Which is better bitstream or pcm

If PCM is selected, the PS4 takes over the audio decoding of the sound material and passes it to the AV receiver, which usually outputs it to the speakers unchanged with the specified number of channels. So if the PCM signal is stereo, the only stereo will be output. If the signal is a 5. If the PS4 is set to bitstream — regardless of the audio technology, for example, DTS or Dolby Digital — the PS4 passes the unprocessed signal to the AV receiver, which then takes over the audio decoding.

Provided it also supports the sound codec set on the PS4. PCM is therefore merely a specification that controls which device is used for decoding. The choice depends on the quality of the individual devices — in this case on whether AV receivers or PS4s are better at decoding.

In general, however, the AV receiver is usually the better choice. After all, it is designed for such cases. I am Bob. I work as an audio engineer and audio technician. I work in mastering and arranging bridges in existing songs and the arrangement and orchestration of the chorus.

In Planet HiFi I test gear for a couple of days and write a review. I also write about AV topics, amplifiers, speakers, and headphones. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bitstream Pros And Cons Pros. The PCM Option. The Bitstream Option. Setting the Secondary Audio. HDMI vs. What Is Bitstream. This means that the signal is not additionally source-coded by, for example, DTS or Dolby Digital, and is therefore not converted.

As PCM, your signal is pure and usually in the highest quality. It takes up a lot of space but sounds very good.

In these two examples, the encoding is done with a loss of quality. These formats are transmitted in so-called bitstreams. Here you can choose whether, for example, your Bluray player or your AV receiver should do the decoding work. That allows the system to amplify the sound and send it to the speakers for you to hear it. A bitstream process starts with the sound mixer and content creator. The content creator must decide the surround sound format to use for recording a live transmission. After the process is complete, the digital bits are placed on a satellite or cable service, embedded on a live transmission or saved on a disc Blu-ray, UHD Blu-ray, and DVD.

When it comes to playing the audio, the required bitstream is sent from the source device to the home theater receiver using a physical connection. That includes HDMI, digital coaxial and digital optical cable. It can also be sent wirelessly to your home network through an antenna. The receiver then decodes the digital bits according to the assigned channels and sends the signal to the amplifiers.

That allows the listener to hear the audio from the loudspeakers. While PCM and bitstream are very different, these two settings are very similar when applied in audio production.

Here are several similarities that are worth noting before you can decide which option is best for you:. On the other hand, with Bitstream, the TV will split out the encoded signal and the soundbar will do the decoding. If your Sonos soundbar supports surround sound, set it to Bitstream. If the soundbar does not support surround sound e.

The process may differ, but the result will still be the same. Compatibility with devices and other connection options also differ for both configurations. PCM works well with almost every device, whereas bitstream may only work for devices that support hi-res surround sound format. Both configurations can produce the same audio quality, convert the audio file to analog before speakers can produce the output, and are compatible with most players that we use today.

So, the question is, when will it be better for you to use PCM configuration over bitstream? One of the reasons is because PCM can only transmit a two-channel signal over a coaxial or digital optical connection.

Although not a deal-breaker, it could still be an issue for those looking for better transmission options, especially with the space capacity required by this configuration. Another factor that you have to consider is compatibility. Finally, the connection may be a problem for those who are trying to set up wireless connections for the player to the receivers. So, the compromise when using PCM is: if you want to take advantage of better secondary audio tracks and lower latency, you may have to steer away from the idea of having a wireless connection or building a more sophisticated sound system.

The choice to use bitstream for your sound system would depend on how you want it to work, and whether various configurations can give you an edge over PCM. Also, you might need to invest more in your sound system if you want to experience any noticeable difference with the output.

If you want a setup that is capable of hi-res secondary audio, PCM is better for you. Both transmission methods can provide you with a hi-res output if we use mainstream sound systems. Then, it sends the decoded audio signal in an uncompressed form to the home theater receiver. As a result, the home theater receiver doesn't perform additional audio decoding before the audio is sent through the amplifier section and the speakers.

Use PCM if you plan to use the secondary audio feature, which provides access to audio commentaries, descriptive audio, and supplementary audio tracks. When access to these audio programs is important to you, set the Blu-ray player to PCM to provide the best quality result. The player decodes the audio without bandwidth concern, which is an issue for bitstream. In that case, the player bypasses its internal Dolby and DTS audio decoders and sends the undecoded signal to your HDMI-connected home theater receiver.

The home theater receiver does the audio decoding of the incoming signal. No Blu-ray Disc players can decode these formats internally to PCM and pass that to a home theater receiver. In this case, the home theater receiver recognizes the signal as standard Dolby Digital and decodes appropriately. HDMI is easily the best option for output.

However, if you use either digital or optical coaxial outputs , bitstream is the clear winner. Digital optical and coaxial connections suffer from limited bandwidth and can't transfer a fully processed and decoded signal. Because bitstream relies on the receiver for decoding, it's ideal for limited bandwidth situations. Several factors should go into your choice, including the quality of the Blu-ray player and audio receiver.

More often than not, you'll want bitstream. The potential for better audio quality and the flexibility to use coaxial outputs puts it ahead of PCM. The only situation where PCM comes out on top is when using secondary audio streams.