PS4 Game Audio - LPCM vs Bitstream

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Paul1977

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Topic # 238276 10-Jul-2018 11:36

I wasn’t sure if this belonged in the Home Theatre thread, or Gaming thread. Mods, please move if required.

I have a PS4 Pro which is currently only used for gaming (streaming apps and Blu-Ray plackback are handled by other devices).

My understanding is that for gaming audio, multichannel LPCM directly to the receiver is the way to go. Unfortunately, for various reasons, it is much easier for me to connect the PS4 Pro directly to the TV and pass the audio to the receiver via HDMI ARC.

Multichannel LPCM is not possible with HDMI ARC, only bitstreamed Dolby Digital or DTS.

So, some questions:

1. For gaming should I go DTS or Dolby Digital? Which will offer the least sound quality loss?

2. Bitstreaming the game audio adds an encode/decode cycle into the mix, but am I really likely to notice a difference in sound quality?

3. Am I correct that things like Dolby THD and DTS-HD MA are not applicable to games, just movies?

Thanks

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PANiCnz

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Reply # 2052839 10-Jul-2018 17:48

I was always of the understanding that bitstreaming trumped LPCM, but someone more informed should confirm.

gehenna

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Reply # 2052845 10-Jul-2018 18:08

Yep I was also on the bitstream bandwagon.

mentalinc

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Reply # 2052882 10-Jul-2018 19:13

Bitstream indeed.

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richms

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Reply # 2052893 10-Jul-2018 19:47

Bitstream for movies as it lets your HT amp decode, but LPCM for gaming as there is no needless compression/decompression happening.

I have not noticed any lag or crappyness using dolby on my PS4 tho.

Richard rich.ms

lchiu7

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Reply # 2052928 10-Jul-2018 21:05

I don't know much about games but they mainly are Dolby Digital (+) or DTS. It's hard to say which is better - let your ears be the judge.

As for bitstream versus LPCM there is really no difference. Back in the early days of lossless audio, the PS3 could not send the bitstream audio stream of Dolby TrueHD to the receiver but Sony implemented decoding in the PS3 and output LPCM. There was no audio difference but people complained that the TrueHD light did not come on in their receivers!

I don't know about the PS4 but I suspect when playing a BD title it will always output bitstream since most modern receivers can decode TrueHD or DTS MA.

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Paul1977

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Reply # 2054461 11-Jul-2018 16:54

richms:

Bitstream for movies as it lets your HT amp decode, but LPCM for gaming as there is no needless compression/decompression happening.

I have not noticed any lag or crappyness using dolby on my PS4 tho.

Thanks @richms, I hadn't even considered lag. More of a question about whether there would be enough of a difference in quality that it would be worth trying to figure out a workaround to get LPCM.