I myself had multiple issues with my PS3 when I first bought it (wound up taking two back just in order to get the right one), If you're using component out I would really suggest just bringing it back to the store and exchanging it since it seems there are a lot of problems with component out audio.
If you are not using component out what are you using and what is your set up. Try switching to the original composite cables it came with and see if your video is better, or hdmi/optical out, try a different audio out and see if it works better, if it does then you either have a faulty wire, or faulty wiring inside the ps3 (and thus should exchange it/send it to sony under warranty).
Or this could be totally unrelated to your ps3, try plugging it into an alternate TV and see if you have the same issue. Also if you could post a bit more info such as your set up (what kind of audio out you're using,what tv, what home theatre receiver etc), it would help people answer your questions a bit more adequately as what I posted was more of a general response than anything.
ok, il be honest i aint got a clue wot most of tht means =(, but the wire im using is the one with the red,white and yellow ends that plugs staright into the tv, if that helps at all :S
Allow me to explain a bit further in detail about cables and High Definition which will answer your questions.
The quality for audio cables is as follows.
1. Composite (only stereo sound (2 speakers), worst quality possible)
2. Component (again only stereo sound, but a LOT better quality)
3. Coaxial (Great quality, full digital surround sound but your data is compressed, supports up to 7.1 surround sound (7 speakers)
4. Optical (Even better than coaxial, but hardly a noticeable difference between the two in a home theatre enviroment.)
5.HDMI (Fully uncompressed digital data, supports a hell of a lot of speakers)
The reason why your sound is so junky is because you are using the worst possible cables, the ps3 is really not meant to be played using that the minimum you should use is component, but those require that you have an hdtv. So your next best bet would be to use optical cables (ask the guy at your local best buy where to get them), you can use optical out while using your stock cables you got with your ps3 for video (the yellow cable is an AV cable) This will help your sound a lot but you will need a receiver in order to use it, and since it sounds like you're probably not using an HDTV (could be wrong), optical may not be an option for you which thus leaves you stranded with crappy sound. If you want a cheap sound system that sounds GREAT look to the Logitech Z5500 , it's loud and under 500$ for the whole system (off www.tigerdirect.com) it will give you full surround and make pretty much all your sound sound better. If you already have a receiver at home for surround sound. See if it has optical in if it does go buy a THX MONSTER optical cable (around 30 bucks for a short one) and away you go with surround sound at great quality :P
