I have been looking for a 7.1 ch amplifier audio processor (AVR/Pre-amp) for the PS3. Using the HDMI, you have the possibility to use 7.1 surround sound in the PS3 menu.
When using an optical you can choose for 5.1 surround sound in the PS3 menu.
Has this got anything to do with playing games in general?
Yes... as long as the game supports that specific audio format.
If you use an optical wire, you have 5.1 surround sound playing GT5p. But if you have a 7.1 amp audio processor (HDMI in and output (only input is necessary) ), will GT5p produce 7.1 surround sound?
Yes. GT5P is a game that not only supports 7.1 audio, but more specifically/importantly, 7.1 'lossless' PCM audio... like most HD films on Blu-ray... and in order to listen to the 7.1 PCM audio, you must use HDMI to the audio processor (receiver/pre-amp), and naturally it would need to have an HDMI input
(any version of HDMI will work).
The only exception is if a game or film has
Dolby TrueHD or
DTS-HD audio
(which are basically just the compressed versions of multi-channel PCM) AND your player doesn't have those decoders, then you MUST use
HDMI 1.3 to the audio processor and that processor must also have the corresponding decoders. Fortunately, the PS3 is one of the few players that have both decoders, so no worries.
Or is it possible that when using a HDMI output to a 7.1 amp audio processor, GT5p will only play 5.1 surround sound because it is possibly only programmed with 5.1 surround sound output?
GT5P does in fact have full 7.1 audio support, and it's lossless.
Just bear in mind, every audio processor may handle DD, DTS, and PCM differently, as well as any other audio formats, so you may want to do some audio EQ calibrations with the processor to get the most from each audio signal.
I'm also looking for the possibility to use a digital 7.1 headphone instead of an amp with a lot of speakers which is too much for very little playroom.
Quality headphones
can often give the absolute ideal listening experience, but they are not devoid of any disadvantages.... and they are useless if you don't have a 7.1 audio processor. Remember, all the headphones are doing is replacing the need for speakers... you still will need a 7.1 receiver or audio processor connected to the PS3 via HDMI and the headphones connected to the receiver/audio processor.
Watching DVD/blue ray movies with the PS3 through optical will probably not produce 7.1 bcause you need a HDMI to play 7.1 through the PS3?
Correct. While TOSLINK (digital optical) can't transfers a 7.1 PCM signal, it can transfer a 2 channel PCM signal, which in most cases is still superior to Dolby Digital and DTS. The only downside is that you'll lose the discrete surround audio, and instead will have to use Dolby PLII in order to get any decent surround sound... but for many audiophiles, with audio systems that can really take advantage of lossless PCM audio, they will gladly give up discrete surround for the superior sound quality of PCM.
The good news is if you have a receiver/audio processor with HDMI, then it's irrelevant, as you get the best of both worlds... multi discrete channel PCM lossless audio. 👍
Does a HDMI connection produces better sound than an optical/coax signal.
No. Both can pass audio signals with sampling rates that go far beyond what human ears are capable of hearing.
Maybe the 7.1 HDMI choice in the PS3 menu has nothing to do with games at all but only with watching movies?
No. It's for any source that supports it. Whether it be from a movie, game, or any audio/video source that has it.
Maybe it is all up to the game developer, to implement 7.1 surround sound?
Correct. Just as it is with movies, and anything else. It's entirely up to the developers on whether or not they wish to support it. It's also understandable why most do not; considering the added cost, and the likelihood that most of their target audience probably doesn't even have a system to take advantage of it, and even more likely that they aren't fully aware of the benefits of it.
Just one final note: It's not enough to just have the right equipment and have it properly connected and speakers properly placed. One must also be sure they have made all the appropriate settings adjustments.
Every audio processor/receiver will have its own settings that one must be sure are properly changed if necessary.
Using the PS3, run a HDMI from the PS3 to the audio processor
(or through n HDMI splitter in the event the audio processor does not have HDMI output to connect to the display).
Then go to the
Audio Output Settings menu and select HDMI, and if you are uncomfortable with doing it manually, just select "Automatic".
After having done that you should see a long list of supported audio formats, and as long as "Linear PCM 7.1 Ch. 48 KHz" is selected, you should be good to go. Although there is no harm in selecting all the supported formats, as the PS3 is smart enough to automatically select the "best" audio format for any given source (game, movie, etc) that your audio processor is able to accept. 👍
Oh, and one last thing. Seeing as I suspect the main point of these questions is how to get the best possible audio in GT5P, the other thing you'll want to do is to go into the GT5P options menu and select
"Audio Settings". Scroll down tot he bottom and you'll see something called
"Dynamic Range". I highly recommend you try all three settings (
Living Room,
Small Theater, and
Large Theater), and then pick the one you feel is best suited to your system and room.
I will say though, while all of this may sound like it's a lot of effort and equipment... the benefits can often be truly remarkable, and well worth the effort. 👍
👍
but I hope I made myself clear. 
