PCM or Bitstream?

[Lexmark3200]

What should a DVD player's output setting be in the setup menu for sending Dolby Digital and DTS signals to a receiver, BITSTREAM or PCM? I believe on my player the settings are on BITSTREAM for both DD and DTS.....at any rate, when I select DD or DTS from a DVD's menu before playback, the receiver automatically switches to that format so something must be working right in my setup...was just making sure the DVD player SHOULD be set to BITSTREAM.

[kelsci]

Lex; Bitstream... When I download your manual from Panasonics site, if there are any exceptions, I will note them.

[Lexmark3200]

Lex; Bitstream... When I download your manual from Panasonics site, if there are any exceptions, I will note them.

Thanks so much Kel for your continued assistance....would you be able to explain to me why Bitstream should be selected and what the difference is between PCM and Bitstream signals? Why does a player need to be on Bitstream in order to send signals to a receiver?

[kelsci]

Thanks so much Kel for your continued assistance....would you be able to explain to me why Bitstream should be selected and what the difference is between PCM and Bitstream signals? Why does a player need to be on Bitstream in order to send signals to a receiver?

Hi Lex; I think Karl(who happens to be a fine person on this forum) advised you and you answered back in another thread that your machine is set properly. I did download your manual. Geez what a pain in the "arse". However the manual was adamant about the bitstream setting which is in fact the factory setting for your machine for both D.D. and DTS. I would not worry what the PCM deal is all about. I need some training on that one myself only relative to these players. I have used PCM relative to Laserdisc players that featured DIGITAL SOUND playback which was a PULSE CODE MODULATION DIGITAL SOUNDTRACK.

[Lexmark3200]

Does anyone know why Bitstream is selected when setting up a DVD player's menu to send digital signals to a receiver as opposed to PCM?

[brian_tr]

I had trouble getting DTS to work on my panasonic. The manual is terrible. The factory defaults did not work for DTS. I think it was set for bitstream and I changed it to PCM which still did not work until I played with the audio button. Spent 90 minutes trying to get DTS to work. What a pain.

[This Guy]

PCM is two channel, you would set it at that if you didn't have a surround system, it only decodes two channels. Bitstream sends the full audio signal with surround sound to your receiver if you have more than a 2 channel set up.

-Joey

[Lexmark3200]

PCM is two channel, you would set it at that if you didn't have a surround system, it only decodes two channels. Bitstream sends the full audio signal with surround sound to your receiver if you have more than a 2 channel set up.

-Joey

Thank you Joey.

[Monstrous Mike]

Does anyone know why Bitstream is selected when setting up a DVD player's menu to send digital signals to a receiver as opposed to PCM?

Bitstream means the DVD player will deliver exactly what auido track is playing on the DVD. PCM means that the DVD player will take whatever audio track it is playing and convert it to 2 channel PCM (exaclty like the format for music CDs).

The only reason you would ever select PCM is if you had one of the very first digital capable amps that only had a PCM decoder and no DD or DTS decoder. Obviously, these aren't around much any more.

[Lexmark3200]

Bitstream means the DVD player will deliver exactly what auido track is playing on the DVD. PCM means that the DVD player will take whatever audio track it is playing and convert it to 2 channel PCM (exaclty like the format for music CDs).

The only reason you would ever select PCM is if you had one of the very first digital capable amps that only had a PCM decoder and no DD or DTS decoder. Obviously, these aren't around much any more.

So, if I didnt have a surround receiver, would the DVD player be set to PCM if I was just running the sound to the TV set?

[markw]

If you didn't have a surround receiver you would be using the red/white analog outputs for your audio, not PCM or bitstream.

As far as if and how you would need to set your DVD, RTFM.


But, ultimately, you DO have a surround receiver so it's a moot point.

[Lexmark3200]

If you didn't have a surround receiver you would be using the red/white analog outputs for your audio, not PCM or bitstream.

As far as if and how you would need to set your DVD, RTFM.


But, ultimately, you DO have a surround receiver so it's a moot point.

No, I know, I was just curious.....thanks.

But right now, I actually do have the red/white analog cords connected from the DVD player to the TV so I can watch DVDs without surround if I want to; sometimes the girlfriend or guests enjoy it this way better if just not in the mood for surround sound, whatever. Does this require a special setting?