PCM Vs Dolby Digital Plus Comparison (Which One Is Better?)

Today we talk about PCM Vs Dolby Digital Plus. It’s fantastic and pleasurable to watch movies or play fantastic video games. Amazing sound effects add to the viewers’ excitement by creating a dynamic atmosphere at home. To achieve that sound level, you’ll need a high-quality sound system with a conventional audio transmitter. Famous manufacturers use a variety of audio transmission systems in their televisions.

PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) and Dolby Digital (Dolby Digital) are popular audio transfer methods from the player or transmitter to the receiver or speaker. Knowing which of those two produces the best sound is critical because having the right audio setup allows you to get more out of your sound system.

PCM Vs Dolby Digital Plus

Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM) and Dolby Digital technology refer to different types of digital sound recordings. PCM is a standard method for converting old analog audio to digital audio. They use a variety of components and procedures to complete their process. Dolby Digital technology uses a 5.1 or six-channel configuration, whereas PCM uses uncompressed audio for encoding.

If you need to maintain a sound system, these two conventional technologies should be considered. Both are popular and useful in this situation. On the other hand, PCM is well-known, having been on the market for quite some time. However, most experts now recommend Dolby Digital for sound systems since it provides more channels to the user than PCM, which is suited for Smart TVs.

Which One Is Better Dolby Digital Plus Vs PCM?

When it comes to managing digital audio recordings, there are two main systems to choose from. The most common method for converting analog audio to digital audio is pulse-code modulation. PCM audio is a two-channel stereo digital audio track found on DVDs.

For home theatres, film audio, and other similar uses, Dolby Digital® is a multi-channel audio format. Its many formats employ left, right, and center channels. If your system is Dolby 5.1, you’ll have five tracks and a subwoofer to work with. Most people consider PCM inferior to Dolby Digital in terms of technical specifications because it has fewer channels. This comparison’s reality is a little different.

You must determine if you prefer uncompressed or compressed audio when comparing PCM and Dolby Digital. The first is straight stereo, while the second provides many formatting options with additional compression. Because of the settings on modern TV, the topic of whether PCM is better or worse than Dolby Digital arises. You can select between these two options when configuring your audio.

Which Is The Better Option For Your Present Setup?

The goal is to get the input to look like the output on your television. To get the finest picture quality from a regular DVD player, you should choose the PCM setting. The audio is frequently formatted in the Dolby Digital format when you view an HD television channel. This option gives you access to up to 5.1 channels of audio. If you have that equipment at home, you’ll be able to take full advantage of this technology.

If your primary source of entertainment is the television speakers, the PCM setting is the greatest choice because it lacks compression. Using the Dolby Digital preset with your stock configuration, you’ll hear muffled tones and decreased audio clarity. If you wish to get the most out of the audio in either format, you need to use your TV’s ARC capability.

Differences Between Dolby Digital And PCM

Dolby Digital is a cutting-edge technology that provides multi-channel audio and is found on nearly all DVDs and Blu-ray discs. On the other hand, PCM is the uncompressed data stream that the player can create from the Blu-ray for use in AVR receivers that may not be compatible with DTS or DD, even though it is supported by 99.9% of contemporary systems.

PCM also supports insignificant sounds, such as commentary from administrators. These additional sounds may be added to the stream. A discussion suggests that different audio players and receivers may cause minor differences in the decoded audio stream, resulting in varied audio quality on different devices. Aside from the highest data rate and individual frequency, there are constraints on the number of channels conveyed by the PCM stream.

How To Change Your Television’s Audio Format?

You must consider the input and output kinds while setting up your television to enhance your home theatre settings. Your television receives audio and video signals via the input. Examples of these items are cable boxes, satellite receivers, TV boxes, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, DVD players, or anything else you can connect.

When you connect a computer to a television, it becomes an input. The output is what your television sends to your devices. If you want to listen to audio, the signal transmits it to your speakers for you to enjoy. Even if you only utilize the TV’s built-in speakers, you’re still taking advantage of this capability. Soundbars, Surround Sound speakers, and headphones can all be connected to the output.

The audio format that should be used depends on the device receiving the audio output. That implies that you should choose PCM or Dolby Digital from the menu options depending on your configuration.

PCM or Bitstream are often presented as options when selecting HDMI input audio in the TV’s settings menu. If you choose the first option, your entertainment system will only provide two-channel sound. If you want the audio to be processed through a soundbar or a home theatre system after passing through the television, you must choose Bitstream.

It’s the only way to get the multi-channel effect you’re looking for with Dolby Digital. Some TVs cannot deliver this signal, so check your owner’s manual to discover what’s possible in your scenario.

Choose The Most Appropriate Digital Output Setting For Your Setup

The output format you select when choosing an audio format for your television is determined by the equipment you have connected to it. It’s a good idea to read the owner’s manual for each item if you’re unsure what it does. For a home theatre system, you may need to create different settings than you would for high-quality headphones.

Is there nothing plugged into your television? If that’s the case, the PCM setting works better with the TV’s stock speakers. If you choose the alternative setting, you may have an audio loss, loudness problems, or other issues.

Set the TV’s menu to the highest mode your equipment offers if you want the finest sound experience possible. Because an optical cable can’t give the correct output, you’ll need to use the HDMI ARC if your setup demands more than 5.1 channels.

What Should I Do If I See Unselectable Options On My TV?

Some options on the menu may be greyed out or unavailable if you’re attempting to figure out whether PCM or Dolby Digital is the best option for your audio needs. The audio output is unavailable for some reason when you encounter this issue. This problem could be caused by the current content being sent to the TV’s input, app settings, or the requirements of your home theatre equipment.

On some televisions, you can only select the currently available options with your input and output. As a general rule, you should only utilize the PCM audio option if your sound system has trouble with higher settings.

If you’re having trouble with the latter, it’s likely because your system isn’t Dolby-compliant. Additional options may be available in addition to PCM and Dolby Digital. They offer DTS, or Dolby Digital Plus, and an automated setting.

Dolby Digital Vs Dolby Digital Plus Vs PCM

When it comes to audio quality, PCM is superior to Dolby Digital. While Dolby Digital creates compressed sound, it produces an uncompressed sound format. Since PCM could convert analog to digital audio with consistent transmission quality, it was a standard audio format for CDs and DVDs for a long time.

Dolby Digital Plus Vs Dolby Digital

Dolby Digital PlusTM (E-AC-3) adds new capabilities like 7.1-ch audio, compatibility for descriptive video services, and support for Dolby Atmos while offering up to twice the efficiency of Dolby Digital (but more on that later).

PCM Vs Bitstream

Your converter produces raw signals for PCM, which are unaffected by codecs like DTS or Dolby Digital. However, the bitstream can handle additional frequencies, allowing you to create high-resolution audio while still working with coded audio files. Although the procedure could be different, the outcome will remain the same.

Conclusion

Putting PCM Vs Dolby Digital Plus side by side is like comparing grapefruits and apples. These two have distinct advantages and features to make them distinct sound materials for a home theatre system. Although the uncompressed vs compression composition has some merit from an audiophile’s perspective, the general audience wants the best audio quality possible from their sound equipment.

That is why Dolby Digital consistently outperforms the competition. It has a bigger number of channels than PCM. If certain channels are not available in your area, you can utilize PCM as a substitute. Most televisions these days come with a default sound setting, which you may use without worrying about anything else.

Frequently Asked Questions