PCM or Bitstream


I have a dvd player that has the option to play bitstream or pcm.I am wondering which is what I am supposed to use.I have a/b ed them with several recordings and I can not seem to pic up on a difference in sound.What gives with this?
ghost_rider

Showing 1 response by distortion

I believe PCM is the default for Audio, 44.1khz/16bit.

While Bitstream is a multichannel (Dolby Digital or DTS) format available from encoded Discs, such as movies or concert DVDs.

Just guessing, but, I bet if you select PCM only that the DVD player will downmix DD/DTS(multichannel) to PCM(2 channel). Select PCM and put a movie in and see what happens. Is it 2 channel only (stereo)?

On my DVD player, I use have bitstream selected with the highest output. 96khz/24bit methinks. When I playback an Audio CD it always defaults back to the PCM standard of 44.1khz/16bit.

If you are going to use the DVD player for movies and concert DVDs in a multichannel system I suggest Bitstream. If you have a 2 channel system only then PCM is fine.