It's about as fast as my Denon 2910 DVD player.
- The bitrate meter is really cool, the whole SELECT info thingie is cool.
- You can speed through BDs at 30x, damn.
- Using the controller to navigate BDs is very cumbersome, can't wait to get the remote.
- I was concerned about the slot loading mechanism, but it loads and ejects smoothly and the discs appear untouched. When a disc ejects it kinda sounds like a VHS ejecting.
- The audio through Optical is quite good on the titles I've tried so far. I imagine PCM must be incredible.
- It's surreal seeing a Blu-ray promo reel play on my TV.
- Lionsgate menu design is terrible and so is their "Also Coming from LG" trailer.

Great so far!

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

Got it!

After two hours or so of playing around:


- The default purple/pink background on the Crossbar is ugly.

The color changes every so often, I think from month to month.

- The system and BD start up load times and scene jump speeds on Blu-ray discs completely smoke my Toshiba HD-A1. It's about as fast as my Denon 2910 DVD player.

It blows my hd-a2 out of the water as well.

- The bitrate meter is really cool, the whole SELECT info thingie is cool.

I love this feature. Very cool, and I wish the Toshiba players had it.

- You can speed through BDs at 30x, damn.

Yeah, that also blows by my hd-a2.

- Using the controller to navigate BDs is very cumbersome, can't wait to get the remote.

To each his own. I like the controller and it feels natural to me and easier to use in the dark than my Toshiba remote. The frame advancing is easier, and I guess it feels natural to me because I am familiar with the Playstation controller.

- The audio through Optical is quite good on the titles I've tried so far. I imagine PCM must be incredible.

You will love PCM! Congrats on your purchase!

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

Got it!

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

After two hours or so of playing around:

- Easy to set up, plug in a few cables and go.
- I really like how you can just hook up a router/modem and download the latest update. No fuss at all.

This should have been mandatory for all HD players period! No worries about updates.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

- The default purple/pink background on the Crossbar is ugly.

It changes practically everytime you turn the system on. Or you could get rid of it all together by using one of your digi-photos. I have not done this yet.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

- I'm unsure what the RGB HDMI (Limited/Full) and Super White color settings are, but my display supports them.

Full adds more color, too much for me so I leave it on limited. I havn't noticed any change on Super White, so I leave on default.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

- The system and BD start up load times and scene jump speeds on Blu-ray discs completely smoke my Toshiba HD-A1. It's about as fast as my Denon 2910 DVD player.

It smokes my XA2.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

- The bitrate meter is really cool, the whole SELECT info thingie is cool.

My favourite button.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

- You can speed through BDs at 30x, damn.

Makes scene selection kinda pointless huh.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

- Using the controller to navigate BDs is very cumbersome, can't wait to get the remote.

Once you get the remote, all is good. Also future titles now make use of the color buttons for bookmarks.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

- I was concerned about the slot loading mechanism, but it loads and ejects smoothly and the discs appear untouched. When a disc ejects it kinda sounds like a VHS ejecting.

Never thought about that, but yeah it does.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

- The audio through Optical is quite good on the titles I've tried so far. I imagine PCM must be incredible.

Once ya hear the full meal deal, you'll appreciate lossless more & more.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

- Lionsgate menu design is terrible and so is their "Also Coming from LG" trailer.

The first batch of Lionsgate titles did have a clunky menu design but that is a thing of the past.

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

Great so far!

Only gets better, grats!

[Sehnzeleid]

Thanks guys!

I figured out what the RGB setting is:

Limited -