PCM vs Bitstream | Bitstream vs PCM | What is PCM Audio | What is Bitstream Audio

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#hifiaudio #surroundsound #howto #speakers
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between PCM audio and Bitstream? Which one sounds better? Is there an actual difference? In this video I sit down with former ‪@dtsaudio‬ sound engineer of 25 years, Brian Slack, who explains the difference between the two formats and which one you should pick and why.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:48 What Is PCM?
1:03 What is BitStream?
2:30 Decoding The Audio
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Опубликовано:

22 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 129

@jb7753 2 года назад

Thank you for that video. I've done my own research to learn most of that, but this was clearer. Also makes me realise I should have the BD secondary audio set to on, on my 4k player.

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Glad I could help!

@cheekster777 2 года назад

Yet another question that I wondered about recently. It is like you’re a mind reader! 🔮 Thank you and Happy New Year. 🙏 🥳

@operamatthew 2 года назад

thanks so much for this. much needed.

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Glad I could help! I too was stumped on this for a while so I thought I’d make a video.

@PeterEidegren 2 года назад

You can always, when sending PCM, use an upmixer (DSU, DTS Neural:X or Auro 3D) in the processor/reciever to upmix the 7.1 PCM stream to use all the speakers. Even the height speakers.

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Great point!

@keetvhdlimited962 Год назад

my tv phillips ( ARC only) has this option stereo uncompressed. but i can still play 5.1 source content with this option enabled... and it sounds a bit more clearer than bypass or multichannel option. whats happneing in my case? i am using yamaha soundbar SR B20A that can read dolby digital and DTS but yet it sounds bettter in sgtereo uncompressed.my question is am i somehow getting UNcompressed 5.1 PCM over ARC even though my tv hdmi arc ports are not earc version?

@earlusmcdivett 11 месяцев назад

But then you’re not getting TRUE Atmos/DTS X sound the way it was mixed. You’re getting an “uncompressed” simulation. Horrible recommendation.

@earlusmcdivett 11 месяцев назад

@@keetvhdlimited962”sounds better” is totally subjective. Is it louder overall? Sound coming out of all speakers? This is not a good idea because you’re sending an “uncompressed stereo” codec to your receiver and you’re either getting Dolby 2.1 surround or a stereo mix going to all speakers.

@keetvhdlimited962 11 месяцев назад

@@earlusmcdivett it sounds louder than sending direct 5.1

@madfinntech 2 года назад

Well, this was the clearest explanation of this ever. Thanks.

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Glad I could help!

@jamesproudlove1527 Год назад

Thank you for making it so clear.

@MovieUniversity Год назад

My pleasure!

@doc666ify 2 года назад

Good review

@marco19723 Год назад

What sound is better for a fire stick 4k? PCM or adaptive ? Because my fire stick stutters from time to time.

@joelane4670 Год назад

I have Nvidia shield streaming device..plus Denon avr..my question..In my NS settings their is a setting in my Audio that’s telling me that I can upmix stereo to 5.1 pcm..not sure if I should! I have a 5.2.2 speaker setup..if anyone can’t help it would be appreciated!, thx

@NadPhavichy 2 года назад

Finest and clearest explanation ever!!

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Glad it was helpful!

@Vokon 2 года назад

i know this isnt the video to ask about this but, do you know anything about the Marvel movies IMAX Enhanced Versions coming out on 4K Blu Ray?

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Nothing to add that wasn’t said in the previous comment.

@snowdon463 3 месяца назад

The part about BD secondary audio being set to on is throwing me. In the manual for my UB820 and a Dolby home guide they both state that to get full Atmos and DTS X, both should be set to bitstream and the secondary audio set to off. They both state this setting on players is for an alternative audio track on the disc if some of your equipment doesn’t support the primary audio track. Not that this setting allows for a separate overhead mix to play for full Atmos or DTS X. Some clarification on this would help, thank you.

@MovieUniversity 3 месяца назад

I'm sure it depends on model, brand, and firmware updates. What Brian states in the video is a generalized settings, however, your equipment may differ. Try out all the settings on and off and see what you like best. At the end of the day, you decide what sounds best on your system, not strangers on RU-vid.

@TonyTynebridge 7 дней назад

My TV supports dolby atmos, would it be better to use pcm or dolby atmos?

