PS3 to get DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, new PlayStation store

(Credit: CNET)

Sony has announced the details on the next PS3 firmware update--version 2.30, coming mid-April--and the big news for home theater fans is that the PS3 is getting onboard DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding for Blu-ray movies. Home theater fans have long lamented that the PS3 could not decode the new DTS soundtracks at their highest resolution, especially since movie studios like Fox have opted for DTS-HD Master Audio on many Blu-ray releases. Without getting too technical, DTS-HD Master Audio offers 7-channels of lossless audio at 96K sampling frequency and 24-bit depths--which means that the sound sent to your receiver should be identical to the studio master.

While some sticklers will point out that the PS3 can't output Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in bitstream format, it's definitely a non-issue. Decoding the audio at the source is actually better than having the ability to bitstream high-resolution soundtracks, since it means even people with older HDMI-capable receivers can enjoy the high quality audio. Sure, your receiver won't light up the pretty DTS-HD Master Audio logo, but who cares--you still get the same great sound.

We have ranked the PS3 as the best Blu-ray player for quite some time, and this only sweetens the deal. Almost all of our major complaints have been addressed, except for the fact that it still doesn't work nicely with a universal remote. Some diehard home theater fans will cringe at the idea of using a game console as their main disc player, but they should get over their hang-up as the PS3 is currently the best Blu-ray has to offer and it also happens to be the cheapest. And you can play high-def games and stream music, movies and photos.

The new firmware will also include a much-needed overhaul to the PlayStation Store. The official PlayStation Blog posted a walkthrough of the new store, and we have to admit it looks pretty good. Check it below.

From Crackle: PlayStation Store video walkthrough

[BrandeisGrad]

Beware your blanket assertions of technical truths -- your following analysis is wrong: "[d]ecoding the audio at the source is actually better than having the ability to bitstream high-resolution soundtracks, since it means even people with older HDMI-capable receivers can enjoy the high quality audio. ...you still get the same great sound."

Audiophiles, a significant portion of the customers who will care about this, likely purchase receivers or dedicated DACs with far higher quality (jitter-resistance, analog output stages, etc.) than the DAC integrated into the PS3. Is it more convenient for people who don't care about audio quality, as you say? Yes. But is it "the same great sound"? Almost certainly not.

[boilerg]

Does this mean that the DTS Master Audio can be output via the optical output for receivers without HDMI?

[keith.r.benedict]

That's really wonderful for the 15 people who have HDMI capable receivers. I wish they would concentrate on improving the playback of SD DVD's though. When I buy a Blu-ray player, one of the main selling points for me will be its performance on SD DVD's.

According to most AV experts, most of the current crop of Blu-ray players don't even match the performance of cheapy $100 DVD players you can get at Wal-mart.

[mattumanu]

Word to the wise... I hate video that automatically starts playing, especially this type. It didn't start playing till I was near the bottom of the page.

Protip: don't **** your readers off.

[iwarrior-poet]

Well, this IS one of the main upgrades I was hoping for before buying a PS3. I must admit it is now very tempting----since I was thinking of buying an Onkyo Receiver that can handle the newer audio formats----though I may wait on that for a little while since Onkyo seems to be about ready to role out newer models with more hdmi connections...
I do intend to use a PS3 as my blu-ray source (eventually). To those who point out the not-so-great dvd playback----you are probably right, so maybe just hold onto your current dvd-player for awhile longer.

[dgrumich]

What's wrong with SD DVD playback on the PS3? I think it upscales nicely.

Audiophiles crack me up.

[He_brewHammer]

This is what i have been waiting for. I just bought the Denon AVR 3808CI. I've been dying to hear this DTS HD format. So is it better for me to have it pass through to the receiver and decode? I just set it to bitstreeam, right?

[sonymaster101]

thats because audiophiles ridicule even the smallest of things... and they have always been nagging on the ps3 for lack of dts-hd, and now they shouldnt be able to complain, but are still atttacking the lack of bitstream, which really is nothing. the ps3 has excellent audio decoding capabilities.

[chixhawk]

by chixhawk April 10, 2008 6:58 PM The standard is bitstream/coax. Preparing a firmware update for both HDMI and Bitstream would have taken up anymore time. All companies, not just Sony should do this. There are millions of high quality receivers out there that don't have HDMI mines is one of them (Denon AVR 5803) that could complement those new processing formats with no problem. Look at the percentage of people who own a hdmi equipped receiver vs those who don't and It woulld be a tremendous benefit for Sony to offer this upgrade through both HDMI/bitsream. This could add to the sales of the PS3 because the difference in the uncompressed sound is as noticable as 1080p is from 480p even if it is not through HDMI. As far as the playback of SD dvd in the PS3, it is extremely poor incomparison to SD dvd players. The quality of High def dvd is already proven against SD dvd. Sony did not need to downgrade the already excellent visuals of this current format in order to help push theirs along.

[turboej25]

I am confused. I have a PS3, how do I get the dts-HD out of it? Could someone lay it out simple; what needs to be pluged into what to get what?