The next firmware update for Sony's PlayStation 3 should please those who use the consoles Blu-ray capabilities to watch movies.

Version 2.30 will bring DTS-HD Master Audio technology to the PS3, improving the sound quality for owners up to HD standards for those with the correct kit.

Yippee - About time...........

http://news.sky.com/skynews/xml/arti...-13908,00.html

Update 2.30 now available for download.

Took about 20mins.

Can confirm DTS HD MA is now available on the PS3.

Only had time to check the top menu, played Transporter and saw DTS HD MA and a reported 5.5Mbps. Nothing like the 24Mbps that DTS HD MA is capable of but clearly three times that of the 1.5Mbps DTS core that was available before the update.

I can now see users recommending reference soundtracks all over again.

Note: I found I had to go back into the BD audio settings after the download and re-select LPCM over HDMI as bitstream was shown to be the default.

what have you got it hooked up to Tommy ?

At the moment I have it hooked up solely to the Lexicon, but I have had the PS3 running through a Denon as well.

The issue I have is the Lexicon can only do 5.1 whereas the Denon is capable of 7.1, out of the two I still prefer the Lexicon, I just apply Logic7 to the 7.1 PCM soundtracks.

DTS HD MA won't be a problem just yet as I only own two discs that carry this format and they are only 5.1. I believe there are only about 10 titles that carry 7.1 soundtrack at present.

I'm having to re-evaluate the situation as I was hoping Lexicon was going to give us an update to allow 7.1 via HDMI but I don't think this is going to happen. Ideally I would like one box to do the lot, I'll wait until I've heard a DTS HD MA 7.1 soundtrack and take it from there.

Apparently all 7.1 DTS HD MA soundtracks are being downmixed to 5.1 (PCM). From what I have read it's to do with the PS3 and the flagging for the surround back speakers, it's ignoring them while decoding the soundtrack to PCM. Something Sony will have to sort out and no doubt will be via another update.

I have a standard Sony DTS 5.1 system hooked up to my PS3. now what i would like to know is one what would the correct sound setting be on the PS3 and secondly would the new update make any difference on my existing kit at all. My apologies is this is a silly question.

High definition audio can't be sent over "old style" TOSlink and coaxial digital audio connections. Reading between the lines, your amp is probably connected that way, which means you'll get no benefit from the inclusion of the ability to playback DTS-master audio in the PS3 update. You need an A/V amp with HDMI 1.3 compatible inputs.

I'm in the same boat myself and I'm thinking about upgrading my amp, even though it's got a full 7.1 channels.

Incidentally, my Denon amp always seems to see BD soundracks played on my PS3 as DD 6.1. Does anyone know why that is? The problem is that it seems to be slightly incompatible - at the start of playback of a BD, it often makes a loud "crack" or "spit" noise after a few seconds. DVDs, OTOH, with 6 and 7.1 DD and dts soundtracks playback perfectly well on the PS3.

Looks like it's a flagging problem on the discs that the PS3 is not regonising/ignoring.

HDMI v1.3 is not a necessity, HDMI v1.1 will happily replay all the newer HD audio formats, in respect of the PS3 this will be via PCM.

What Denon amp have you got?

I'll give you £20 for that lexicon, Tommy. I might even collect it for you, save you taking it to the skip

You're a gent.

Reposted - Quote incorrectly included - deleted

I've been experimenting since the upgrades with my Denon Amp - a 5.1 (with 6.1 or 7.1 enabling - though I only have the 5.1 connected) and connection via Toslink (actually then into a Coax convertor - as the Denon has the Optical already used for SkyHD). I have been trialling sound using the Close Encouters reference edition (with its 3 cuts) and DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 tracks.

The sound I'm getting is amzingly rich and full when played out with PCM selected. The PS3 shows up as DTS-HD MA when that track is selected and the PS3 audio option set to Analogue. The Denon shows up as playing PCM. For the True HD it plays as PCM & shows as Pro Logic.

I have tried outputting via the HDMI to my Sony LCD and feeding out via the TV input on the Denon - when you also get a Pro Logic indicated, and an excellent sound stage.

Both ways of doing it seem to have a really rich and discrete sound better than on other discs with standard DTS or DD.

I cannot get HDMI into the Denon as the Denon-500SD does not have it.

So my question - am I not actually getting a "decoded on board" the PS3 analogue 5.1 output sourced from the MA or TrueHD - and downmixed by the PS3 to PLII or PCM - which ought to, and I think does, provide the best sound I've ever had from the Amp? (Lots of other BluRay discs sound similarly better and more discrete than when switched to DD or DTS.

When I select digital on the PS3 (where it says some sound may be lost) - the sound is inferior to the analogue option - but the PS3 reverts to standard DD or DTS when you Display what the PS3 is playing out from the Disc.

So a final question - is it worth it for the sound benefit to upgrade my present amp eventually - as to my ears the higher bit rate reference sound seems to me significantly improved to the best of my Amp's ability.

What do you all think? Am I right? And if not, what Amp would you recommend?
Last edited by john.hetheringt : 17-04-2008 at 22:05

At present I would say at best you are getting is DD5.1/DTS via optical, selecting PCM will only give you 2channel sound, via the analogue connection you mention the best would be getting is DPL/DPLII/DPLIIx.

Optical is not able to carry True HD/DTS HD though it will carry DD+.

To be able to listen to the newer HD audio formats via the PS3 you will need an amp that is HDMI compatible and capable of delivering multichannel (5.1/7.1) PCM, or an amp that has onboard decoding.

I have noticed a marked difference with the new HD formats, they are more detailed and dynamic, but I would say it's equipment dependent. Is it worth the upgrade for you personally, only you would be able to make that decision, the cheapest way into this area would be to purchase an Onkyo TX-SR605 which has onboard decoding, can be found for around £350, the next step up would be the TX-SR705 or the Denon AVR2808, prices around £499-£599 respectively.

Thanks for that - as with all these decisons its a case of is it really worth outting £300 to £500 to new Amp - or putting it to a larger LCD - I'm looking at the new 46" Tosh picture frame ZF at around £1.5k to replace my 32" Sony! Or leave it in the bank!

It's an AVR 3802. Thanks.