[boead]

PCM or Normal on Denon

My Denon DVD player has 24-bit/96kHz Digital PCM 2-Ch Digital Output.

The choices are:
• Dig/Normal
• Dig/PCM
• Analog

For coupling to a CAL 24bit-96Khz DAC via a coaxial cable what should be used? Normal or PCM?

I’m a little confused, its for 2-channel audio listening only.

From the manual:
When “AUDIO OUTPUT” is selected:
1. ANALOG (Factory default)
When “ANALOG” is selected, analog signals
are output from the set’s analog audio output.
Digital signals are not output from the digital
audio output at this time.

2. DIG./NORMAL
Select this to listen to the digital audio output
signals output from the digital audio output
terminals (optical/coaxial) when playing DVDs
recorded in Dolby Digital or dts.

3. DIG./PCM
Select this to listen to the digital audio output
signals output from the digital audio output
terminals (optical/coaxial) when playing DVDs
recorded in linear PCM.


Both the ‘Normal’ and ‘PCM’ digital settings work with it, in that they both are decoded. I didn’t do a side-by-side yet but they do sound subtlety different.

If a Redbook CD is being played as they are (I don’t even have a monitor hooked up and don’t plan on it, it’s strictly being used as a 24-bit digital transport for the DAC) what is the 2-channel audible difference?

 

[Glassman]

dig/normal is outputing Dolby Digital or DTS encoded multichannel content which could be decoded in home theater receiver, but not with external audio DACs

dig/PCM is outputing the PCM soundtrack off the DVD which can be up to 24/96 but in most cases it's just 16/48.. I don't know if this Denon plays DVD-A but even if it do, forget about digital output of it..