My PS3 Sound Settings Conflict With My Receiver

Audio Formats

• More traditional audio setups only used connections such as RCA stereo cords, which were universally accepted and kept configuration options fairly simple. Newer audio setups allow for complicated, high-definition audio, from simple stereo up to 7.1 surround sound. As great as those options are, they introduce a level of complexity to the audio technology that can cause conflicts by new audio "formats," which are various ways of encoding audio information. These formats make quality surround sound possible and enjoyable, but they can make setting up an entertainment center more difficult.

PS3 Options

• You find the PS3 sound option by going to the "Settings" section of the XMB menu and selecting "Sound Settings," then "Audio Output Settings." Your first selection is the type of connection you use, Digital Out (Optical), which is a Toslink connection, or HDMI. Next you need to specify the audio formats your receiver is compatible with. This can be a little tricky, because different receivers have different capabilities, so you should check the labels on your receiver to see if they specify compatibilities, or you should look in the device's documentation or online support site to find out. Then you just select or deselect the appropriate options in the PS3's list and continue to complete the setup.

Other Information

• The only way you could have a conflict with your audio is if you're using a Toslink or HDMI setup because RCA connections are standard and will work on any device that has RCA ports. Getting the audio formats correct is important as it enables your PS3 to output the best quality sound for watching movies and playing video games, and they enable quality surround sound, if you have it. Fortunately the physical connections for Toslink and HDMI are simple because each only requires a single cord.

Multi-Output

• In rare cases you may need to output audio through a couple of connections. Your PS3 will by default send audio through the HDMI or AV MULTI OUT port, depending on which one you're using for the video connection. If you go to the XMB menu's Settings section and select "Sound Settings," then "Audio Mutli-Output," the PS3 will send sound through both of the standard video ports and the Toslink connection. If you don't plug anything into the other ports connection, it won't make any difference, but you will have the option to connect additional cords to the PS3's ports if you want. Keep in mind that there are some restrictions on available audio formats if you do this, so you should check the PS3's documentation or online information for specifics.