@JRBowling1997 2 года назад

I do have a question about this... I own a Nintendo switch... and noticed something strange.... if I set my sound from pass through to digital. After a second or 2 of not navigating the switch menu. Or game auido. The auido will cut out when resuming. But if I set it to pass through everything is fine!!!! Why is this? And why does the auido cut under bitstream?

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

I couldn't tell you. Sounds like that's more of a programming thing internal to the Switch. Does it affect the syncing of the audio between the speaker(s) and TV?

@JRBowling1997 2 года назад

@@MovieUniversity that I don't know of... but at least it works when I set it to pass through

@keetvhdlimited962 Год назад

my tv phillips (ARC only) has this option stereo uncompressed. but i can still play 5.1 source content with this option enabled... and it sounds a bit more clearer than bypass or multichannel option. whats happneing in my case? i am using yamaha soundbar SR B20A that can read dolby digital and DTS but yet it sounds bettter in stereo uncompressed. my question is am i somehow getting UNcompressed 5.1 PCM over ARC even though my tv hdmi arc ports are not earc version?

@MovieUniversity Год назад

what are the other options besides stereo uncompressed.

@keetvhdlimited962 Год назад

@@MovieUniversity 1) Multichannel ( for sending compressed signals) 2) Multichannel bypass ( for Atmos and Dolby digital plus) The manual says to use bypass for Dolby digital plus and Atmos if the soundbar supports it. So I think bypass means the tv sends the audio straight to external equipment to process. Whenever I choose this bypass for Atmos or DD plus content I don't get sound. That's because my$299 Yamaha soundbar does not support these 2. It only supports DTS which bypass works correctly. Another thing is the Yamaha has indicator lights to show the signal it's receiving. In uncompressed stereo from tv , the Yamaha shows pcm with Dolby pro logic 2 applied

@MovieUniversity Год назад

@@keetvhdlimited962 It's hard for me to visualize what's going on based on reading the two comments, but it looks sounds like you're getting uncompressed stereo and getting compressed surround. Not trying to state the obvious, just trying to piece this together.

@keetvhdlimited962 Год назад

@@MovieUniversity yes, that's bevause my tv only has ARC and not EARC. But I do wonder does the pcm audio comes from the same Dolby compressed signals ? Why does it sound clearer

@MovieUniversity Год назад

@@keetvhdlimited962 I am genuinely curious about this now. If you're up for it, email me at movieuniversity.edu@gmail.com and send me some pictures of all this.

@VladiatorX 2 года назад

I am not sure if there is a difference between PCM and LPCM but PS5 has 3 options: LPCM(uncompressed), DTS(compressed), DOLBY(compressed). Which is why I use LPCM with Denon x3600h

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

That's interesting that the PS only allows the compressed versions of DTS and Dolby. LPCM and PCM are almost the exact same thing.

@keetvhdlimited962 Год назад

That's because the PS5 needs to be backwards compatible to older ARC. And yr current tv maybe ARC only. Try connecting the PS5 to EARC tv and u might get those options for Uncompressed multichannel.

@ThichNhatHanh23 Год назад

@@keetvhdlimited962 what should I use for high end headset on the ps5?

@keetvhdlimited962 Год назад

@@ThichNhatHanh23 that depends on your headset refer to the headset manual. If it's regular stereo, then just use stereo. But if it's a virtual surround headset that needs 5.1 or 7.1, then choose appropriately.

@ThichNhatHanh23 Год назад

@@keetvhdlimited962 It’s the arctic nova pro , I have no clue about 5.1 and these values. I see people saying use linear pcm or Dolby for ps5 . I use Dolby because someone from the astro stuff commented on Reddit that linear is only sterio

@theophiluschristopher2088 Год назад

My jbl soundbar only supports Dolby audio.. And it said 5.1 what's the best option to set on TV?

@MovieUniversity Год назад

Generally speaking the TV will send the best output to the speaker system hooked up.

@philindeblanc 2 года назад

That last HT setup needs to upgrade the center channel to 3Way

@aryo7781 2 года назад

My samsung tv have 2 format while playing netflix (atmos movies). Automatic and pcm. My sony soundbar htg700 keep reload (lost sound few sec) in every few minutes if i choose automatic, and it says pcm-mc on the soundbar. It looks like it pushing the sound to pcm format. It has no problems if choose pcm format, but the sound wasnt so good, no dolby atmos. Hows that so, and how to fix this? It makes me frustrated

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

It is not possible to play Dolby Atmos using PCM. You MUST put your setting to auto to utilize the bitstream format. Are you streaming Netflix through the TV or another device?

