[JaminRat]

Hi folks,

hope someone can help cos this is driving me to drink

My setup is as follows:
PS3 via HDMI to TV (Sony KDL-40w5500) via TOSLINK to Home Cinema (Panasonic SC-HT1500)

When playing game I get Dolby Digital through the HC no problems. When playing AVI's (streaming or direct from PS3) Dolby Digital.

Now the problem MKV's either streamed through PS3 media server or converted on MKV2VOB on played locally on the PS3. The PS3 says Dolby Digital, the TV says Dolby Digital but the HC flicks between Dolby Pro-Logic II and Digital with 1-2 second bursts of sound. I can force the TV to output PLII over the optical which works but if I have digital I want to hear Digital.

Here's is the Media Info dump from the MKV
ID : 3
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 2h 8mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 412 MiB (8%)
Title : Dolby Digital 5.1
Language : English

I have tried 3 different files all with the same result.

Hope someone can help before I go insane lol

[benmbe]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!.....all of that info has gone right over my head
I hope someone is able to help yourself.....

Sincere Regards

[AndyCob]

Originally Posted by JaminRat

My setup is as follows:
PS3 via HDMI to TV (Sony KDL-40w5500) via TOSLINK to Home Cinema (Panasonic SC-HT1500)

Hi not certain if I'm misreading things but when I intially read your kit description I assumed PS3 was connected to the TV via HDMI and the PS3 was also connected via TOSLINK to your HC. However reading your post and re-reading your setup I'm assuming you mean PS3 via HDMI to TV, and TV to HC via TOSLINK. If so then I'm pretty sure that's your problem, as I don't think the TV passes through a multi-channel audio input on HDMI to the optical out on the TV. Admittedly I haven't read the manual of the 5500 but certainly on my slightly older Sony you don't get pass through of an HDMI multichannel input to the TV optical output. Infact the manual says you will only get DD5.1 out of the TV optical out for programs broadcast in 5.1 via the internal freeview tuner. Bare in mind your amp may display dolby digital but you can have DD 1.0,1.1,2.0,2.1,etc to 5.1. Does your amp display exactly what DD signal it's getting like 3/2.1 for example to show it's 3 front, 2 rear and sub.

Try connecting the PS3 direct to the HC with an optical cable as well as the HDMI to TV. I'm assuming your doing it that way because your HC doesn't have a HDMI input and output, otherwise go PS3 to HC via HDMI, HC to TV via HDMI.

Hope that helps.

[JaminRat]

Thanks AndyCob I'll try switching the connections and see what I get but the TV does pass through 5.1 over optical. I can only assume this is a new feature with Sony. As previously said with games I get Digital with no problems.

The HC is an all in one DVD-RW and HDD recorder and was Panasonics flagship model around 4 years ago. It doesn't tell me exactly how many channels it's outputting but the display is flashing between Pro-logic II and digital but doesn't settle on either for more than a second or 2.

[benmbe]

Hi JaminRat,

I shall be purchasing the new PS3 Slim 250GB as soon as funds allow.

This will be my first games console and with the added refinement of having HDMI, out bitstreaming the HD sound formats to an AV amp should make connection easier.

I shall then understand a little more of what you are trying to achieve(in some small part,) with your system....

Honest & Respectful Regards to yourself

[JaminRat]

IMHO benmbe it's a very wise purchase there's no way I'd be parted from mine. When I bought my PS3 I had no idea how versatile it was and it was just for playing games. Since I have setup it up though it gets used more for media streaming and the like than anything else.

AndyCob, I've swapped the TOSLINK over so it runs direct between the PS3 and the HC and that cures the problem. However I don't understand why with the previous setup it worked fine for games but not for media streaming. Can anybody shed any light?

[benmbe]

Hi JaminRat,

I don't understand why with the previous setup it worked fine for games but not for media streaming. Can anybody shed any light?

Cannot help you there, as this is all new to me, however I will look forward in finding out when the time comes......will most likely ask yourself

Hope you find out soon

[AndyCob]

Originally Posted by JaminRat

Thanks AndyCob I'll try switching the connections and see what I get but the TV does pass through 5.1 over optical. I can only assume this is a new feature with Sony. As previously said with games I get Digital with no problems.

The HC is an all in one DVD-RW and HDD recorder and was Panasonics flagship model around 4 years ago. It doesn't tell me exactly how many channels it's outputting but the display is flashing between Pro-logic II and digital but doesn't settle on either for more than a second or 2.

I checked the manual online and it doesn't mention passthrough audio to the optical out anywhere that I can find in fact it actually says:

4 DIGITAL
AUDIO OUT
(OPTICAL)
Optical audio
cable
You can listen to TV sound on the connected Home theatre
system with digital input.


only mentions TV sound then later

• When using HDMI input with Super Audio CD or DVD-Audio,
DIGITAL AUDIO OUT (OPTICAL) may not output audio signals.

I'm more or less certain that's your problem and it should be fixed by connecting the PS3 directly to the HC with the toslink/optiocal cable and bypassing the TV. My guess is that in fact the set does not passthrough multichannel audio and has not been doing so even when you were playing games and your amp displayed DD but was actually receiving DD2.0 not 5.1. As soon as you have actually used a more than 2 channel DD source you have problems. Of course it says may not rather than will not so perhaps they have attempted support for passthrough but not really got it working fully so don't mention it and it has worked for some stuff but not everything.

[JaminRat]

Thanks for all the hard work AndyCob

I think you may be right with only partial support. Games are def 5.1 or at least 5 channel as when panning around in Modern Warfare only can hear the gunfire moving around the room (front and rear channels completely separate)

From this I think the way forward from here is a Toslink switch and connect both the PS3 and TV to the HC through the switch. Fingers crossed a future firmware upgrade for the TV will sort the problem.

The only other thing that crossed my mind is that it could be an incorrect setting on the PS3 so I'll have a fiddle and see what happens.

Thanks again
Ben

[JaminRat]

BTW this is from the tech spec for the tv on the sony website

Audio
Digital Amplifier
YES
S-Force Front Surround
YES
Voice Zoom
YES
Power Output (W)
10W + 10W (Total 20W)
Sound Mode
Dynamic/Standard/Clear Voice
Surround Mode
Cinema/Music/Sports/Game
Steady Sound
YES
Dolby® Digital
YES
Auto Volume Adjustment
YES
5.1 Channel Audio Out
YES
Speaker Off
YES


KDL-40W5500 (KDL40W5500) : Overview : BRAVIA TV : Sony <<<<<<Link for the full spec