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toddao said:
Thanks,Seventh Taylor. I had checked that out that but on my reading the article was about sticking some unnamed tape to the shell to improve its sound quality,not about reducing its sound level although of course,it may assist. I will bear it in mind. Just about to down load the latest software today-the one with the special superbit mapping for sacd.My display left the day my PS3 arrived so only be able to upgrade now. Interested to see what improvements it offers.
please let us know what you think of bitmap 3. that improves cd playback too not just sacd (in my experience)
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Post by toddao March 4, 2008 (222 of 243)
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FunkyMonkey said:
please let us know what you think of bitmap 3. that improves cd playback too not just sacd (in my experience)
Will do,but it will take a week or two.
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Post by toddao March 10, 2008 (223 of 243)
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I have now been running the PS3 latest firmware for about 2 weeks. This includes two further settings for CD playback including a setting-type3-especially for sa-cd. Before then for about the same time, I was using type 1 playback for sa-cd but in both instances I was using( via HDMI ) the Audyssey Multi EQ XT through my Denon 2808 used as a pre-pro.
Firstly, I found the Audyssey set up, which equalises the speakers to counteract room resonances and time aligns multi channel playback, simply the biggest improvement in my system since my first sa-cd player. When I first began using PS3, much of the improvement I found over my previous player-Sony NS92V-was, I think due more to Audyssey than to PS3.Immediately I switched to type 3 playback I became aware of a jump in resolution compared to type1. Strings, such as in the Mercury Rodrigo Aranjuez, which can sound thin and even screechy on some systems, were greatly improved with no edge and much better depth. The whole soundstage was tightened up especially noticeable across the front. Everything was now in a tighter focus and playing Petrushka (on RCO Live), I became much more aware of the various instruments in the orchestra such as the piano on the extreme left of the soundstage. It was not highlighted or brought forward, just more in focus. Multi channel discs were now even more compelling. The latest Mozart from Linn, excellent.
I don’t listen to many sd cd’s these days as when I have the time for music, I much prefer multi channel. However my standard reference test for some years has been Magdalena Kozena singing Massenet on DG. I have found that her voice quickly discloses differences in playback systems, etc .In fact when I got the Denon last year, I tried this disc with Denon’s AL24 Processing Plus over sampling. Immediately, I could hear a much harder and of course digital sound. Not for me. I did not try this disc with type 1 but did with type3 on the PS3.There was none of the hardness and digitalisation I had heard on the Denon. Her voice had all the quality that I had heard with analogue outs on the Sony but with slightly tighter focus.
All in all I rate the PS3 as an excellent product via HDMI especially if you can then access Audyssey. The only real drawback I have found and did not anticipate (apart from the lack of a visual display unless you turn on your screen) is that you cannot, like all HDM, access individual chapters on a disc. Why I have no idea and can see no logic in dropping this standard feature. Toshiba allowed this for cd playback in one of their upgrades so I am hopeful that Sony will do likewise. Until then it is necessary to advance through each chapter if you don’t want to start at the beginning of the disc.
Given that Sony has announced new BD players for the mid year and one is rumoured to include sa-cd playback, I would suggest waiting to see what materialises. Subject to this, I recommend PS3 with its latest firmware most highly.
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Great review and reassuring for PS3 audio fans such as myself. Thanks.
Would be interested to know what SACD and CD player(s) you are comparing the PS3 to, as a reference point. Thanks again.
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robstl said (from the DSD vs PCM thread):
Hey, FunkyMonkey --
You probably know how to do this already, and you may not _want_ to do it, but I've set up my PS3 to send out ~88kHz SA-CD multichannel so that my Onkyo can work its Audyssey magic. In my listening room/speaker set-up this sounds much better than the unprocessed 176kHz signal.
-Rob
Right, I tried various settings on my PS3 to get the optimum settings once and for all from my PS3. This is a summary of my findings:
Bitmap 3 processing is my favourite for both CD and SACD - I had established that already.
For CD Playback:
I tried the Music Settings set to upsample to 88.1 and 176.2 kHz. I found both of these to add an artificial tingle to the CD sound - best described as if the PS3 was trying too hard. I have found this on a cheapo DVD player in the past too - extra data is generated and to me it just sounds like noise rather than addign to the core data.
