Home Video Asylum

TVs, VCRs, DVD players, Home Theater systems and more.

DTS

It's not the processor, it's the codec. The DTS codec is better at preserving the master ("getting closer to the master" is probably more accurate). The first thing most people notice about Dolby Digital, compared to Dolby Pro-Logic or Dolby Surround, is the channel separation. "WOW", what pinpoint "imaging" you have there! Yea, that's nice (BIG yawn). Unfortunately, because of this so-called advantage, it's also a double-edged sword when compared to DTS and -- yes -- Dolby Pro-Logic. The Dobly Digital codec is so "efficient" (HEAVY sarcasm) it throws away most of the spacial information. It even sounds "compressed" without the dynamic range control on. The ambient cues that our ears use in real life to perceive the environment around us (and those which surround sound systems use to recreate this illusion) gets "shit-canned" by DD. The sense of envelopment that DTS and Dolby Pro-Logic have is not a high point of DD. The soundtrack from DD in a 5.1 system sounds like it's coming from 5 different "points" in space, whereas in a DTS soundtrack it's a 360 degree soundfield. The sense of envelopment is more pronounced and easily perceived on even a modest system when compared to DD. Of course, when needed, DTS can provide for pinpoint imaging. Even Dolby Pro-Logic has a greater sense of envelopment. And just to be clear, when I say Dolby Pro-Logic I'm talking about PCM DPL -- not the Pro-Logic created by downmixing the DD 5.1 track. By the way, I see you have the Technics SH-AC500D. I bought this processor to use in my wife's system along with the A6 receiver (actually bought the two as a combo special). The speakers she uses (for her 5.1 system) cost $99 -- and that's the total for ALL of them. If I can tell the difference on a VERY modest $800 system, well, like I suggested, a visit to the ear doctor may be in order. If you'll search the archives, several people have posted about the drastic improvement in their systems after their ears have been cleaned -- no joke, just do the search.


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