Getting my PS2 to play in Dolby Digital...

[mmn]

Question :

I have my PS2 hooked up with an optical audio cable to my stereo receiver. I made sure in the PS2 setup menu it says "dolby digital : on" or whatever that option is, and all the connections are secure. Now I'm getting sound, and its definitely surround sound, but on my receiver it only says "PCM" instead of "AC3 3.2/1". When my Xbox is hooked up with an optical audio cable, it gives me the "AC3 3.2/1". Does "PCM" mean its playing in Dolby Digital? I don't get why its giving me sound at all if its not in Dolby Digital. It has to be going through the optical cable - I don't have the red/white cables hooked up.

Someone help me out here please and explain what "PCM" means and if its not Digital how I would get it to Digital. Thanks.

[SneakyPenguin]

Only a select few PS2 games,a nd all movies play in DD. Not every game is equipped for the sound.

[Michaellvortega]

You know the the games dont pay in DD only cutscenes and movies? Only Xbox had in game DD. Dolby Digital.

[Ugamer_X]

You know that crappy, white, on-screen menu? There's another setting there that you have to change to get DD...It's been a while since I've done it so I'll go check right now if you can't find it.
Edit: I'm assuming you are talking about playing DVD movies...

[Michaellvortega]

Pulse Coded Modulation= PCM just regular audio.

[mmn]

You know the the games dont pay in DD only cutscenes and movies? Only Xbox had in game DD. Dolby Digital.

Oh, really? I had no idea. I assumed all next gen consoles had Dolby Digital.

Ok, so is there any advantage to have the games running through the optical audio cable at all? Will the sound be any crisper or clearer or is it pretty much the exact same thing as using the red/white cables?

[Ugamer_X]

You know the the games dont pay in DD only cutscenes and movies? Only Xbox had in game DD. Dolby Digital.

Oh, really? I had no idea. I assumed all next gen consoles had Dolby Digital.

Ok, so is there any advantage to have the games running through the optical audio cable at all? Will the sound be any crisper or clearer or is it pretty much the exact same thing as using the red/white cables?
Some games have in-game DTS, and a couple have DD in cutscenes. If you plan on playing DVD movies on your PS2, you'll need the optical cable...Other than that, you could just use the standard analog cables.

[Michaellvortega]

I'd leave the xbox hooked optical and the PS2 with the RCA jacks for sound. Unless you have multi optical inputs, then by all means use optical it would not mean a big diffrence but a slight slight slight diffrence.

[Skylander7]

You usually have to select Dolby Digital or DTS on the DVD menu. As for games, the PS2 doesn't have in game Dolby Digital. A few of them will play cutscenes in DD, but that's it. I usually play my games in Pro Logic II with the optical cable.

[CaseyRyback]

You know the the games dont pay in DD only cutscenes and movies? Only Xbox had in game DD. Dolby Digital.

Oh, really? I had no idea. I assumed all next gen consoles had Dolby Digital.

Ok, so is there any advantage to have the games running through the optical audio cable at all? Will the sound be any crisper or clearer or is it pretty much the exact same thing as using the red/white cables?

The PS2 and GCN run most of thier games on Pro Logic II

[mmn]

I'd leave the xbox hooked optical and the PS2 with the RCA jacks for sound. Unless you have multi optical inputs, then by all means use optical it would not mean a big diffrence but a slight slight slight diffrence.

Thanks. I'll just leave both of em optical. I recently bought an optical switch and bought a couple of cheap optical cables during the TRU 90% off clearance sale.