Therefore I was left with the option of 44.1Khz (as per the CD) and 48kHz. Now don't ask me why, but 48kHz sounds more natural and detailed through my equipment. So I'm stickign with that.
For SACD Playback:
The options were 88.1Khz to let Onkyo receiver to Audyssey magic or 176.2kHz to get the full resolution of the SACD at the expense of not having Audyssey. Well it took 3 different SACD's and several listens to each goign back and forth between teh settings. In the end, I noticed far less than 10% (just a guesstimate) loss of audible data with 88.1kHz over 176.2 kHz. However, the payoff was maybe a little more dynamic control of transients. However, upon reflection, and after more listening I deceided I wanted the full data from the SACD, and if that meant greater detail of sound at the expense of slightly less control of the sound, then I opted for that, i.e. the percentage increase in detail at 176.2 kHz was more beneficial in my listening environment than the increased control at 88.1kHz (with effectively half the data resolution lost in mathematical terms).
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Post by toddao March 15, 2008 (226 of 243)
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FunkyMonkey said:
Would be interested to know what SACD and CD player(s) you are comparing the PS3 to, as a reference point. Thanks again.
IT was the SONY DVP NS 92V which I used for both sacd and cd play back.Before then I had a Sony 775(?), a UK sourced machine with no time delay for multi channel.The 92V knocked it for six!
Glad to read your comments on PS3.It's a great machine.
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FunkyMonkey said:
Right, I tried various settings on my PS3 to get the optimum settings once and for all from my PS3. This is a summary of my findings:
Bitmap 3 processing is my favourite for both CD and SACD - I had established that already.
For CD Playback:
I tried the Music Settings set to upsample to 88.1 and 176.2 kHz. I found both of these to add an artificial tingle to the CD sound - best described as if the PS3 was trying too hard. I have found this on a cheapo DVD player in the past too - extra data is generated and to me it just sounds like noise rather than addign to the core data.
Therefore I was left with the option of 44.1Khz (as per the CD) and 48kHz. Now don't ask me why, but 48kHz sounds more natural and detailed through my equipment. So I'm stickign with that.
For SACD Playback:
The options were 88.1Khz to let Onkyo receiver to Audyssey magic or 176.2kHz to get the full resolution of the SACD at the expense of not having Audyssey. Well it took 3 different SACD's and several listens to each goign back and forth between teh settings. In the end, I noticed far less than 10% (just a guesstimate) loss of audible data with 88.1kHz over 176.2 kHz. However, the payoff was maybe a little more dynamic control of transients. However, upon reflection, and after more listening I deceided I wanted the full data from the SACD, and if that meant greater detail of sound at the expense of slightly less control of the sound, then I opted for that, i.e. the percentage increase in detail at 176.2 kHz was more beneficial in my listening environment than the increased control at 88.1kHz (with effectively half the data resolution lost in mathematical terms).
Hey FunkyMonkey-
In your outline for SACD playback, when you said the options were 88.1Khz or 176.2kHz, were those options you had on the PS3? If so, under which menu was it?
I just did an upgrade today on my PS3 to what I can only assume is the latest firmware upgrade. Under music settings, I didn't see anything specific to SACD.
Just curious....finally got my new receiver hooked up (Integra DTR 6.8), so am hoping that I have all settings done correctly to enjoy the most from SACD in using the PS3.
Thanks!
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TpaTallMan said:
In your outline for SACD playback, when you said the options were 88.1Khz or 176.2kHz, were those options you had on the PS3? If so, under which menu was it?
It's not under music settings but under audio output settings.
For other tips see http://www.ps3sacd.com/faq.html
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The Seventh Taylor said:
It's not under music settings but under audio output settings.
For other tips see http://www.ps3sacd.com/faq.html
Select Bitmap 3 which IS in the Music Settings menu...I think!
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Post by toddao March 20, 2008 (230 of 243)
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In their latest firmware upgrade due out next week, it looks as though Sony are giving us restart at the same place after stopping . Doesn't specifically mention cd/sacd in their press release, but if it works for BD/DVD it should for cd/sacd. Now all we want is direct chapter access
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