Audiophiles and shoppers will love firmware v2.30

by Jem Alexander { Apr 10th 2008 at 9:30AM }

SCEA has been kind enough to detail the full feature list of the upcoming firmware version 2.30, which is set to release on Tuesday the 15th of April. Yes, the new firmware will allow you to visit the swanky redesigned PSN Store, but it will also include improvements to the audio playback for Blu-Ray movies. We're not too up on audio-visual technology but we're sure it's very exciting to those who understand it.

V2.30 will add "DTS-HD Master Audio™ and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, enabling consumers to enjoy Blu-ray movies with studio-quality, high-definition audio." Apparently these features include various high numbers of things, such as 7.1 channel sound and 96k sampling frequency with 24 bit depths. The point seems to be that "things will sound better." Which sounds good to us.

Tags: 2.30, dts-hd, dts-hdma, firmware, ps3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

mza49311 @ Apr 10th 2008 4:17PM

sounds awesome!

mza49311 @ Apr 10th 2008 4:18PM

I hear that!

Tru-blu @ Apr 10th 2008 9:42AM

I cannot wait for this update! I can finally put my home theater audio setup to proper use. Kudos to Sony. The PS3 in its early lifespan is already a remarkable machine that continues to get better.

baby sea tuna @ Apr 10th 2008 9:47AM

I've got a question. Do BRDs come with a 5.1 soundtrack as well as a 7.1? My stereo always seems to drop the audio down to the simulated 5.1 (which is 2.1 with phantom rears, I guess). However, my 360's HD-DVD does the 5.1 beautifully. Both are hooked up to the stereo via optical audio cables, and into the TV via an HDMI switch. Is this firmware update going to fix this? Or is it just me being dumb when I integrated the PS3 into my existing system?

I know there are some techies around here so hopefully someone can answer this...

Popfrogs @ Apr 10th 2008 10:40AM

Been answered 8 million times on the official Sony forums. Use bitstream instead of PCM for the BD audio settings. PCM is mainly for tuners that support decoding audio from HDMI. If you're using optical through a tuner (like most of us), put it in Bitstream mode for everything.

baby sea tuna @ Apr 10th 2008 11:06AM

Thanks. I guess I'd have known that if I'd read the Sony forums.

Popfrogs @ Apr 10th 2008 11:27AM

Yeah it's tricky because there's a ton of noise in those forums (10 year old kids hyped up on ritalin) but you can find some good info. Also it's laid out nicely, with specific forums for a lot of topics, specifically PS3 Media.

bykerjock @ Apr 10th 2008 12:55PM

Here's a link to what I consider the very best page yet to explain what is supported by the PS3, what is not, and an explanation of each:
http://www.edepot.com/playstation3.html

You'll notice in the "Audio Storage Formats" section of the article, dts-HD Master Audio is highlighted as not being supported. Well, that's about to change. :O)
Great article. Happy reading.

Dahk @ Apr 10th 2008 9:54AM

Lol Jem, think you need to change your font back for the last one =D. I thought it was still a quote from the Sony folks.

Gah... now I really need a home theatre set up =/.

Riley Freeman @ Apr 10th 2008 9:54AM

the constant support for my ps3 is one of the many reasons i i know i made the right choice with my system purchase.

True_Darknight @ Apr 10th 2008 9:55AM

Are you sure you have your PS3 configured to spit that out?????

Just go to Audio Seetings and make sure your output is what you need. And yes it does 7.1.

*I just but 14Gigs of movie files in the PS3 for my catalog enjoyment!!!!!!!*

hAHHAHA

KeanosMagicHat @ Apr 10th 2008 10:12AM

I'm a little confused. I'm reading this hoping it's telling me that Firmware v2.3 will include DTS-HD MA !!!

However, there is also mention of a "V3.40", what is that?

Or is the full version v2.3.40?

Please could you clarify in case I need to "curb my enthusiasm".

Cheers.

Jem @ Apr 10th 2008 10:13AM

Sorry. My fault. Started typing in the numbers one key to the right. All fixed now. :)

JoJo @ Apr 10th 2008 10:17AM

LOL!!!

alan.nutter @ Apr 10th 2008 10:10AM

Ok forget my comment above, I see it's now been confirmed on the blog.

Great news !!!

Rye21 @ Apr 10th 2008 11:25AM

As much as I love my tech im more of a visual than an audio buff lol. So to clarify what is the hype surrounding dts hd ma? Is it the highest bitrate audio you can get?

How is it better than the dolby true hd?

Sorry im looking into a nice home theatre sound system and need to know what this means.

eugene @ Apr 10th 2008 11:29AM

it isn't any better than dolby trueHD, it's just that Fox is a DTS whore and since it will be Fox that puts out the Firefly BD boxset, I'm happy.

Tony @ Apr 10th 2008 10:25AM

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!DTSHDMA FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THANKS SONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dubwise @ Apr 10th 2008 10:33AM

um...iTunes please.

Popfrogs @ Apr 10th 2008 10:55AM

LOL.

meatyb0y420 @ Apr 10th 2008 11:12AM

Hmmm, must be internal decoding of DTS-MA, for output as multi-channel PCM. SWEET! I understand it would take a hardware update to the full 1.3a spec for bitstreaming of DTS-MA. No biggie - lossless is lossless.

Now, if it could only playback 24bit/192kHz WAV or WMA files...Now THAT would make audio dweebs like me happy.

daniel @ Apr 11th 2008 6:36AM

wow that nice!

Josh Schneeberger @ Apr 10th 2008 12:35PM

DTS-HD-Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, and Uncompressed PCM are all basically the same thing...lossless audio codecs.

Each codec is able to recreate bit for bit the original studio master of whatever movie you are watching or whatever song you are listening to. So that crispness and subtlety that could only be found in the theater for so long is now available at home because gone are the days of highly compressed DD and even DTS tracks.

To me, to me these new codecs are the best thing about Blu-Ray. While these 1080p transfers look fantastic, HD is still a far way off from film (4k is where it's at), but these codecs give you the ability (granted with good equipment and acoustics) to top any local cinema's audio...

Flicky @ Apr 10th 2008 5:30PM

No FLAC ? I'm a sad panda..........

Brad @ Apr 12th 2008 12:45AM

I totally agree. Without support of ANY lossless audio codec in the Audio portion of the XMB, the PS3 is useless to me as a music player. I mean, it's such a high tech Blu-ray player, plays SACDs and even upsamples Audio CDs. But, it doesn't support a single lossless audio codec for ripping CD's to the hard drive.

Please, give us WMA Lossless, Apple Lossless, or FLAC. Or all three. But give us SOMETHING.....

Dan Davis @ Apr 11th 2008 10:55AM

Hmmm... been pondering getting a dedicated BD player for movies, but I'm starting to think I might just stick with the good ol' PS3 (and maybe buy a second?). At least when an update comes out I can dowload it directly instead of having to burn a DVD.

Kudos, Sony.