...then why does my Onkyo receiver light up "DTS-HD MA" when I watch Tangled in 3D on the PS3? Shouldn't only "DTS" light up? When I watch Megamind, How to Train Your Dragon and Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D on the PS3 and choose Dolby TrueHD, "Dolby Digital" lights up on my receiver instead of "Dolby TrueHD". This is expected, but I'm not sure why the same downgrade doesn't happen when I watch a movie in DTS-HD MA. Just curious. Any ideas?

The PS3 now can output DTS-HD MA during 3D playback. This feature was added in the most recent firmware update.

Had no idea. That's great! Think there's any hope they'll be able to do the same with Dolby TrueHD some day?

Any hope? Sure. Not something I'd bank on, though.

True, but when they first added 3D without lossless playback, I figured it was because they had reached the end of the PS3's capabilities. I guess they found a way to squeak a little more out of this machine. Thanks, Sony!

Are there many 3D titles with TrueHD? TrueHD was pretty much forgotten once DTS lowered their price. Not many studios even use it now that I've seen. Not that it matters...both are the same thing.

But yes, after a 1.5 year delay, the PS3 can output lossless DTS MA.

From what I've read, it has to do with money. I don't know if it was Sony having to pay money or what, but that's what I've read from a few people. I assumed it was a technical issue on the PS3s part for not decoding lossless, but if they managed to do it, they sure as hell waited a long time (from when 3D Launched on Blu-ray).

Of the 3D titles I own, these are Dolby TrueHD (all Dreamworks):

How to Train Your Dragon
Megamind
Monsters vs. Aliens
Shrek
Shrek 2
Shrek the Third
Shrek Forever After

And, thankfully, these are DTS-HD MA:

Avatar
Despicable Me
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Open Season
Tangled

Right. The Dreamworks exclusives were TrueHD. I don't have any of those (since only a few just recently became available for purchase). Shreks are TrueHD since they were being prepped for sale in 2008 but got delayed once HD DVD got the axe. Surprised DW is still using TrueHD.

IIRC, Monsters v Aliens Promo was lossy.

I'm glad I found this thread. In November we upgraded to 3D and got a matching sound bar. Everything has sounded great with two exceptions. A few weeks ago we rented Megamind and although I read the audio track was awesome it seemed to me the sub just wasn't popping on scenes where you would expect. You know during explosions, fights, etc. Then I just bought Transformers 3D and the first few minutes I noticed the same thing and saw that the PS3 was in Dolby Digital 5.1 instead of the 7.1 lossless track. Now it all makes sense so I thank you. Everything else I own like Tron, Tangled, Rio, Harry Potter part 2, and the recent Pirates is in DTS so I knew 3D could sound good. Now that I know what it is I'm just hoping the next update gives us True HD decoding so the 3D version can sound as good as the 2D. Until then I'll just have to deal with the audio being alright instead of excellent.

Bitch much? How many other Blu-ray players, released at the same time as the original PS3, support 3D with lossless DTS MA?

I keep hoping the next update will give us simultaneous Dolby TrueHD and 3D playback, but then the next update comes and goes and we don't get it. I quit holding my breath.

Question: The PS3 can't do Dolby TrueHD (which is lossless) and 3D at the same time, but does that automatically mean it can't do 7.1 channels in lossy audio and 3D at the same time?

I'm not sure it would even matter. AFAIK, the only lossy 7.1 formats are DTS-HD (non-MA) and Dolby Digital Plus. I know some early BDs had DTS-HD, but I think they were all 5.1. And, while DD+ was widely used on HD DVD, I don't know of any BDs with the format at all, let alone in 7.1.

Oh. So I guess if I want to hear sound from 7.1 speakers during 3D and Dolby TrueHD playback on the PS3, I should switch to Dolby Pro Logc IIx? Otherwise, if I leave the output as Dolby Digital I'll just get 5.1 audio. Is that right?

Usually your receiver should have a mode that's called something like "Dolby Digital + Pro Logic IIx" or "DTS-HD + Neo:6" or "THX Surround EX" which will extract a phantom center channel(s) signal from the regular two rear channels in a 5.1 signal.