@aryo7781 2 года назад

@@MovieUniversity yes, exactly. I got the atmos on auto, but lost sound every few minutes. I streaming netflix directly from tv.

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

@@aryo7781 It sounds like the TV and soundbar aren't talking to each other properly. I think this is a Samsung thing. See if this thread can help you out. www.reddit.com/r/Soundbars/comments/mvj96h/pcmmc_ps5_sony_htg700/

@davethestalker Год назад

I’ve been having HORRIBKE audio delay with my OG PS4 and Den-in AVR-x7200wa. It’s most noticeable with GT7. Of course I’m using H-DMI and not optical. I decided to switch it to PCM from Dolby, and the delay during shifting, going over rumble strips or kerbs. Contact with walls or other cars results in about 1/4 of a second delay!!!! Switching to PCM corrected the delay. However, tone is different and I have to readjust the output of all 11 speaker for this particular input. GT7 has stereo or “7.1 surround. I don’t know if it is DTS or Dolby or Sony’s own code. I’m guessing it’s a SONY format. For some reason, both DTS and Dolby are causing a horrible delay which makes the audio from the PS4 to be ahead of the AVR output. I cannot use the audio delay on the TV or AVR. It makes the delay worse.

@earlusmcdivett 11 месяцев назад

If you’re running the ps4 to your tv and the tv arc to your receiver that’s most likely the delay. Either way unfortunately when you sent a pcm signal to you receiver it just downgraded you to “uncompressed” stereo or some other 5.1 simulation. I hate PCM.

@ryans413 7 месяцев назад

You have to run the HDMI from your PS4 directly into the AVR or Soundbar first then run a second HDMI out from the AVR or Soundbar to the tv. You’re getting a delay from the tv. If you do it this way then you can run everything in bitstream with no problems

@marcellephard1865 2 года назад

When I watch a UHD disc on my PS5 that’s connected to my LG CX (which cant decode DTS) and then to my soundbar (sonos arc) which is connected through HDMI eArc to my CX, it reads DTS content as ‘Multichannel PCM 5.1/7.1’ Am i still getting the same audio quality (bitrate) as if it could decode DTS?

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

I don't think so, but I could be wrong. Because the LG TV isn't an audio/receiver unit it doesn't have the ability to unpack or pass on the signal. You'd need to hook the PS up separately. One cable going to the sound bar and another going to the TV.

@marcellephard1865 2 года назад

@@MovieUniversity hmm, my Sonos App shows it as MPCM 7.1 when I put a DTS X UHD disc in. As long as there’s not such a thing as lossy PCM, I might be getting lossless. Hope so anyway….

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

You might be right. I'm not sure. I've never run into this issue before. By chance do you live in an apartment?

@marcellephard1865 2 года назад

@@MovieUniversity Ok, thanks for getting back to me though. Yes I do. Why?

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Was just curious. You said soundbar so it had me thinking.

@eengy2k 2 года назад

I'm playing bluray movie through PlayStation 3, PCM output to AVR sound better than bitstream, if output bitstream, sound very low, especially the center speaker.

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

From what you've said, I think it's a matter of the AVR decoding the signal. Not necessarily a Bitstream/PCM issue.

@yogabyaakaash Год назад

Apple tv only sends audio in LPCM to AVR which display multichannel audio. I understand Apple TV does not do bitstream ?

@MovieUniversity Год назад

Correct. Apple TV device does not support full bitstream. You're better off with PCM.

@Raptors0524 9 месяцев назад

That would explain why the audio sounds so much more rich and powerful on my soundbar with PCM vs bitstream. I couldn’t figure it out 😂

@AlphaDeFcOn4 Год назад

When i choose PCM via Spdif i only get 2 channel emulation to all my speakers... When i choose bitstreming i get real 5.1 output for my movies but only on Dolby digital formats if i run a movie with DTS audio i get no sound... PCM works with all audios formats but only with 2 ch emulation! How can i output real 5.1 using PCM setting ? Can PCM output 5.1 or only support 2 ch output ? I am confused !

@MovieUniversity Год назад

PCM can indeed do 5.1. It sounds like your devices aren't talking to each other properly for some reason.

