Video Asylum

Posted by Joe Murphy Jr (A) on February 28, 2004 at 17:36:48

In Reply to: DTS vs Dolby Digital for DVD-A music. Newbie Questions. posted by AbeCollins on February 28, 2004 at 13:19:54:

DTS has been used for 4.0, 5.0, 5.1 and 6.1 music playback. The 6.1 format, when decoded by the DVD player, just outputs 5.1 via the DVD player's analog outputs. Most DTS material is done in the 5.1 format (about 90%+ of all DTS recordings).

If you use the digital output for DTS decoding, the receiver/processor decodes the signal. If you use the analog outputs to your receiver/processor, the DVD player does the decoding. Which way sounds better will depend on the processing capability, D/A converters, analog stage, etc of each component being evaluated. Try to match the levels and compare the sound that you get from each option. Use the one that sounds best to your ears.

As to which surround format sounds better, DTS or Dolby Digital, I prefer DTS for movies (I don't listen to surround music). Your comment about Dolby Digital sounding more like fixed points in space is exactly how I have described its presentation in the past. DTS, at least to my ears, has more of a 360 degree presentation. The sound envelopes you, rather than bringing attention to the fact that there are 5 different and directional speakers in the room.

If you want to listen to the 5.1 DVD-A section on the disc (which uses MLP), you will have no choice but to use the analog outputs from the DVD player.