DTS, where did it go?

McLoki

Sansui wrote:

Would you mind explaining this "compression thing"? I'm not familiar with that term when it comes to sound.

here is a good article that is worth reading. While I don't agree with everything in it, it does present alot of facts to the differences between DD and DTS and why some people hear a difference and others do not.

The compression thing is this - Think of an MP3 (or jpg) file. You start with a source and then to save space, compress the file. Your goal is to balance the saving of space with the retention of the information in the original file.

The more you compress, the more space you save, but the less your copied file looks like the original.

DTS compresses 4 or 5 to 1. (the file is 4-5 times smaller in the end than the file you started with.)

DD compresses 10 or 12 to 1.

Keep in mind those are theoretical limitations. A bad original will sound bad reguardless of what compression ratio you use. (there are also other differences than just compression ratio)

Michael

Sansui

I understand now after you used the MP3/JPEG analogy. I noticed a difference between DD and DTS movies but thought I was just "hearing things". The DTS sounded better to me (from what few movies I can select it). Now I understand why. Thank you for the explination!

charliez

Does anybody know somewhat of ADAT format?? Anyway, seems to DTS will disappear. I really miss DTS.

jkn

Michael - nice explanation...

Example of why a consumer (me) bought a non-DTS version - when I picked up Saving Private Ryan - I could have gotten the DTS or non-DTS versions for the same price. I chose the non-DTS for the bonus material, which wasn't on the DTS version. Of course, now that I'm migrating my system from 'in a box' to something semi-decent - I think I'll appreciate DTS more in the living room. On my box system - I couldn't really hear much of a difference.

That's a key thing about compressed audio - if you're listening on bad speakers (or bad source material as Michael mentioned) - it doesn't really matter whether you're hearing the full audio or a compressed version. It won't be that huge of a difference. When I upgraded my music studio to a decent set of headphones... I heard things I'd never noticed before. When I upgraded my monitors to Mackie's... it was a whole night and day level jump again from the flat headphones and stereo speakers I'd been using.

ADAT - if you're talking about the audio format that allows multi-track recording onto S-VHS (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADAT ) ... that's been fading for quite awhile. Still in use, but many studio's (and especially home studios) have migrated to computer (DAW) over the last few years.

charliez

The format that I´m talking about is the one that use those digital amps compatibles with the new Intel´s mothers. Check http://www.s1digital.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=S7075A&HistoryRemove=0&historysingle=YES . Anyway, when I was trying a Media Center Edition was unable to play DTS. I didn´t found any settings on whole system that allow me to change the audio track to DTS. Only DD.