@earlusmcdivett 11 месяцев назад

Jesus Christ, why are you still calling it Spdif? It’s an optical cable and that is extremely outdated tech. PCM though optical is always going to be downgraded to 2 channel. The bandwidth of optical can only support compressed audio like Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS. If you’re going to stick with optical cables, you have to stay on bitstream if you want surround sound.

@ryans413 7 месяцев назад

Are you using optical out from your tv you need to plug your player or consoles directly into your audio equipment not the tv and optical can’t pass the HD audio formats only HDMI can. Optical only supports Dolby Digital and DTS not the HD audio.

@MS-tu9wx Год назад

I don’t understand what is better ?

@tyty0071 4 месяца назад

Unless your AVR / sound bar is super old and cannot process Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, set BD Secondary Audio to OFF.

@raftaarsingh6649 2 года назад

my soundbar has 2 ch should i choose pcm or bitstream ?

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Either or will work just fine. As Brian states in the video, there’s no quality difference between the two below 5.1.

@raftaarsingh6649 Год назад

@@MovieUniversity so I did a test and there was no difference in sound thank you for the reply and one more question I want to ask what is dts drcscale in mi box s sound settings it starts from 0 to 100 % ? I set it to 100 and then to 0 no difference what is that setting used for ?

@MovieUniversity Год назад

@@raftaarsingh6649 is "drcscale in mi box s" a typo?

@raftaarsingh6649 Год назад

@@MovieUniversity no it's a setting called dts sounds drc scale once you select it you have a range from 0% to 100%

@marichusalanga4257 2 года назад

I’m confused. Which one is compressed and uncompressed?

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Both are uncompressed.

@marichusalanga4257 2 года назад

@@MovieUniversity Thank you. But which has better sound quality when connected with component sound system? Your response is highly appreciated.

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Listen to what Brian says carefully. Both have the same sound quality. However, Bitstream can play spatial sound like Atmos and PCM can’t. It’s a matter of how the sound is being decoded from the source, not of quality.

@marichusalanga4257 2 года назад

@@MovieUniversity Thank you so much for the information you provided 😊

@Justusson Год назад

@@MovieUniversity Could you clarify that though? Dolby is a compression technology and is compressed audio, is it not so? I have heard many different calls on it.

@ryans413 7 месяцев назад

Here’s the simple answer do you want your audio equipment to do the sound decoding or do you want your player to do the sound decoding and have your audio equipment just play it. Me personally let your audio equipment do the decoding that’s why you have the setup right. If you’re just using the tv speakers or a cheap soundbar go with LPCM.

@PureBlood42 Год назад

I've been researching PCM vs Bitstream for the past several days. Every discussion, every single resource has stated (in no uncertain terms) that PCM can only send 2 channel audio. Now this guy says PCM can send up to a max of 7.1 channels. Every discussion I find is contradictory to the previous discussions. I'm pulling my hair out. Good grief.

@MovieUniversity Год назад

Can you show me a link please? I have NEVER seen any documentation ever that says PCM can only 2 channels, furthermore, if that was the case why hasn’t anybody in this comment section called me out for putting up false info.

@PureBlood42 Год назад

@Movie University ~ You raise a very valid point. I've never seen so much contradictory information on any topic. I'll get you some links later tonight for sure. It'll be easy because 90% of all resources I've scoured are all saying 2 channel limit via PCM. I'll reply again later tonight. I just want to find the ultimate truth and won't quit until I've done so.

@MovieUniversity Год назад

@@PureBlood42 You're 100% that there is a ton of conflicting info out there. I remember researching for this video and thinking the same thing. Most people's research for something is usually the first page of Google and then they publish something. This is why I made this channel, to get industry experts to tell my audience so you know its good info.

@keetvhdlimited962 Год назад

PCM can be up to 7.1. But u need EARC HDMI to output . Easy way to check is if yr tv sound options has things like uncompressed 5.1, 7.1 ect , means it is EARC TV. Uncompressed multichannel sound is more clear sound quality and dynamics than compressed dolby 5.1 or 7.1 or atmos

@PureBlood42 Год назад

@@keetvhdlimited962 ~ Thank you for the clarification!

@chavito808 2 года назад

The Nintendo Switch only uses PCM for surround sound

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Interesting. I never knew that. I would say Nintendo has always been a little slow on adding "modern" features to their systems.

