PS3/Blu-Ray Audio Problem w/Sony Receiver

zachman54

OK, I have a serious problem watching BD on my new PS3. I recently completed my home theater set up with the PS3 mainly for the Blu-ray player to go along with my 55" Sony 1080i TV and my Sony STR-??995 receiver. I connected the PS3 to the TV using the HDMI cable and the receiver using the optical cable. When I play a standard definition DVD I have no problem getting the 5.1 Dolby surround sound on my receiver. For those that know the receiver the multi-channel "blue" light comes on. When I watch a BD I get the 5.1 dolby digital "blue" light but the sound drop out and then comes back only to do it again and again making it impossible to watch the movie. I have the PS3 set for the optical out and on Bitstream with the Dolby digital 5.1 and DTS selected. On the receiver I have it set on auto detect. When the sound drops out it the receiver indicates "unlock" which I believe means no signal. This is very annoying and I have been playing with this for about a week now without success. Please help.

WhatHappend

Can your receiver handle DD5.1 at 640K (known issue on old SONY receivers - If you have STR-DE995 2003 model, that is not that old). Old receivers were only tested to 448K because that was the maximum rate DVD allows. Over the air ATSC HD shows are only 348K DD5.1.

You might try a different cable. The 640K rate is going to show a cable issue that a slower 448K rate from a dvd wouldn't show. Is your issue with a DD 640K or DTS 1.5Mbps Bluray discs? All receivers with the DTS logo should handle DTS 1.5Mbps. You can try a DVD with a 1.5Mbps audio track. Here is a list of DTS DVDs you can search for 1509 http://www.spannerworks.net/reference/10_6a.asp

zachman54

Thanks for the reply. I am not a techno geek so I am not sure what speed my receiver can handle. All I know is that it is capable of DD 5.1 and DTS along with DD pro logic as these are indicated on the display on the front of the receiver. The problem is it won't play the audio from a BD. some of the movies that I tried are Iron man, 88 minutes and Smart People. All in Bly-ray. When I play a standard disc no problem. Couldn't find any of these movies on the list of movies on the website you provided. Very fustrating since I can't watch a BD on my new PS3 which is the main reason I bought it. Now I am contemplating just getting standard definition disc or buying a new receiver.

WhatHappend

Why don't you try a new optical cable first?

Also, I forgot to mention that optical inputs on receivers are known to go bad. Try another optical input (won't cost you anything to try).

Loves2Watch

Been working in this industry for many years and have never heard of that. Unless it is a specific issue with Sony receivers, but again never heard of an optical port on a receiver going bad.

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

waltbaker

I am probably as advanced as you are, but I was using a similar Sony receiver, the STR DE845 with my PS3. When I set it up initially, under the BD audio settings, I chose Linear PCM. While my receiver was not showing the "blue" lamp, it still worked fine. I've since upgraded to a Pioneer Elite VSX01TXH and now use the HDMI. Must say that the sound is a whole lot better, now that I can enjoy the uncompressed audio. I hope that helps.

Loves2Watch

Sony isn't known for their receivers, they do much better with other equipment. If the OP can afford it, I would recommend getting a new receiver from Denon, Onkyo, Harman Kardon, Pioneer, etc.

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

WhatHappend

I didn't mean in terms of a wide spread problem. But my brother has the SONY STR DE945 and one of his optical inputs died.

Owners of dusty houses that leave the plugs off the optical inputs and can get them filled with dust and obstruct the optical signal. My brother (also an electrical engineer) cleaned his dead input and it was not dust or cable related failure but a hardware failure.

zachman54

I have tried to determine if the optical cable and the optical port was good or not by changing the cable and connecting it to the TV/SAC port but got the same thing. Audio start correctly with Blue lamp on and a multi-channel signal but as the audio plays the sound continually dropoff and on to the point it's unwatchable. I have read on other sites that it might have something to do with the rate the Blu-ray sends the signal. Now I know there are differnent settings on the Blu-ray related to Linear PCM and differnet rates like 44 kHz and 88kHz and 176 kHz etc. But when I use any Linear PCM setting all I get is stereo signal. I have to set it to bitstream to get a multi-channel signal (blue lamp). Anyway it's not the cable and not the port. It has something to do with the signal speed. I think.

WhatHappend

I already told you the DD rate is 640K for Bluray. Try a bluray disc with DTS sound track. The DTS bitrate support is the same for DVD and Bluray.

Time to call SONY about your receiver or buy a new receiver. Two channel PCM is the most channel of PCM that optical SPDIF supports. You can get a receiver for about $350 with all the latest HD audio support like DTS-MA, Dolby TrueHD.

zachman54

OK, sorry I have been reading so many different sugestion on this forum and others. I rent my DVDs from blockbuster online. Their jacket for the movie does not indicate the audio format nor does the website. The link that you suggested seems to only have older movies not brand new releases so I am having problems right now knowing what the format is. Any suggest how I find out if a movie is in DTS or DD5.1 without the hard cover jacket? Isn't DTS a newer format? Are the newer movies coming out in DTS more than DD5.1? I agree I will probably have to buy a new reciever but it would be nice if Sony made the Blu-ray player capable of sending the signal in a format that could be used by all. Of course this is a vehicle for Sony to get people to purchase new recievers. Bottom line is before I purchase a new reciever I want to make sure it's not just a setting issue.

WhatHappend

Just type "Bluray review" and the title of the disc into google and a few review sites should come up and list the audio formats on the disc in question.

Here is one such site: http://www.dvdreview.com/reviews/blurayreviews.html

On the PS3 you press "select" on the PS3 controller during playback to see the current audio format and your press the "square button" on the PS3 remote to access the movie menu and select setup to select your choice of audio for a particular moive.

Rambo on Bluray has a nice sounding DTS sound track.

zachman54

OK, looks like you're right. I have one movie in DTS and had no problem. Then researched how I could find out what movies were in DTS and found http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=1014 which gives you all the info you need. 12 out of 22 movies in my block buster queue were formatted in DTS so at least half of the blu-ray are watchable. Now I just have to make sure I research the format before I put it in queue. At least until I get a new receiver. Christmas is coming. Thanks for the help

WhatHappend

DTS and DD have both been around along time. Dobly TrueHD and DTS-MA are new formats that are loss-less audio and are on new HD Movies.
Ever since SONY added the DTS-MA to the PS3 alot of studios have moved away from adding loss-less PCM tracks on the disc to using DTS-MA, which is good news for you because it has a core DTS 1.5Mbps track your old receiver can handle (and sounds good).
The issue is that your old receiver has a bug. I beleive that by spec to advertive Dobly Digtial it should be able to play the DD at 640K. That is why I said you could contact SONY about your receiver's issue.
You are welcome. I am glad you are able to enjoy some movies.

WhatHappend

Found this on another site for SONY receivers having issues with DD 640K from Bluray. Does your receiver cut out on the loud parts in DD?
http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.p...6#post42543836