PS3 BD playback - dreadful sound

[Mr Mike]

As subject when playing a BD the sound is dreadful, I purchased Black Hawk Down and was shocked at how bad the sound quality was, i expected a really awesome sound track with this disk but it has no dynamics whatsover.

I running with Bitstream output so i can hear the DD soundtrack and also tried the PCM track which comes out in ProLogic, the SUB made only a few noises later in the film with it on DD. Admittedly i did turn the volume well up as the film progressed and it did start to sound more exciting, maybe the PS3 just puts out such a low level you have to turn it up loud? See sig below for setup, SKY HD movies and DVD's via my arcam player normally have my volume 35-30, with the PS3 i had to turn it right up to 22 (0 being loudest, 22 is not possible normally with a film as that plays around 110db)

Is this just me or is it a bad example? I kept reading the Black Hawk Down Blu-ray has to be owned as your demo disk cos the soundtrack is awesome and your system will get a very good workout, didnt happen

[Nic Rhodes]

Have you calibrated you PS3?

[Mr Mike]

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

Have you calibrated you PS3?

Nope, didnt know your could. Can you please advise how that is done?

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by Mr Mike

Is this just me or is it a bad example? I kept reading the Black Hawk Down Blu-ray has to be owned as your demo disk cos the soundtrack is awesome and your system will get a very good workout, didnt happen

Hi Mr Mike
Must be something wrong somewhere!
Black Hawk Down has fantastic audio.
I listen to the PCM track at -14dB.

[Mr Mike]

Originally Posted by kingfats

Hi Mr Mike
Must be something wrong somewhere!
Black Hawk Down has fantastic audio.
I listen to the PCM track at -14dB.

You say your listened to the PCM track, this outputs and becomes Pro Logic II and nothing more, its a false 5.1 effect and not 6 discrete chanels.

Below is the explanation of Pro Logic II..

Pro Logic II is a Dolby Laboratories technology that produces surround sound from any stereo source. Like Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II has wide-band stereo surround output, giving you a more realistic surround sound experience. In addition, Dolby Pro Logic II allows you to enjoy a "5.1-like" presentation using any analog stereo source

So are you suggesting that the above is so good its better than the DD track even though its missing most of the discrete chanels?

Just to point out the SD DVD DD soundtrack is awesome but picture is way behind Bluray, technology is so annoying, you can have awesome sound or picture but not both together

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by Mr Mike

You say your listened to the PCM track, this outputs and becomes Pro Logic II and nothing more, its a false 5.1 effect and not 6 discrete chanels.



[:

Hi mate
I use HDMI for audio to my Denon receiver.
5.1 PCM baby.

[Mr Mike]

Originally Posted by kingfats

Hi mate
I use HDMI for audio to my Denon receiver.
5.1 PCM baby.

So basically unless you buy a new processor which handles an HDMI connection Bluray is just rubbish? There is no way on earth I am replacing my kit to buy a cheap processor that can handle HDMI, my system is very good but this Bluray is just very bad, why dont they just put a decent DD sound track on it? Like i said my old SD copy of this film has a great DD sound track yet here we are 6 years later and new technology and the DD track is crap.

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by Mr Mike

So basically unless you buy a new processor which handles an HDMI connection Bluray is just rubbish? There is no way on earth I am replacing my kit to buy a cheap processor that can handle HDMI, my system is very good .

Hi mate
No doubt you kit is excellent,mate
But to get the best out of Blu-ray HD audio from the Ps3,you have to really invest in a receiver which can handle LPCM over HDMI.
All the best,mate.

[Mr Mike]

Originally Posted by kingfats

Hi mate
No doubt you kit is excellent,mate
But to get the best out of Blu-ray HD audio from the Ps3,you have to really invest in a receiver which can handle LPCM over HDMI.
All the best,mate.

Cheers for info, looks like i will be sticking with DVD for a good while yet then. I just cant belive they put a useless DD track on a new Bluray disk, fingers crossed other Blurays do have decent DD tracks, cant coment cos I only seen Black Hawk Down and Hostel.

[the thing wnn]

I believe if you run bitstream through the optical dig out you get standard DD, its just if you run LPCM over optical it only sends a stereo PCM signal as there is no specs for multi-channel PCM over a standard digital optical signal
You do need HDMI for multi-channel PCM
However DD and DTS should still work fine as bitstream from a PS3

[Nic Rhodes]

The leagacy DD tracks are very high quality, much better than DVD, and then you have a series of audio codecs that can take that to a much higher level again. Evey Blu ray has a DD track for backwards compatibility, something you will need if you are not using kit that can support the new codecs / interfaces etc. You need to set your PS3 up first however by either using a test disc / THX optimiser and preferable a sound meter (or ear as a last resort) to make sure all the levels are set correctly. This will completely dominate how it sounds and you bass could be way off. Chances are it is. The PS3 device is not auto set up.

[Mr Mike]

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

The leagacy DD tracks are very high quality, much better than DVD, and then you have a series of audio codecs that can take that to a much higher level again. Evey Blu ray has a DD track for backwards compatibility, something you will need if you are not using kit that can support the new codecs / interfaces etc. You need to set your PS3 up first however by either using a test disc / THX optimiser and preferable a sound meter (or ear as a last resort) to make sure all the levels are set correctly. This will completely dominate how it sounds and you bass could be way off. Chances are it is. The PS3 device is not auto set up.

Dont get me wrong the surround steering seems very good, the biggest problems is with dynamics - there just isnt any! Playing Call of Duty 4 the DD is great, detailed sound effects, perfect steering and decent impact from the sub during explosions and to top it off the dynamics are huge so I know the PS3 is capable.

Back to Black Hawk Down - there is no excitement at all, no build up or sudden burst of sound, it appears everything is there just all at the same level or something and as i already said nearer the end of the film the volume had been screwed up very loud (although set high still quieter than an SD DVD turned down) and then i started to smile a little. My system is perfectly calibrated (i have my own SPL meter and test disks), any Sky HD DD content, SD DVD via my Arcam player and of course Call of Duty 4 on the PS3 blow my mind, Bluray just does nothing for me expect ruin the film completely. Maybe try again with the volume up loud from the start and of course try a few more films before writting it off completely, did keep changing settings all thru the film trying to work out what was wrong so maybe that made me think/remember it was worse than it really was but we will see.

Probably me comparing £1300 DVD player with £100 coax lead to a games console with £20 optical cable is my biggest problem

[mremulator]

Well I replaced my Arcam DVD player with a standalone Panasonic Blu-Ray player and replaced that with a PS3... frankly I'm blown away with the sound quality through my Pioneer receiver and KEF speakers.

[jon1]

Originally Posted by mremulator

Well I replaced my Arcam DVD player with a standalone Panasonic Blu-Ray player and replaced that with a PS3... frankly I'm blown away with the sound quality through my Pioneer receiver and KEF speakers.

I will second that the pcm sound tracks are the best i have heard in a long time...I got res evil 2 the LPCM sound track rocks...i am well pleased


jon

[Mr Mike]

Can i just confirm that you both have HDMI PCM5.1 processors/receivers?

I am only talking about the Dolby DIgital sound track as without a new processor/receiver you cant get more than PCM2 via Optical connections.