@mo_muscle3513 2 года назад

So basically always use the highest signal or quality and let the system simplify or dumb it down if it needs to .... 🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Yup

@DeMency Год назад

I hear that you cant lose the DOLBY ATMOS sound with PCM as long as your conection was vía hdmi 2.1 eARC. Is that true? Ok. So… if i choose PCM in a TV with hdmi 2.1 eARC conected in a soundbar with hdmi eARC with dolby atmos… can i still get the DOLBY ATMOS sound? Context: i have a Neo Samsung qled qn90b conected to a soundbar Samsumg HW-q800b with extra rear speakers vía hdmi 2.1 eARC and in the TV audio Settings i have 2 óptions: PCM or AUTO. With AUTO i have some tiny sound distorsions in the movies like “rrrg” the distorsion duration is no more than a sec. But when i change the format to a PCM the distorsion desapears… so…. What should i do? I dont wanna lose the atmos sound! Pls help!

@MovieUniversity Год назад

You cannot get Atmos or DTS:X with PCM because of the technological limits. Only possible through bitstream. No matter your HDMI cable or what you are putting out from your A/V receiver.

@DeMency Год назад

@@MovieUniversity so, what can i do with the distorsión ?

@MovieUniversity Год назад

@@DeMency What do you mean, what kind of distortion are you getting?

@earlusmcdivett 11 месяцев назад

that’s why i never route my player to my tv and from my tv to the receiver. Always connect straight to your receiver first and from the receiver to your TV.

@n7cartmangh897 4 месяца назад

How come pcm has better surround then bistream

@vengadesh0072 Год назад

Bro pcm support 5.1 sound system

@MovieUniversity Год назад

I didn’t say it didn’t. I said it doesn’t support Atmos or DTS X

@aussieexpat Год назад

Both are 100% digital.

@supunliyanage5524 Год назад

whats good

@MovieUniversity Год назад

@supunliyanage5524 Год назад

@@MovieUniversity pcm or bitstream

@MovieUniversity Год назад

Both are good. Bitstream is needed for Atmos or DTS X. You won’t be able to tell the difference between them if your only using 7.1 or less

@srinivasanv8498 Год назад

My Av receiver had Dolby digital Plus true hd and dts master audio ....whice source give accurate result of Dolby ...optical or HDMI

@cesargaray6137 9 месяцев назад

Pcm all the way

@TheRealJohnHooper 4 месяца назад

Digital made everything complicated 😅

@MovieUniversity 4 месяца назад

haha it really did.

@mclee71 2 месяца назад

English?

@droidzhunterz6861 2 года назад

In other words don't use PCM

@MovieUniversity 2 года назад

Correct!

@C--A 2 года назад

@@MovieUniversity Unless you do it the old fashioned way like myself and some others. I have a 5.1 set-up (no Atmos/DTS X as can't drill into my ceiling) I use my Oppo UDP 203 internal DAC for PCM through it's analogue outputs connected to power amplifiers for my speakers. I get Dolby TrueHD, DTS Master Audio with as good sound quality if it was bitstream Hdmi to a receiver/processor. Less signal chain on the conversion.

@LonelyHearts.Co24 Год назад

I use a 2.0 channel soundbar...so I gotta use it...works good

@Raptors0524 9 месяцев назад

Well on my Apple TV Bitstream doesn’t sound as full or rich as PCM so that might not be true for all cases.

@Azurefire36 Год назад

this Video made Absolutely no sense about explaining PCM to Bitstream

@MovieUniversity Год назад

It's not trying to explain the pcm TO bitstream.

@earlusmcdivett 11 месяцев назад

The compressed audio VS uncompressed audio is one of the dumbest arguments in history. There is absolutely no discernible difference between the two. And even if you’re an extremely rare person who has a receiver that decodes uncompressed audio, why would you choose that over bitstream Atmos or DTS X? Silly conversation. Always choose bitstream so you get the true audio codec sent to your receiver.

@ryans413 7 месяцев назад

The audio on the disc is already compressed think of that or else the audio file be way to big. LPCM is called uncompressed because it dose nothing to the audio file it dosnt compress it. Bitstream dose compress the audio to be transferred over HDMI or Optical if your listing to the non HD audio format. Then the audio equipment revives the stream uncompresses it and decodes it.

@EpiphanyClip 6 месяцев назад

The difference between uncompressed and compressed is not night and day but you can tell when you have high-end speakers . Normal speakers arent as revealing so that's why you "cant" tell the difference...