PS3 Slim Bitstreams DTS-HD TrueHD and DTS-HD MA....Worth the Upgrade?

[blackzarg]

I am an 80gb PS3 owner, and I'm wondering if there's a significant difference from previous gen sound formats and the DTS-HD formats. I have an Onkyo TX-SR876 so it can decode it...

Worth the upgrade? Any other owners out there contemplating the same?

[m-fine]

There is no sound quality difference between the receiver decoding or the PS3 decoding. Either way it is a lossless translation to PCM. The only sound benefit would be from whatever placebo effect seeing the special light on the receiver will have on you.

There are other benefits to the new harware such as quieter fan, lower power draw and potentially faster processor.

[Jed M]

I don't suppose it has an ir sensor?

[gonk]

As m-fine points out, the addition of bitstream support won't have any impact on sound quality if you have a receiver that can handle at least HDMI v1.1 (which you do, since your Onkyo is v1.3). If your 80GB unit has an objectionably loud fan, it might be worth considering an upgrade.

[m-fine]

I don't suppose it has an ir sensor?

I hear no! WTF?

[blackzarg]

Thanks for the responses! But I wan't that DTS-HD logo to light up!!!

Just kidding. I was just curious behind the science of it - so no upgrade needed for me =)

I actually really like the Bluetooth remote.... I hope IR can get replaced by this once it becomes financially feasible. I get so used to not having line of sight when I use my remote.

[dweekie]

Is it bad that I want to upgrade but see no reason to? Even the slim design is useless (to me) since it's not even flat and doesn't come with a vertical stand either..... I still like having the latest :dizzy:

[gonk]

I actually really like the Bluetooth remote.... I hope IR can get replaced by this once it becomes financially feasible. I get so used to not having line of sight when I use my remote.

I have an RF universal remote tied into my IR distribution system. The IR distribution became necessary shortly after we moved in 2004 because the entertainment center we bought made it difficult to have line-of-sight from all of our sitting positions. Adding RF to that was easy because I could slap an emitter from the RF base station onto the system's single IR receiver. Works quite nicely.

[Ray3]

Take a look here for a IR solution. I have one of their earlier units and it works a treat.

They are IR to bluetooth converters with discrete On and Off macros built into their (small) units. Simply download the PS2 commands into your universal remote and you are set. I created a macro on my MX-900 that turns on the PS3, TV and Denon receiver and gets them all to the correct settings and all works fine.

These guys are pretty much best of breed.

[Jon Liu]

I am upgrading my PS3, but not for the bitstreaming reason. That really doesn't matter since I use the Oppo BDP-83 to handle my movie watching anyway. I have a 60GB PS3, which has the PS2 processor also inside... it was generally decided that these run hotter than the rest of the iterations of the PS3. Mine is still working famously, but I really would MUCH rather have a smaller design, non-glossy finish, cooler running (and quieter ultimately) unit.

Also, regarding PCM and bitstreaming, theoretically there should be no difference since it's just 1's and 0's being transferred, but personally I've actually found a difference in the sound. Call it placebo effect or whatever you want, but I do prefer bitstreaming. It's not about the nifty DTS-HD MA letters on my receiver because I use THX post-processing over it anyway, so that's what shows up. But, I won't go as far to say that it is a massive difference. I won't say that it is necessarily worth an upgrade in any regard over one's current setup either, but it is a difference enough that it matters enough that I have it enabled on my standalone, which can do either bitstreaming or LPCM.

While a player or a receiver simply has to 'unpack' the zipped up lossless audio track, I still believe that different players or units handle it differently to make small differences, for better or for worse. Efficiency, accuracy, I don't exactly know.

BTW, if anyone wants to buy my 60GB PS3, I'm putting it on the market, too! :)

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

Dang - after owning a PS3 for 1.5 years, I still have yet to hear a DTS-MA sound track. :crying:

[Fancypants]

I know this doesn't help with the OP, but if you have a Logitech harmony remote, then they have released an official IR to BT solution that is rather affordable and "guaranteed" to work with your harmony remote.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/5732&cl=us,en

[BobJoe123]

Comments on that Harmony device aren't so hot, especially if you use your PS3 to game and play BR discs.

[intendedaccel]

Comments on that Harmony device aren't so hot, especially if you use your PS3 to game and play BR discs.

I have the logitech adapter and LOVE it. Zero issues with it.

[Fancypants]

Comments on that Harmony device aren't so hot, especially if you use your PS3 to game and play BR discs.

I saw a couple of bad reviews and a bunch of great reviews... I wonder if they fixed this?