Playing music from PS3

[Elysium]

Well I own myself a flash HD tv, PS3 and theatre system and like to use my PS3 as a music library as it has big 250GB hard drive. Now problem I have is that the music that plays from the PS3 and through my theatre system doesn't sound as loud and bass like. Now if I put a cd into the theatre system itself I get bloody good sound.

The way I got my system set up is HDMI cable from PS3 to TV and Optical cable from PS3 to theatre system. The PS3 only has one HDMI output and theatre system only has two HDMI inputs but both are used so I can watch Blu-Ray/games from PS3 and movies from theatre system. Now would I be wrong in saying I will need to get a reciever system in order to remedy this problem?

Also the theatre system came with an iPod dock but I don't own an iPod so have no idea if it would be better to get an iPod instead and play my music off that.

[steve_t]

Sorry to break it to you but the PS3 MP3 playback seems to not have any bass at all. My mate was wondering what was wrong with his system and there was basically nothing coming out of the sub. A music CD in the PS3 sounded normal so I think the PS3's codec is shite

[onearmedbandit]

Well I would say there is something wrong. I too use my PS3 as my music library, running HDMI to the TV and optical audio to my Yamaha component HT system, and the bass kicks arse. Of course MP3's sound hollow compared to CD's anyway, so for extra punch I employ the MP3 Music Enhancer mode on the HT, but regardless of whether this is on or not it still pumps out copious bass.

So I disagree that the PS3 can't handle MP3's.

[steve_t]

Well I would say there is something wrong. I too use my PS3 as my music library, running HDMI to the TV and optical audio to my Yamaha component HT system, and the bass kicks arse. Of course MP3's sound hollow compared to CD's anyway, so for extra punch I employ the MP3 Music Enhancer mode on the HT, but regardless of whether this is on or not it still pumps out copious bass.

So I disagree that the PS3 can't handle MP3's.

Oh, interesting. I wonder if it's a firmware issue or summat. I might check with my mate on Friday. He'll be stoked to hear it too.
His setup was PS3 - HDMI -> Denon AV Receiver - HDMI -> TV

Or I wonder if it's a setting. I had to change his to allow bitstream output over HDMI of his blu-rays to allow DTS-MA or TrueHD decoding in his receiver

[steve_t]

Hmm... I googled the problem and it seems that some AV receivers won't use the sub much if the front speakers are set to "large" instead of "small"
Does changing that work for you Elysium?

[gammaguy]

mp3 is CRAP

if you want real music with real bass,record and playback in WAV format,so you get 1100 or so KPBS instead of MP3 which is at best 320KBPS,MP3 is a lossy format,it clips the high and low notes in order to compress data.

Its all in the sample rate mate.

I use my PS3 as a media server and it plays WAV files as PCM and it sounds awesome.

If it uses too much storage space,just hook your PC or external HDD into the media server network.

enjoy

[imdying]

Oh, interesting. I wonder if it's a firmware issue or summat. I might check with my mate on Friday. He'll be stoked to hear it too.
His setup was PS3 - HDMI -> Denon AV Receiver - HDMI -> TV

Or I wonder if it's a setting. I had to change his to allow bitstream output over HDMI of his blu-rays to allow DTS-MA or TrueHD decoding in his receiver

I've a Marantz 7005 which probably has the same guts as the Denon. I'll have a fiddle with the large/small setting your speak of (I've seen it in the myriad of options) and see if that sorts it.

[imdying]

mp3 is CRAP

if you want real music with real bass,record and playback in WAV format,so you get 1100 or so KPBS instead of MP3 which is at best 320KBPS,MP3 is a lossy format,it clips the high and low notes in order to compress data.

FLAC is fine, and better than WAV for library management.

[CookMySock]

There will be a few alternate "media center" firmwares available for the PS3, but it sounds more like you have a simpler problem.

There's nothing wrong with MP3 for general audio duties.

[Gubb]

Heathens.

Vinyl FTW.

[Usarka]

Well I own myself a flash HD tv, PS3 and theatre system and like to use my PS3 as a music library as it has big 250GB hard drive. Now problem I have is that the music that plays from the PS3 and through my theatre system doesn't sound as loud and bass like. Now if I put a cd into the theatre system itself I get bloody good sound.

2c follows.

Is there a difference between playing the CD in the PS3, and playing a ripped copy off the PS3 hard drive?

If not then it aint a "format" or codec issue. Next.

Also try changing sound output to bitstream instead of linear PCM (or vice versa). Bitstream sends an unencoded signal to your home theater receiver, and PCM sends the STEREO signal. Either way though, it's a stereo signal so if you're expecting sound out of a subwoofer you'll need your home theater reciever to do some modelling on it -are you sure there aren't any settings that need a tutu? Check LFE (low frequency effects) or can you use a "surround" mode or similar?

Otherwise it sounds like what the guys are saying, it might be a low frequency management issue on the amp for that channel.

Edit: try link http://community.us.playstation.com/...art=0&tstart=0

FLAC is fine, and better than WAV for library management.

PS3 doesn't do FLAC. If you want lossless you need either WAV or stream from another media center. I use v. high bit rate WMA (boo hiss i can hear it now ) because the WAV had too many issues with tag management (and it's hoooooojer than hooooooj).

[george formby]

I doubt this has anything to do with it but......... Playback from my MP3 through my Denon / Polk audio system was pants. Solution, a high end cable. Sound is fantastic now.

[steve_t]

I doubt this has anything to do with it but......... Playback from my MP3 through my Denon / Polk audio system was pants. Solution, a high end cable. Sound is fantastic now.

Really? Changing from low qual HDMI to a high quality cable fixed it?

[onearmedbandit]

Really? Changing from low qual HDMI to a high quality cable fixed it?

He may not be referring to the quality of the cable, rather the style. For example from RCA to HDMI or optical cable.

[Elysium]

Right. I just tried my flatmates iPod and the sound is far better. Obviously there's an issue between the console and theatre system. So easy solution for me is to get an iPod and use that.