Bitstream vs PCM

[Steedie]

Hi guys,

I always think I understand this then read something to contradict what I thought I knew, which then means I realise I know nothing

At home I have a Yamaha RV-679 amp, hooked up to a 5.1 set of speakers. My Blu-Ray player, PS4, Xbox One are all hooked up to it and I've always read that I should set each one to output PCM and not Bitstream, as PCM is better due to it being uncompressed. Then on my amp, I have it in 'Straight' mode (not the same as "Pure Direct"). However, I've noticed when watching certain blu-rays that advertise having the DTS HD Master Audio track, that I never get the DTS logo appear on the amp anywhere, so I'm always sat there wondering if I'm missing out and getting second rate audio to what I could be.

Then I read an article this morning that said you should set the media player to Bitstream and let the Amp decode the signal, and that's the only way to get it to use the DTS HD Master track. But surely that makes no sense, as if the DTS HD track is uncompressed, but Bitstream sends compressed audio, then that doesn't make sense?

Could someone please clarify what I should be setting up on what?

Thanks guys

 

[Steedie]

Perfect, thank you guys

So when they say bitstream is a "compressed" signal, it doesn't mean you're losing quality? I guess that's what I understood it as

And am I right in thinking that for my equipment, which while it isn't naff but is far from the best or pro level, the difference between a compressed DTS/DD track and uncompressed PCM isn't worth worrying about?

 

[Steedie]

Gotcha thanks